The Ward May Devotion: Saturday 28th May2005

A most happy and successful Ward MAY DEVOTION was held in S. Stephen’s Church Bournemouth on Saturday 28th May, with an attendance of 42, including friends from Hampshire, Wiltshire, and Devon joining the occasion.   The day started at 12noon with the singing of the Angelus, followed by a Sung Mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary ~ Image and Mother of The Church.   We were privileged to have Fr. Christopher Pearson of S. Agnes, Kennington, with us for the day who gave an excellent Homily, summarised as follows:-

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Synopsis of Homily given by Fr. Christopher Pearson.

In opening, Fr. Pearson thanked The Vicar and Ward Secretary for the invitation and said that he had visited S. Stephen’s Bournemouth many years ago and recalled how very beautiful the Church was and hoped that the congregations would always value this, to lead them to heaven.

In commencing the address Fr. Christopher pointed out that we lived in an age of emails and wished to be someone else, but we couldn’t change our looks, our age, or our height.   We were not Angels ~ but we were created to be the person God wished us to be.

This brought us to Mary – an exceptional person;  her life was mapped out (predestined) but as with us all she was given free will.   Mary was afraid and questioning, just as we are, but she trusted in God and at The Annunciation was told by the Angel:  “Do not be afraid”.   May is Mary’s month and it was appropriate to say that this was Mary’s week.   Last week the final paper of ARCIC II of the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission was published ”Mary:  Grace and hope in Christ”.   What an advance from 50-years ago, reflecting the times of the statements on ‘The Immaculate Conception’ and ‘The Assumption’, by formally stating that these beliefs were not contrary to scripture.   In the Immaculate Conception Mary was chosen ~ the highest of our race ~ and a source of unity.   Even the ‘Church Times’ the previous week stated that the place of Mary had been restored in our Church.   The dogma of The Assumption showed that death itself was a step ahead.   The late Pope said that Vatican II in the belief of Mary being Co-redeemer, indicated her relationship to God.

God chose Mary;  she was predestined to do what God wanted.   Do we have that same deep desire to do God’s will.   We were not alone, we should use prayer to Mary and remember Our Lord’s words from The Cross to John:  “Behold your Mother”.   When Christ said your Mother he embraced all His followers.

Fr. Pearson recently had an email from a friend thanking him and said:  “You are an angel”.   Are we Angels, no we were not, but we were created and loved by God.   “Do not be afraid” is to be a real person and to achieve real happiness, no matter how much persecution we may receive.   Happiness?   There is a choice;  Mary shows us how to choose – which way would we choose?”.

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After lunch was served, the day concluded with a Procession of Our Lady and Benediction, during which Fr. Paul Hastrop sung the Metrical Litany of Our Lady.