3,500 gather from 30 nationalities for Dowry of Mary

On Sunday September 1, the Catholic National Shrine of Our Lady in Walsingham hosted the Dowry of Mary Pilgrimage. Led by Archbishop Malcolm McMahon, Archbishop of Liverpool, and accompanied by Bishop Emeritus Alan Hopes, former Bishop of East Anglia and Fr Robert Billing, the Rector of the Shrine, the event drew a crowd of around 3,500 people, from over 30 nationalities.

The day began with the presentation of flags, where representatives from various nationalities and chaplaincies around the country offered their flags to Archbishop Malcolm. Immediately after, he celebrated Mass and delivered a moving homily.

In his homily, Archbishop Malcolm shared personal reflections on how Mary, the mother of Jesus, had been part of his life from a young age. He recalled, “I suppose, like many of you, I can say quite honestly that Mary, the mother of Jesus, has been very much part of my life ever since I was a little child. If I go back to my earliest memories, I can remember my mother teaching me the Hail Mary and then when I was a little bit older, the Hail Holy Queen.” He continued, reflecting on his childhood experiences, including receiving his first rosary: “I remember getting a rosary when I was very young. I wasn’t sure what to do with it, of course, but it was very pretty and our next door neighbour, who had given up practising her Catholic faith, had given it to me. And I’ve still got it.”

Archbishop Malcolm spoke about how his understanding of Mary had grown and deepened over the years. He explained, “As I progressed through my life… I thought I was successful. I thought I could do amazing things when I was studying… And then all of that seemed to change in my life. And I felt pretty alone. And then I found that rosary from my childhood. And that rosary stayed with me.” This profound moment of rediscovery of his faith through Mary led him to realise that, “The person who was there for me was… the young girl of Nazareth in Galilee who was ready to receive that great gift of God.”

Reflecting on Mary’s role as the first disciple of Jesus, he said, “Mary was the first disciple of Jesus. That’s her strength. She stood by him from the moment of his conception right through to the crucifixion and then afterwards to the sending of his Spirit.” He went on to emphasise, “We don’t normally think of her like that, but she was the first disciple. The first in many respects, not just in time, but perhaps first in terms of the best as well, ahead of us all in so many ways.”

Archbishop Malcolm urged the faithful to follow Mary’s example of discipleship, explaining, “Just think of your lives and how you can welcome God into you, into you as a person. Welcome Jesus into your soul, into your body, into your heart.” He reminded those present that, “There’s a space which is Jesus-shaped within you. He’s ready. He wants to fit into your life. That’s what Mary teaches us.”

He also addressed the gift of grace, stating, “We too can live lives which are sinless. And we do it in the same way which Mary did, which is to receive his grace. God is always wanting to share his life with us. In his son, Jesus Christ, by the gift of the Holy Spirit, he’s always wanting to do it. And you can receive that.”

The homily concluded with a reflection on the gathering of people from various cultures and backgrounds. Archbishop Malcolm noted, “Today we’re celebrating a great gathering of people from different cultures and different countries, from Europe and all over Asia and Eastern Europe and all over England as well. And Mary’s special care for England has taken on a new dimension.” He encouraged the congregation to learn from Mary’s example: “Let us learn from her what discipleship really means. Let us too be open to the love and the grace of God’s Holy Spirit so that we too may be disciples of Jesus, just like his mother.”

Following Mass and lunch, attendees processed down the Holy Mile to the Abbey grounds, the original site of the Holy House. There, Archbishop Malcolm performed Benediction in front of the Lonely Arch.

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