Walsingham Pilgrimage

For many in our group Walsingham has been a place of pilgrimage for many years while for others this was their first time. This place which, before the reformation, was visited by every English king up to Henry VIII for over three hundred years holds a special place in the hearts of Catholics and indeed Anglicans and Orthodox as well. Modern devotion at this place was revived in the last few years of the nineteenth century when the Slipper Chapel was reopened after Leo XIII had stated that pilgrimage should begin there once more. During the course of the twentieth century Anglicans and Orthodox also established shrines. Benedict XVI established the Personal Ordinariate in these Islands making Our Lady of Walsingham our patron and fittingly so as Walsingham is an important place for bringing Anglicans and Catholics together. We also recall the ancient belief that England is Mary's dowry and the fast of Our Lady of Ransom occurs on the same day as the feast of OLW.


While we were at Walsingham we were able to join the Carmelites for their day pilgrimage celebrating the 500th anniversary of the birth of St Teresa of Avila, and it was good to see old friends at Walsingham as we recollected over the three days.