Feast Day, 30th August, St Margaret Clitherow, St. Anne Line, St. Margaret Ward, English Martyrs, Elizabethan women

Saint Margaret Clitherow.  Saint Anne Line.   Saint Margaret Ward.  News. 

August 30th is the feast of three Elizabethan women and English Martyrs.

Do take the time to read their very short biographies online.
 

Over the past several years, Mary's Dowry Productions (a Catholic film production company founded in 2007 and based in England, UK) has produced four specific films about these three women so as to make their biographies available in a film/DVD format.

'The Shining Pearl of York' was produced as a half an hour biography presenting some beautiful paintings, historical images, maps, photographs of York etc...in a film for use in schools or home or parishes. 
 

'Saint Margaret Clitherow' was made in 2009/2010 as an hour long project detailing not only the facts of Saint Margaret's life but her Faith and devotions too (as seen on EWTN). 
 

'Saint Anne Line' runs for half an hour and she tells her story from her early life to Tyburn gallows, a particularly moving tale of heroic sacrifice to assist hunted priests and arrange the outlawed Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. 

Saint Margaret Ward runs for half an hour as this inspiring young laywoman tells of her deep love of the Catholic Faith, her determination to assist persecuted and imprisoned priests and her daring plan to break out one particular priest from Bridewell prison.  The film is set in 1580's England including Cheshire and Tyburn.
 

Each of these films combine footage of England, the English countryside, historical locations as well as stunning sacred art and historical paintings, simple silent portrayals of the Saint/Martyr beneath the narrative; devotional aspects and the Truths of the Faith, historical facts, details and reflection.

Follow the links below to each DVD:

St. Margaret Clitherow
The Shining Pearl of York
St. Anne Line
St. Margaret Ward

All films are available on DVD and can be shipped worldwide.

If you buy through our online shop you can change the currency to Euro, US dollar, Australian dollar or Canadian dollar.  We can post to all countries.  The films are in English with no subtitles.

DVDS from MARY'S DOWRY PRODUCTIONS

www.marysdowryproductions.org/shop

 

The death of St. Therese of Lisieux, DVD, her Last Conversations

The last few months leading up to the death of the Little Flower gave us her Last Conversations; insights into the soul of this Saint of the Church. 

In this new film many of her last consolations and thoughts which were written down by her sisters at her bedside have been arranged into a special presentation in a film that runs for 35 minutes. 

It includes photographs of the Saint, flowers and nature and some special imagery.

The film is a new release and is currently available from our online shop at Mary's Dowry Productions (click the link):

The Last Conversations of Therese DVD.

"Saint Gregory, pray for me", Saint Edmund Jennings, Saint Edmund Gennings, English Martyr's last words

St. Edmund Gennings (Saint Edmund Jennings) met St. Polydore Plasden at a seminary in France. Both went back to England to offer the outlawed Mass and were helped by St. Swithun Wells.   Fr. Edmund met Fr. Polydore by chance one day while about their missions in London and both went to Swithun's house. All three were arrested by Topcliffe.  Fr. Polydore (28) was executed with Swithun's servant at Tyburn and Swithun and Fr. Edmund (24) were executed outside Swithun's house at a makeshift gallows.  The last words that St. Edmund Gennings is recorded to have said were when his heart was ripped out.  He was still alive since he was only stunned in the noose, cut down and quartered.  The last words were 'Saint Gregory, pray for me' as he looked upon his heart which was lifted for the crowds.
St. Edmund Gennings still remains largely unknown.  Our short film about this great English Martyr runs for half an hour and in it we have taken the liberty of letting him tell his story.
St. Edmund Gennings remains currently available on DVD through our online shop (click the link):
St. Edmund Gennings DVD

Watch for the swifts, St. Margaret Ward, English Martyr DVD

When we filmed some of our visuals that we include in our short films on the English Martyrs (filling out the flow of historical paintings, maps etc...and helping put flesh on the Martyrs with our own imaginative brand of portrayals and scenery) we filmed at a certain historical location near Chichester, West Sussex for our short film telling the life of St. Margaret Ward (well, she tells her story in the film actually).

What may go un-noticed in this documentary are the swifts. 

One of our viewers recently pointed out (and we have noticed this ourselves since the day we picked up our first handycam and ran out into the public wearing medieval costumes back in 2008) was that in every one of our little films there features a bird/birds/flock/charm/gaggle/dissimulation/murmuration - (we've had them all). 

There is something beautiful about birds and while we never invited the birds to feature in all of our own film productions, they just happened, and sometimes we didn't even notice until editing our footage together in the little studio in the back room of our family home.

BUT in our production of 'St. Margaret Ward' - English Martyr', there are some swifts who put on a show for us while we were actually filming the houses at the Weald (crows pop up at Parham in the latter part of her story).  The swifts were showing off, we think they wanted to be part of St. Margaret Ward's story, and they were determined to be in it, sweeping gracefully in and out the windows of the old medieval houses.  So watch out for the swifts.  E J here at MDP and bevansinc won't shut up about them and it's been two years!

But it's all about St. Margaret Ward in the end, and rightly so, for she was a great Elizabethan woman who witnessed bravely and beautifully for the Catholic Faith in England. 

So why are we so enthusiastic about St. Margaret Ward?  Well, she was young, determined, spirited and devout.  She boldly entered prisons and when at home she worked out hiding places and routes for the missionary priests in England.  She heard that a Catholic priest was being fiercely pressured to conform in Bridewell prison and decided to break him out.  She was caught, scourged violently (her love of Christ would have her realise how much Christ suffered in his flesh at His own Scourging) and then she boldly declared to the English government that she was pleased to have saved her priest from the hands of 'bloody wolves' - good one Margaret!  She then stepped up to Tyburn gallows with other young Catholic men and women and was hanged publically in defence of the Faith which was being systematically crushed, attacked and replaced in Elizabethan England.  We love her story and wanted to share it because she was a Catholic laywoman and had real guts!

Watch out for our film about St. Margaret Ward on EWTN under our series 'Mary's Dowry Presents'.

The film can also be currently purchased from us on DVD to ship worldwide from our online shop (click the link - it opens in a new window):

St. Margaret Ward DVD

and is still in stock at Amazon Com and Amazon UK for people who have accounts with them.

Remember to watch out for the swifts!

Finally, the hair: St. Richard Gwyn, Co-Patron of the Latin Mass Society, DVD

We had a few enquiries about this great Welsh Martyr when we were in the process of producing a biographical film about St. Richard Gwyn that could help share his story but there's been hardly any interest in the DVD since it's release.  So here are some details to possibly whet the appetite:

The documentary is narrated by Robin Ingram who recently stared in 'The Squint', an exceptionally excellent short film that is currently being reviewed by EWTN for future broadacst.  If and when this turns up on the Network DO TUNE IN as it is a very good film that we at Mary's Dowry Productions watched several times (courtesy of Mr. Ingram) and passed on to our friends at the Network for review.  Watch this space!

Our film about 'St. Richard Gwyn' runs for about 45 minutes and delves into the social setting, struggles and decisions of a Welsh Catholic during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.  There are some lovely paintings of Wales throughout and some helpful portrayals of the Martyr and his family (sporting beautiful red wigs in usual Mary's Dowry Productions style! - okay, a sideline about the visuals - since it doesn't look likely that Mel Gibson will be making that longed for movie about our English Martyrs we're always here to offer a chance to meet the Saint through some form of media visual - and we do get a lot of good feedback about the wigs et al, really we do - my colleague here at MDP has a whole folder full!!).

So Saint Richard Gwyn has a particularly interesting story of Faith, especially to people who being in England (or the USA) are patriotic about our English Martyrs and although love the Welsh Martyrs too don't have much of an understanding of the history of the Catholic Faith in Wales and the great witness that many Welsh Catholics gave for the Catholic Faith - such as St. David Lewis, another amazing Martyr.

Details and facts throughout the narrative of our film biography of 'St. Richard Gwyn' are rich with history (the correct aspect of history of course) and touch upon the Welsh Bards who helped keep the truths of the Faith intact, as well as devotional aspects and a steady timeline of the Martyr's whole life, death and final words.

As Co-Patron of the Latin Mass Society St. Richard Gwyn is a worthy intercessor for Catholics in England and Wales today.  What we loved most about him though was his sense of humour, his wit, his love of his family, his blunt straight-to-the-point writings (the Carols is alluded to in this film) and his calm plea at the gallows for his fellow countrymen to remember the salvation of their souls above everything else on earth and not to lose them for any tranistory thing - if only there were men about today who spoke like St. Richard Gwyn!

'St. Richard Gwyn' by Mary's Dowry Productions is available on DVD worldwide through our online shop (click on the link):

St. Richard Gwyn DVD

and is currently in stock at Amazon UK and Amazon COM.

Finally - the hair! St. Richard Gwyn really did have a lovely head of hair.

The Currency Question, Mary's Dowry Productions, Help

We have had enquiries about changing the currency in our online shop to Euro or Dollar.

On the left hand side directly beneath the 'categories' section is the small bar titled 'currencies'.  The little drop down menu is easily changed using the small arrow beside the 'GB Pound' and all prices of the DVDs, CDs etc...in the shop will automatically be changed to Euro or US Dollar, Australian Dollar and Canadian Dollar when chosen.

Below is a close up - see bottom left hand corner.  Hope that helps!

 

St. Smithun Wells, St. SWITHUN Wells, wrong letter, same Martyr

Broadcast in the USA this week on EWTN is our short biography about English Martyr Saint Swithun Wells, told from his point of view shown in our series titled Mary's Dowry Presents.

 The typo naming him 'SMITHUN' Wells in the TV listing has caused a few enquiries especially by people searching for this film on the web or in our shop; understandable as he is quite an unknown Saint and Martyr and there isn't much available about Saint Swithun Wells let alone SMITHUN Wells.

Yes our short film is called 'Saint SWITHUN Wells' not Saint Smithun Wells and it is available on DVD through our online shop, shipping worldwide

Just follow this link:

St. Swithun Wells DVD

Be sure to watch the short film in the USA when it is shown through our series 'Marys Dowry Presents' as he has a great story he is keen to tell you.  Share it with others on DVD by visiting

www.marysdowryproductions.org/shop/

also Amazon UK and Amazon COM

The short film has also been broadcast in the U.K. and will pop up again in the future.

There are some lovely scenery shots in it of merry old England in the film too!

Martyr of the North, St. Edmund Arrowsmith, priest

What we found esepcially interesting about Fr. Arrowsmith was that according to modern sources he used his faculties as an exorcist when ministering to the Catholics in England in the 17th Century.  We were able to touch upon the Devil's intentions and actions during the reformation and the bloody persecution of Catholics, especially priests, in our 45 minute long presentation of the life of Saint Edmund Arrowsmith on DVD.

He is an amazing Martyr and has a fascinating biography. He was hunted for 15 years in England.

Our DVD is currently available from our online shop:

www.marysdowryproductions.org/shop/

We also still have it available through Amazon.

Even if you are not interested in a DVD presentation of his life, do look at the example of this great Englishman/priest/Martyr (through pamphlets/online short biographies etc..) who is a powerful intercessor today.

St. Edmund Arrowsmith - pray for us!



York Martyrs, especially St. Margaret Clitherow, remembered

The city of York, England can boast of many heroic and outstanding men and women of the Catholic Faith who were prepared to give their lives rather than renounce the Faith.  Many of the men and women remembered by the Church are from the 16th and 17th Century.

We call to mind in particular Saint Margaret Clitherow who is numbered among the

FORTY MARTYRS OF ENGLAND AND WALES also.

Among the many Martyrs remembered in York are Thomas Percy, Earl of Northumberland, who was beheaded under Elizabeth I, and Nicholas Postgate, known as Martyr of the Moors, who lived and worked in Ryedale and the North York Moors, and was one of the last Catholics to be executed for their faith in England in 1679.

Mary's Dowry Productions currently has available two DVDs presenting the life of Saint Margaret Clitherow.  The Shining Pearl of York plays for half an hour and begins with the execution of Blessed Thomas Percy. 

Saint Margaret Clitherow runs for almost one hour and is often broadcast on EWTN.

We currently have these DVDs in stock in our online shop:

www.marysdowryproductions.org/shop/

and they are also still available from Amazon UK and Amazon Com.

York Martyrs remembered

The martyrs:

John Rochester, priest, Carthusian; James Walworth, priest, Carthusian monk; Robert Aske, leader of the Pilgrimage of Grace; Thomas Percy, Earl of Northumberland; William Lacy, priest; Richard Kirkham, priest; James Thompson (alias Hudson), priest; William Hart, priest; Richard Thirkeld, priest; Hugh Taylor, priest; Marmaduke Bowes, layman; Margaret Clitherow , laywoman; Francis Ingelby, priest; Robert Bickerdyke, layman; John Finglow, priest; Edmund Sykes, priest; George Douglas, priest; Alexander Crow, priest; Edward Burden, priest; John Amias (alias Anne); Robert Dalby, priest; William Spencer, priest; Robert Hadesty, layman; Robert Thorpe, priest; Thomas Watkinson, layman; Anthony Page, priest; Edward Osbaldeston, priest; Alexander Rawlins (alias Feriman), priest; Henry Walpole, Jesuit priest; George Errington, layman; William Knight, layman; William Gibson, layman; Henry Abbott, layman; William Anlaby, layman; Thomas Warcop, layman; Edward Fulthro, layman; John Bretton, layman; Peter Snow, priest; Ralph Grimston, layman; Richard Horner, priest; Christopher Wharton, priest; James Harrison, priest; Anthony Bates, layman; Thomas Welbourne, layman; John Fulthering, layman; Matthew Flathers, priest; Thomas Atkinson, priest; John Lockwood, priest; Edmund Catherick; Brian Cansfield, priest (killed by Puritans); Nicholas Postgate, priest; Thomas Twing. (H/T The York Press - article by Dan Bean 17/8/12)

Don't forget, Kateri Tekakwitha DVD, her upcoming Canonization, out now

With Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha's Canonization nearing (in October 2012), we were able to have produced a simple film about her that was produced in 2011 and gives a detailed presentation of her important and inspiring life. 

It still currently remains available on DVD worldwide through our online shop:

www.marysdowryproductions.org/shop/

This DVD was planned and produced well before the announcement of Blessed Kateri's Canonization as it came from several of the Mary's Dowry Productions team's own personal love of Kateri's heroic example. 

The DVD has been especially popular as an excellent way to share her story with others too. 

We also currently have it available on Amazon UK and Amazon USA. 

She was an amazing young woman and is a great patron and inspiration!

The DVD cover carries a quote from Pope John Paul II:

"Look to her for an example of fidelity; turn to her in prayer for assistance."

Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha - pray for us!

Would you like to help Mary's Dowry Productions, biographical films of the Saints and Martyrs

Mary's Dowry Productions is a small family run apostolate established in 2007.

Our intention was to make simple yet informative short films about the Saints and Martyrs.

Our focus was always first and foremost the English Martyrs, especially those most forgotten or unknown.  This of course means that as many of these Martyrs are quite unknown it is difficult to get interest in most of them, even with our film projects, as many of the people we choose are very unlikely film candidates (St. Swithun Wells, St. Edmund Gennings etc..).

We are continuing to share the stories of the English Martyrs that we love and find so inspiring by using our simple biographical films through 'the new media call of the church' and we're grateful for any help directing people to our website or helping us to make these films through money donations.  We spend our own money producing these films and try to keep DVD purchase costs as low as possible worldwide.

We have personally found that watching a short film giving a biography of someone is always a very good way to learn about them.  If you think so too then help spread word about our films as there is very little information available on a lot of these great men and women from history (and their stories really should be known more)! 

Our films are made by a small group of mainly young men and women using a variety of gifts/talents/enthusiasm and give a clear, simple but detailed presentation of a specific Saint/Martyr with historical facts, devotional aspects, faith, encouragement and inspiration.

If you would like to donate to Mary's Dowry Productions (assisting with production materials, postage costs etc...) then use the yellow donate button down the right hand side of this blog. 

We offer grateful thanks to all who have helped us in the past.  Donations have assisted us in many ways and especially to make among others the following films:

Saint Margaret Clitherow

Saint Thomas More

Saint John Fisher

Saint Swithun Wells

Saint Patrick (released August 2012)

and more.

May the Martyrs and Saints of England pray for England and the church.

Visit our website to find out more on our films/about us etc..:

www.marysdowryproductions.org/

IF YOU OWN A SHOP, RUN A REPOSITORY ETC...CONTACT US FOR TRADE INFORMATION TO STOCK OUR FILMS.

- Charles Slaughter, Mary's Dowry Productions correspondence 2012.

NEW film about St. Patrick, Apostle of Ireland, on DVD

A new DVD release from Mary's Dowry Productions giving a simple but detailed presentation of the fascinating life and mission of Saint Patrick: Apostle of Ireland.

The DVD is available worldwide through our online shop:

www.marysdowryproductions.org/shop/

This is a very interesting production which gives an inspiring telling of Saint Patrick's life.

It includes a part of Saint Patrick's breastplate, lots of images and information as well as devotional aspects. 

Saint Patrick - Pray for us!