Friday 15 April 2016

About Mary's Dowry Productions, from an Article written for Arundel Cathedral Proclaimer, April 2016, Catholic films, DVDs, productions, Howard

About Mary’s Dowry Productions
By Bernadette Bevans
Co-Founder and Co-Director
 
Mary’s Dowry Productions is named for Our Lady.
Tradition tells us that England was first consecrated to the Blessed Virgin as Her Dowry by Saint Edward the Confessor and that England has always held a special place in Mary’s heart.
 In 2007 my sister Emily and I felt so inspired by the lives of the saints, particularly our English saints and martyrs, that we wished to present these stories in a way that would inspire others too. I had a background in music composition and Emily in media and film.
Having grown up in A&B Diocese and living not far from Arundel, we had visited the Cathedral many times for events such as Confirmation but it struck us that we did not know a great deal about Saint Philip Howard whose tomb is there.
 We decided we would create a film on his life which would be inspiring and uplifting and help people to encounter this great saint.
 
Saint Philip Howard of Arundel
Available on DVD
www.marysdowryproductions.co.uk
We use the format of DVD so that anybody can pop a DVD in their player and encounter a saints’ life immediately. Using the simple means that were available to us at the time has led to the creation of a new form of film media to present the lives of the saints.
We try to recreate stunning silent visuals, informative, devotional narration and original contemplative music that touches the spirit and draws the viewer into a spiritual encounter with the saint.
Screenshot from 'Saint Ethedlreda: Abbess of Ely' DVD
Filmed on location at Nymans, Sussex
We wanted to achieve more than just films, but spiritual films that really capture the atmosphere and essence of an individual saint and not just information about them. 
Our DVD on St. Philip Howard helped us to learn about this saint too and has led us to produce films on other English Martyrs such as St. Edmund Campion, St. Margaret Clitherow; Anglo-Saxon saints like St. Cuthman of Steyning, St. Etheldreda; and popular saints like St. Francis of Assisi, St. Teresa of Avila also.
Saint Teresa of Avila DVD by Mary's Dowry Productions
Available on DVD
www.marysdowryproductions.co.uk
Our visuals over the years have become more creative, we try to incorporate local scenes and landmarks into the films and some of the saints we choose are very unknown but whose stories are remarkable and relevant today. 
Our films seek to offer a window into the lives of our saints so, using your spiritual senses we invite you to shut out the world, sit prayerfully and peacefully and go on a journey of faith, history and prayer with the saints.
 Our growing catalogue of DVDs and music CDs now numbers over 70 films which are all available online at
and
 

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