North Wales: Blessing of Saint Colette at Ty Mam Duw

Pregnant mothers and would-be parents will be flocking to the Ty Mam Duw Poor Clare Colettines in North Wales this Saturday for a special Mass and Blessing in honour of their founder. St Colette was a 15th century contemplative nun who is specially remembered as a patron of the unborn, of expectant mothers and couples who long to conceive a child.

Whilst she was still at Besançon, the father of a dead child brought it to Colette and begged her to restore it to life. She took off her veil, wrapped the baby in it and sent the man back to the priest who had refused to baptize it earlier. The infant had revived.

For centuries in France and Belgium, children and expectant mothers were blessed at the Colettine houses on her feast day. The Colettines of Ty Mam Duw revived the custom in 2000.

The 'veil' used in the Blessing, is two threads of Colette's mantle, mounted under glass amidst embroidery on a Poor Clare veil like that which the sisters ordinarily wear. Ladies are blessed with it placed over the head and gentlemen and children over the shoulders, after the homily at Mass.

Sister Maria writes: "Every day we get emails, snail mails and phone requests for prayer. They are divided between our sisters and laid before the Lord at the beginning of the liturgy of the hours for Terce. Every day people ask us to pray for babies, desired or on the way, and for sick children, these all get a second mention on Saturdays when we have day long adoration of the Living presence of the Lord and sing the Chaplet of St Colette at 12.30.

"Each year on the Saturday nearest St Colette's feast we have Mass at midday with the blessing of her veil after the gospel. It is a very moving occasion - and all are welcome "

The Blessing will take place at 12 noon on Saturday, 6 February at Ty Mam Duw Poor Clare Colettines, Upper Aston Hall Lane Hawarden, North Wales. Anyone who would like to, may bring their family to be blessed and prayed for. Children and people with disabilities are extra welcome.

For more information please see: www.poorclarestmd.org/. If you are not able to come but would like your intentions to be prayed for on the day please email them to community@poorclarestmd.org. Phone ++44 (0)1244 531029