Tuesday 10 December 2019

Saint Anne Line and the Mass - the English Martyrs and the Mass (FILM TRAILER)

THE ENGLISH MARTYRS AND THE MASS

Shining out from among many of our English Martyrs is one of three women who were canonized in 1970 as part of the group of Saints known as 'The 40 Martyrs of England and Wales'. Her name was Anne Line and she was a young Elizabethan Catholic woman who converted to the persecuted Church from Calvinism.

As a member of the outlawed Catholic Church in England, Saint Anne, along with her brother and friend, Roger Line, worked for the Catholic cause. She and Roger soon married but shortly after Roger was arrested with Anne's brother and their priest friend. Roger was sent into exile where he soon died, leaving young Saint Anne a widow.

The great missionary priest Father John Gerard gave Saint Anne Line as mission - to care for safe houses throughout England, where priests who returned to England upon secret, dangerous missions bringing the outlawed Mass and Sacraments to the people, would find safety and shelter.

Saint Anne Line was deeply united to Christ and offered her sufferings, including frequent migraines, in sacrifice for the Catholic cause in England and for the conversion of souls. She was eventually arrested during a secret Mass, imprisoned, questioned, hung up by her wrists for ten days in a cell, but refused to deny the Catholic Faith, the authority of the Pope, the Petrine ministry or repent from sheltering outlawed priests.

Saint Anne Line joyfully gave her life for the Catholic Faith in England at the triple Tyburn gallows.
Her story is available on DVD from Mary's Dowry Productions worldwide in all region formats HERE as well as Instant Digital Download from our website to watch NOW.

TRAILER:


The Sacred Heart of Jesus in England and throughout the whole world

THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS


Saint Claude de la Colombiere and the Sacred Heart in England:

It was saint Margaret Mary’s confessor, saint Claude de la Colombiere, who was specifically chosen by Jesus to take the devotion of the sacred heart direct from Paray-le-Monial to England in 1678. Saint Claude was a French Jesuit priest, confessor to saint Margaret Mary and advisory to the saint as she received the great revelations of the sacred heart of Jesus for the world. Providence sent saint Claude to St James’ palace in London to be preacher to the Duchess of York, Mary of Modena, the devout Catholic wife of the heir to the English throne, James II, who himself had converted to Catholicism.

When the infamous ‘Titus Oates’ plot broke out and a fresh wave of persecutions struck the recusant Catholics and Catholic priests of England, saint Claude met secretly with future English martyr saint John Wall and confided his admiration for the sacrifices priests were offering in the ‘land of crosses’.

St Claude declared he would willingly give his life for the Catholic Faith in England but was exiled after having completed his task of giving the spark of devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus among the faithful English. In this film we look at the life and mission of St. Claude, England and the Titus Oates plot as well as the first shrine to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in England, linked to Saint John Henry Newman.


AVAILABLE HERE on DVD worldwide.

England: The Dowry of Mary - NEW DVD release NOW available worldwide

ENGLAND: THE DOWRY OF MARY

NOW available worldwide in all region formats from Mary's Dowry Productions is our NEW film 'England: The Dowry of Mary'.



England: The Dowry of Mary

The unique title of Dowry of Mary for the country of England can be traced deep into England’s Catholic past. Its significance in Our Lady’s plan for this little country, which was once known as the Island of Saints, has meaning and importance especially now, not only for Britain but for the entire Universal Church. What is the meaning of this title, its history, roots and significance and why now, after almost 1000 years, is England being re-dedicated as the Dowry of Mary in March 2020?

Presented on locations at two important Shrines to Our Lady in England; the Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation in West Grinstead and the Priory of Our Lady of England in Storrington, West Sussex , we journey through England’s history, from Glastonbury, through the 11th century with Richeldis de Faverches and Our Lady of Walsingham, the lives of many great early British Saints, the Martyrs of the Reformation, the plots of King Henry VIII, the destruction of the Shrines and holy places, images and devotions throughout the land, the counter-reformation in England, the Passionists, St John Henry Newman, St Claude de la Colombiere, Saint Dominic Savio, Pope St John Paul II’s 1982 visit to Wembley and his request for the statue of Our Lady of Walsingham to be present, the Dowry Tour, the meaning of bells, the Angelus, recusants and much more in this unique and inspiring, informative and devotional Catholic adventure through England; The Dowry of Mary. Length and Format: "England: The Dowry of Mary" is 1 hour and 16 minutes in length and is available worldwide on Region Free DVD.

Please note: Due to the length of this film, those in the US, Canada, Japan and other NTSC regions will be sent a double DVD disc version in two parts. A small surcharge for postage costs will be added at checkout to cover this.

AVAILABLE HERE







Monday 2 December 2019

Dowry Tour VLOG at Arundel Cathedral, the re-dedication of England to Our Lady as her Dowry

We were at Arundel Cathedral and the Shrine of Saint Philip Howard on Friday for part of the beautiful celebrations and devotions of The Dowry Tour which had arrived at the Cathedral of our Diocese. Here's a quick VLOG on location as Mary's Dowry Productions looks forward to releasing our upcoming film 'England: The Dowry of Mary' this December, to help explain the history and meaning of the title 'Mary's Dowry' for England.





Saturday 30 November 2019

The Dowry Tour, Arundel Cathedral and the Shrine of an English Martyr

Mary's Dowry Productions was honoured to be able to join in the Angelus before the statue of Our Lady of Walsingham in the replica of the Holy House in Arundel Cathedral this weekend when the Dowry Tour came to our Diocese of Arundel and Brighton in preparation for the re-dedication of England to Our Lady as her Dowry.


Our Lady of Walsingham statue from the Roman Catholic Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham in Norfolk has been visiting all of the Cathedrals in England.


Bishop Moth processed behind the statue of Our Lady after Mass as it was placed in the replica of the Holy House for veneration by the faithful.



We were excited to see so many images of the Wilton Diptych about the Cathedral, which we took as our logo in 2007 at the founding of Mary's Dowry Productions Catholic film apostolate, sharing the lives of the British Saints and Martyrs through film and the new media.


The Dowry Tour exhibition


It was wonderful to see the statue of Our Lady of Walsingham near the Shrine of Saint Philip Howard, the Earl of Arundel and an English Martyr - a film about Saint Philip Howard was our first ever production.

The upcoming re-dedication of England to Our Lady as her Dowry is a very important event for the Catholic Church in England. We were able to produce a small VLOG outside the Cathedral as well as acquire some excellent footage for the end of our upcoming film 'England: The Dowry of Mary' which will be released this December 2019 on DVD and Instant Video worldwide, looking at the history of this unique title for England as well as many important historical events throughout England's history, leading to March 2020. Visit our YouTube channel to see film trailers and our VLOG: YOUTUBE


Children from the local schools carry the statue of Our Lady in procession




The Wilton Diptych shows the moment when on June 15th 1381, King Richard II, gave England to Our Lady as he Dowry. Our Lady holds the standard of England as a token of her Dowry. One of the Angels holds the standard cross of Saint George who is the patron Saint of England. On top of the staff is an orb with a tiny map of England on it.

It cannot be stressed enough the importance of this upcoming event of the re-dedication of England to Our Lady as her Dowry. By this dedication and title, England has been set aside for Our Blessed Mother that we might receive her prayers and protection.




We can expect a great return of the Faith of our forefathers and foremothers and with this in mind we need to prepare. This will take great Faith and TRUST in Our Lord Jesus Christ and in the powerful intercession of our beloved Lady of Walsingham (Dowry Tour booklet).

Our new film 'England: The Dowry of Mary' has special presentations from two Shrines of England - The Priory of Our Lady of England in Storrington, and The Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation in West Grinstead, both with very special roles in the history of England.

Learn more about the lives of the British Saints and English Martyrs through film on DVD (all region formats) and Instant Video at Mary's Dowry Productions website:



Walsingham is England's National Shrine to Our Lady and its primary focus is reflection upon the Incarnation of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ through meditation upon the Annunciation, the first of Our Lady's joys.

Friday 22 November 2019

Preparing for England's re-dedication to Our Lady as her Dowry in 2020 with the Saints

As we continue to prepare for the re-dedication of England to Our Lady as her Dowry in March 2020 we have been encouraged to make the 33 day consecration to Our Lady through Saint Louis de Montfort or Father Michael Gaitley’s inspiring book ‘33 Days to Morning Glory’. We have also been encouraged to get to know better the lives of England’s Saints and Martyrs who have not only impacted English history but that of the whole world, especially the USA and Australia. Mary’s Dowry Productions was founded in 2007 to help share the lives of the Saints, especially our British Saints and English Martyrs.


We have a growing range of films about many of England’s Saints including Saint Bede, Saint Etheldreda, Saint Edmund Campion, Saint Thomas More, Saint Simon Stock and the Brown Scapular and many more, with historical biographies from a Catholic perceptive too including Thomas Cromwell: The King’s Architect (a best seller for Mary’s Dowry on Amazon), Queen Mary Tudor and our film about ‘Richeldis de Faverches and Our Lady of Walsingham’.



 A variety of Saints DVDs from Mary’s Dowry Productions for November, the month dedicated to prayers for the Holy Souls, include several popular and several lesser known lives of Catholic Saints who had special devotions to, or encounters with, the Holy Souls in Purgatory. Our 2017 film ‘Saint Faustina and The Divine Mercy’ has a good section about Saint Faustina and the souls in purgatory, as does our 2017 film ‘Saint Padre Pio: Pray, Hope and Don’t Worry’. These two films are included in our 20th Century Catholic DVD box set which offers six DVD films on the lives of individual Saints for the price of three single DVDs.



A special film for November is ‘Saint Mechtilde and the Souls in Purgatory’, which looks especially at this 13th Century German beguine who lived the end of her life with the nuns in Helfta and was friends with Saint Gertrude the Great who gave us the popular prayer for the Holy Souls. She herself had many beautiful encounters with the holy souls and shows us the importance of praying for our departed friends and family as well as the forgotten souls. Also available to download and watch now with Mary's Dowry Productions Instant Digital Download.



 New film releases from Mary’s Dowry Productions this year have included Saint John Henry Newman, a presentation on England’s newest Saint which also looks at England, the Reformation, Blessed Dominic Barberi and the Passionists, young Saint Dominic Savio and the heroic lives of the English Martyrs which so moved and impressed Saint John Henry Newman – packed with quotes, imagery, information and devotion. We have been delighted that this film has been popular overseas, especially because the lives of England’s Saints and Martyrs and her Catholic history has had such an historical impact especially on the USA and Australia. Also available to download and watch now (rent or buy) with Mary's Dowry Productions Instant Video.


With the recent release of a new film about Saint Faustina by the Marian Fathers, our own DVD ‘Saint Faustina and The Divine Mercy’ is getting a lot of interest – our 2017 film presents the life of Saint Faustina, the message of Divine Mercy, the Chaplet, Painting, Feast, Diary and certain passages and words from Jesus in a special biographical, informative and devotional way.  This film is also available to download and watch now (rent or buy) with Mary's Dowry Productions INSTANT VIDEO.


 Mary’s Dowry Productions is currently producing our NEW film ‘England: The Dowry of Mary’ to prepare for the important and exciting historical re-dedication of England to Our Lady after five hundred years; a title which many kings of England, tracing back to the 11th century, regularly commemorated, offering this once called ‘Island of Saints’ to Our Lady under the unique title of Her Dowry in solemn festivities until the Protestant Reformation. In this new film we explore the meaning of this title, the history of Catholicism in England and how it affected the rest of the world, the lives of the Saints and English Martyrs, Walsingham, and much more. This NEW film will be available on DVD and INSTANT DOWNLOAD in December 2019.



 Catholic films make a useful and inspiring gift for families, friends, parishes and schools especially at Christmas. We will be posting out worldwide over the next month for arrival in time for Christmas, with DVDs arriving between five and ten days in the USA, Australia and New Zealand. Take a look at Mary’s Dowry Productions website for a full listing of our DVDs, box sets, Saints magnets, CDs and our new service of Instant Digital Downloads.


Our films are all posted out in DVD in the correct region formats worldwide. Be sure to check out our YouTube channel where we have been uploading new film clips and trailers to help share the lives of the Saints and the English Martyrs: YOUTUBE CHANNEL

MARY'S DOWRY PRODUCTIONS WEBSITE

Friday 8 November 2019

England's Mystic, Saint Julian of Norwich - England's Saints and Martyrs film resources


England's Mystic - Saint Julian of Norwich

Although not officially canonized, Julian of Norwich is widely regarded as a Saint throughout history, having lived a holy life solely for Christ as an anchoress. She spent her days in almost solitude, longing to be forgotten by the world, living in a small cell attached to the church of Saint Julian in Norwich, the Saint after which she has since become known. Even her real name has been forgotten to history, just as Saint Julian would have wished.


Saint Julian's day was one of prayer. She was able to observe Mass through a small window into the church in her cell and the priest brought her Holy Communion daily. She had a small group of acquaintances who respected her hermitage but who were drawn to her holiness, purity, radiant peace and deep Catholicism.


On one occasion, Saint Julian fell ill and thought she was going to die. She reflected upon her sins and her life and then was given Sixteen visions by Our Lord and asked to write them down. They are known as the Sixteen Showings, or Sixteen Revelations.


By writing them down under obedience, Saint Julian became one of the first women authors in Britain. The book was called The Revelations of Divine Love', and especially centered upon the Holy Passion of Christ, which Saint Julian especially honoured and adored.


The Revelations of Divine Love show us Christ's deep love for his creatures and Julian's authentic Catholic spirituality, as she mentions Our Lady's central role, purgatory, devotions and the Mass among others.


Her book remains a classic in Christian literature and has gone through many editions, translations and publications. Saint Julian is classed as a mystical writer, with mystical imagery and thoughts. The book brings encouragement and peace, especially through Our Lord's central message of Trust, Trust in His Mercy and that "all will be well".


Our 2016 film about Saint Julian of Norwich is presented in her own words as a specific encounter with this Saint, her life and her writings.



We have several excerpts and trailers on our YouTube Channel as well as the full film to watch for free - wonderful for a serious meditation with Saint Julian upon her writings and especially upon the Passion of Christ.


The film is also available to rent, purchase, watch and keep on DVD worldwide and Instant video from Mary's Dowry Productions.

As we prepare for the re-dedication of England to Our Lady as her Dowry, we have been encouraged to meditate upon and read about the lives of the Saints of England and the English Martyrs. Saint Julian of Norwich is often associated mainly with the Anglican church, but she is a Roman Catholic Anchoress, a Catholic Mystic and is an excellent English Saint to get to know better, especially now.

For film resources about Saint Julian of Norwich:

Thursday 31 October 2019

Have you come here to die, Father? St Polydore Plasden (FILM TRAILER)

Have you come here to die, Father?
NEW trailer for 'Saint Polydore Plasden' Catholic film about one of the 40 Martyrs of England and Wales can now be watched here:


Saturday 26 October 2019

A SAINT IN THE STOCKS, Saint Richard Gwyn (FILM CLIP)

A SAINT IN THE STOCKS

Saint Richard Gwyn was a Welsh Catholic in Elizabethan times who spoke out against the persecutions by the Elizabethan government upon the Catholic Church in Wales. He wrote ballads, spoke boldly, educated the youth and refused to attend the compulsory State Anglican Services until he was eventually arrested.

Placed in the stocks he cheerfully argued with a Protestant minister who had a large, purple nose; rattled his chains during an enforced sermon in a Protestant church he was forced to attend and remained joyful, positive and faithful during a sham trial that led to a public execution where he gave some fine, inspiring final words and died a heroes death.

As one of the 40 Martyrs of England and Wales, Saint Richard Gwyn is an inspiring witness to the Catholic Faith. Here is a film clip from Mary's Dowry Productions Catholic DVD 'Saint Richard Gwyn':


In defense of Pilgrimages in Our Lady's Dowry of England, before England lost that title after the Reformation

Almost no Catholic practice excited more opposition among the Reformers of the 16th century than making pilgrimages to sanctuaries. Preachers such as Latimer had no objection to throngs of people gathering around their pulpits, often by force and under threat of fines, but they pined with envy if they saw people go to offer prayers at a sanctuary in honour of Our Lady.


The title of 'superstition' was given to this ancient pious practice especially by those in the courts of King Henry VIII and Edward VI, who grew rich by plundering the famous shrines. To justify their spoliations they collected arguments against each place in order to set about destroying them.

Christians took up the holy practice of making pilgrimages at the dawn of Christianity. In the writings of the Early Church fathers it is recorded that Christians paid great reverence to memorials and shrines of the martyrs and saints.

On few countries was the influence of pilgrimages exercised that England.

The spirit of pilgrimage in England is coeval with Christianity. No sooner has Saint Alban shed his blood than his tomb became a place of pilgrimage. The Anglo-Saxons had a great love for pilgrimages. The road between England and Rome became thronged, and many traveled onward to the sacred sites of Jerusalem.

Among the many traditions and devotions of the people practiced for centuries that were attacked by the Protestant Reformers, Pilgrimages ranked high. Great thinkers and defenders of the Catholic Faith in England presented defenses for the custom of making pilgrimages, although that did not spare the destruction of shrines such as the Shrine of Saint Etheldreda, Abbess of Ely, where this Saxon Saint's body had remained miraculously incorrupt for 1000 years, or the Shrine of Saint Thomas Becket.


Of the benefits received from making pilgrimages to the Shrines especially to the tombs of Saints here are a few:

1) We are vividly reminded of the Saint whose bones repose there, or to whom the church is dedicated, and so led to the imitation of his or her virtues.
2) Our devotion is stimulated to greater fervour
3) We, by our congratulations and rejoicing, become partakers in the merit of their good works
4) We ask more earnestly and therefor receive more abundantly the help of their prayers
5) Our charity is inflamed towards the martyrs of God and the God of the martyrs, and our spirit of religion and zeal increases
6) We endeavour even on earth to make them some compensations for their toils and sufferings
7) We acquire true honour ourselves by our association with these friends of God
8) Great graces and often miracles ar often obtained in such pilgrimages
9) The very remembrance of our visit to a holy place renews our devotion and becomes a lifelong gain.

Pilgrimages were a part of Catholic life in England for centuries.


As we prepare for the re-dedication of England to Our Lady as her Dowry in 2020, let us make pilgrimages to the places in our land that honour our Saints and Our Lady, such as the Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation in West Grinstead, Sussex, or the Shrine of Saint Philip Howard, an English Martyr in Arundel Cathedral, West Sussex, and many more.


For films about the Saints of England, the English Martyrs and also Our Lady of Walsingham, visit:

www.marysdowryproductions.org

Saint Paul of the Cross and England - the Dowry of Mary

St. Paul of the Cross and England


The Passionist Order founded by Saint Paul of the Cross have had a very important part to play in the re-conversion of England to the Dowry of Our Lady. As we prepare for the re-dedication of England to Our Lady as her Dowry in March 2020, here is a brief look at Saint Paul of the Cross' love for England.



SAINT PAUL OF THE CROSS AND ENGLAND
From the Passionist Bulletin of the Holy Cross Province, Number 7, July 1944

The history of Paul of the Cross’ devotion to the cause of England’s re-conversion is not long, although, in time it lasted for over a half century of his life. In his old age, he was to relate to his sons: “It is now fifty years since I began to pray unceasingly for the conversion of England to the faith of its fathers.”
Undoubtedly, it all began early in his youth. 
Saint Paul as a boy had a great, love for heretics, and his prayers for them were as continual as they were fervent. The first mention of England as the object of Paul’s love comes in the diary which Paul kept during the retreat immediately after his reception of the habit. This forty-day retreat took place in the Church of San Carlo mentioned above. The entry for Thursday, December 26, 1720, records: 
“I had the special desire for the conversion of heretics, and especially of England with its neighbouring kingdoms, and I made special prayer for this during Most Holy Communion.” Again, three days later, Paul writes: “… and I had a special motion to pray for the conversion of England; especially since I would that the standard of the Faith be exalted, that devotion and respect, homage and frequent adoration of the most Blessed Sacrament, the ineffable mystery of the Most Holy Love of God might be extended, so that His Holy Name might be glorified in a most special manner. The desire to die as a martyr, especially for the Blessed Sacrament, there where they do not believe in it, never leaves me.” 
That it was that God was calling Paul to spend his whole life praying for the return of “Mary’s Dower.” From this time to the end of his life, Paul was to pray “unceasingly” — his own term — for England. This constant devotion of Paul is brought out very emphatically by Venerable Dominic in his introduction to Blessed Vincent Strambi’s “Life of St. Paul of the Cross:” 
“England was always the country of his predilection. It might almost seem to some who knew him well, as if he had no heart, no feeling but for England. England was always in his thoughts; England was constantly the subject of his discourses; England was always before him in his prayers. For the space of fifty years he prayed for England without intermission.” Elsewhere it is related that throughout the years Paul’s frequent reminder to his children was: “Ah, England! England! Let us pray for England.”
Were all these prayers and exhortations of no avail? As far as we can ascertain, Paul’s constant intercession was not answered in any way, until he had persevered in it for fifty years! Even then the answer was not a glorious conversion of the English; that was many years away. His only consolation came from the fact that God permitted him to see that one day his children would be in England, labouring for the salvation of that beloved country.
This was a grace accorded him during one of the last Masses he was able to celebrate. He had obviously been wrapt in ecstasy during the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice. When Mass was over, he exclaimed in reply to questioning, his face still radiant with joy: “Oh what have I seen? — my children in England, — my religious in England!” If Paul of the Cross had lived many more years, he would have received another very consoling answer to his many prayers. It would have been the joy of seeing that his own love for the return of England to the Church’s fold had taken firm root in the hearts of his sons. 
They were to consider it as one of the ends of the Congregation, as one of the early commentators expressly states: “God, Who willed to make use of Paul and his Congregation for the conversion of England, put before him the sad condition of that country and incited him to pray for it. It is lawful therefore to infer from this that Paul of the Cross had a special mission to occupy himself with the return of England to the Church, and that this is to be one of the ends for which his Institute is to come into being.” Foremost among the sons of St. Paul with this devotion planted in their hearts comes Venerable Dominic of the Mother of God. This saintly Passionist, whom Cardinal Manning was to call “an Apostle to England,” looked upon his Passionist vocation as appending the special mission to pray and labour for the con-version of England.
Any one of his many letters, written during the thirty years of patient waiting and hoping prior to his arrival in England, is sufficient testimony of this. His labours and triumphs in England, once there, need no recounting. They have well earned him the title of Apostle. This same idea is repeated, even more emphatically, by the biographer of Ven. Dominic: “With the Passionist, this devotion to the great cause of England’s conversion is not a matter of choice, but an integral part of his vocation.” This is what their vocation meant to Passionists before us. Our own vocation likewise entails some devotion to the same cause, for we have received it as an inheritance directly from our Holy Founder. This fact assumes special significance today, for there are many indications pointing to another movement in England toward Catholicism, similar to that of the last century in which other Passionists played so great a part.
The Sword of the Spirit movement, inaugurated by the late Cardinal Hinsley, echoing in as full cooperation as possible with the Religion and Life movement among the Anglican and Free Churches, has opened the eyes of many Protestants, and is leading the field in dispersing existent prejudice against Catholicism. More-over, the Sword of the Spirit, co-operating on all the Social Reforms, will create an amity and understanding that may well influence the predicted and long-awaited Protestant Revival after the War. Then, of course, there is the war. War time, asserts one prominent authority, is nearly always a time for a return to God. That is the basis of the predicted Protestant Revival to follow the War. And we might say, the more intense the struggle, the more far-reaching the revival. If that be true, England’s return to God should be as far-reaching as some think, for few peoples have ever suffered what the British were subjected to earlier in the War. The outstanding work, during this time, by the English Catholics and the Church, will have more influence in drawing converts, perhaps, than any other factor in the whole War.
And so, times and circumstances are disposing England very favourably to return to the Faith, which God may deign to send her through the instrumentality of our prayers. Moreover, praying for England is a duty in some way incumbent upon as all, since it is included in the complete spirit of our Holy Founder. It is for England that we say the single “Ave” at the end of night prayers. Recited with devotion, this beautiful petition will not fail to have its effect. In conclusion, let us once again recall Paul’s vision, toward the end of his life, of his children in England. Although diligently questioned as to his vision, Paul would say only that he had seen his children in England: “Mi figli in Inghilterre!” But, as his commentators wisely add, he must have seen more than this solitary fact. Did he see the future conversion of that country for which he had so ardently prayed? Perhaps that vision extended up to the present, and he saw England disposed for another movement toward the Faith of its Fathers, — England once again to become “Mary’s Dower,” to glory in the ages of its Faith!

Our new DVD 'Saint John Henry Newman' looks especially at the Passionists in England:

JOHN HENRY NEWMAN DVD LINK

Saint John Henry Newman - Fullness of Truth (FILM TRAILER) - now available

This month saw Mary's Dowry Productions release a NEW film about Saint John Henry Newman.

Here is the trailer of the NEW DVD:




Friday 13 September 2019

NEW DVD John Henry Newman: Fullness of Truth, released today


JOHN HENRY NEWMAN DVD

This September 2019 Mary’s Dowry Productions is pleased to release on DVD (and coming shortly to Instant Digital Download) a new film about John Henry Newman that not only looks at his life, conversion and defence of the Catholic Faith during the turbulent times of 19th century England, but his important place in Our Lady’s plan for England as her Dowry.


Take a journey through the Catholic history of England as we prepare for the historic re-dedication of England to Our Lady as her Dowry in March 2020. John Henry Newman’s canonisation this October 2019 as a Saint of the Catholic Church comes at a fascinating time in this country’s history. England had been dedicated to the Mother of God as her Dowry, a unique title for a country and with a very special meaning, for almost a thousand years.

Many kings of England formally dedicated the country to Our Lady up until the Protestant Reformation. This NEW film includes presentations from Arundel in West Sussex, which has a unique link with John Henry Newman especially through Henry Duke of Norfolk and the building of Arundel Cathedral which was originally dedicated to Saint Philip Neri (who founded the Oratorians of which Newman was a member) and its rededication as the ‘Cathedral of Our Lady and Saint Philip Howard’ when this Elizabethan Martyr was canonised a Saint.

Walk through the history of England, the lives of many early Saints and English Martyrs, the Reformation and its effect upon the history of the country and the following generations, the exile of the Catholic hierarchy for 300 years until 1850, following which Newman gave his beautiful and historic Sermon 10 known as The Second Spring, and see his important and inspiring role in Our Lady’s plan at a time when young Saint Dominic Savio saw a vision of Pope Pius IV and the torch of the Faith in England.

We also look at Blessed Dominic Barberi of the Mother of God, the Passionist priest who received John Henry Newman into the Catholic Church at Littlemore and who is known as the Apostle of England. With many quotes from John Henry Newman this new film will be a useful and inspiring resource as well as a devotional and spiritual encounter with a new Saint for our times that embodies the continuity of the Catholic Faith with all of its history and beauty.

This NEW DVD is available NOW from Mary's Dowry Productions online shop in all region formats here:

NEWMAN DVD

Wednesday 21 August 2019

On location Our Lady of England Priory, Storrington, the old Shrine of Our Lady of England statue, Lourdes of England

As part of Mary's Dowry Productions filming for our new DVD about England: The Dowry of Mary, in preparation for the re-dedication of England to the Mother of God as her dowry, we went to the town of Storrington, West Sussex this morning to film a selection of presentations on location at the Priory of Our Lady of England.


We set out with good time, which was fortunate because within five seconds this lorry pulled in front of us and slowed us down so much it added loads of time, and we are literally only 15 minutes away.


The Priory and Shrine of Our Lady of England was established in the late 19th century with the return of the White canons, known also as the Norbertines and also as the Premonstratensians. Before the protestant reformation there were over 30 monasteries of Norbertines throughout England.

The 15th Duke of Norfolk, Duke Henry, gave the Norbertines a piece of land for them to build a new priory in 1902.


A statue of Our Lady of England blessed by Pope Leo XIII

There are three statues at the priory of Our Lady of England. A statue of Our Lady of England stands over the door leading into the garden of the Premonstratensian Canons Monastery. The statue was blessed personally by Pope Leo XIII and is said to have brought about numerous conversions and other graces. "The Holy Virgin is venerated in this church alone under the title of Our Lady of England". A statue of Our Lady of England is also inside the Church of Our Lady of England attached to the priory which is the Catholic parish of Storrington.

According to Father Andrew of the Norbertines at Storrington, the Shrine of Our Lady of England was in the garden of the priory on a stone rise.

Francis Firth collection c. 1955
The Shrine statue had come to England with the original Norbertines in 1890 but, within the last decade or so, the Shrine of Our Lady of England was dismantled while it was still a Norbertine priory and the Shrine statue was moved to the field where it stands today. The Shrine of Our Lady of England was once referred to as the 'Lourdes of England'.

Shrine statue from the Shrine of Our Lady of England
There aren't many images of the actual Shrine of Our Lady of England on the internet so we captured some photos when filming there so as be able to share it. It's a very beautiful statue and is said to have brought about many conversion and been a great source of graces. The Shrine of Our Lady of England in the priory garden was referred to as the "Lourdes of England". Sadly, the Norbertine monks left the priory a little while ago but the Chemin Neuf community live there and very kindly gave us permission to film for an hour or two about the priory.


Statue from the Shrine of Our Lady of England

Close up of the statue from the Shrine of Our Lady of England

Statue from the Shrine of Our Lady of England
This is the original statue brought to England in 1890
by the Norbertines
We were able to give some good presentations with two of the beautiful statues of Our Lady; the statue of Our Lady of England which had been blessed by Pope Leo XIII set above the east door of the priory and the statue from the outdoor Shrine of Our Lady of England that had stood in the garden and is now in Matt's Wood. While we were recording in the garden with the priory behind us the bells rang out. There was also some building work being done but they fell quite for the most part.

The garden in the cloister with a statue of Our Lady

Shrine statue from the now dismantled outdoor Shrine of Our Lady of England.

The Mary's Dowry Productions team with the Shrine statue of Our Lady of England
The Mary's Dowry Productions team with the Shrine statue of Our Lady of England
We will be producing our film 'England: The Dowry of Mary' over the coming months. For now we will be working on our film about John Henry Newman and hope to have that available soon!