Lent | Holy Week | Easter #Lentpilgrim INTRODUCTION
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lent | holy week | easter #LentPilgrim INTRODUCTION his Lent, the Church of England is focusing on pilgrimage. In that spirit, we have created this virtual pilgrimage which T takes us on a journey from the Cathedral to the Cross, from Bristol to the bitter passion of Golgotha. It is not a straight path, as life is not straightforward, but twists and turns through the countries, and across the centuries. Accompanied by saints with links to places along the way, we will journey through Lent as we travel across Britain, France, Italy, and on into the Middle East. As we reach Rome, the pilgrimage retraces the journey of St Paul, in reverse, taking us from Rome, through Sicily, Malta, Rhodes, and beyond, until we arrive in Jerusalem, at the foot of the Cross. In addition to this devotional pilgrimage, from the back page of this booklet you will find details of services on Easter Day and in Holy Week, along with additional events and services such as the Lent Lunches, reading Mark right through, and Stations of the Cross. We pray that you will choose to travel with us for part or all of this journey. Booklet compiled and created by Tim Popple, 2019 FORTY DAYS AND FORTY NIGHTS Day 1 Jordan Bristol Day 2 Aldhelm Malmesbury Day 3 Osmund Salisbury Day 4 Swithun Winchester Day 5 Frideswide Oxford Day 6 Alban St Albans Day 7 John Donne London Day 8 William Rochester Day 9 Æthelberht Kent Day 10 Thomas Becket Canterbury Day 11 Richard of Chichester Dover Day 12 William de St-Calais Calais Day 13 Remigius Picardy Day 14 Joan of Arc Rouen Day 15 Thérèse Lisieux Day 16 Fulbert Chartres Day 17 Julian Le Mans Day 18 Donatian and Rogatian Nantes Day 19 Hilary Poitiers Day 20 Martin Tours Day 21 Adela of Normandy Blois Day 22 Bernard Clairvaux Day 23 Peter Chanel Montrevel en Bresse Day 24 Irenaeus Lyon Day 25 Ambrose Milan Day 26 Mark Venice Day 27 Catherine Bologna Day 28 John the Baptist Florence Day 29 Catherine Siena Day 30 Francis Assisi Day 31 Augustine of Canterbury Rome Day 32 Paul’s Journey Puteoli Day 33 Thomas Aquinas Syracuse Day 34 Paul’s Journey Malta Day 35 Paul’s Journey Rhodes Day 36 Basil the Great Caesarea Day 37 Paul’s Journey Jerusalem Day 38 Maundy Thursday Day 39 Good Friday Day 40 Holy Saturday JORDAN BRISTOL Day Little is known of Saint Jordan, though a 15th Century hymn (below) describes him as 1 a companion of Saint Augustine, who helped preach the gospel to the English, and 6/3/19 whose relics were later entombed in Bristol. Hymn to Jordan, anon, found in a Bristol Book of Hours O Jordan, blessed confessor of Christ and citizen of Heaven, intercede for us by virtue of the faith we of the English church profess, whom Augustine baptised and you perfected in that holy trust, whose colleague you were in his preaching to the English. Be our Patron in this place where you lie entombed. ALDHELM MALMESBURY Day Aldhelm (c.639-709), Abbot of Malmesbury Abbey, Bishop of Sherborne, Latin poet 2 and scholar of Anglo-Saxon literature, was born before the middle of the 7th century. 7/3/19 He is said to have been the son of Kenten, who was of the royal house of Wessex. A Prayer for St Aldhelm O God, who hast made our lips to extol thee, and acceptest the art of his hand and voice: We praise thee for the example of thy servant Aldhelm as a leader of the minds of thy people and a sweet singer of the divine praises: beseeching thee to continue to the Church in this land a full supply of the saints, skilled as in Christian learning, so also in works of beauty and sacred song; to the glory of thy holy name in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. OSMUND SALISBURY Day Osmund (d.1099), Count of Sées, was a Norman noble and clergyman. Following the 3 Norman conquest of England, he served as Lord Chancellor (c.1070-78) and as the second bishop of Salisbury, or Old Sarum. 8/3/19 A Prayer for St Osmund O God, our heavenly Father, who raised up your faithful servant Osmund to be a bishop and pastor in your Church and to feed your flock: Give abundantly to all pastors the gifts of your Holy Spirit, that they may minister in your household as true servants of Christ and stewards of your divine mysteries; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. SWITHUN WINCHESTER Day Swithun (d.863) was an Anglo-Saxon bishop of Winchester and subsequently patron saint of Winchester Cathedral. His historical importance as bishop is overshadowed by 4 his reputation for posthumous miracle-working. According to tradition, if it rains on Saint Swithin's bridge (Winchester) on his feast day (15 July) it will continue for forty 9/3/19 days. The Collect for St Swithun Almighty God, by whose grace we celebrate the feast of your servant Swithun: grant that, as he governed with gentleness the people committed to his care, so we, rejoicing in our Christian inheritance, may always seek to build up your Church in unity and love; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. FRITHUSWITH OXFORD Day 5 Saint Frithuswith (c.650-727) was an English princess and abbess. She is credited with establishing a religious site later incorporated into Christ Church in Oxford – Frithuswith 11/3/19 was the first abbess of this Oxford double monastery. Shrine of St Frideswide, Christ Church Cathedral Oxford A Prayer for Frithuswith Heavenly Father, who inspired thy servant Frithuswith to give up earthly desires for a life of prayerful dedication to the work of your son, Jesus Christ; inspire us also to cast off earthly distraction and clothe ourselves in a life in the footsteps of our Saviour, through the same thy Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen ALBAN ST ALBANS Day Saint Alban is venerated as the first-recorded British martyr. Along with fellow Saints 6 Julius and Aaron, Alban is one of three named martyrs recorded at an early date from Roman Britain (“Amphibalus” was the name given much later to the priest he was said 12/3/19 to have been protecting). The Alban Prayer Among the roses of the martyrs brightly shines Saint Alban. Almighty God, we thank you for this place built to your glory and in memory of Alban, our first martyr. Following his example in the fellowship of the saints, may we worship and adore the true and living God, and be faithful witnesses to the Christ, who is alive and reigns, now and for ever. Pray for us Alban, pray for us, all Saints of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Amen. JOHN DONNE LONDON Day 7 John Donne (1572-1631) was an English poet and cleric. He is considered the pre- eminent representative of the metaphysical poets. In 1621, he was appointed as Dean 13/3/19 of St Paul's Cathedral. A Prayer of John Donne Bring us, O Lord God, at our last awakening into the house and gate of heaven, to enter into that gate and dwell in that house, where there shall be no darkness nor dazzling, but one equal light; no noise nor silence, but one equal music; no fears nor hopes, but one equal possession; no ends nor beginnings, but one equal eternity: in the habitations of thy majesty and glory, world without end. Amen. WILLIAM ROCHESTER Day 8 14/3/19 Saint William of Rochester (d.1201) was a Scottish saint who was martyred in England. A Prayer of William of Rochester God of the broken, God of the wanderer, Christ who is without shelter, surround those in deep need among us. Surround them and help us hear their cries for help. We are a people who long for the broken to be mended, we long for justice in the face of much corruption, we want to practice hospitality but have legitimate fears, surround us in our trying times and help us to reach beyond ourselves. We confess we are bogged down by so much need in the world, may we have the courage to stand for what is right even when it offends, may we have the imaginations to help create a better world, and the strength of your Spirit to carry on. Let us be as you are in this world. Amen. ÆTHELBERHT KENT Day Æthelberht (c. 550-616) was King of Kent from about 589 until his death. Bede, in his Ecclesiastical History of the English People, lists him as the third king to hold imperium 9 over other Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. In the late ninth century Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, he is referred to as a bretwalda, or “Britain-ruler”. He was the first English king to convert 15/3/19 to Christianity. A Prayer for Æthelbert O God, who called your servant Æthelbert of Kent to an earthly Throne that he might advance your heavenly kingdom, and gave him zeal for your Church and love for your people: Mercifully grant that we who commemorate him this day may be fruitful in good works, and attain to the glorious crown of your saints; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.