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.