Shrewsbury, England, Jun 5, 2012 / 10:36 am
Bishop Mark Davies of Shrewsbury is asking Catholics to make a pilgrimage to venerate the heart of Saint John Vianney when it arrives in England for the first time ever.
“I would regard this visit as a success if only a handful of people are invited to deeper prayer, to a more serious consideration of their vocation and are inspired by the example of one of the greatest saints in our history,” Bishop Davies said in a six-minute video invitation.
The bishop’s message was published almost one month before the arrival of the relic at the Manchester Airport on July 5 – the first time it has ever come to England. Over a period of four days the relic will be taken on a tour of dioceses in the northwestern part of the country.
In his video message Bishop Davies invites people to Liverpool’s Cathedral of Christ the King on July 6 for a National Day of Prayer, which will be dedicated to the renewal of parish life and supporting vocations. The cathedral can accommodate around 3,000 pilgrims.
“It will be an invitation to prayer and it will be an invitation also to reawaken that desire for holiness in many hearts,” said Bishop Davies, drawing a parallel with the hugely popular visit of the relics of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux to England in 2009.
The relic will be on show for veneration in the cathedral in Liverpool between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. The day will also include Mass, the recitation of the Divine Office, confession, and exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.