A question for the Bishops of Wales

.........What is the difference between Walsingham and Cardigan?

Ah! the infant Christ is seated!

  

But.....He is also seated here!

Hmm…..well, one is in Wales and one in England….correct but what else?.....err……can’t think…what is the difference?

Well, sorry to try tricking your Lordships with a dummy question….you see….they are both the same.

Walsingham is the English National Shrine of Our Lady and Cardigan is the Welsh one….simple?

Actually, not so simple; there are distinctions…..Walsingham receives many pilgrimages each year and is constantly featured on blogs as a sort of Catholic stamp of identity. And that is very fine and good and right for an English blogger to do so. But for those blogs who are a little international in flavour or for Catholic organisations who represent both England AND Wales, it would be good to have a little parity for Our Lady of the Taper.

I must admit that Walsingham has it as far as style of chapel is concerned, poor old Cardigan Church makes a 1960s multi storey carpark look mystical and holy. I think it was thrown together in the 70s after the architect suffered from a long weekend on Welsh whisky (don't try it). The building is hideous but, of course, it is home to the Son of God and his Mother represented by the statue of Our Lady seated with the infant Christ on her knee and one hand holding a candle.

 We cannot desert or ignore this House of God just because it is a glorified tractor shed!

What is quite hard to understand is how the Catholic Church in Wales appears to be quite happy to have Our Lady’s shrine in this awful mixture of concrete blocks, wooden beams and glass. Are the Bishop’s proud of this shrine? At present the shrine (wisely moved on Bishop Burns’ advice from an ante room outside to a side chapel in the main church) is to the right of the main altar. Trouble is, apart from the statue there is nothing shrine like about its position, physical or spiritual.

Who would wish to travel several hundred miles to worship at a place that calls itself a shrine but has none of the trappings of one? What awaits  at the end of the journey?

Well, if you consult the very informative website you will see that the church also houses a stone from Calvary plus a stone Benedictine cross, from the remains of a long deserted Monastery at nearby Llechryd but that still, to my mind, is not enough to make it a full blown site of pilgrimage.

What is very necessary is for the three Diocese of Wales to put money in a pot to create a brand spanking new Church and Shrine that has some style and bezazz about it (by bezazz I mean a good and sound base in traditional architecture).

Then the Bishop of Menevia (in whose Diocese lies the shrine) might graciously consider permission for indulgences to be gained for those visiting the holy place. I am uncertain of the procedure here but I am sure it must be possible.

Maybe consideration might be given at this stage, for a marketing programme that firsts looks at the holistic offer; local hotels and restaurants for the overnight pilgrims, processional routes back to the original riverside Abbey (now an Anglican church but I am sure a deal could be struck) – thanks to Michael Lord of the LMS for this suggestion, and a campaign to have the shrine listed on all official pilgrimage web pages.

The Parish Priest might like to compose a series of Our Lady of the Taper prayers to be incorporated into literature and the website.

Now the framework of a fully functional shrine begins to emerge.

And for the piece de resistance? – a special Tridentine Latin Mass to be celebrated on the feastday of Our Lady of the Taper – 15^th June.



Our Lady of the Taper meets the Holy Father
at Westminster Cathedral September 2011

 So where does one go from here? Perhaps our new Archbishop, His Grace, George Stack, might like to bring his two fellow Bishops together to discuss how to raise the money – after all, nothing is impossible where the Almighty is concerned.

And, if you agree that this should take place, please remember to say the shrine prayer below to ask for Our Lady’s intercession.

A brief history of Our Lady of the Taper may be read on the

Guild of Blessed Titus Brandsma blog.

                                        Shrine Prayer

                                 My soul glorifies the Lord,

                        Henceforth all ages will call me Blessed.

                           The Almighty works marvels for me:

                                         Holy His name.

                             Behold the handmaid of the Lord.

                       Be it done unto me according to your word.

 Father, Your Son Jesus born of the Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit is the Light of the world. May the same Spirit lead us to imitate Mary’s faith love and humility, that, guided by her example, we may follow the light of her Son on our Journey through life and come at last to see you as you are, and praise you in the everlasting kingdom of heaven.

Amen

 Holy Mary Mother of God, you offer your Son for our adoration. May we too treasure His word and help bring His light to the world.

A small pilgrimage but with a lot of spirit!

Yesterday, Sunday 7th August saw the Annual LMS Pilgrimage to the National Shrine of Wales, Our Lady of the Taper in Cardigan.



Commencing with the Angelus at 12 noon there followed an hour's meditation in front of the statue of Our Lady before lunch in the Church hall.

Confessions followed at 2.30pm and then a Sung Mass with the ever wise Mgr Johnson as celebrant, Steffano Mazzeo as MC and Seamus, Corey and Jeff Pillar as altar servers.

The Newcastle Emlyn Schola sang like angels and all left the church on a spiritual high.

After a brief break for refreshments the pilgrims returned to the church for Benediction celebrated by Deacon Jim Caddick and some rousing hymns to Our Lady.

Benediction with Deacon Jim Caddick

Now, as far as numbers are concerned only 35 souls attended but in the case of a pilgrimage, numbers should not matter too much; it is the spiritual strength and renewal that is all important (although, it would be very good to see this very important occasion at least level pegging with the Holywell Pilgrimage held each July).

Very good to meet up again with the LMS General Manager, Michael Lord who travelled down specially for the day and thanks must also go to the LMS representative for Menevia, Luigi Dimaio. 

How to organise a successful pilgrimage!

Twelve easy steps....

1. Start the planning process at least 12 months in advance

         

         2. Gather a group of like minded people about you (not a 

             committee)

          3. Clear the ground and observe all the protocols with your

             Bishop and the Parish Priest responsible for the pilgrimage 

             site

         4. Produce a computerised database of all target parishes (ie all

             in your Diocese), specialist groups such as Legion of Mary,

             Catholic Mothers, SVP., Knights of St Columba (us) and then

             mail or email them with details PLUS an invitation to attend.

         5. Print off posters and leaflets inviting groups and individuals to

             attend - stress that they do not have to be members of your

             group to join the pilgrimage. Then send them out every two

             months to your database. Arrange a choir and altar servers

             for the day. Arrange for a full colour A4 insert sheet in

             whatever periodicals are at your disposal.

         6. Create a blog called "The XYZ 2012 Pilgrimage" and keep it

             constantly updated with information including local

             accommodation, bus/rail links, Catholic history of the

             region etc.

        7. Ask the Bishop for support (financially, spiritually and

            physically in galvanising lay groups who may respond more 

            readily to the Bishop than to your group).

       8. Personally contact a number of priests (the more the merrier)

           and invite them to be part of the choir on the sanctuary. Ask a

           prominent priest to give sermon or address on the day.

       9. Issue a regular series of press releases to the Catholic press

           and to local, regional and, even, on occasions, national media.

       10. Contact all religious orders in your Diocese or region and   

             invite them to send groups to be part of the Blessed

             Sacrament  Procession of Honour. Do the same with   

             Catholic troops of Guides, Scouts etc but invite them to form 

             the Guard of Honour.

       11. Arrange the programme so that not only is there a logical

             sequence but also a number of 'highlights' to the day eg 

             'Crowning of Our Lord/Our Lady' as appropriate, Procession,

             Rosary etc.

             Also, most importantly, allow for those who normally fast for 3

             hours before Holy Communion, to be accommodated in the

             schedule.

       12. Organise a series of local events such as parish walks to the

             pilgrimage point, Rosary processions through the town/village,

             local prominent Catholics  to participate,  refreshments

             and....above all else....ask your Bishop to open the pilgrimage

             with his actual blessing on the day.

                                  Enjoy a successful Pilgrimage!

NB - the above list is not exhaustive