The feast of Our Lady of Willesden, celebrated on the 3rd of October, centres on the historical shrine to Mary which is based in Willesden. Revered by both Catholics and Anglicans, it continues to be a site of veneration, particularly of the 'Black Madonna' statue which resides there.
Cardinal Francis Bourne, Archbishop of Westminster from 1903 to 1935, instituted a prayer to Our Lady of Willesden in 1928. On her feastday, let us make this prayer ours;
Oh Immaculate Queen, Our Lady of Willesden, we consecrate ourselves and all we have and are to you forever in your holy shrine. Make this Shrine glorious as of old. Bring pilgrims to worship at it. Convey their prayers to God in your own hands. Pray for us all. Pray for the conversion of all people to the religion of your Divine Son. And obtain pardon and mercy for our beloved Dead who have gone before us with a sign of faith and sleep the sleep of peace. Amen
Our Lady of Willesden, pray for us.
More information about the Shrine of Our Lady of Willesden can be found at https://parish.rcdow.org.uk/willesden/
