• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Effie Caldarola
          • John Garvey
          • Father Ed Dougherty, M.M.
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
  • Advertising
  • CR Radio
  • Printing
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
Following his weekly audience at the Vatican Feb. 12, 2020, Pope Francis blessed this "Dowry Painting" of Our Lady of Walsingham, the Catholic national shrine dedicated to Mary in Norfolk, England. (CNS photo/courtesy Behold 2020)

English Catholics to rededicate nation as ‘Mary’s Dowry’

March 5, 2020
By Simon Caldwell
Filed Under: News, World News

MANCHESTER, England (CNS) — Catholics are preparing for the historic rededication of England as “Mary’s Dowry” in the hope that it will spur the re-evangelization of their country.

The English bishops decided to rededicate the country at a meeting in November 2017 and are now encouraging Catholics to pray the Angelus daily ahead of the March 29 National Day of Rededication.

The event involves English Catholics making a personal “Angelus promise” to God in union with the “yes” of Mary at the Annunciation.

The original dedication of England was carried out in 1381 by Richard II. With the title of “Mary’s Dowry,” the intention of Richard was that England and her people would be set aside for the special guidance and protection of Mary.

At noon March 29, communal acts of entrustment will be made in cathedrals, renewing the vows of dedication made by King Richard. Schools are invited to join the rededication March 30.

Pope Francis has supported the rededication by blessing an icon of Our Lady of Walsingham ahead of the event, and it will go on a permanent tour of English parishes. The devotion to Our Lady of Walsingham focuses on the Annunciation and the willingness of Mary to carry out the will of God.

The image by Amanda de Pulford, an English Catholic iconographer, was taken to Rome in mid-February for the blessing. Cardinal Vincent Nichols of Westminster, president of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, told Catholic News Service the pope’s blessing was “a great encouragement to us all as we prepare for March 29 and our act of rededication.”

In a subsequent pastoral letter, Cardinal Nichols said: “There is much for us to learn about being the Dowry of Mary and the love which is expressed in that title. It is rich in history, even if not contemporary in language. I hope we can use these coming weeks to deepen our knowledge of this ancient and lovely devotion.”

“Mary will always lead us to her Son,” he added. “She will take us to him so that he can show us his love and mercy.”

The Marian icon depicts Our Lady of Walsingham dressed in Anglo-Saxon clothing and holding up the child Jesus.

It includes the coat of arms of St. Edward the Confessor, an Anglo-Saxon patron saint of England, and it depicts Lady Richeldis de Faverches, who built a replica of the “holy house” of Nazareth in the English countryside following an apparition.

The image also shows a frog in the place of the serpent, following a traditionally old English telling of the book of Genesis.

The icon is made in a traditional way, using egg tempera on gesso mounted on a birch panel, before a layer of varnish was added for protection.

The original dedication of England as “Mary’s Dowry” coincided with the growth of the Walsingham shrine into one of the major pilgrimage destinations of medieval Europe.

The original statue of Our Lady of Walsingham was burned by Protestant reformers in the late 1530s, during the reign of Henry VIII, but the shrine was rebuilt on the same site in Norfolk by Catholics and Anglicans in the 19th century.

 

Copyright ©2020 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Print Print

Primary Sidebar

Simon Caldwell

Catholic News Service is a leading agency for religious news. Its mission is to report fully, fairly and freely on the involvement of the church in the world today.

View all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

Latest Local News

Baltimore Basilica temporarily closes as precaution in wake of Supreme Court ruling

Pro-life leaders in Archdiocese of Baltimore respond to Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade

Cardinal says renewing Vatican II’s spirit can carry the church forward

Leadership transition coming to Baltimore Basilica as Father Boric prepares to enter Carmelite hermitage

Archdiocese of Baltimore concludes Year of the Eucharist with special Corpus Christi Mass

Latest World News

Outside high court, joy, defiance and insults after Roe is struck down

Welcoming court’s decision, leaders say it’s time to build pro-life culture

Supreme Court overturns Roe in anticipated Dobbs decision

Hope must prevail over Mafia culture of fear, pope says

Pope to visit Canada, limiting participation to one hour at various events

Catholic Review Radio

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Baltimore Basilica temporarily closes as precaution in wake of Supreme Court ruling
  • Outside high court, joy, defiance and insults after Roe is struck down
  • Welcoming court’s decision, leaders say it’s time to build pro-life culture
  • Pro-life leaders in Archdiocese of Baltimore respond to Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade
  • Supreme Court overturns Roe in anticipated Dobbs decision
  • Pope to visit Canada, limiting participation to one hour at various events
  • Hope must prevail over Mafia culture of fear, pope says
  • Cardinal says renewing Vatican II’s spirit can carry the church forward
  • Michigan center is among latest pro-life facilities vandalized across U.S.

Search

Membership

Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2022 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED