Here we have some of the most wonderful treasures of our Mediaeval Abbey, which perhaps is forutnate it did not suffer the fate of so many abbeys of the time,becoming as it did one of the Kind's Schools, possibly because of its many royal links and the burial of many royal personages and predecessors of the Tudor monarchy. Harry Potter has been filmed here and do his this winters 'Dr Who'Special. The Victorian St Peter's Catholic church will also be visited when I come up to that period, but at present I am working up to the end of the first milennium!

I visit the many tombs and chantries of this wonderful place, which is meticulously conserved and loved by all Gloucester people and many town events still happen here.

The Kings Chamber Choir which sang Occuli Omnium is not the cathedral choir (though several of the tenors and basses are former members!)and the higher parts sung by girl choristers from the school.

I do promise a return visit for some carols.

The recording production is not wonderful for this, because I am still learning to use this equipment and print Gurney's poem which was read near the end.The poem likens the glory of Creation to Music in the Cathedral.

The Valley by Ivor Gurney

There was such beauty in the dappled valley
As hurt the sight, the heart stabbed to tears.
The gathered beautifulness of all the years
Hovered thereover, it seemed, eternally
Set for men's joy. Town, tower, trees, river
Under a sky royal-azure Heaven for ever
Up-piled with towering mountains of March cloud.

A Herald-day of Spring more wonderful
Than Her true own. Trumpets cried aloud
In sky, earth, blood. No beast, no clod so dull
But the strength felt of the day, Power of the Giver
Was glad for being, lowly at once, and proud.
Kyrie Eleison, and Gloria,
Credo, Jubilate, Magnificat:
The whole world gathered strength to praise the day

Benedictine Vespers for the Nativity of Our Lady of Tintern, at Tintern Abbey on Sunday  7th September 2008. Abbot Aidan Bellenger gave a wonderful, heavenly homily, Singers were Sr Emma Joy SSC and Susan Williams. Final Prayers by Archbitshop Peter. Sorry I messed up the Lords Prayer in a different setting ! Hope you enjoy this. I have also inserted one or two bits of plainchant to fill in gaps there and there.

Psalm 84

Oculos tuos sing at Gloucester Cathedral by the Chamber Choir of the Kings School at Gloucester cathedral, conducted by David Harries. A wonderful accoustic and choir-and how Tintern would have sounded/

The Project at our Lady of Tintern and how you can participate.

Rosary 3pm At Statue of Our Lady of Tintern on 21 September.

An afternoon with eminent Welsh historian and heritage officer of Blaenau Gwent, Frank Olding, who was a foundt of information, I try my hand at my school Welsh Again, This foundation happened after a serious battele wbetween the Welsh and the Anglo Saxons, when the Saxons wiped out the whole royal family of Powys, except Heledd, the Princess, who sickened of life, retired up the mountain to found a religious community in the sixth century with the servivors and remaining holy men. She is the author of Can Heledd, poetry written about the battle beginning the 'Hall of Cynddylan is lonely tonight' sung to an old Welsh Air. We discuss Arthur, recusancy in the area, the Cistercians and the reformation and we ring the bells! Post about the Monmouthshire links to Guernsey! And the  joke section is back!  

Soundseeing at this year's pilgrimage from the Pilgrimage at Welsh Newton (north of Monmouth) on the way to Hereford. Homily from Father Nicholas on the preaching cross and comparison with St Polycarp,St Oscar Romero and the Saints of Uganda. Peace and reconciliation in violent times, Great miracles in recent times and places connected with the saint.

Friends on Fecebook urged to send in details of their local saints and photos.

Ireland in the sixth century. The Druidess Brigid converts to Christianity and takes the Veil, Life is still wild and violent, but gradually Patrick's words and preaching tames the wild people. They receive Christianity as the flowering of their Otherworld beliefs.

Brigid's father is far from happy and tries to make her marry but she thwarts his wishes in a startling way and sails to Wales where she begins a cult, with her kindness, flowing generosity and motherliness. She also does miracles, getting cattle to give mile more freely and turning smelts into butter. Finally she returns to her 'Church of the Oak' at Kildare and gets a local hermit to study to be a Bishop so they could have Mass. A flame was lit in the firehouse to the eternal glory of God, and which the Normans found when they arrived. After her death her body was buried at Kildare and then to Downpatrick. It is believed that her skull was, however removed at this time, and later was brought to Portugal by knights who wanted to preserve it. It was placed in a reliquary where it can be observed today. Good because the agents of Henry VIII completely desicrated the shrine of Patrick and the relics of St Brigid.

On the blog www.maryinmonmouth.blogspot.com you can see a video of this shrine. Part 2 I will do tomorrow from the Newport Church of St Bridges Wentloog (near the West Usk Lighthouse0 at Peterstone. This is a very ancient Church . I shall also be tackling the church at St Brides in Netherwent, near Magor also near Newport, which is also very interesting.Enjoy

550AD Derfel the Mighty warrior is one of seven who survived the Battle of Camlann in 542. Broken hearted he stumbles back to his native county of Llydach in Gwent and lives for a while as a hermit. His sorrow and suffering and sadness at the passing of the fellowship of Arthur get him the name 'The Suffering ONe' or 'St Deuil' -the one who mourns. He is persuaded to travel to Llantwit Major (Llanilltyd Fawr) and study to be ordained as a priest so he can serve God properly and studies with St Illtid. He returned to found a small monastery higher up the mountain on the Mynydd Maen at Cwmbran but finally leaves to return to North Wales, where he had been before. For nearly a thousand years people remembered him as the one who taught them fighting and strife were evil. He was a patron saint of peaceful living and farming. someone carved a statue of him to remember him when he died and he is portrayed in armour on a stag (which locals called a horse as the local archdeacon had had the animal mutilated. The statue of Derfel himself at the English 'reformation' was secreted and burned at Smithfield along with the Cwmbran one. Unfortunately and horrifically it was used to burn the gentle friar John Forrest, who had refused to accept Henry VIII in place of the Pope and died a horrible death, while being denied the Blessed Sacrament and foreced to listen to the preaching of an odious bishop of the new order.The Story of St David Lewis, associated with Llantarnam Abbey and arrested opposite St Michael and All Angels Church will be told in much more detail later on. Enjoy!

Sixth century Wales as the British chieftains fight it out, St Anna of Gwent brings her son Tryddin to the Valley to begin a monastery, later enlarged and cleared possibly by Cadocs. Secrets of the Monks rituals in purifying the land. My visit to the present Church accompanied by the engaging Canon PIppin who guided and explained what I saw.Some prayers from St Cadocs time. The Haunted Bell of Trevethin and the mysrtery of the burial of St Cadoc.....was the saint buried at Trevethin or Mamhilad?

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Staffs and scallop shells, rosaries, ampullae as pilgrims come from all over South Wales arrive at the Mediaeval Shrine and Well of Our Lady of Penrhys in the Rhondda.We drive right up to the top of the mountains and I am very scared-the last time it was in fog and we did not see the drop!!Bishop Daniel Mullins of Menevia and Rosary and Benediction.Intention of the Pilgrimage for fallen away Catholics to return to the church. A cosy and endearing pilgrimage.People recount local miracles and Lawrence O'Leary about his special message from Our Lady at Medugorje.

 

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St Illtyd was a great warrior but one of the most intelligent men in Wales, able to recite the Gospels, His early life in Brittany, his marriage, encounter with King Arthur and Paulinus, conversion by Cadoc are told in a number of dramatic stories and the drama of his fight with evil King Meirchion.

I talk about my feedback, Catholic bloggers,and my very busy week so this podcast will be a little longer than usual.

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Cadoc wishes to buy Gildas Bell, which Gildas is donating to the Holy Father Pope Agapetus in Rome (Vita mistakenly gives Alexander)The Pope blesses the bell, saying he knew Cadoc well as he had been to Rome seven times and to Jerusalem.The bell will not sound for him as it is full of gold, but the Holy Father asks for the bell to be given to Cadoc.

Visits to Cornwall to see his aunt and the shrine to St Cadoc and his well at Harlyn Bay near Padstow. Cadoc and Ynys Barruc (The Island of St Barruc) which had belongd to his friend St Barruc of Ireland who had drowned. Cadoc's chapel and little town was at Cadocs Town.

Another visit to Brittany wher he plants aple trees with St Samson to provide food for the local people and where he is regarded locally as Patron saint of the apples!This is transcribed into Llan gattock vibon afal-The Holy Place of St Cadoc and the apple men! Quite fun isn't it? Thirty seven places bear his name in Brittany and there are chapels at Belz and Locoal Mendon at Morbihan and Gouesnac'h in Finistere where  he is called upon to heal the deaf, 

Death at Weedon in Northampton on the borders with what were now English lands. There were many such deaths and it is no wonder they disobeyed to pope and would not evangelise the English, forcing Augustine to send another missionary from Rome to convert the Saxons to Christianity from their Norse religion, realising there would be no peace in the universal church until the whole country was peacable.

Two points-independent evidence in this account of Llifris of King Arthur at this time, bold and fearless but wilful and quick to anger. Arthur also appears in the account of Gwynlliw, having to be restrained by Cai and Bewyr from carrying off the lovely Gwladys.

Another podcast next week!! Sorry about the quality of this one-my good microphone is still broken-but will persevere! God Bless!

Ballet exams, Church swaps, The Pope's visit, lack of coverage on BBC EWTN, SQPN at Atlanta at the Catholic New Media Day and Eucharistic Congress,the breakdown of my microphone, Some cool feedback from Al Iguana about the martyrdom of Tyfdfil which gave Merthyr Tydfil its name. Homour and St Cadoc Part One. Lineage, Baptism by St Treddin of Trevethin monastery, brother of Samson of Dol and of St Tegfedd.Education at Caerwent under Tatheus or Tathwyn. Alll the St Cadoc Churches in Gwent and Monmouthshire.Miracles and the Missal of St Gildas. First pilgrimages to Rome and Jerusalem and St Brychan teaches him Latin at Brecon. He founds another monastic settlemant at Llangadog. Penychen and his encounter with the warrior Illtyd and his conversion by Cadoc.

Finally Cadoc in Scotland! His miracles as he travels on pilgrimage to St Andrews and remains ther for seven years!

This is a reissue of the previous version of this podcast with the first part included-so sorry about this.

In this podcast we consider Saint Tecla originally from Llandegla in North Wales near Ruthin. She was famous for her work with lepers.Details of rituals (slightly shonky) are given on www.maryinmonmouth.blogspot.com which show how people were paying for miracles at her well there even until recent times. Tecla came south, set up at the rock at Beachley also later occupied by st Twrog, and worked for the sick there, It is possi ble in view of the wild and remote nature of the place she had succumbed to Leprosy herself-but this is pure speculation. The rock and little chapel are shown on the blog, but is unlikely to have been Teclas. She is murdered by marauding Saxons and seems to have lived a deal earlier than our other saints,

She was undoubtedly named after Tecla of Iconium in Laeodocia and was a disciple of St Paul who wished to dedicate herself to God and was many times tortured and threatened eventually founding a small colony and seemingly buried at St Paul Outside the Walls in Rome.Her cult spread all over the Church from East to West and many young women followed her example with admiration.

Sixth Century Gwent- South Wales having bee Christianised by very holy saints following the removal of the Romans is threatened by another people the superstitious and irreverent Angles and Saxons. Having done a deal with Ceowulf at Gloucester, they begin wandering down into South Wales and raiding for what they ould get. Pickings were poor on the whole but the Kings who had set up their daughters in religious foundations, or who had retired to live as religious having finished their childbearing of then had a few items around, living peaceably supporting the communities on the foothills of the Brecon Beacons and in the lovely valley North of Pontypool.No doubt they thought they were worth raiding, carrying off the young women. Tegfedd and Tydfil (mother of St Teilo) stood their ground, however, asking the Saxons to leave Holy Ground they were dragged off and suffered their fate.

There is a song 'O Perfect Love' from www.music.podshow.com

Homily of Benedict XVI on www.sqpn.com and some videos of his visit if you were not able to get EWTN streaming on your computer.

Visit www.maryinmonmouth.blogspot.com for all sorts of newsof catholic life in Monmouthshire, including the opening of the new Lourdes Grotto at Tredegar to celebrate the Lourdes anniversary.

Please remember to leave a review.........www,podcastalley,com, digg.com and iTunes store-it would help people to find this podcast. Finall please send me some Mail on the MaryinMonmouth Group on Facebook or on www.googlemail.com.

Sixth century Wales, the reliecs of Teilo are divided, most lost but the subsequent history of the top part of the skull is amazing.This is an explanation of relics, quotes from the Catechism of the Catholic Church about relics and sacramentals and concentrates on what relics are not and what they are as focuses for prayer to God, and petitions for intercession from one whom they feel is close physically. There is special emphasis on the place of relics in Welsh tribal society, where they were extremely important and subsequently in the Middle Ages, where rogues sometimes traded in fakes and were punished for it. In fact the Vatican intervened a couple of years ago when people were trying to sell a relic on ebay!!

 

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My weekend in Cwmbran and visit to Pontypook park. The Hanbury Family Home and St Alban's School, Daughters of the Holy Spirit, Stables and Museum, The Folly and the Grotto. St Cadoc's Monastery at Trevethin. Papal musings/ Soundseeing tour of St Materiana's Church at Tintagel in Cornwall, the castle, the cliffs and the monastery-was it her Ceidio was based?

Easter 2008,Soundseeing in Padstow, Cornwall. Fishing, Rock (candy) and curried parsnip pasties(!!!) the Old Oss and May Day pagan rites. Summary of previous podcasts of Catholic Christians in ancient Wales and the significance of Glastonbury, Joseph of Arimathea and his family and the ancient site of the Abbey.

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Please email with any feedback.Enjoy!

Sixth century Wales. An Irish Saint Tathan, son of Anna (daughter of Meurig) who has married Tathetus (Annan Ddu) in Ireland renounces the throne to travel on a Shite Martyrdom. He sets sail on a boat without oars and his boat arrives in the Severn and he disembarks at Portskewett to found one of the most glittering educational monasteries in Wales, There are miracles connected with him. The tale of the stag, mimicing that of Christ, guiving himself up for food. He is given the whole city of Caerwent. He trains Cadoc, Gwynlliw's son, who becomes one of the most famous Welsh saints.

I tell of my trip to Cornwall, to Tintagel and Boscastle and also to the Chapel of Fontrevault in the Normal Wall at Caerwent, from which there is a short soundseeing.A very British 'email' segment and a final partof a letter of St Ignatius of Antioch, one of the people trained in Rome in the early church of Peter and Paul. Please pray for Mary.

I sing the 'Our Father' at the end of this programme. Consideration of the preparations for Easter and my upcoming visit to Cornwall, where I intend to do soundseeing tours of St Materiana and at Minster Church in Boscastle. Photos already on www.maryinmonmouth@blogspot.com

The birth of Gwynlliw to Glwys King of a district of Gwent. Gwynlliw (Woolos)has to kill a lot of people to establish pace, then can't stop and uses Pill (Pill gwenlly-literally an inlet of water belonging to Gwynlliw)to raid passing ships. steal their booty and kill the crews. Cadoc (his son) andsaintly wife Gwladys pray for his conversion from his wicked ways. Gwynlliw has the vision of an angel and changes, living the life of a celibate couple with Gwladys until they separate and she joins a convent at Bassaleg-or nearby to Bassaleg Church, and he remains a hermit there on Stow Hill, having built his Church and dedicated it to Our Lady.

The statue of the bull placed in Newport town centre should be white-to reflect the next world,and his tomb can still be seen in the centre of the present Anglican Cathedral. The Catholic Church on Stow Hill is dedicated to our Lady as well, and is the Church where I was married and our Son christened. There are marvellous stained glass windows of the Newport Saints in both churches.

Finally I sing the Our Father -my own recording. Please enjoy it as an Easter gift.

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A soundseeing tour around Llandaff, formerly the Benedictine Abbey Church of SS Teilo, Oudoceus and Dyfrig.

Hello and welcome to the new podcast. Dr Who and the forthcoming series. We discuss the episode New Earth with particular reference to the Cloning and Embryology laws which the government are bringing in,Is Glastonbury the holiest place in Britain, Catholic News and Ask the Evangelist. A Catholic Convert and former Baptist minister explains the Eucharist-part One today. This is a bumper first edition to start you off.

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The recording was an excerpt from Catholic Answers available on www.catholic.com or as a podcast from iTunes -daily.

Dr Steve Ray's details of his books, and popular pilgrimages and DVD's are on his website at www.catholicconvert.com

 

The Original tenth century account of the life of David of Wales. We take up the story as David goes to preach against the heretical teaching of Pelagius. He defends church teaching as to the divinity of Christ and is praised by all the people as his voice is louad and can be heard. We learn the ground rose up beneath him, although he may have levitated.He founds monasteries and becomes a great pastor and church leader in Britain. (remember there were no Anglo Saxons yet!)which is all Celtic. David founds monasteries in Glastonbury in Gloucester, Cirencester, Leominster and many opther places. Finally the angel arrives to tell him to prepare to meet the Lord Jesus whom he had faithfully served all his life, and Rhygfarch tells the story of his death with poetry, sensitivity and rejoicing in the most glorious way he could. There follows a genealogy and Mass prayers for the feast Day of St David of Wales. It is worth remembering that until the 16th century schism, March 1st was a holiday throughout Britain.Normal Mary in Monmouth podcasts resume soon!

Part three of the Life of David of Wales:(Vita Sancti David) In illa die dixit coniunx Baia ad privignam suum, famulus simil ad vallem Alun et queramuscucumnerosillius, ut inveniamus nuvis in eis'. This sentence sets up the terrible murder and sacrilege in the Valley of Alun in Glyn Rhosyn. Saint Dunawd and her martyrdom. God rids David of the Scottish magician Boya by means of his enemy,the Rule of David is set up in Glyn Rhosyn after the manner of the Egyptian monks.

The miracles of the stream, Aidan and his miracle and departure for Ireland,the attempt on David's life and God's warning to Aidan.Pilgrimage to the Church in Rome with other Bishops and Barri of Ireland,and return-Mriacle of the Horse and meeting with St Brendan.Modomnoc and the miracle of the Bees and how they came to Ireland. New pilgrimage this time to Jerusalem and the Holy Land. Patriach's Presents and consecration of David to Bishop. David, Teilo and Padarn remain for a while to evangelise the Jewish people.On his return David arrives at Llanthony to his cell and makes a retreat.

Part Four follows shortly (Final Episode)

This short episode tells the story further. Boya the magician Scotsman goes out to murder David, but the Lord God prevents them from doing so and so they abuse the holy men at Glyn Rhosyn. They return to find their livestock has died, which are restored to them by the prayer of the Holy David. Also the lascivious females sent out by Boya's wife to incite the monks to the sin of lust and the Holy David's advice to the monks.

The Original account of the Life of the Holy Saint David of Wales. The thwarted mission of Patrick, the Prophecy and the Stag, the Bees and the fish, the conception of David by the nun St Non and King Sandde of Camarthen (Ceredigion) St Gildas loses the power of preaching, the Birth of David and the thunderstorm. Upbringing and education and the miracles . This is part one, which finishes the night before the big showdown with Boya the Scot and his wife and lascivious daughters,

Brilliant results for Cwmbran at the Urdd St David's Day Eisteddfod at Pontypool as Cwmbran and Newport Children go through to the final in Conwy in the summe.

A Pontifical Mass (Tridentine) at St David's Cathedral in Cardiff on May 18th at 11am.

A new Lourdes Grotto at Tredegar with an Apostolic Blessing for anyone who goes there and prays for the world and for all thouse suffering sikness.

Part Two Next week!

Sixth century Wales-the menace of the Irish and Saxon raiders in Gwent-Glamorgan, joined together for a while. St Teilo of Llanarth climbs the Skirrid to beg God to spare Gwent! Yellow Plague weakens the peopleThe Battle of Tintern and the visit of an angel, a holy well at Mathern and the relics of the saint still kept at Mathern in a stone sarcophagus under the chancel.

 Also a bishop's heart in an urn!!Snowdrops crocuses and narcissi-my car bites the dust after years of long service! A half term visit to the Abbey Church of Our Lady and St Teilo, now Llandaff Cathedral  special soundseeing tour for a furture podcast. Spring days.My trip to Mathern to interview professional historian Anthony Utting , writer of the book 'Who slew Tewdrig?' Definately a fun interview next time as we discuss this podcast

 

Revised episode due to gaps in original.

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Part Two discussing who did it with professional historian Anthony Utting actually at Mathern. Considerations-was it a jealous Welsh King, Angles or Saxons. Importance of Gloucester to South Wales. St Tewdrig's Well, Nennius's 'wonder', St Odoceus and his monastery Llandogo near Tintern, Caerwent as an early Christian site. My journey as a learner podcaster, and a consideration of Wales National Day Dydd Dewi Sant (St David's Day)on March 1st.Poem about a pilgrimage to St Davids in the far West of Wales in the Middle Ages.

Ash Wednesday and penitential psalm 51 as we start Lent and remember the Temptations of Jesus. Listening in at the SS Redentore Church in Venice as 12 year old Christian Jenkins soars up with the Schola Cantorum of Tewkesbury Abbey to give a superb rendering of Allegri's Miserere Mei (Psalm 51)in 2003. This is a live recording with permission and so there is some small amount of noise.

We look at the life of this great life of this holy saint, his miraculous birth, his founding of monasteries and renewal as a Theological Centre of the old Roman College at Caerleon. Miracle of Samson's drink, the worry of the Pelagian heresy and journey to Llanthony to beg David to come to Llandewi Brefi, Resignation as Archbishop and crowning of the real King Arthur. Journey to Ynys Enlli (Bardsey Island) Passing this life and burial there, relics brought to Llandaff in Cardiff in 1120.

My week.Stanley and his vision, Lilian and her ironing being cooled by streams of harp music! Laughter Segment about immodest women and finally examining Candlemas (February 2nd) and a special candlemas prayer with Mary for all the listeners!

Pater (Padr) Ishow of Patrishow in the shadow of the Holy Mountain. The Legend of the Skirrid (St Michael's Mount) Early Welsh customs.Earliest saints of royal blood . Islands, deserts, white and green martyrdoms,(Giving life to God) Place of animal and bird symbols in ancient Celtic times, adapted by Christian missionaries.Pilgrimage to Patrishow. Feedback from America,and food for Burns Night tomorrow night. Christian martys in other places, January-itis!

Harp beautifully played by Cheryl Ann Fulton from Magnatune on 'Airs of Wales'. Thank you Cheryl. Also the music Holy Holy from music.podshow.com. Other links are on the blog.

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Saint Materiana, Queen of Gwent, originally from North Wales, New Year Carol, Llanvetherine and links to Vortigern and Vortimer and Ynyr Gwent. An Easter Visit to Cornwall and the Valency Valley. Epiphany and the Mother of God Solemnity (Jan 1st) Beauty of a Cornish Easter. Confession and sin and joy of Epiphany.

Venerable Mary carol singing up the mountain. Llantarnam Mystery Plays excerpts, Why I SO wanted to be an angel! Fra Giovanni, Holy Innocents and the relevance of this feast day 28th December. Monmouthshire Christmas Blessings.

A Christingle Service in Cwmbran, martyrdom of Saint Alban and Amphilabus. Bishop of Caerleon,Mary's place in Wales from the earliest Christian times, The Pader or early rosary, Buchedd Mair and the Assumption, the mysteries of the Rosary and John Paul II, A perfect Christmas DVD set and event in Monmouthsire in coming weeks. An 8.30 Latin Mass in Abergavenny on Christmas Day.

Talking about Advent and Immaculate Conception. The Protomartyrs of Britain Saints Julius and Aaron and how they were martyred at Caerleon.From the River Usk.A laugh and why Catholics think so much of Mary! A Christmas treat.