Yesterday, Fr Prior was privileged to take part in the Polding Walk, an annual pilgrimage that goes from St Thomas of Canterbury in Lewisham where Archbishop John Bede Polding was interred at the time of his death (16 March 1877) to the the crypt of St Mary’s Cathedral where he now lies in expectation of the resurrection.
Australia owes so much to this extraordinary Benedictine Monk who was loved by all and whose funeral was and still is the biggest funeral in Australian history. Even though he has not been declared a saint, there is much to inspire us in this holy man, and the presence of a cultus in the city of his death gives hope that some day he may be raised to the altars. Few events would be more timely to give renewed vigour to the Catholic Church in Australia.
