We celebrated the Solemnity of the Douai Martyrs on Saturday, 28th October. The Douai Martyrs were men who trained for the priesthood at Douai College (France) during the English Reformation and were executed when they returned to England for preaching the Catholic faith. In total, there are 158 martyrs between 1577 and 1680. The celebration began with the reading out of the names of the Douai Martyrs invoking their intercession.
Bishop Michael Campbell OSA was the principal celebrant. Paolo Gambardella received the ministry of Lector (Reader). Here’s an excerpt from the prayer before conferring lectorate: “In proclaiming God’s word to others, accept it yourselves in obedience to the Holy Spirit. Meditate on it constantly, so that each day you will have a deeper love of the Scriptures, and in all you say and do show forth to the world our Savior, Jesus Christ.”
After mass, we celebrated over lunch with the members of the Neocatechumenal Way community which Paolo is a part of.
We concluded the day with vespers, and venerating the relic of St John Southworth.