The Catholic Heritage of Scotland

Since the Reformation, much of Scotland's Catholic past has been airbrushed out of existance. The result is that today mant people, including catholics, are totally unaware of what pre-Reformation Scotland was like. There is the perception that until the Reformation, Scotland was some kind of backward nation with people living in ignorance and squalor.

Last weekend in Turin was an eye opener. To see so much evidence of Catholicism on view, to see people without any pretensions naturally displaying their affection for their religion openly and without ridicule. As it once was here in Scotland.

Perhaps it is time now, with the forthcoming visit of Pope Benedict, for Catholics to rediscover the truth about pre-reformation Scotland.
We need to rediscover the tremendous work done by the Catholic Church in establishing the great Scottish Universities ;the agricultural and farming progress made throught the work of the Monasteries; the medical advances also made by monks in the monasteries;the architectural advances made and seen in the highly decorated and painted houses in towns such as St Andrews;the trade links that existed between Scotland and the rest of the world ;in Mary Queen of Scots, a catholic monarch who allowed freedom of conscience in worship...and see where that brought her.

I remember visiting St Andrews many years ago and coming across the work of the artist Jurek Putter. It was the first time that I came to realise what has been hidden following the reformation.
Jurek has completed many wonderful drawings of pre reformation Scotland, and it was always a delight to pop into his studio, where he was happy to discuss at length his knowledge of those times.

You will find information on Jurek in google and U tube.

I am sure that the Pope and the Catholic Church are in for a hard time when Benedict comes to visit. It will be the time for all true Catholics to stand up and be counted, and not to be dismayed or cowed by popular opinion.










For editions of Jurek Pütter's prints contact him at: 25 Tom Morris Drive, ST ANDREWS Fife KY16 8EW

The Shroud of Turin

It was obviously the chance of a lifetime to see the Shroud on dispaly. To spend a few moments directly in front of it. To meditate.
I am in no doubt that it is the genuine article. And how strange that it was not until the end of the last century that through photography, the full impact of the Shroud image could be fully understood.

If you are not familiar with the story of the Shroud, then you will easily find information on the web.

www.shroud.com

Turin 2010

We travelled to Turin in Thursday29th April. We flew from edinburgh to Milan Malpenso Airport. The flight lasted two and a half hours. It was very smooth. It was also very spectacular as we crossed the snow covered Alps partially shrouded in white clouds.
We landed smoothly. The TFP had kindly managed to arrange a minibus to drive is to Turin, a drive of nearly 2 hours.
It was my first visit to Turin.
Just like Rome, the streets were busy and crowded, with rush hour traffic. No quarter is asked or given!
We parked a short distnace for the first hotel, the St Carlos.
When we reached there, we discovered that preparations were underway in the Piazza for a vist by Pope Benedict on Sunday. Sadly we would be on our way home as he would be arriving.
Dr Dunn, Neil and I then walked a further 15mns or so to our hotel, the Hotel Centro.
The others came to so we all knew our way between the 2 hotels.
Once we had settled in, we went out to look for aplace to eat.
A lady with a large dog guided us to a little restaurant where we had a tasty and inexpensive meal with some local red wine.
We then retired for the evening, and to prepare for tomorrow's conference, and our chance in a lifetime to see with our own eyes The Shroud of Turin.

The photos show,...arriving malpenso
the Alps
Dutch Coastline
leaving Edinburgh

wrong order of photos.....sorry....

3 Countries in 3 days

Yesterday we returned from Canada. On Thursday I will be leaving for Turin to attend a conference on The Shroud, and then to go and see it with my own eyes.
The Shroud is only exhibited rarely, 4 times in the last century.
So it is unbelievably special for me to have this opportunity.
I am not sure how it will affect me. But is surely will leave an impression on me. and on the countless numbers who will also see it. It is unlikely that it will ever be on show again in my lifetime.

it is strange that with our modern means of transport, that within a few short days I will have been in 3 countries, and will have flown over 8 countries. Awesome.

Home

We are safely back from Canada. And we had a wonderful time there. Almost 4 weeks of having time to do what we wanted. We didn't travel about as much this time. The weather was beautiful, so we spent a fair bit of time just sitting the Lake reading in the sunshine. There are many plus things about Canada. There are some minus things. As far as tourism goes, much of interest in that area does not open till May 1st. \and, for example, the wash rooms by Lakeshore do not open till May. There were many folk of all ages who found this very awkward. There were complaints that the good weather caught Toronto out, and there were appeals for the golf courses to open earlier. And there were raised temperatures on Toronto Island where the huge numbers of visitors found only 1 ferry in service. I'll write much more later about different aspects and my views on various topics. But it was so good of Cousin Rose to lend us her condo while she was in Glasgow. Luckily the volcano ash did not affect her when she came back to Toronto just before we left for home. And we too were unaffected.

There was much wild life around the condo.....squirrels, birds,even coyotes.
Check out the woodpecker.

Monday 19th April 2010

Yesterday we took a long drive west towards the 6 Nations Indian reservation.

It turned out to be a disappointing day. When we reached the area, the tourist center was closed. We did drive through the Reservation, but it was a very depressing experience.

many of the houses were in terrible condition, and there were yards full of wreckage of buildings and cars and buses. It was like driving through a shanty town, looking at people's miserable living conditions. Some buildings were beautiful. But we did not feel inclined to stop and take photos.
The Indians sell cheap tobacco. Tax free. Every other building sports adverts for tobacco.
We did stop at a souvenir shop to ask directions. The medicine man was very helpful. We had a short chat.
I bought some gas at a service station. Indians are exempt from tax on gas. I had to pay the tax, but even then, it was cheaper than in Toronto.

I am watching the flight news as our homeword journey draws nearer.

DAY 10

Today was much sunnier and warmer, though still a bit brisk.
We headed out to a mall. After a little shopping for some books to read. Then we spent an hour in an internet café sorting out the accumulating e mails.
Then we drove for a bit, ended up at lakeshore near home. We had an all day breakfast, then sat at the Lakeside.
I took some photos, then we had ice cream…a banana boat. Delicious!
Home, then evening Mass.
I bought 2 Canadian white wines to try over this week.
Tomorrow promises more sun and heat. I think I have found an open Pioneer Village for tomorrow.