Day 1
And we’re off! Yes, it’s the beginning of our pilgrimage across country to England’s Nazareth in Walsingham.
Whilst you’ll be eager to reach your destination, don’t forget that pilgrimage is a journey – and so whether you are travelling by coach or car the journey you make to Walsingham is an intrinsic part of the pilgrimage experience!
Social Media
If you’re on social media why not follow us on X/Twitter (@waleswalsingham) and Facebook (South Wales Walsingham Pilgrimage) and share in the conversation along the way?
We’ll also be blogging on here throughout the week and will be sharing the homilies and other articles. Why not subscribe to receive posts in your inbox?
YouTube
Check out our pilgrimage videos on the Enter the Mystery YouTube Channel . Here’s a throwback to last year’s pilgrimage, and so a little taste of what’s to come!
You can also check out the website of the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham where you can discover more about its history and spirituality.
Prayers for the Journey
Heavenly Father, protector of all who trust in you, you led your people in safety through the desert and brought them to a land of plenty. Guide these your faithful people who begin their journey today. Fill them with your your Spirit of love. Preserve them from all harm and bring them in safety to their destination. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
May our Lord Jesus Christ be with us to defend us, within us to keep us, before us to lead us, begins us to guard us, above us to bless us. We ask this of him who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Amen.
Welcome to Walsingham
When you arrive in Walsingham, you’ll be greeted by the Shrine staff who will also allocate your rooms to you (rooms though are not available until 3pm).
At 5pm you’re welcome to join us in the Orangery for an introductory session. It’s specifically designed for first time pilgrims to help you make the most of your pilgrimage – although all are welcome!
First Visit to the Holy House
After our first meal together (supper is from 630pm) we gather at 7.45pm in and around the Holy House for our first Visit as we humbly claim a share in Mary’s prayers. The Holy House is at the heart of the Shrine Church and our pilgrimage experience, as we draw close Jesus.
Following the first visit, we move seamlessly to the celebration of the first Mass of our Pilgrimage on the Feast Day of St Mary Magdalen.
There are, obviously, too many of us to make it possible for all to enter the Holy House during this celebration. However, pilgrims are encouraged to visit the House both today and throughout our pilgrimage.
Please turn to face the Holy House. All proclaim:
Hail most holy Sanctuary of Our Lady of Walsingham!
I will go into the house of the Lord,
even to the God of my joy and gladness!
Let us listen to the Gospel of the Lord (Luke 1:26 –38)
(The gospel of the Annunciation is read)
Let us pray.
We beseech you, O Lord, pour your grace into our hearts
that as we have known the incarnation of your Son Jesus Christ
by the message of an angel
so by his cross + and passion
we may brought to the glory of his resurrection;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful people.
And kindle in them the fire of your love.
O Mary, O glorious Mother of my Saviour,
behold me at my journey’s end
standing within this holy place where, through the centuries,
you have been the devotion and confidence of Christians.
In this place where your name is so great,
your protection so assured, your intercession so loving,
I humbly claim a share in your prayers,
O Mary, Our Lady of Walsingham.
Blessed is she who believed
That the promises made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.
Almighty God, grant us the grace to magnify your holy name
and make us ever open to the guidance of your Holy Spirit,
that we may come at the end of our pilgrimage on earth to our eternal home, there with Mary and all the saints to praise you for ever.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
CONCELEBRATED SUNG MASS for ST MARY MAGDALEN followed by PROCESSION of OUR LADY & BENEDICTION
Below are the hymns for the Mass. You can find the Order of Mass here which opens in a separate tab. The first reading will be read in Welsh (English translation is below)
Entrance Hymn
Come, Christians all, rejoice and sing,
With thankful hearts your praises bring:
For now has risen our Lord and King, Alleluia!
On Sunday morn, at break of day,
The sad disciples made their way
To find the place where Jesus lay. Alleluia!
The Marys went, oppressed by care,
With ointments mixed with spices rare,
His blessed body to prepare, Alleluia!
An angel by the tomb they see,
Who speaks to them triumphantly:
'The Lord is now in Galilee', Alleluia!
Then John and Peter quickly came,
They search the tomb with hearts aflame,
His resurrection they proclaim, Alleluia!
That very night, our Saviour dear
To his disciples did appear,
Spoke loving words to calm their fear, Alleluia!
Now let us thank the Lord most high
And with our praises fill the sky,
For Christ is risen, no more to die, Alleluia!
First Reading
A reading from the Song of Songs (3:1-4)
The bride says this: On my bed, at night, I sought him whom my heart loves. I sought but did not find him. So I will rise and go through the City; in the streets and the squares I will seek him whom my heart loves. I sought but did not find him. The watchmen came upon me on their rounds in the City: ‘Have you seen him whom my heart loves?’ Scarcely had I passed them than I found him whom my heart loves.
Responsorial Psalm
Response: For you my soul is thirsting, O Lord my God.
Hymn for the Preparation of the Gifts
Love divine, all loves excelling,
joy of heav'n to earth come down,
fix in us thy humble dwelling;
all thy faithful mercies crown!
Jesus, thou art all compassion,
pure, unbounded love thou art;
visit us with thy salvation;
enter every trembling heart.
Breathe, O breathe thy loving Spirit
into every troubled breast!
Let us all in thee inherit,
let us find the promised rest.
Take away our love of sinning;
Alpha and Omega be;
end of faith, as its beginning,
set our hearts at liberty.
Come, Almighty to deliver;
let us all thy life receive;
suddenly return and never,
nevermore thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
serve thee as thy hosts above;
pray, and praise thee without ceasing,
glory in thy perfect love.
Finish then, thy new creation;
pure and spotless let us be;
let us see thy great salvation
perfectly restored in thee.
Changed from glory into glory,
till in heav'n we take our place,
till we cast our crowns before thee,
lost in wonder, love, and praise.
Communion Hymn
Jesu, lover of my soul,
let me to thy bosom fly,
While the nearer waters roll,
while the tempest still is high.
Hide me, O my Saviour, hide,
‘til the storm of life is past;
Safe into the haven guide;
O receive my soul at last.
Other refuge have I none,
hangs my helpless soul on thee;
Leave, ah! leave me not alone,
still support and comfort me.
All my trust on thee is stayed,
all my help from thee I bring;
Cover my defenceless head
with the shadow of thy wing.
Thou, O Christ, art all I want,
more than all in thee I find;
Raise the fallen, cheer the faint,
heal the sick, and lead the blind.
Just and holy is thy Name,
I am all unrighteousness;
False and full of sin I am;
thou art full of truth and grace.
Plenteous grace with thee is found,
grace to cover all my sin;
Let the healing streams abound;
make and keep me pure within.
Thou of life the fountain art,
freely let me take of thee;
Spring thou up within my heart;
rise to all eternity.
Hymn before the Procession
During this hymn, the candles are lit and the sacred ministers prepare for the procession. Please remain in your places until after the hymn
As I kneel before you,
as I bow my head in prayer,
take this day, make it yours
and fill me with your love.
Ave Maria, gratia plena,
Dominus tecum,
Bendicta tu
All I have I give you,
every dream and wish are yours.
Mother of Christ, mother of mine,
present them to my Lord.
As I kneel before you,
and I see your smiling face,
every thought, every word
is lost in your embrace.
Let us proceed in peace
In the name of Christ. Amen.
The Walsingham Pilgrim Hymn
All Glory to God in His mercy and grace
Who hath stablished His home in this wonderful place.
Ave, Ave, Ave Maria! Ave, Ave, Ave Maria!
All Glory to Jesus our Saviour and Lord
Whose image within us by grace is restored
All Glory to God in His Spirit divine
Who hath fixed His abode in this poor soul of mine.
Sing the praises of Mary, the Mother of God
Whose 'Walsingham Way' countless pilgrims have trod.
Then lift high your voices, rehearse the glad tale
of Our Lady's appearing in Stiffkey's fair vale.
When Edward Confessor ruled over the land
The Faverche's Manor stood here nigh at hand.
The Lady Richeldis devoted her care
to good works and penance and worship and prayer.
One day as she prayed and looked up to the skies,
A vision of splendour delighted her eyes.
Our Lady, God's Mother, in glory arrayed,
Held a house in her arms which was clearly displayed.
Take note my dear daughter, and build here a shrine,
As Nazareth's home in this country of thine.
And the spot that I choose where the house shall arise
By a sign shall be plainly revealed to your eyes.
The vision passed slowly away from her sight
But her mind held the house in its length, breadth and height.
Bewildered she pondered this message so sweet,
When a clear spring of water burst forth at her feet.
Bewildered no longer for this was the sign,
She vowed on this spot she would build such a shrine.
The finest materials her workmen could find
She employed for this house she had fixed in her mind.
But though she had given both timbers and lands,
The power of the work lay in Mary's own hands.
And this was made clear when the work was complete
By the answers to prayers poured out at her feet.
And soon mighty wonders by Grace were revealed,
For the sick who made use of the waters were healed.
So Walsingham then came a place of great fame,
and Our Lady herself was called by this name.
And many a pilgrim to the day of his death,
Took the road once a year to England's Nazareth.
So crowded were roads that the stars, people say,
That shrine in the heavens were called 'Walsingham Way'
And many the favours and graces bestowed
On those, who in faith, took the pilgrimage road.
The image of Mary with her Holy Son
Was honoured and feted by everyone.
The Canons and Friars built houses around
And the praises of God were a regular sound.
And Kings, Lords and Commons their homage would pay
And the burning of tapers turned night into day.
But at last came a King who had greed in his eyes,
And he lusted for treasure with fraud and with lies.
The order went forth; and with horror 'twas learned.
That the shrine was destroyed and the image was burned.
And here where God's mother had once been enthroned,
The souls that stayed faithful 'neath tyranny groaned.
And this realm which had once been our Lady's own Dower
Had its church now enslaved by the secular power.
And so dark night fell on this glorious place
Where all former glories there hardly was trace.
Yet a thin stream of pilgrims still walked the old way
And hearts longed to see this night turned into day.
Till at last, when full measure of penance was poured,
In her Shrine see the honour of Mary restored.
Again, 'neath her image the tapers shine fair
In her children's endeavours past wrongs to repair.
Again in her house her due honour is taught;
Her name is invoked, her fair graces besought.
And the sick and the maimed seek the pilgrimage way,
And miraculous healing their bodies display.
Oh, Mother give heed to the prayer of our heart,
that your glory from here never more may depart.
Now to God the all Father, and Son, with due praise,
And life giving Spirit, thanksgiving we raise.
As the Blessed Sacrament is brought from its place of reservation, the bell will ring. (KNEEL)
Hymn
Majesty, worship his majesty,
unto Jesus be glory, honour, and praise.
Majesty, kingdom, authority
flows from his throne unto his own, his anthem raise.
So exalt, lift up on high the Name of Jesus
Magnify, come glorify Christ Jesus the King
Majesty, worship his Majesty
Jesus who died, now glorified, King of all kings
A short reflection follows, and then all sing:
Therefore we, before him bending,
this great Sacrament revere;
types and shadows have their ending,
for the newer rite is here;
faith, our outward sense befriending,
makes our inward vision clear.
Glory let us give, and blessing
to the Father and the Son,
honour, might and praise addressing,
while eternal ages run;
ever too his love confessing,
Who from both, with both, is One.
A Collect is said or sung after which Benediction is given.
As the sacrament is being returned to the tabernacle, the following refrain is sung three times:
Blessed and praised be Jesus Christ
in the most Holy Sacrament.
Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in excelsis!
Enter the Mystery 