Mass of St. Gregory

Our walk this week took us through the Suffolk villages of Bacton, Wyverstone, Finningham and Cotton, a fantastic walk in beautiful weather and great company.
The photograph above was taken in St George's Church Wyverstone and is part of the 14th century rood screen, this particular panel depicts the "Mass of St Gregory".
This rood screen is unique in that it is carved rather than painted.

"The Mass of St Gregory the Great is a legend that arose in the late Middle Ages concerning the Real Presence in the bread and wine consecrated at the Mass. According to this, two pagans questioned whether the bread and wine actually become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ at the consecration. St Gregory, when celebrating Mass at the altar, prayed to God to help these pagans. God granted him a vision of the Resurrected Christ displaying his wounds. The blood from Christ's side poured into the chalice and the bread, the Host, was infused with his body. The on-looking pagans were converted to the Christian faith by these signs".

St Gregory the Great was pope between 590 and 604 and was instrumental in devising the liturgy of the Mass. The earliest known reference to these miraculous legends dates to about the middle of the 13th century.