The Romans formed a big part of the Early History of Gwent, particularly Caerleon (Castra Legionis) the Rome of Britannia. By the second century King Lucius invites more missionaries-Doctor Medwy-turns up with three others, which Pope Eleutherius called for. (See blog post on Michaelstone y Fedw http://www.maryinmonmouth.blogspot.com

Caerleon has its own Church with a holy Bishop Amphilbus, all of whom are killed in a presecution. We are not sure of which but the Tredunnock tombstone of St Julius Julianus, though buried in the Roman way was to theEast. The National Museum of Wales have authenticated it to the 2nd-3rd century AD so earlier than Diocletian's persecution. Julius and Aaron were both citizens of Caerleon, the whole church was massacred, but they are Roman citizens were allowed to die with swords in their hand. We learn Julius died on the Banks of the Usk next to where the Mansion used to be, the Mansion which was built with stone from his chapel, but seemed to have become disused, possibly because of endless Danish attacks which occurred when the Romans had left. It is even possible he may have been reburied at Tredunnock. Aaron was buried just over the first bridge on the Llanhennock Road in an area still called St Aarons. We then make a jump to the death of Alban, also mistimed by Bede and finally to the attacks of the Danes occurring periodically to the end of the Milennium. We still have to deal with the Saxons in Gwent, which we shall do tomorrow!

Feedback about Xmas or Christmas. Mediaeval pre protestant minced pies! vetoed by Oliver Cromwell so make some tonight!!Feedback about Mary in Monmouth and plea to make it include more of Wales.

'Watching you' Fiction by Lynnette Rees,Wild Rose Press, The Book Depository (Amazon)

'My Heart is restless' Theresa Jane Mycock http://www.myheartisrestless.blogspot.com

We have come to the end of the first millenium and I have tried to sum up Welsh Spiritual Life and its Catholic base. Welsh meaning 'Romanised Celt' How they sanctified and built the llans with prayer and fasting for forty days and nights. Silurean  Characteristics and customs still in force today .Laws of Community and hospitality. How it was a culture built on trust.The evidence for Joseph of Arimathea as a tin merchant arriving in Caerleon with the Emperor Vespasian trading for tin. Archiviragus giving him and his family land at Glastonbury (Ynys Witrin) and Garthmadrun (modern Talgarth) Holiest family in Wales and it marries into the local royal family (of Irish descent) to provide a whole Age of Welsh Saints.

The Skirryd or Holy Mountain (St Michael's Mount)Normans built a chapel there.Teilos area of North Gwent (later Bishop of Llandaff) St David's Hermit's cell-area of his 'Green Martyrdom' to be at Llan Thony.

Many of these ancient sites not sporting splendid Norman and Gothic Churches still exist, and you can see curved churchyards. Much detail is available on http://www.maryinmonmouth.blogspot.com.

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 valleyAs hurt the sight, the heart stabbed to tears.The gathered beautifulness of all the yearsHovered thereover, it seemed, eternallySet for men's joy. Town, tower, trees, riverUnder a sky royal-azure Heaven for everUp-piled with towering mountains of March cloud.A Herald-day of Spring more wonderfulThan Her true own. Trumpets cried aloudIn sky, earth, blood. No beast, no clod so dullBut the strength felt of the day, Power of the GiverWas 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.

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

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?

emails: [email protected]

www.maryinmonmouth.blogspot.com

maryinmonmouth group on Facebook

Also check out 'Welsh Shrines'

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.

More-videos at 'Welsh Shrines' on Facebook and on my blog

maryinmonmouth/blogspot.com