Walsingham Festival at Westminster Abbey Page 10
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Assumptiontide 2019 | Issue 164 The magazine of the Anglican Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham Walsingham Festival at Westminster Abbey Page 10 National Pilgrimage The Walsingham Bible Priests Associate Serving Book Review: Walsingham in the Armed Forces – Pilgrims & Pilgrimage Page 4 Page 6 Page 12 Page 17 The Priest Administrator’s Letter Henry III (six times). Edward I (thirteen times). Edward II (twice). Mary’s life and Then Edward III, Richard II, the Henry’s IV, V, VI, VII and finally, as we all know, Henry VIII. vocation perfectly mirror the values All these monarchs, often with their queens and royal children, came as pilgrims to Walsingham. It is an indication of the of the Gospel importance and fame of Our Lady’s Shrine before its destruction, taught by Jesus (tragically at royal hands), as well as of the influence of the Christian in the Beatitudes. faith in the lives of England’s rulers and in the history of our nation. Whenever we look Many of the monarchs who prayed in England’s Nazareth now at the beautiful lie in their royal tombs in Westminster Abbey, surrounding the Shrine of S. Edward the Confessor. As the Pilgrim Hymn reminds Image of Our Lady us, it was during Edward’s reign that the Shrine of Our Lady of of Walsingham, we Walsingham was founded. I dare to imagine that he and all those former royal pilgrims would have rejoiced to see two thousand see what the words present-day pilgrims gathered in the Abbey for the Walsingham of the Gospel mean. Festival last May and to hear the tremendous sound of their Ave’s being sung with such joy as the Image of Our Lady of Walsingham was processed through the Nave. Maybe like many of us present on that occasion, they would have been amazed to see Our Lady of Walsingham enthroned on the very spot in the Sacrarium, before the High Altar, where every monarch since William the Conqueror has been crowned. It was a truly wonderful day and we owe a debt of gratitude to the Dean and Chapter of Westminster for inviting the Shrine to share in such a memorable celebration of Our Lady at the heart of our nation. Of course, we could not have known when the date for the Festival was fixed that there would be such political turmoil and uncertainty in our country and in the Palace of The Shrine of Our Lady Westminster, only a few yards away of Walsingham from the Abbey. The debate about The College Brexit and the divisions that have Walsingham Norfolk NR22 6EF T: 01328 824204 E: [email protected] www.walsinghamanglican.org.uk Registered Charity No. 215863 Company Registration No. 318353 VAT Registration No. GB 890 9835 68 Designed by Adept www.adeptdesign.co.uk Cover image Ian Stratton/Westminster Abbey 2 Assumptiontide 2019 become so stark and seemingly irresolvable over the past two The presence of Our Lady of Walsingham in Westminster was years have affected all of us and the future remains unknown. a powerful reminder that we are called to bear witness to Christ in the world and especially at this time in our nation. It was against this backdrop, together with much else that It pointed to the importance of the work of the Church in is a cause of fear and uncertainty in the world, that pilgrims being a living sign of God’s presence in our parishes and worshipped and prayed in Westminster. We prayed for our communities and the part we can play as pilgrims in that work. present Sovereign Queen Elizabeth, who so often speaks with humility and dignity about her Christian faith. We prayed Pilgrims come to Walsingham from all parts of our nation and for peace, for unity in the Church and in the world, for our experience in England’s Nazareth many graces and blessings. political leaders, for all who suffer injustice, for the poor, the When it comes to the Last Visit, every pilgrim is invited to downtrodden and for refugees. We prayed for victims of face the Holy House to give thanks and to ask for Our Lady’s violence and especially those affected by the rise of violent prayers as they return to their daily lives. The final words of crime on the streets of the city in which we were gathered. the prayer are, “Pray that God may give me the grace to do at home what you have taught me to do here”. There was nothing unusual about these intentions. Every church in every parish constantly pray for these things, and Such is the gentle but important challenge given to pilgrims. of course in Walsingham they are prayed for every day at To take the lessons learnt in the ‘School of Mary’ back home. Shrine Prayers. To try to live out more faithfully the teachings of Christ and the values of his Gospel. To be a sign in our churches of Yet there was something significant and deeply moving God’s presence in our parishes, praying daily for the needs about praying for them in that beautiful and historic Abbey of our communities, society and nation. To do at home what Church in Westminster, so close to the seat of worldly power. Mary teaches us to do in Walsingham. To do whatever her This was particularly so when as pilgrims we prayed in the Son tells us. presence of Our Lady of Walsingham. Above the High Altar in Westminster Abbey, near to where In her Magnificat Mary dared to sing of God, “scattering the the Image was honoured in May, are these words, “The proud hearted, casting down the mighty from their thrones kingdoms of this world have become the kingdom of our and raising the lowly”. Lord and of his Christ”. Mary, the humble Virgin of Nazareth, was chosen by God May Our Lady of Walsingham, who reigns as Queen in the to be the Mother of his Divine Son. She is a true sign of the Kingdom of Heaven, pray for our land, our society and our Gospel. Mary’s life and vocation perfectly mirror the values of homes and continue to guide us in the way of blessedness, the Gospel taught by Jesus in the Beatitudes. Whenever we in the way of the Gospel, in the way of Christ her Son. look at the beautiful Image of Our Lady of Walsingham, we see what the words of the Gospel mean. We see those words Your friend and fellow pilgrim, “in the flesh”. For the Word itself is made flesh and humbly Fr Kevin Smith dwells among us in Jesus, Son of God and Son of Mary. 3 The Walsingham Review An extract from the sermon given by The Most Revd and Rt Hon Justin Welby, Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, Do whatever at the National Pilgrimage of the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham on Monday 27 May, 2019. he tells you In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen. The National Pilgrimage 2019 The heart of our day is with the words of Mary, “do whatever he tells you”, a summary of the gospel that moves us from the watery drudgery of law to the joy and celebration of the Spirit. A pilgrimage is a joyful thing, where the journey itself is as important as the destination. Pilgrimage is full of surprises. Two years ago, I went on Photos: © Graham Howard what is pompously and grandly called ‘An Official Visit’ to the Holy Land and found I was on a Pilgrimage. The pilgrimage reality was shown in the surprises: From the Orthodox priest in Gaza who each day would have to prepare himself for that day being his last; to the English Jewish woman who had come at the time of the formation of the State of Israel and from a hill full of stones been one of those There was much anticipation and visit to the Shrine, but his first to a who created a Kibbutz. Despite the speculation in the build-up to this National Pilgrimage. suffering and the battles and the loss year’s National Pilgrimage held, of family in Auschwitz, she still trusted as usual, on the late Spring Bank Rest assured. It was all rather in God; to others who unexpectedly Holiday. Good Heavens! Was that splendid. The bunting swung merrily spoke of Jesus Christ. With others, really the High Street for the first as the procession went past, the with God, with God through others, time for many years resplendent police band gave us a great selection who were strangers and became fellow in blue and gold bunting? Would of favourite tunes during the lunch pilgrims, the visit became a moment of it survive the rain and wind? And interval and outside The Bull Inn calling. And that is my prayer for today who were all those men and women once the afternoon’s events had for you. That it will be a moment of clutching silver items of plumbing? concluded. Fr Willis won his Chief calling to do whatever he tells you. Not a B&Q DIY Convention surely? Steward spurs with great distinction No, it’s the West Yorkshire Police – and the Archbishop preached to Band – complete with a Priest a highly-attentive congregation. His Associate Flugelhorn player! How presence with us in Walsingham for will Canon Beau Brandie’s successor the day was very much appreciated. as Chief Steward, Fr Guy Willis, get on? After all, Canon Brandie was We had a few spots of rain on and first appointed in 1062 by Richeldis off throughout the day.