Our Lady Enthroned in Strensall

By Fr David Smith

This article is reproduced from the Army PRCC Newsletter, with gratitude.

"Saturday 27th June saw a happy and blessed celebration of two of Our Lady’s lovely feasts: of Perpetual Succour and of Victories. To mark her arrival on the first instalment of her UK tour, the Catholic Military Association’s Ukrainian Icon of Our Lady of Victories was enthroned in the Garrison Church of St. Wilfrid, York during a Solem Pontifical Mass celebrated by Bishop Paul Mason. The Archbishop of Westminster, Bishop Richard Moth, sent a beautiful message of support. We were honoured with the presence of our friend, the Mitred Archpriest, Very Rev. Fr. Mykola Matwijiwskyj MBE, who regularly visits the Ukrainian trainee medics here at Strensall for confession and the Divine Liturgy. Fr. Mykola blessed the Icon at the end of Mass, accompanied by a hymn to the Mother of God in Ukrainian. Fr. Kevin Dow RAChD was on hand with his extensive experience as a Diocesan Master of Ceremonies to keep us all in order!

In his homily, Bishop Paul spoke of icons in general and then in detail about Our Lady of Perpetual succour (patroness of the Diocese of Middlesborough) and Our Lady of Victories (patroness of the Catholic Military Association). Our Lady of Victories is depicted with her foot crushing the head of the serpent, as foretold in the story of the Fall (Genesis: Ch 3). In this way, she rejoices in her ancient title of the “New Eve” who, unlike the old Eve, was perfectly docile and obedient to God’s will. Here is a lesson of trust in God and of Our Lady’s help for all her children who struggle against the temptations of daily life.

Bishop Paul described how in the icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, the Archangel Gabriel is holding some of the instruments of Our Lord’s Passion, in particular the nails that would fasten her Son to the Cross. Our Holy Mother is looking at the Archangel, in full knowledge of where her journey would lead - as foretold by Simeon at Our Lord’s Presentation in the Temple (St. Luke: Ch 2 vv.33-38). And yet she still remained determined to accept whatever God’s holy will for her would bring. This is a wonderful antidote for any thoughts of Mary seen through the lens of weak sentimentality that we can sometimes get stuck on; Our Lady was as hard as nails in her faith! That’s also a great message for us in the Armed Forces and if Mary is really as hard as nails, then, as Bishop Paul reminded us, the good news is that she’s on our side!

Supported by Major James Rieder RAMS and other members of the Catholic Military Association, we were blessed to receive the Lord Mayor and the Sheriff of the great city of York at the Mass, as well as both civilian and military guests from far and wide. Father Daniel Seward Cong Orat of the York Oratory was in choir. The Rudgate Singers of York (an ad hoc choir specialising in singing liturgical music at Mass) provided the music for the Mass with Palestrina, Victoria and Byrd items and two Ukrainian hymns to Our Lady. Our Lady’s icon will remain in Strensall for a while in support of the Ukrainian INTERFLEX-MED

students who next arrive in September and beyond."