The Re-dedication of England as the Dowry of Mary S U N D A Y 2 9 T H M A R C H 2 0 2 0

Brief ing Paper

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At the meeting of the Bishops’ Conference in November 2017, the proposal from the Catholic National Shrine of Our Lady at Walsingham, that a Dowry Tour be undertaken around all the Catholic English Cathedrals, was agreed. The purpose of the Tour was three-fold:

1. To promote the understanding of the message of Our Lady at Walsingham and to encourage pilgrimage to the English National Shrine of Our Lady.

2. To have a triduum of prayer for each Diocese in its Cathedral.

3. To promote an understanding of the ancient Marian title of England, Mary’s Dowry, leading to The Re-dedication on the Sunday after the Annunciation on the 29th March 2020.

The Dowry Tour

The Tour will have visited all of the Dioceses in England, before the date of The Re-dedication, the final visit being to Westminster on the 19th – 22nd March. The visits have been very well received, and it has been a joy to see the faith and devotion of so many people across the country. The Slipper Chapel statue will in future remain in Walsingham.

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D E D I C A T I O N 1 3 8 1

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The first dedication was made by King Richard II in Westminster Abbey as he sought the protection of Our Lady in the face of great political turmoil. At this point, England received the title ‘Mary’s Dowry’; meaning that England was ‘set aside’ as a gift, a dowry, for Our Lady under her guidance and protection.

On Sunday 29th March, The Re-dedication will take place throughout our country. As King Richard II once gave England as a gift to Our Lady for her guidance, so we, too, seek Mary’s protection and prayers, giving ourselves through this act of dedication. We respond to this invitation on the day of The Re-dedication, in two ways: A Personal Promise

By praying The Angelus Promise, a prayer in which we say “yes” in union with Our Lady through the words of the Annunciation.

A Communal Entrustment

As the people, we will, once again, renew the vows of dedication made to Mary by King Richard II, praying together the Act of Entrustment.

These prayers may be celebrated communally in Church or at home or in hospital or prison, so that all may take part.

We ask all of those hosting The Re-dedication to invite their communities, so that all who wish may take part in this historical moment.

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Behold 2020 is a companion of digital media and resources that explains and publicises the meaning of The Re-dedication in the context of the story of the Dowry of Mary and the message of Our Lady at Walsingham.

Follow Behold 2020 on social media and visit the website for more.

@Behold2020

www.Behold2020.com

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The Wilton Diptych [c. 1395-1399] (above), illustrates the dedication of 1381 by King Richard II. The original can be found in The National Gallery.

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This Re-dedication is both a personal promise of the people of our country, and a renewal of the entrustment vows made by King Richard II in 1381. On this day we accept God’s gift of His Mother, the cause of our joy, as she leads us to Christ through her example as the First Disciple, and invites us to “Do whatever He tells you.” (John 2:5).

The Re-dedication will take place on March 29th, 2020.It will be fulfilled by a communal act of prayer across the country through the The Angelus Promise (Page 10) and The Act of Entrustment (Page 11).

The Re-dedication may be celebrated at Mass, or a para-liturgy in Church, or wherever you may be on that day. Ideally, this would be 12noon, the time of the Angelus, but may take place at any convenient time during the day.

Schools are invited to take part in The Re-dedication on Monday, 30th March.

A Plenary Indulgence will be granted by the Bishop of East Anglia for all who make The Re-dedication, subject to the normal conditions (Page 9).

Walsingham

Mass will be celebrated at the Catholic National Shrine followed by a procession with the statue of Our Lady of Walsingham and the new Dowry Painting, to the site of the original Holy House in the Priory Grounds at Walsingham, where The Re-dedication will take place. We shall be joined there by our Anglican brothers and sisters who will process from the Anglican Shrine to meet us in the Priory Grounds.

The Dowry Painting (Page 13), by Amanda de Pulford, will be present in Walsingham on the 29th March, after its Papal blessing.

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T I M E L I N E O F E V E N T S

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Solemnity of Mary Mother of God (1st January)

We are invited like Our Lady, to “Ponder and Treasure” the mysteries of her Son’s life through the recitation of the Rosary and the daily praying of the Angelus in preparation for The Re-dedication.

We are also invited to make an general Confession, where we take the time to reflect on God’s Mercy in the whole of our life, not just since our last confession.

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F E B 2 1 S T

Start of the 33 Days to Morning Glory

All are invited to begin a personal 33–day consecration to Jesus through Mary following the method of St Louis de Montfort, and

updated by Fr Michael Gaitley, MIC.

Visit Behold2020.com for information on how to participate and receive the 33-Days to Morning Glory prayers.

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MAR 18 TH

Our Lady in Parliament

The statue of Our Lady of Walsingham will go to Parliament for Mass and the Rosary in The Chapel of Our Lady Undercroft.

Whilst this is a private occasion for Members of Parliament, we invite you to pray for the gift of wisdom for the law-makers of the UK in their work at this particular moment in or country’s history.

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MAR 25 TH

Solemnity of the Annunciation

This is the day when the Message of Our Lady at Walsingham is celebrated. ‘Take the measurements of this house and erect

another one like it in Walsingham, dedicated to praising and honouring me. All who come there shall find help in their

need. ‘It shall be a perpetual memorial to the great joy of the Annunciation, ground and origin of all my joys and the root of

humanity’s gracious Redemption.’ (Pynson Ballad)

All who have followed the 33 Days Retreat will make their consecration this day to Jesus through Mary.

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MAR26TH-28TH

Triduum of Prayer

This will be three days of prayerful preparation focused on Eucharistic adoration. We will ponder and treasure the words of Mary, asking for her intercession for the intentions of the Church, and the world.

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Jun 27TH

“Share my Joy” Conference | Friends Meeting House, Euston

Working with “Signs of Life” and “Catholic Voices” we are planning to bring together people from across the UK who are passionate about evangelisation and catechesis to reflect upon the message of Our Lady at Walsingham. This will be a day conference designed to connect and equip them in their mission. 2 0 2 0

MAR 29TH

The Re-dedication of England as Mary’s Dowry

See previous page.

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To take part in The Re-dedication, we have created a digital bank of resources which can be accessed from the official website for The Re-dedication of England. Here’s how you can use them.

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T A K I N G P A R T

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Sign up as a Host!

By signing up as a host on the website, we can send you resources and content. We can also add you to our Re-dedication Map, where others can find and attend your Re-dedication event.

Prepare

Through prayer and engagement in the upcoming events, we invite you to prepare for The Re-dedication with your community. You can do this in many ways, we encourage the 33-day consecration to Mary created by Fr Michael Gaitley, MIC.

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Publicise The Re-dedication in Your Community

Using the posters and information from our digital packs, let others know you are a host. You can also find streams of content

on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to share.

Social Media tag: @Behold2020

The Re-dedication

Each host can chose how they will celebrate The Re-dedication, you may choose to have a Mass, or a celebration, or both.

At the heart of all of these will be The Re-dedication, which will take place on the 29th March, 2020, ideally at 12noon.

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When we engage in good works like prayer, penance, and acts of charity, coming on pilgrimage; the Church grants a special grace called a Plenary Indulgence. Pope Francis explains a Plenary Indulgence thus;

“When we go to Confession God forgives our sins, which He truly blots out; and yet sin leaves a negative effect on the way we think and act. But the mercy of God is stronger even than this. It becomes indulgence on the part of the Father who, through the Bride of Christ, His Church, reaches the pardoned sinner and frees him from every residue left by the consequences of sin, enabling him to act with charity, to grow in love, rather than to fall back into sin.”

Plenary means fully, all the after effects of sin that remain within us, are lifted so that we may grow through our good acts of prayer, penance and love of others. Indulgence means that it is a pure gift of God given to us thorough the ministry of the Church in response to our good deeds.

Those who take part in The Re-dedication will receive the Plenary Indulgence under the usual conditions. Going to confession, receiving the Eucharist, and praying for the intentions of The Holy Father, by saying The Our Father, The Hail Mary, and Glory be. These must be carried out within 7 days before or after The Re-dedication.

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The Angelus Promise is a spiritual exercise created to assist you toembrace the message of Our Lady, as expressed in the Angelus. Itinvites you to “share in the joy of the Annunciation” by followingMary’s openness to God’s call, through her faith-filled “yes”.Through your own faith-filled “yes”, the Lord will work wonders inyour life.

R: The Angel of the Lord declared unto MaryV: And she conceived by the Holy Spirit

As God once chose Mary to become the Mother of His Son through the message of an angel, so He chooses me this day, and invites me through the ministry of the Church or the example of another, to seek and do His Will at

this moment in my life.Hail Mary full of Grace…

R: Behold the handmaid of the LordV: Be it be done unto me according to thy Word

Mary’s response to her invitation, “let it be done to me according to your Word”, opened her heart to God’s grace and all things became possible. Let

my “yes” today take away fear, as I embrace God’s Will, and like Mary “ponder these things in my heart”.Hail Mary full of Grace…

R: And the Word became flesh (Bow or genuflect)V: And dwelt among us

At a moment in history, Mary’s faith-filled “yes” conceived Him, first in her heart, which then led to the birth of our Saviour.

Through accepting Him in my heart, enable me to recognise my role in bringing Christ to my sisters and brothers today.

Hail Mary full of Grace…

R: Pray for us most holy Mother of GodV: That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ

Let us pray: O Holy Mother of God, pray for us, and assist us as we dedicate ourselves this day. Your Yes at the Annunciation brought our Saviour Jesus into the world, and you invite us to contemplate the great mystery of the Incarnation, sharing your joy in announcing that “the Word was made flesh and lived among us.” May our yes, this day, open our hearts to serve our sisters and brothers in this your Dowry, that they too may share our joy in the Good News that God walks among us. We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Based on Prayer of Erasmus 1532, Dedication of England to the Mother of God 1893, Prayer for England, Cardinal Griffin’s Act of Consecration 1948, Act of Consecration St John Paul 1982

Prayer O Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and our most gentle Queen and Mother, look down in mercy upon England thy “Dowry” and upon us all who greatly hope and trust in thee.

ResponseWe your faithful people assembled here offer you this country in which we live. Once it was yours, all its children were your children and you were honoured throughout England as its Protectress and its Queen. Again do we consecrate it as your Dowry, and entrust it to your maternal care.

Prayer By thee it was that Jesus our Saviour and our hope was given unto the world; and He has given thee to us that we might hope still more.

ResponseTo you we entrust the Church, which invokes you as Mother. On earth you preceded her in the pilgrimage of faith. Comfort her in her difficulties and trials. Make her always the sign and instrument of intimate union with God and of the unity of the whole human race. To you, Mother of the human family, and of the nations, we confidently entrust the whole of humanity with its hopes and fears. Let it not lack the light of true wisdom. Guide it to seek freedom and justice for all. Direct its steps in the ways of peace. Enable all to meet Christ, the Way, the Truth and the Life.

PrayerPlead for us thy children, whom thou didst receive and accept at the foot of the Cross, O sorrowful Mother.

ResponsePray, O Holy Mother of God, for the conversion of heart of the people of England, restoration of the sick, consolation for the troubled, repentance of sinners, peace to the departed. Queen of Peace, pray for us and give to the world the peace for which all peoples are longing, peace in the truth, justice and charity of Christ. Give peace to the nations and to the souls of all, that in peace, the Kingdom of God may prevail.

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PrayerIntercede for our separated brethren, that with us in the one true fold they may be united to the supreme Shepherd, the Vicar of thy Son.

ResponseMay your prayers bring back this country to the fullness of its ancient faith. May your intercession lead us to a closer union with your divine Son. We offer you all the people of this land, especially those who know you so little or not at all. May all in our country know Christ, the light of the world and its only Saviour.

PrayerPray for us all, dear Mother, that by faith fruitful in good works we may all deserve to see and praise God, together with thee, in our heavenly home.

ResponseMay we who follow your Son, be fruitful in the good work of building a culture of life in our world, where all human life is treasured and the gift of God’s creation is respected and cared for, so that all may share the fruits of Gods generous love.

V: Pray for us O Holy Mother of God R: That we may be made worthy of the Promises of Christ.

O Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, and our most gentle Queen and Mother, look down in mercy upon England, thy Dowry, and upon us all who greatly hope and trust in thee. By thee it was that Jesus, our Saviour and our hope, was given unto the world; and he has given thee to us that we might hope still more. Plead for us thy children, whom thou didst receive and accept at the foot of the cross, O sorrowful Mother, intercede for our separated brethren, that with us in the one true fold they may be united to the Chief Shepherd, the Vicar of thy Son. Pray for us all, dear Mother, that by faith, fruitful in good works, we may all deserve to see and praise God, together with thee in our heavenly home. Amen.

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By Amanda de Pulford.

This painting will be blessed by Pope Francis on 12th February, 2020 in Rome before returning home to Walsingham for The Re-dedication of England as Our Lady’s Dowry.

After The Re-dedication, The Dowry Painting will begin a journey to every Catholic parish in the country, never to return to Walsingham.

The Universe Group have agreed to print copies of the painting and send them to every parish in the country.

T H E D O W R Y P A I N T I N G

B eh old 2 0 2 0 i s th e o f f i c i a l c o mp a n i o n to T h e Re - d e d i c a t i o n o f E n gl a n d

a s th e D o w r y o f Ma r y.

A p ro j e c t b y P e t e r ’ s H o u s e o n b eh a l f o f

Catholic National Shrine & Basilica of Our LadyWalsingham – England’s Nazareth

@Behold2020

www.Behold2020.com