country: England
About England:
On this nine-day tour travel throughout England to learn of its rich and well-documented history. Visit Amesbury, the UK’s oldest occupied settlement and home to Stonehenge, one of the biggest wonders of the world. See the best-preserved manuscripts of the Magna Carta at Salisbury Cathedral as well as beautiful scenes of the stories of Genesis and Exodus. In Bath, celebrate Mass at St. John the Evangelist’s Church. In Birmingham visit St. Philip’s Cathedral and the Oratory Church which was visited by Pope Benedict XVI. In London visit St. Etheldreda’s Church in Ely Place, the oldest Catholic Church in England which served as a safe-haven for Catholics who were persecuted in the 17th century as well as many famous landmarks of this magnificent city. In Walsingham visit the Roman Catholic National Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham which was established in 1061, here you will celebrate Mass at the Slipper Chapel which is dedicated to the patron Saint of Pilgrims to the Holy Land, Saint Catherine of Alexandria.
Catholic Pilgrimage to England In The Company of Mary, Missionaries, Monks, Martyrs, Scholars & Converts 220
England 221
London, Scotland & Ireland 219
The Story:
St. Augustine of Canterbury, a Benedictine monk, was living in Rome when Pope Gregory the Great chose him to travel to the land of the Anglo-Saxons and preach Christianity to them. He arrived in Canterbury, where the king was living, in 597 and began building a cathedral and working zealously for the propagation of the faith. The king converted to Christianity and allowed the missionaries to preach freely. Eventually, Augustine was consecrated as the first Archbishop of Canterbury. Over time, Canterbury became the most important Catholic site in England.
During the 12th century, one of the most famous and beloved saints of the Catholic Church became Archbishop of Canterbury – St. Thomas Becket. On December 29, 1170, Becket was murdered in the Canterbury Cathedral by four men sent by King Henry II. Before his martyrdom, Thomas had been a faithful servant and good friend of the king and for many years had served the king well as Chancellor of England. Soon after Thomas’s appointment as Archbishop of Canterbury in 1162, the king became angry with Thomas, who as Archbishop began devoting his energy to the interests of the Church and began protecting it from the encroachments of the state. His deteriorating relationship with King Henry II eventually forced Thomas to take a self-imposed exile in France. After several years Thomas returned to England, temporarily reconciled with the king. However, before long tensions arose between the two and the king spoke his famous words, “Who will rid me of this troublesome priest?” That night four men rode into town and murdered the Archbishop in the cathedral. Immediately after his death, the site of Thomas’s martyrdom became a major place of pilgrimage. Many miracles were reported by those who visited his shrine. Less than three years after his death, he was canonized by the Catholic Church.
Canterbury is also well-known because of The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer, a 14th century collection of stories about pilgrims making their way to Canterbury Cathedral. It is concerned a classic of English literature.
Pilgrimages lasted until the 16th century, when King Henry VIII destroyed the shrine and his relics. Today the cathedral serves as headquarters of the Anglican Church.
Accommodations: Canterbury Cathedral Lodge is located immediately next to the Cathedral. It is also easy to make a day trip to Canterbury while staying in London.
Transportation: Canterbury is approximately 60 miles from London and can be reached via the M20 and M2 providing links to the rest of England. There are several car parks in the center of Canterbury and a bus system runs at 7-8 minute intervals from designated areas on the outskirts of the city into the city center. Canterbury is served by Stagecoach East Kent buses from Canterbury bus station, a 5 minute walk from the Cathedral Precincts. National Express run regular coaches from London Victoria Coach Station. Southeastern Trains offers a High Speed rail service with a journey time of under an hour from London St Pancras to Canterbury West station. Southeastern also runs regular train services from London Victoria and London Charing Cross to both Canterbury East station and Canterbury West station.
[DISPLAY_ULTIMATE_SOCIAL_ICONS]The Story:
St. Cecilia’s Abbey was founded in 1882 and is a monastery of Benedictine Nuns dedicated to the Peace of the Heart of Jesus. Located in Ryde on the Isle of Wight in England, the Monastery is of the Benedictine Order of the Solesmian family of Dom Gueranger. For centuries, the nuns have lived monastic lives in accordance with the Rule of St. Benedict. The Abbey welcomes visitors and is famous for carrying the tradition of Gregorian chants and calligraphy among other art forms.
Location:
The Abbey is accessible by train to Portsmouth Harbour followed by a fifteen minute catamaran ride then a very short train ride from Ryde Pier Head to Ryde Esplanade. Taxis and buses may be available. Car ferries are also available from various locations.
Accommodations: The Abbey is available for retreats by reservation
[DISPLAY_ULTIMATE_SOCIAL_ICONS]