On Wednesday 12th February, after his weekly audience, Pope Francis blessed the ‘Dowry Painting’ of Our Lady of Walsingham.
Present at the blessing were Cardinal Vincent, Mgr John Armitage, Rector of the Walsingham Shrine, and Amanda de Pulford, painter of the Dowry Painting. The painting will be at Walsingham for the Rededication of England as Mary’s Dowry on 29th March 2020, after which it will begin a journey to every Catholic parish in England.
Cardinal Vincent said: ‘The blessing of the icon of Our lady of Walsingham by Pope Francis is a great encouragement to us all as we prepare for 29th March and our act of Rededication. I assured our Holy Father of our prayers and affection and thanked him for his blessing.’
Speaking of the meeting with Pope Francis, Mgr Armitage said: ‘Yesterday was a truly blessed day, when the Holy Father blessed the new Dowry Painting. The painting, which will visit every Catholic Church in England, was then taken to the tomb of St Gregory the Great in St Peters Basilica, the Pope who sent St Augustine to evangelise the people of England. Before his tomb we prayed for his intercession to strengthen our faith to continue this mission to the people of England.’
For more information about the Rededication of England as Mary's Dowry, visit behold2020.com.
