Post-Pilgrimage Blues

Well, the damp rats (though not as damp as New Yorkers) have returned to their daily routines. I've finally got time in which to blog about the LMS Pilgrimage to Walsingham, so I will endeavour to cram as much as I can in. I must say that I am suffering something of a post-pilgrimage 'come down' - more depressed than aching. I met so many wonderful brothers and sisters in the Faith, as we made our way praying and singing the Rosary from Ely to Walsingham and felt very much a part of something big and quite beautiful, even if at times it was painful on the old feet and legs.

Thirty of us met at a farm in Ely where we pitched up our tents. I had travelled down on a minibus driven by the untiring John Tennant of the SPUC, with Sean Wright of Juventutem and Paul Smeaton and others, having enjoyed a day in London with Michael Voris the previous day (I'll get onto him later). When we arrived I met other pilgrims, among whom were Fr Bede Roe, Chaplain and leader of the pack, a very intelligent, sharp and side-splittingly witty Priest with boundless energy and a truly pastoral heart.

Latin Mass at St Etheledra Church, Ely

Fr Bede offered Mass the following day after we had been awoken at around 5am to take down our tents in the pouring rain. Every Latin Mass was accompanied by beautiful Gregorian Chant which was rehearsed by Dr Joseph Shaw (e-pilgrim and blogging LMS Chairman) and a crack squad of altar servers.

The pilgrims made our way from St Etheledra's to Ely Cathedral where we were able to skip the entrance fee (I jest not - they charge you to see the Church) because we were there to pray (for their conversion). We walked around the Cathedral too, of course, and all of us were pretty shocked by the damage done by Henry VIII's men to statues of Our Lady and the Saints. They seemed to really enjoy chopping their heads off, something to which St Thomas More will attest.

Our Lady of the Liturgical Dance

Most pilgrims paid a visit to the Lady Chapel, complete with more statues of headless Saints and this astonishing modern statue (right) of Our Blessed Lady. I have named her Our Lady of the Liturgical Dance, complete with skin tight blue dress, golden hair and a beguiling cleavage. She looks like she's about to impale herself on the altar that once was the place of the Most Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

One can only presume that the stained glass that once furnished the Lady Chapel was removed and replaced, because they are now transparent, each dedicated to a different local corporation. One was dedicated to National Westminster Bank and another to Lloyds TSB. Quite bizarre! I thought Our Lord, having driven the money changers from out of the temple, might be a little irritated that they advertise them on their stained glass, but then that is not as irritating as killing His servants and dishonouring His Blessed Mother and an exact replica of her Holy House.

From here, began the first stage of our walk. More plus videos will be posted later.