Our Lady of Walsingham

[Picture: traditional icon of Our Lady of Walsingham.] Today is the feast of Our Lady of Walsingham in the Roman Catholic liturgical calendar. Fr. Z over at What Does the Prayer Really Say? has a great post on this feast. For an overview of the devotion to Our Lady of Walsingham, check out this article. The historic shrine to Our Lady of Walsingham, in northern England, was destroyed by Henry VIII and the Protestant vandals of his regime, but part of it -- the "Slipper Chapel" -- has been restored and is now a Catholic pilgrimage site again. The shrine has a website available here. Here's a prayer to Our Lady of Walsingham that is especially fitting for today: O blessed Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Walsingham, Mother of God and our most gentle Queen and Mother, look down in mercy upon us, our parish, our country, our homes, and our families, and upon all who greatly hope and trust in your prayers, (especially...) By you it was that Jesus, our Savior and hope, was given to the world; and he has given you to us that we may hope still more. Plead for us your children, whom you did receive and accept at the foot of the Cross, O sorrowful Mother. Intercede for our separated brethren, that with us in the one true fold they may be united to the Chief Shepherd, the Vicar of your Son. Pray for us all, dear Mother, that by faith fruitful in good works we all may be made worthy to see and praise God, together with you in our heavenly home. Amen. Our Lady of Walsingham, Pray for us.