THE
P RTAL
May 2018
Page 20
Re-dedication of England
as the Dowry of Mary
Arnold Herron looks ahead to this important event
T he Bishops
are to re-dedicate England as the Dowry of Mary. This will be about the Solemnity of
the Annunciation in 2020.
It will be a modern-day dedication.
Unlike the dedication of King
Richard II in 1381, it will not be the
gift of the country of England, but
the personal gift of the faith of the
people of England to the Mother of
God. This will be to seek her help in
building a strong spiritual foundation
for the New Evangelisation.
We shall call upon Our Lady to
guide and protect our country in
the years to come. We shall pray
that the people of our country may
work together to build a Common
Good. This will involve us seeking to
embrace the truth of the Gospel. The
Gospel inspires us to create a culture
that respects life, embraces the great
diversity of our people, and inspires all to a greatness
The message of Our Lady at Walsingham in 1061
of heart that will serve our community. We will seek asks us to share in her joy of the Annunciation. The
the good of others before ourselves, especially the 14th Century Walsingham (Pynson) Ballad reminds
poor and the marginalised of our world.
us: “Walsingham, ‘in thee is built New Nazareth’
Where shall be held in a memorial The great joy of my
There is a two-year spiritual preparation period. It salutation, You are called in every realm and region
was launched on the Solemnity of the Annunciation The Holy Land, Our Lady’s Dowry. In you is built new
this year. Part of the Spiritual preparations will be Nazareth, A house to the honour of the Queen of Heaven
the Dowry Tour, where the statue of Our Lady of And her most glorious Salutation When Gabriel said at
Walsingham from the Slipper Chapel will visit every Old Nazareth, Ave, this same joy shall here be daily and
Cathedral in England over the next two years.
for ever remembered. In order that we may share with
Our Lady “The great joy of my salutation”.
An exhibition explaining the Dowry of Mary will be
on show, along with a programme of prayer and talks.
The recitation of the Angelus will be promoted in
For details, see the website www.dowrytour.org.uk. homes, parishes, schools and communities, together
The first Cathedral visit will be Liverpool 21st – 23rd with the ringing of the Angelus bell three times a day.
June 2018; other dates are published on the website.
As members and supporters of the Personal
A new prayer based on the Angelus, called the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham, readers of T he
Angelus Promise, will be promoted to assist individuals P ortal will want to take a full part in this important
in their preparation for the Re-dedication. It is to help event in the life of the Church and of our nation.
people follow the example of Our Lady, in being open
T he P ortal will keep you up to date with preparation.
to the Word of God, to enable us to seek and do the
will of God, as we take to heart her words at Cana, “Do For the present, let us all join in the Angelus at least
once a day, and offer it for our nation.
whatever he tells you.”