Pererindod i Walsingham
Mae Pat Hughes o Bro Cybi yn trefnu pererindod i Walsingham ac yn dweud:
Dyma’r olygfa bresennol o’r awyr o Gysegr Y Forwyn FairWalsingham, Norfolk. Dewch nôl gyda mi mewn amser i fwynhau’r hanes.
Y flwyddyn ydy 1061; Edward Gyffeswr, un o’r brenhinoedd Eingl-Sacsonaidd olaf, sydd ar yr orsedd ac mae gwraig weddw gyfoethog, dduwiol o’r enw Richeldis de Faverches yn byw ym mhentref Walsingham. Yn un a oedd yn ffyddlon iawn ir ’Forwyn Fair, ei hawydd hi oedd ei gwasanaethu’n dda. Dair gwaith yn yr ysbryd, fe gymerwyd Richeldis gan Mair i Nasareth, i weld y Tŷ Sanctaidd lle’r cyhoeddodd yr Angel Gabriel y Newyddion Da i Mair, y lle y magwyd Crist a lle bu’r Teulu Sanctaidd yn byw. Pob tro, gofynnwyd i’r wraig weddw gofio ei faint, er mwyn ei galluogi i’w ailadeiladu yn union fel ag yr oedd ar ei Hystâd yn Lloegr. Wedi sawl rhwystr, ond gyda chymorth dwyfol, cwblhawyd y dasg, a hynny i ansawdd a oedd y tu hwnt i allu crefftwyr lleol y cyfnod. Roedd Nasareth Lloegr wedi’i orffen. Atebwyd gweddïau pererinion ac iachawyd clefydau.
Daeth yn o’r cysegrleoedd enwocaf i’r Forwyn Fair. Ymwelodd Harri’r Trydydd ym 1226. Ym mlynyddoedd cynnar ei deyrnasiad, talodd Harri’r Wythfed yn hael am gannwyll anferth i’w chadw ynghynn am ugain mlynedd yn y Cysegr, ac i offeiriaid weddïo dros ei enaid. Roedd hynny hyd nes iddo orchymyn Diddymu’r Mynachlogydd ym 1538, pan ddinistriwyd popeth! Bron i 400 mlynedd yn ddiweddarach, ail-grëwyd y cysegr ym 1931, allan o hen adeiladau fferm a bythynnod, gan ychwanegu Tŷ Sanctaidd newydd. Cafodd ei ymestyn ym 1938 i ffurfio’r Cysegr Anglicanaidd presennol, a welir ar y clawr blaen.
Pan fo pererinion y dyddiau hyn yn datgan eu bod “wedi bod i Walsingham”, beth yn union mae’n hynny’n ei olygu? Mae hi’n wyliau gwahanol i’r arfer! Mae yna gymaint o brofiadau’n cael eu cynnig, ond does yr un yn orfodol. Addoliad dyddiol yn eglwys ogoneddus y Cysegr - i gytgan y clychau a chymylau o arogldarth! Mae’r taenu dŵr sanctaidd o’r ffynnon hynafol o dan yr eglwys yn achlysur ynddo’i hun. Caiff ei ddefnyddio mewn tair ffordd fel therapi: i wneud arwyddo o’r groes ar y talcen, ei roi fel diod a’i dywallt dros ddwylo agored. Mae’r arddodi dwylo a’r eneinio yn wirioneddol yn weinidogaeth o iachau a chymod. Mae Gorymdaith Delw’r Forwyn Fair, o amgylch y gerddi trwsiadus, i gwmni canu a chludo canhwyllau, yn galluogi dieithriaid i ymgysylltu â’i gilydd trwy sgyrsiau cyfeillgar.
Os oes beichiau’n pwyso’n drwm ar eneidiau pererinion, mae cyffesu personol ar gael trwy gyfrwng offeiriaid preswyl neu rai sy’n ymweld. Mae cerdded a gweddïo Gorsafoedd y Groes sydd i’w gweld yma a thraw yn y gerddi trawiadol yn brofiad na ddylid ei golli. Mae bywyd yn straen ac mae pob un ohonon ni’n profi pryderon a chons’yrn, p’un ai ar ein rhan ein hunain neu dros eraill. Mae treulio amser ger y cysegr yn ein galluogi i adael ein problemau’n ddisylw ger un o’r allorau mawreddog neu syml. Yn debyg i blicio nionyn, mae gan y profiad o fynd i Walsingham y modd i ymddatod yr haenau allanol i ddatgelu craidd ysbrydolrwydd. Daw atgofion i lifo’n ôl; y cymdeithasu o gwmpas y byrddau bwyd yn mwynhau’r arlwy blasus; nosweithiau llesmeiriol ger y bar caffi, yn cyfnewid hwyl a sgwrs, ac weithiau’n trafod pethau mawrion.
Pwrpas yr ymweliad ydy, nid i ddianc o realaeth bywyd ond, trwy addoliad a gweddi, i’n hatgyfnerthu a’n hadnewyddu i allu wynebu bywyd eto wrth ddychwelyd adre! Os Duw a’i myn, ac os ydy hyn at eich dant, beth am ymuno â ni’r haf hwn ar ein bws cyfforddus, lleol, yng nghwmni Graham, ein gyrrwr profiadol, cyfeillgar? Fe fyddwn yn gadael y Gogledd ar 7 Awst ac yn dychwelyd ar 11 Awst 11. Byddai modd codi pobl yng Nghaergybi, Bangor ac ar hyd yr arfordir. Mae llety llawn yn gynwysedig, yn ogystal ag ymweliad diwrnod yn y pris. Eleni, y bwriad ydy ymweld â Peterborough gyda’i chadeirlan fendigedig, canolfannau ac arcêds siopa. Bydd atgyfnerthu eich ffydd, y gwmnïaeth a’r nosweithiau hwyl gymdeithasol yn fodd i sicrhau eich bod yn dod nôl adre wedi ymlacio’n llwyr, mewn corff, meddwl ac ysbryd. Am fwy o wybodaeth, cysylltwch â Pat Hughes: trwy e-bost - patriciahughes2017@gmail.com neu dros y ffôn 01407 860412.
Y Tad John Hillman, curad cynorthwyol ym mhlwyfi Saint Mary's Stanwell a Saint Matthew's Ashford ac sy'n offeiriad cyswllt y gysegrfa, fydd yn arwain y grŵp. Nid yw'r gysegrfa yn derbyn ordeiniad merched ac fe ddaw o dan arolygiaeth Esgobaeth Norwich.
Mae Pat yn edrych ymlaen at eich croesawu i'r grŵp ond mae’r llefydd yn llenwi’n reit sydyn.
Pilgrimage to Walsingham
Pat Hughes from Bro Cybi is arranging a pilgrimage to Walsingham and says:
Here is an aerial view of the present day Shrine of our Lady of Walsingham, Norfolk. Come back with me in time and enjoy the story!
The year is 1061; Edward the Confessor, one of the last Anglo Saxon kings, is on the throne and a pious wealthy widow named Richeldis de Faverches lives in the village of Walsingham. Greatly devoted to our Lady, she desired to serve her well. Three times in spirit, Richeldis was taken by Mary to Nazareth, to see the Holy House where the Angel Gabriel announced the Good News to Mary, and where the Holy Family lived as Christ grew up. Each time the widow was asked to remember the size, so that it could be rebuilt precisely on her English estate. After many setbacks, but with divine help, the task was completed, to a quality which far surpassed the abilities of local craftsmen of the time. England’s Nazareth was complete! Pilgrim’s prayers were answered and diseases were cured.
It became one of the most famous shrines to our Lady. Henry III visited in 1226. In the early years of his reign, Henry VIII paid handsomely for a huge candle to be kept alight for twenty years in the Shrine, and for priests to pray for his soul. That was until he ordered the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1538, when everything was destroyed. Nearly 400 years later, the new Anglican shrine was recreated in 1931, from derelict farm buildings and cottages, with the addition of a new Holy House. It was enlarged in 1938 to form the present Anglican Shrine.
When present day pilgrims say they “have been to Walsingham”, what do they actually mean? It is a holiday break like no other. So many new experiences are on offer, but none is compulsory. Daily worship in the magnificent Shrine Church – accompanied by bells and lots of incense. The sprinkling of holy water from the ancient well beneath the church, is quite an event. The water is used in three ways as a therapy, to sign a cross on the forehead, given as a drink and poured over outstretched hands. The laying on of hands and the anointing is truly a ministry of healing and reconciliation. The Procession of the Statue of Our Lady, around the well kept gardens, accompanied by singing and the carrying of candles, enables complete strangers to engage in friendly conversations together.
If pilgrims have a problem weighing heavily on their soul, personal confession by either resident or visiting priests is available. Walking and praying the Stations of the Cross dotted around the immaculate gardens is truly poignant. Life is stressful and we all carry with us anxiety and concern whether for ourselves or for others. Time at the shrine enables us to surreptitiously leave our problems at each of the magnificent or simple altars. Like peeling an onion, the Walsingham experience can remove outer layers taking spirituality down to its very core. Memories flood back: the camaraderie around the refectory tables enjoying the wonderfully wholesome food; balmy evenings spent either inside or outside the café bar, exchanging good natured banter, straying sometimes onto more serious topics.
The purpose of the visit is not to escape from the realities of life, but through worship and prayer, to strengthen and re-energise us for life when we return home. God willing, if this appeals to you, why not join us this summer? We will leave North Wales on 7 August and return on the 11 August. Picking up will be possible in Holyhead, Bangor and along the coast. Full board accommodation is included. Included in the price is an “away” day. This year the planned destination is Peterborough with its wonderful cathedral, shopping centres and arcades. A strengthening of faith, camaraderie and fun social evenings will ensure that you return home refreshed in body, mind and spirit. For more information, please contact Pat Hughes: by email – patriciahughes2017@gmail.com or by phone 01407 860412.
Father John Hillman, Assistant Curate at the Parishes of Saint Mary's, Stanwell and Saint Matthew's, Ashford and an associate priest of the shrine will be leading the group. The shrine does not accept the ordination of women and comes under the oversight of the Diocese of Norwich.
Pat really look forward to welcoming you into our group but seats are going quite quickly.