I would like to draw readers' attention to the Latin Mass Society's annual walking pilgrimage from Ely to Walsingham, 24 to 26 August 2012. The distance is about 55 miles. Ely, the seat of the medieval diocese which included Walsingham (it is now in the Diocese of Easter Anglia), is a traditional setting-off place for pilgrims. Ely is accessible easily by road and train from London and elsewhere.
Walsingham is 'England's Nazarath': a shrine to the Holy House, which was miraculously marked out in conformity with the original, and even miraculously built, on the eve of the Norman Conquest. The shrine was enormously popular in the Middle Ages, but was destroyed by Henry VIII. A Catholic shrine was restored early in the 20th Century in the one building of the ancient shrine complex which survived: the 'Slipper Chapel', a small chapel which marked the start of the 'Holy Mile' to the Holy House, where pilgrims left their shoes. This houses the shrine image, which was solemnly crowned by the authority of Pope Pius XII in 1954.
We walk from Ely, over three days, and have Mass in the Catholic shrine before walking the Holy Mile in procession, to the site of the Holy House. This is only our third year, numbers are growing rapidly, and it is a great experience. I'll be doing it - but then, you can't have a pilgrimage without some penance!
This year we'll be led by our chaplain Fr Bede Rowe, and joined by a whole gang of the Sons of the Holy Redeemer from Papa Stronsay. Our final Mass will be attended by Bishop Davies of Shrewsbury.
Book yourself a place here.
