Other people can hate, but we don't have to hate back. When we give back love for hate we stop other people determining who and what we are. We become free of it all.
There was a Dominican Abbey in Coleraine, which flourished until Henry VIII decided to dissolve the monastic system but they re-emerged under Mary I for a brief period. However, during the early plantation the Dominicans in the area fled to Derry and some were martyred - two brothers William and John O'Lynn were hanged in Derry around 1607. William Quinn, a Dominican from Coleraine was also hanged around the same time. The influx of the foreigner and the heretics forced the local Catholics to go underground and there are several Mass rocks in the area such as the Priests' rock and the Screen. The Catholic population was forced to leave the area some for the hills near Limavady and others crossed to Inishowen in Co Donegal. They began to return early in the nineteenth century so chapels were build in Killowen (St John's) and in the town of Coleraine. In 2011 only 24% of the population of the town was Catholic about 1 in 4.
The town itself is very beautiful,cI walked along one side of the river Bann and then the other, funny it reminded me of walking along the Tiber in Rome.
While I was at Mass this morning at the Consecration I looked towards the altar. To the priests right there was a very large Crucifix and as I watched I could gradually see what was like a pillar of light, as though the sun were shinning in through several windows at once at this became more intense until I could see the figure of the Blessed Virgin staring downwards at the host in the priests hands. Her feet were above ground at the same level as the altar. She was dressed very similarly to Our Lady of Fatima all in white with the most gorgeous twinkling band of gold, quite large all along. However she did not wear a veil, the mantle itself was the part of the veil all one piece. I could still see the Crucifix quite clearly through her. It was as though she were made of sunlight. I was very impressed by the intentness , the total devotion she paid to what was going on on the altar. Earlier on in the Mass I got a Word from the Lord. ,,'People will recall you were here.' I wasn't sure whether to post this or not. But I prayed and thought about it and I felt encouraged to do so, so I have. I doubted what I saw because it seemed to me that if Our Lady came to Mass , it being the Eternal Sacrifice, it would be as Our Lady of Sorrows , in Black. But then I recalled the priest himself was in white ,as the church degrees to celebrate the Pascal Season of Christ's Resurrection. Mary, as a daughter of the Church had come to the altar ä Regina Caeli, Queen of Heaven. Queen of Heaven rejoice, For He who whom you brought forth Rose in splendour as he promised. Alleluia. Pray for us to God. Alleluia.
To be honest I was very, very reluctant too for several reasons, not the least of which is I have a horror of being thought in anyway special or drawing attention to myself. In either case the great spiritual writers advise the greatest caution in talking about such stuff. But on the other hand when Our Lady asked me to start the forum she indicated that she wanted me to be open and write about things like this. Also in this case I felt a strong spiritual push to do so. Also in these latter days when Faith grows so dim people are not inclined to think you are wonderful but to think you are nuts. But if it helps people and it seems to then that is good fruit. Although I kind of sweat blood when doing so, personally if it was left to me, to be honest I would never mention such things. Never.
I see the beautiful message from Our Lady for May 25th asks us to go out into nature and pray to God so that the Holy Spirit can show us the beauty of every creature. Often when I am out and about at the moment it seems to me that the entire world is shouting the Glory of God.
My fitness levels have dipped alarmingly in the last few years. Normally I get up early to pray the rosary at home. But I took our Lady's advice and for last two mornings have gone for long walks saying my rosary along the way. I walked for an hour yesterday morning and for 45 minutes this morning out in the countryside amidst nature. So getting physically and spiritually fitter. Our Lady really has her pulse on modern life.
It's so interesting that she speaks of going out into nature to pray, I never read a message like this before but I do this everyday. I am going to St Mary's in Aghadowey today and I have never been before. I was reading that there used to be only one priest allowed in the parish and he was not allowed to say Mass. So he used to say Mass in a local field with a veil over his face so he could not be identified. Quite a history. A Faithful people
I wonder, did His Blessed Mother go there with Him? If so and if not she must often have wandered off on her own. I would love to have been a fly on the wall when Jesus and Mary got to talking on their own.
I never knew until a few days ago there was such a thing called the Dawn Chorus. It's when the rising sun wakes up all the birds at the one time and they all begin singing at once. Only a loving God could have thought of such a thing.
I still can't take to insects though, a big beetle crawled past me as I was having supper there and filled me with horror. Still there is an improvement, I don't rush to kill them now. They are life and all life is important. I like bees, I like ants, but that's just about all.
