St. Richard Gwyn – New DVD by Mary Dowry’s Productions.

Wales had long been a stronghold of Catholicism but with the Protestant Revolution in the 16th Century heresy was imposed upon the Welsh nation by the English bureaucracy. It was the Welsh Bards that helped to keep the true teachings of the Faith alive through their poems and songs. Welsh Schoolmaster Richard Gwyn fell in love with the history and folklore of his country of Wales and through his reading, writing and studies he converted to the Catholic Faith. His wit, humour, joy and intelligence make his story one of real human experience, easily related to despite a gap of 450 years between his life and ours. He was a family man who was a devoted husband and father. His love for God and his honesty inevitably led him to confront the evils of his time whereupon he cheerfully gave his life for the Catholic Faith at the gallows in the market place of Wrexham, Wales. His wonderful biography is presented in this film for the first time. He is one of the 40 Martyrs.

This new DVD is available worldwide in all region formats from Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com or through Mary’s Dowry Productions online shop or over the telephone.

Last month the Mary Dowry’s Productions launched the DVD on St. Clare of Assisi.

See also the DVD on Bld Alexandrina.

The day of the Jump

Yesterday I had the curiosity to know the Easter Day of 1918 to identify the day of the Jump. It was with surprise that I found the Easter day was March 31 and hence the day of Jump coincided with the Alexandrina’s anniversary - 30 March. What a birthday gift they gave her! 

The Jump

An occasion, being me, my sister and an older girl than us working in the sewing, we sighted three men:  that who had been my master, other married and one third unmarried.  My sister, perceiving some thing and seeing them to follow our way, ordered me to close the door of the living room. 

Instants later, we feel that they went up the stairs that came to the living room (that then did not have this function, as was seen) and had beaten to the door.  My sister spoke to them.  That who had been my master ordered to open, but, as they did not have workmanship there, we do not open them the door. 

My old master knew the house well and went up by inner stairs of the habitation and the others stayed at the door where they had beaten.  He, not being able to enter to the interior by a trap that was closed and was protected by a sewing machine, caught in a mallet and tried to break the trap, to pass and enter the room. 

My sister, seeing this, opened the living room door and run away, but was imprisoned, and me, seeing everything this, jumped by the window that was opened to the yard.  I suffered a great shake shock, for the window was four meters distant of the soil.  It wanted to raise me soon, but I could not, because I felt a strong pain in the belly.  With the jump, the ring that I used felt, but I didn’t notice it.  Full of courage, I caught in a stick and I entered the yard door leading to the terrace where was my sister discussing with the two married men.  Other girl was in the living room with the bachelor.  I came close to them and called them dogs and said that or they left to come the girl or then I would cry out against them.  They accepted the proposal and left her free.

It was in this moment that I noticed the lack of the ring and said again to them: 

Dogs, for your cause I lost my ring.  One of them, that had the fingers full of rings, said me: 

- Choose here one. 

But, very angry, I answered: 

I won’t. 

We didn’t speak anything; they went away and we continued our work.  About this, we didn’t tell anything to anybody, but my mother came to know everything.  Shortly afterwards, I started to suffer more and all the people said that it was caused by jump.  The doctors had also affirmed that it had much concurred for my illness. 

Bld Alexandrina, Autobiography

“Fatima Prayer Book”, by Leo Madigan

Now that we are moving towards the centenary of the Fatima apparitions I was delighted to receive from our friend and collaborator, Leo Madigan, the most recent edition (the eighth) of his Fatima PrayerBook. This writer, to whom the spreading of the message of Fatima has been much indebted for years, has in the past also sent us his The Fatima Guide, as well, of course,  as his Blessed Alexandrina da Costa:The Mystical Martyr of Fatima, all issued by Ophel Books.

Jesus once said to Blessed Alexandrina: "Only she can help it", in this context meaning: Only the Mother of God is able to help the world. This western world has gone mad, refusing God and proudly promoting practices that are directly opposed to Christian tradition, and it urgently needs to turn to Her in penance and prayer. The Fatima Prayer Book is a vade mecum for the pilgrim who comes to the Cova de Iria: it contains many of the prayers common to our Faith along with others specifically inspired by Fatima.

Noteworthy is this statement from Pope Benedict XVI on page 7: "The Marian apparitions at Fatima, with their urgent call to conversion and penance, are undoubtedly the most prophetic of modern apparitions." But without prayer there is no conversion or repentance.
The graphical execution of the book is excellent, as is the selection of illustrations.

8th Anniversary of the Beatification

Eight years passed already over April 25 2004, when Pope John Paul II, at Saint Peter's Square, proclaimed the Servant of God Alexandrina Maria da Costa as Beata. It was a day almost like yesterday, with cloudy skies.

Since then, much has been done in order to disclose her: big part of her work and lots of other related information are online, were made translations into foreign languages, books were published in several countries. But there is still much to do until she enters the main door of the colleges of theology and her fundamental message becomes popular.

On yesterday feast, we note as very positive on-line transmission of the events at Balasar. It allowed us for example to hear the excellent homily of Fr Dario Pedroso in the Eucharist at 10am.

In the afternoon, we participated in the worship hour and enjoyed very much the texts selected for meditation.

From what we saw in Live Stream, the transmission seems not to have aroused the waited enthusiasm, perhaps for lack of information. It also seems that must have English subtitles.

We look forward to the new Official Website.

Live from Balasar

On 25th conect to this link since 8 am until the end of the day: www.livestream.com/alexandrinadebalasar.

Anniversary of the beatification

There are times when we received the email that we take the liberty to put online:

Dear friends and devotes of Blessed Alexandrina

On April 25, at Balasar, we will be celebrating the 8^th anniversary of the beatification of our beloved Alexandrina Maria da Costa.

The Masses and other ceremonies will be transmitted over the Internet.

If unable to attend, you can follow us through the sites www.alexandrinadebalasar.com or www.alexandrinadebalasar.pt.

Our site is being prepared, but it will not be completed on April 25 as originally scheduled. However, it will broadcast the ceremonies and we expect that within a short time we will be able to publish the official site of the cause of Blessed Alexandrina.

If you love me, if you're all mine, do not refuse me what I ask you: be my victim. The reward that I give you is heaven, and soon you're going in.

Ask your spiritual father so that he preaches that I be visited and loved the Holy Eucharist: it’s Jesus who asks.

Let people ask all they want before me: there is the remedy for all ills (03/04/1935, quoted from Letters to Father Mariano Pinho, 08/04/1935).

This fire you feel in yourself is the fire of my love ... It is the divine medicine (Pasquale, H., Beata Alexandrina, p. 264).

Best wishes.

Stations of the Cross

With quotations of Bld Alexandrina's Sentiments of the Soul, Fr Umberto first and Eugenie Signorile later have prepared Stations of the Cross. Read please; it's nice:

How much did His life on earth cost Jesus? 

It was not only Gethsemane with the three hours suffering on Calvary: 

All Jesus’ life was Gethsemane and Calvary. 

As He grew in age and wisdom,

the cross grew with Him, and in Him, too. 

He was not separated from it for so much as an instant:

In it He grew, in it He suffered,

But always with a smile, and with kindness. 

1st Station

Jesus is condemned.

Pilate delivered Him over to them to be crucified, so they took Jesus… (Jo 19, 16-17)

I see and I hear the great multitude

That unanimously, with no mercy for me,

Cries out for my crucifixion.

My ears hear their scream: 

"Die!  Let Him be condemned!” 

What shouts, those of the multitude! 

I receive the death sentence. 

Glory be to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost,

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

2nd Station

Jesus carries the cross.

And He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called

 the place of a skull, which is called in Hebrew Golgotha. (Jo 19, 17)

The weight is so great that I feel myself crushed into the earth. 

I not only carry the cross, but the entire world. 

So few friends... almost only enemies. 

Glory be to the Father..

3rd Station

Jesus falls for the first time.

I looked, but there was no one to help,

I was appalled, but there was no one to uphold. (Is. 63, 5)

I fall under the weight of the Cross. 

It seems to me that I am losing life.

Losing my life in order to give it to all strengthens me.

I struggle to my feet and continue to walk.

Glory be to the Father... 

4th Station

Jesus meets His Blessed Mother.

Jesus sees His Mother standing nearby. (Jo 19, 26)

 My mother approaches and we meet.

We look intensely at each other. 

I continue to walk.

She also walks, held by my appearance

Which grips her heart and soul"?

I not only carry the cross but also Her pain.

Glory be to the Father... 

5th Station

Jesus is helped by the Cyrene.

And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, and laid on him the cross. (Lk 23, 26)

At each step it seems me that I shall just die.  (It seems to me that I shall die at every step.)

I want somebody that takes the cross.  (I want someone to share the cross.)

There is one who does take it, not for love, but because it is imposed on him.

Yet I put into it so much love

That when they remove the cross I still feel as if I carry its weight.

Glory be to the Father... 

6th Station

Veronica wipes the face of Jesus.

Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me. (Mt. 25, 40)

A woman who has compassion for my suffering comes to meet me.

With what delicacy and love she cleans my face

Of the sweat, the blood, the dust!

How dearly I would like this heroic gesture to spread!

My face and the love of my heart remain printed on the cloth.

Glory be to the Father... 

7th Station

Jesus falls for the second time.

He poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the sinners. (Is 53, 12)

Halfway into the journey I fall heavily.

My lips, covered in blood,

kiss the land which bruises me"?  

The eyes of my soul see the whole of humanity.

Glory be to the Father... 

8th Station

Jesus meets the holy women of Jerusalem.

Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. (Lk 23, 28)

Some women follow me; they cry bitterly. 

I look on them with compassion and say to them:

"Do not cry for me, but for yourselves;

Cry for your sins; they are the cause of my suffering.”

Glory be to the Father... 

9th Station

Jesus falls for the third time.

Dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me. (Ps 22, 16-17)

Is heaven against me as well as the world?

The executioners renew their fury and drag me roughly.

However only love and compassion for them flows from my heart.

Glory be to the Father... 

10th Station

Jesus is stripped of His garments

They divided His garments among them, casting lots for them, to decide what each should take. (Mk 15, 24)

They take my clothes from me with a fury that

could tear my flesh to shreds; what violent pain!

To be undressed in public! 

The rabble laugh. 

I feel that my mother wants to cover Me with Her mantle.

Glory be to the Father... 

11th Station

Jesus is nailed to the cross.

They crucified Him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. (Lk 23, 33)

They stretch Me onto the cross.

I offer them hands and feet to be crucified: 

I am bound irrevocably to the Cross, and to the work of redemption.

Glory be to the Father... 

12th Station

Jesus dies on the cross.

When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “Everything is consummated," and He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. (Jo 19, 30)

Darkness covers Calvary. 

- Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they do! 

- Father, my Father, even you abandon me! 

- My children, I thirst for you! 

- My Mother, accept the world:  it is yours,

  born of My blood, born of your pain!

- All is consummated. 

- Father, I deliver my spirit to you: 

- My last breath is for You.

Glory be to the Father... 

13th Station

Jesus is placed in the lap of His Mother.

And Joseph of Arimathea took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud.  (Mat 27, 59)

His Mother, with Jesus dead in Her arms! 

It was love that led Jesus to give up His life

His Mother continues the same mission of love: 

To love us as she loves Jesus. 

Glory be to the Father... 

14th Station

Jesus is laid in tomb.

And Jose laid him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been laid.  (Lk. 23,53)

Love, joined to grace and the divine life,

Triumphed over pain and death.

Glory be to the Father... 

Oh glorious Calvary!  Oh cross of salvation!

Your blood waters the earth, fruitful rain, rain of love

That reconciles Heaven and Earth! 

Heaven is reconciled with the Earth!