BY A STAFF REPORTER
CATHOLICS' pride in the canonisation of the 40 martyrs did not mean that any blame was placed on other Christians, said Archbishop Beck of Liverpool in a Pastoral Letter read last Sunday.
The canonisation was not a threat or hindrance to the growth of genuine ecumenism. he said, "Indeed it is a reminder to us that we must respect' the conscientiously held convictions of others. It is, above all, a reminder that suffering and the shedding of blood, will always .be part of the Christian way of life.
We are all invited by Christ to take up our cross.and to follow him. The martyrs do this most obviously and share in the redemptive work of Christ. There will he martyrs for Christ in every age, Their message is always the message of Christ himself: 'Father. forgive them, for they know not what they do', -This canonisation is a mark of God's Providence, guiding and directing his Church. Perhaps sooner than we expect, it will help us to see more clearly the way in which the tragic divisions between Christians in this country may he healed.
"it would be a disservice to truth to hide our dilTerences. but we must be sure that, as in the early days of the Church. the blood of martyrs will be the seed of Christians."
FILM COMPLETED The Catholic Radio and Television Centre has completed a 25-minute film on the martyrs which will be available for distribution next week.
Copies are available for hire from the Catholic Radio and Television Centre, St. Gabriel's House, Hatch End, Oakleigh Road, Hatch End, Middlesex.
BRADFORD
The Catholics of Bradford began their celebrations last Thursday week with a Mass, arranged and sung by the City's two Martyr's Schools, Margaret Clitherow and Edmund Campion, with • combined choirs of 300 children, 40 stall and 30 instrumentalists, in Si. George's Hall. with a capacity congrega tion of 2,500 people.
Bishop Wheeler of 1.ceds and his Auxiliary, BishOp Moverley. concelebrated with ten other priests.
A place on the Sanctuary was taken by the Anglican Bishop of Bradford, the Right Rev. Michael Parker. Representatives of the City, its Education Authority and its other Christian Churches were represented at the Mass.
An outdoor Mass will be concelebrated at Tower Hill, near the Tower of London, where Edmund Campion was imprisoned, at 1.30 psm. on Sunday.