St Mildreds Relics
‘It is so peaceful here.’ I think I can say, that all of us who have been involved with showing visitors around the Abbey grounds, will agree, that many of our visitors speak these words as they stand near to the site of the pre Reformation apse of the Church, which was dedicated to Ss Peter and Paul. It was here that the Relics of St Mildred were venerated for centuries until they we translated to St Augustine’s Abbey, Canterbury In 1038.
The veneration of relics is an ancient, unbroken practise in the Orthodox/ Catholic tradition, which is frequently misunderstood in the reformed Christian traditions. It was during the seventh Ecumenical Council in 787 that the following was recorded:
Bishop Basil of Ancyra declared: “I ask for the intercession of our spotless Lady the holy mother of God and those of the holy and heavenly powers, and those of the Saints. And receiving their holy and honourable relics with all honour I salute and venerate these with honour hoping to have a share in their holiness.”
The council makes it clear that ‘…this was merely a veneration of honour and affection such as can be given to a creature and that under no circumstances could adoration of the divine worship be given to them but to God alone.’
Although the veneration of relics is not given a great deal of attention in our modern Church practise, the Catechism of the Catholic Church in section 1674 notes:
‘Besides sacramental liturgy and sacramentals, catechesis must take into account the forms of piety and popular devotions among the faithful. The religious sense of the Christian people has always found expression in various forms of piety surrounding the Churches sacramental life, such as the veneration of relics…’
During the reign of Elizabeth 1, some of St. Mildred’s were taken for safety to Deventer in Holland. There they remain, along with the relics another Anglo Saxon saint, Lebuinus in a beautiful Church where they continue to be venerated. It is from this church that several small relics of our Saint have been returned to Thanet since 1882. We are blessed to have some relics of St Mildred here, in her Priory, at Minster.
When Pilgrims come to venerate our relic it is clear that they too are hoping to have ‘a share in her holiness.’ It is a beautiful experience for us to witness this act of pure devotion in those who come to pay honour to St Mildred.
May our Saint Mildred ‘pearl of the woodland Kingdom, Crown of Kent’s Royal race’ continue to bless us and all who come to this Holy Place in search of God.
