Eileen, Pauline and Fr. Roy in earnest conversation
July 17th 2003, The Parish Pilgrimage to Walsingham
"Hail, Queen of Heaven, the ocean star
Guide of the wanderer here below"
This much loved hymn rang out as our coach approached Walsingham, the National Catholic Shrine of Our Lady. Our excellent driver proved expert at finding his way along the little lanes to the shrine, and we arrived there by 11.30 a.m., having set off from Moorends about 7:30 a.m..
Eileen, Pauline and Fr. Roy in earnest conversation
The shrine itself is very compact, with the chapel of reconciliation, built in 1981 and consecrated by Cardinal Basil Hume, the central focus for Mass and the sacrament of reconciliation. This chapel is in the style of an old Norfolk barn, built of wood with huge sliding windows, which can be opened so that the altar is the central focus for pilgrims inside the church and outside in the grassy courtyard in the open air. Around this green space are fourteen stark, plain wooden crosses carried on pilgrimage to Walsingham in 1948 by 400 men from 14 cities in Britain. The furthest distance was 231 miles from Middlesborough. Interestingly one of our group, Mrs Veronica Kelly, thinks she may have seen men carrying this cross through Wakefield on their way to the shrine. This act of devotion was to pray for peace in our own country and throughout the world, shortly after the devastation and end of World War II.
Tea Break - Veronica and Stella
How did Walsingham become a shrine to Our Lady? In 1061 Richeldis de Faverches, Lady of the manor at Walsingham, had a vision of Our Lady, who requested that a replica of the holy House of Nazareth be built in Walsingham as a perpetual reminder of the Annunciation. The miraculous intervention of Our Lady and the angels finally secured this, and Walsingham became as important in its way as the other great places of medieval pilgrimage, Jerusalem, Rome and Santiago de Compostela.
Walsingham lies in Norfolk, about 30 miles from the coast of East Anglia at Wells by the sea. It is a peaceful rural setting in gently rolling countryside. The small village has the old Abbey ruins which were the site of the original shrine of Our Lady, a place of pilgrimage for almost 500 years before destruction in 1538. The famous statue of Our Lady was burnt at Chelsea and the shrine laid waste. For 300 years it lay desolate, and was then restored due to the devotion of Miss Charlotte Pearson Boyd (1837-1906), who bought the Slipper Chapel in 1896.
The village of Walsingham has lots of ancient buildings, the Anglican shrine of Our Lady with the Holy Well and the tiny Russian Orthodox Church, where Icon painting has flourished since 1967. The peace of the village aids the spirit of reconciliation which Our Lady so desires. On a practical note there are lots of nice tea shops and gift shops to browse in, too.
Fr. Pannell with Anne Marie and Kathleen
Returning to our own pilgrimage. After the Angelus and Mass were celebrated at noon, along with one other group from Chorley in Lancashire, we all scattered for lunch, some had sandwiches on the coach, others sat out in the rainy courtyard, or in the café, There was time to look round the shop, which had a very fine collection of books, cards, statues, medals and prayer cards. The favourite place of prayer for most seems to have been the Holy Spirit Chapel, a small shrine with niches for candles to burn constantly on every side, a continuous offering of prayer to God. Next to this the Slipper Chapel, or, as one lady called it, the "Slippery" Chapel. This was the original heart of the restored Catholic shrine. Here there was a box for petitions to Our Lady. Almost a thousand years ago Our Lady had asked for remembrance and promised that "All who are in any way distressed or in need, let them seek me here in that little house in Walsingham. To all that seek me shall be given succour."
Maureen, Michael and John
Together, reassembled after lunch, we recited the new mysteries of light, recently inaugurated by Pope John Paul II to celebrate the public life of Jesus. The Holy Father suggested that these mysteries be said on Thursdays, so, along with Fr. Richard from St Wilfrith's, Moorends, who was staying in Walsingham with a small group of parishioners, we did just that. The Rosary was followed by an hour of Exposition, a time for personal silent prayer and meditation, guided with reflections from the resident staff of the shrine. Throughout our visit there was a chance for anyone who wished to receive the sacrament of reconciliation
Bridget, Ann and Sheila
One moment of drama ended happily as Bridget, whom the fire alarm going off (just testing), startled into collapse, recovered gradually on the way home and managed a smile as we left the coach in Thorne.
Bridget restored
Approaching Doncaster a gleam of sun pierced the clouds, as we all arrived home safely, thanks to the excellent service from Swift's Coaches. Our happy band of pilgrims had had a fulfilling day, and returned strengthened in faith and love with prayers that England may once again become Mary's Dowry.
For those who would like to know the words of the final Latin prayer to Our Lady at Benediction, here is the Salve Regina.
Salve Regina Mater misericordiae,
Vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve.
Ad te clamamus, exsules filii Hevae;
Ad te suspiramus gementes et flentes in hac lacrimarum valle.
Eia ergo advocata nostra, illos tuos misericordes oculos ad nos converte.
Et Iesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui, nobis post hoc exsilium ostende.
O Clemens, O pia,
O dulcis Virgo Maria.
This is of course the well known prayer Hail, Holy Queen in English
Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, hail, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve: to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears. Turn then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus, O merciful, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! Amen.
