Videos as England rededicated as Dowry of Mary
England to be rededicated as Dowry of Mary in homes
March 29, 2020
Chance for parishes to make online donations easy
March 30, 2020
England was rededicated as the Dowry of Mary on Sunday March 29 as an individual event taking place in thousands of homes up and down the country, as well as at a live-streamed Mass at the Catholic National Shrine in Walsingham and St John’s Cathedral in Norwich, with an estimated 500,000 taking part.
According to the official website, www.behold2020.com, the rededication itself is both a personal promise of the people of England, and a renewal of the entrustment vows made by King Richard II in 1381.
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.
Click here to watch a video of the Rededication in Walsingham
Click here to see the Rededication at St John’s Cathedral in Norwich which has been watched by around 1,000 people.
Click here to read Bishop Alan’s homily at the Rededication Mass
Bishop Alan Hopes, speaking in a YouTube message about the rededication, said: “We give to Mary our past, our present and our future in an act of surrender and of trust. We also give ourselves to her. We dedicate our own lives and our families, our gifts, our joys, our sorrows all to Mary. We do so with the resolve and the hope that by God’s grace we may become more like Mary in her kindness and gentleness, in her humility and her faith, in her hope and love, that we may listen ever more attentively to her son and become saints, filled with the Holy Spirit and his gifts.
“Then, burning brightly with the fire of His love, we too, like Mary, may radiate Jesus Christ with lives of love and acts of mercy, so that England and its peoples, looking towards heaven with hope, may live in joy and peace.”
See the full video message, already watched by over 2,100 people, by clicking here.
A Plenary Indulgence has been granted by Bishop Alan for all who make the re-dedication, subject to the normal conditions, however, the Sacred Penitentiary in Rome has granted a special Coronavirus Plenary Indulgence which extends to anyone who is quarantined by government restrictions. Participating in the re-dedication of England as the Dowry of Mary would qualify as one of the acts of devotion required by the special Indulgence.
Click here to download the Plenary Indulgence
In a joint statement from the Anglican and Catholic shrines at Walsingham, Fr Kevin Smith and Mgr John Armitage said: “Today, fear and uncertainty about the future is affecting millions of lives around the world and within our own communities and families. We see in Mary one who was not shielded from life’s pain and difficulties… This is why we can look to Mary with confidence and trust in times of sorrow and joy, because she has the wisdom of a Mother who knows what we are experiencing, who loves and protects her children.”
Pictured above, Bishop Alan Hopes leads the Rededication Mass at St John’s Cathedral in Norwich.
