A Dutch Carmelite honours an Englishman

Friends in Devon have invited me to go on their Plymouth Diocesan pilgrimage to Crediton at the end of August.  Crediton is by tradition said to be the birthplace of St Boniface, patron of Devon, also known as Winfrid or Winfred (c675-754).  I mention this today because I have just realised there is a connection between Boniface and Carmel.  Boniface became a well-known evangelist and apostle in Germany and Holland - where he was eventually martyred near a place called Dokkum.  Fast forward to the twentieth century and the Dutch Carmelite martyr St Titus Brandsma (O. Carm, 1881-1942 in Dachau) restored the site of the martyrdom of Boniface, which had been completely abandoned.  The land was acquired and a chapel with the stations of the cross was erected.  Since 2004 there has been a statue of St Titus in a park near the chapel in Dokkum.  His work in restoring the shrine was all a part of his immense labours to revive and renew the Catholic faith in Holland.  He suffered from poor health throughout his life but was known for his immense capacity for work and for the patience that went with it.

Intercessions:

Brian Davis – cancer

Cancer: Marie, Bernard (and wife Angela caring for him), Jacqui, Sue B, Theresa K

Siena, Elara – sick children

Wojtek – massive heart attack leaving him incapacitated

David OCDS - housebound

Sophia – blind infant

Joy Smith OCDS – seriously ill