Variety #266 – Fra Solanus talks about St. John Wall and the Penal Times ( 25min) >>> Play

Ave Maria!

In this pilot episode of The History Programme, first broadcast on Gate of Heaven radio in Perth, Fra Solanus relates for us the story of the life and martyrdom of the English Franciscan martyr, St. John Wall. St. John Wall was one of the many innocent victims of the Titus Oates Plot, and was put to death in 1679. Fra Solanus also gives us a little background to the Penal Laws, including the Oath of Supremacy and the Oath of Allegiance.

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Variety #267 – Fra Solanus talks about A Holy Jesuit of 20th Century Ireland – Fr. John Sullivan, S.J. ( 26min) >>> Play

Ave Maria!

Fra Solanus gives us a short account of the life and works of Fr. John Sullivan, S.J. (1861-1933), who was recently declared Venerable by Pope Francis. Fr. Sullivan, born in Dublin, was a convert to the Faith. He was a saintly priest and was well-known, especially in County Kildare, for his gifts of healing and prophecy. You can visit his tomb in the Jesuit Church in Gardiner St., Dublin.

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Variety #269 – Fra Solanus on the Arrival of the Passionist Order in England and Ireland ( 36min) >>> Play

Ave Maria!

Fra Solanus tells us about the arrival of the Passionist Order in England and Ireland in the years following the enactment of the Catholic Emancipation Act. The talk includes a brief sketch of the lives of four holy Passionists viz. Blessed Dominic Barberi, Ven. Ignatius Spencer, Fr. Paul Mary Pakenham and St. Charles of Mount Argus. There are also some gems of information which should be of interest to our Australian listeners – listen to find out! The programme closes with some Questions and Answers in the studio.

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Variety #271 – Fra Solanus on Our Lady of Knock ( 42min) >>> Play

Ave Maria!

Fra Solanus tells us about the apparition at Knock, County Mayo, Ireland on the 21st August 1879, when the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Lamb of God, along with St. Joseph and St. John the Evangelist, appeared in the pouring rain to about 15 people. Fra Solanus describes the apparition in detail, and consults the scholars as to its meaning. He also gives us some historical background of the state of Ireland during those days. The apparition at Knock is a Marian, Eucharistic and Scriptural apparition all in one: listen to find out why. The programme closes with a Questions and Answers discussion in the studio.

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Variety #277 – Fra Solanus on Glastonbury ( 22min) >>> Play

Ave Maria!

Fra Solanus tells us about Glastonbury in England, and how this place was steeped in history even prior to the re-building of the famous abbey in the 14^th century. Joseph of Arimathea is said to have come here in 63 A.D. (and perhaps even before that with the Boy Jesus); St. David consecrated a chapel of the B.V.M early on; St. Dunstan once reigned as Abbot. We won’t mention the bold King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table! The Abbey’s last abbot was the saintly and learned (Blessed) Richard Whiting, who along with two of his monks, was hanged, drawn and quartered during the reign of King Henry VIII. The Dissolution of the Monasteries Act is also examined.

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Variety #284 – Fra Solanus talks about Mary Stuart ( 31min) >>> Play

Ave Maria!

Fra Solanus tells us about Mary Stuart, better known as Mary, Queen of Scots. He explains how she became the rightful heir to the English Throne on the death of Mary Tudor. The programme also looks at John Knox and the loss of the Catholic Faith in Scotland, and ends by telling us about the “Babington Plot” and the holy death of Mary Stuart.

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Variety #286 – Fra Solanus talks about Life in an Ancient Irish Monastery ( 28min) >>> Play

Ave Maria!

Fra Solanus tells us about how the how the early Irish monks lived in the years following the introduction of Christianity to Ireland. He describes, inter alia, the structure of the monastic settlements; the life, labours and prayer life of the monks; how the monastery was governed; and the formation of the postulants and novices. This was how the Irish monasteries existed prior to the 12^th Century, after which time they lost their own monastic rules and were obliged to come under another rule such as the Rule of St. Benedict.

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Variety #287 – Fra Solanus talks about Blessed Dermot O’Hurley ( 19min) >>> Play

Ave Maria!

Fra Solanus tells us about the holy life and death of Blessed Dermot O’Hurley, Archbishop of Cashel, who was martyred for the Faith in Dublin in 1584. After spending many years studying and teaching in universities on the Continent, he was ordained a bishop and sent back to Ireland. He was hunted down and captured not long after his arrival. Despite being cruelly tortured by having his boots filled with oil and roasted on a fire, he kept the Faith. His tormentors – chiefly Henry Wallop, one of the Lord Justices – could only secure his conviction and execution by trying him by martial law. Archbishop O’Hurley was beatified by Pope St. John Paul II in 1992 along with 16 other Irish Martyrs.

To view an old plate showing the torture of Archbishop Dermot O’Hurley go to  http://www.ausmaria.com/images/blessed-dermot-o-hurley-execution.jpg

To view an old plate showing Lycadoon, the birthplace of Archbishop Dermot O’Hurley go to  http://www.ausmaria.com/images/blessed-dermot-o-hurley-birthplace.jpg

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Variety #288 – Fra Solanus talks about Glendalough – Glory of Irish Monasticism (Part One) ( 28min) >>> Play

Ave Maria!

Fra Solanus tells us of the life of one of the great Irish saints, St. Kevin, and the early days of the monastery he founded at Glendalough in the 6th century. Mention is made of his teacher, St. Petroc of Cornwall. The buildings at Glendalough constructed during the time of St. Kevin are examined. Glendalough’s famous School of Learning is looked at in detail. This is Part One of a two-part programme.

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Variety #290 – Fra Solanus talks about Glendalough – Glory of Irish Monasticism (Part Two) ( 24min) >>> Play

Ave Maria!

In this episode, the second of a two-part programme, Fra Solanus looks at some of the other features of Glendalough, mostly dating from the later years: chief amongst them is the famous Round Tower. Brief mention is made of the original purpose of the Round Towers, and of the invasion by Danes (Vikings). The life of one of the last abbots, St. Laurence O’Toole, is examined, and brief mention is made of the Norman Invasion.

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