Photo-a-Day  (Monday, 18th April, 2022)

Mick is that the Garden Tomb that was supposed to be in Joseph of Arimathea back garden, where Jesus was buried, and then rose from the dead on Easter Monday all them years ago.

Mick, I fought you wos darrn sarf ??

I likes my bike I does
‘Cos it gets me in and out
It gets me up the hill and down
And it doesn’t cost me nowt

I like my bike I does
‘Cos I doesn’t need to meddle
I just turns a little switch
And gives a little pedal

I likes my bike I does
‘Cos the seat’s a comfy part
It has a groove right down the middle
To ventilate my farts

To visitors to this grotto it is sacred and to park a bike at the front of it is an insult. This is a religious icon not a theme park.

It's in poor taste to place a bike in front of the Lourdes Grotto. A lovely old church I've been a few times as a visitor. Very similar grotto to St Mary's in Standishgate.

DTease, that poem was so funny! Isn't it at this church where the Holy Hand was kept? I am not Catholic but I worked in Ashton on leaving school at sixteen, (a very long time ago!), and I seem to recall a hand belonging to, (I THINK), St. Edmund Arrowsmith., being kept in the church. I have a vague memory of it being on display at certain times of the year and local schoolchildren being taken to see it.

DTease: Your on form young man, (I like it).

Dtease you've excelled yourself! ;o))

It is the preserved Holy Hand of of Edmund Arrowsmith Irene, who was martyred for his faith. I believe he came from Haydock. he was ordained as priest in 1612 and in 1624 he became a Jesuit. He was hung, drawn and quartered on 28th August 1628. Pilgrims have travelled to the church over 200 years.

No tact or taste whatsoever. I'm not religious at all but I'd still have more respect. A blatant grab for attention.

It looks like Mick is having his bike blessed

Pity he had to spoil it by having his bike in the picture.

In fairness, I can understand people not leaving a bike propped up against the church gates these days because they would probably return to it to find it gone, (sadly a sign of the times, and bikes aren't cheap nowadays), but I'm sure a spot could be found for it where the owner could see it plainly and keep an eye on it whilst walking round the churchyard or taking photos, without it being propped up outside a grotto. We have the film "Yanks" set in the 1940s, and there is a scene where there is a musical concert inside the church and all the visitors' bikes are leaning against the church railings outside, and I have often thought how it just wouldn't be safe to do that these days. Thanks to Veronica for the explanation of the Holy Hand.

Not very Godly Mick.

It was part of our religious education when I was at Ashton secondary school to learn various religious belief of various churches around our region.
When we went to St Oswald church the priest was very nice and informative, he instructed us on Catholicism, and talked to us about the human holy relics of Edmund Arrowsmith who like Veronica as mentioned was martyred for his faith.
He showed us his hand in a glass case and his eye, both of the relics taken on his execution.
I think I’ve mentioned on previous post, I’ve no problems of any one praying to there God, if they find comfort and peace, great' job done.
Do I personally need to look at human remains, no I don’t think so.
But I don’t judge anybody who believes in it.

Imagine anyone propping a bike up at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem. They would soon been dragged off ...

Peter P, I know Mick and I know he isn't very good at walking on his worn out legs, so give him a break will you for parking his bike so close to the the sacred grotto.

There is a video (his own) of Mick riding his bike through St Wilfrid's, Standish graveyard.

And St Maries too Roy, not very respectful eh

I think you will find that Mick videoed every graveyard around Wigan and I seem to remember he did one of a grave digger, digging a grave.

Hes put one on his channel today of a large lizard sitting on his bike up at Pennington flash

I was wondering, is the photo of the church, or the bike.. Veronica & Irene, have you seen the film The Mission, Jeremy Iron's, about the Jesuits.Its really good, and the music ver touching.

Yes give the man a break. At least he has given his time to draw attention to the shrine. Criticism of the bike is certainly misplaced when you consider the lack of maintenance and basic cleanliness of the shrine itself. Please do not be hastily critical, employ a little thought.

Mick wants to park his bicycle,
he wants to park his bike,
he wants to park his bicycle,
he wants to park it where he likes.

I haven't seen that, Edna. xxx

There's a few dead leaves around the shrine, probably because people have not been able to tend the shrine due to the length of time they have been kept away from church.
The border is filled with plants. It is outside afterall and the winds have been strong lately. It's not for want of the good parishioners who look after the grounds. All that was needed was for the bike to be 'outside' of the picture. But as that Is the cyclist's signature on most of his photos he went ahead as usual. It takes up most of the photo anyway, a little bit of forethought would not have gone amiss.

My video https://youtu.be/BANG5AlNxOE