Assuming that you are in England somewhere, you will, most probably, come to Wales, a green and pleasant land populated by sheep and a roguish, likeable race of Irish and Italian descent.
And if you keep walking taking a point that is close to the middle, in north/south terms, you will come to the unassuming town of Cardigan, home to a certain type of knitwear and twinned with a similar Welsh town in the east called, Raglan (ahem).
Visitors to this pleasant place will encounter the extraordinary generosity of Cardigan folk who like to shower guests with gifts of cash with elastic string quaintly attached.
And Cardigan is also home to the Welsh National Shrine of Our Lady; once one of the major sites of pilgrimage for thousands who flocked there on foot facing outlaws and vagabonds, poor roads and inclement weather conditions.
Even in 2008 there were a goodly few who would travel to the Shrine of Our Lady of the Cardigan to pay homage to the Mother of God.
But then, something happened....who knows what?
And the pilgrimages became, how can I put it? Less well attended.
And now - there is no pilgrimage. Dim pilgrimageo as they would say in Wales.
We have had Chartres, Holywell is, I believe, this weekend and Walsingham is to come in August.....but nothing for Our Lady of Cardigan.
Why? Because people will not travel, they say.
But travel is an integral part of any pilgrimage...so why?
I know why...but Catholic charity forbids me to say more other than, pilgrimages are not about numbers.
They are about paying tribute to Mary our mother and to the worship of Almighty God.
What would it take to organise a successful 2014 pilgrimage to the National Shrine?
Not much, here are a few starting points:-
1. Juventutem to form a Cardiff branch
2. Appoint a well known priest (or Bishop) to lead the pilgrimage
3. Create a programme of devotions (Rosary procession through the town)
4. Invite like minded organisations to play an equable role
5. Apply to Rome for a specific indulgence
And also throw a bit of money at the project.....with no elastic string attached!
And if you keep walking taking a point that is close to the middle, in north/south terms, you will come to the unassuming town of Cardigan, home to a certain type of knitwear and twinned with a similar Welsh town in the east called, Raglan (ahem).
Visitors to this pleasant place will encounter the extraordinary generosity of Cardigan folk who like to shower guests with gifts of cash with elastic string quaintly attached.
And Cardigan is also home to the Welsh National Shrine of Our Lady; once one of the major sites of pilgrimage for thousands who flocked there on foot facing outlaws and vagabonds, poor roads and inclement weather conditions.
Even in 2008 there were a goodly few who would travel to the Shrine of Our Lady of the Cardigan to pay homage to the Mother of God.
But then, something happened....who knows what?
And the pilgrimages became, how can I put it? Less well attended.
And now - there is no pilgrimage. Dim pilgrimageo as they would say in Wales.
We have had Chartres, Holywell is, I believe, this weekend and Walsingham is to come in August.....but nothing for Our Lady of Cardigan.
Why? Because people will not travel, they say.
But travel is an integral part of any pilgrimage...so why?
I know why...but Catholic charity forbids me to say more other than, pilgrimages are not about numbers.
They are about paying tribute to Mary our mother and to the worship of Almighty God.
What would it take to organise a successful 2014 pilgrimage to the National Shrine?
Not much, here are a few starting points:-
1. Juventutem to form a Cardiff branch
2. Appoint a well known priest (or Bishop) to lead the pilgrimage
3. Create a programme of devotions (Rosary procession through the town)
4. Invite like minded organisations to play an equable role
5. Apply to Rome for a specific indulgence
And also throw a bit of money at the project.....with no elastic string attached!
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