Above: Painting by Amanda de Pulford of Our Lady of Walsingham to be blessed by Pope Francis, Independent Catholic News, 02/08/2020

 

The Re-dedication of England as the Dowry of Mary on March 29th is both a personal promise of the people of our country and a renewal of the entrustment vows made by King Richard II, per the website BEHOLD2020, The Official Companion of the Rededication of England as Mary’s Dowry.  As the website further states,

This year, the Christians of England are called to make a personal dedication to Mary, taking up her example as Christ’s first disciple.

History shows us that when the people pray a surrender to God’s will for their lives, society is transformed. By taking up this personal dedication in 2020, you can be a part of the renewal of this nation, drawing ourselves closer to the will of our loving God, through Mary.

King Richard II (1377-1399) made a prayer to Our Lady of Pew at the time of the Peasants’ Revolt in 1381, placing his country under her maternal care and consecrating England to her by right, as the Bride of the Holy Spirit: England being a “dowry,” as it were, the wealth a bride brings to her husband. We talk about Catholic  England a bit in a prior blog post HERE.

The Independent Catholic News reported that Pope Francis will be blessing a painting of Our Lady of Walsingham on Wednesday, February 12, during his weekly audience.  The painting will then return to the Shrine to our Lady in Walsingham for the rededication on March 29th and then embark on a journey to visit every parish in the country.   LINK to full article.

BEHOLD2020 has a section on their site listing activities to participate in to prepare for the re-dedication, that includes prayer and pilgrimage.  During our Mary’s Dowry pilgrimage this August we will visit the Shrine to Our Lady of Walsingham and pursue our own re-dedication to Mary.  Join us!  For more information, follow this LINK.

If you live in the United States, consider visiting the National Shrine to Our Lady of Walsingham located in Williamsburg, Va. LINK to website for more information and directions.

 

Our Lady of  Walsingham, pray for us and the country of England, Amen!