THE P RTAL
Walsingham Supplement Page ii
Ecumenical relations
He said that the Roman Catholic and the Anglican Shrines had a good relationship and that Fr Alan Williams was “ most generous ”. The two Shrines get together particularly for the Ecumenical Procession for the Assumption . However , they do not worship together as much as perhaps they could and ought , partly because once the Pilgrimage Season begins , it is “ all go ”. He went on , “ Most ecumenical encounter goes on ‘ under the radar ’. People just come here and pray .
Bishop Lindsay obviously enjoyed the meeting in Walsingham of the Administrators of the European Marian Network of National Shrines in September , at which he gave a keynote address . Most of the participants stayed at the Anglican Shrine and they all shared in Sprinkling at the Well .
Quite what long term implications the Ordinariate has for Walsingham depends , according to Bishop Lindsay , on how the Ordinariate develops . “ It is in the Holy Father ’ s hands . It is in the Holy Spirit ’ s hands , not mine . And it depends on how many folk join as time goes by .”
One Shrine in Walisngham ?
We had to ask whether the time would come when there was only one Shrine in Walsingham . The Bishop was unequivocal . “ Of course there should be one Shrine , and that must be our hope and goal . It ’ s the ecumenical goal . Our Lady did not give birth to twins ! Christ desires his church to be One , so there should be one Shrine . This does not mean that the two Shrines are not blest or do good work . God is gracious even in the midst of our divisions . But everywhere the Gospel is diminished by disunity . How we work towards that journey to reconciliation is not simply in the hands of Walsingham , but in the hands of a divided church .”
Ordinariate Groups on Pilgrimage
Jackie pointed out that some Ordinariate Groups had already been on an Ecumenical Pilgrimage to Walsingham and asked Bishop Lindsay if this was a way forward ? He replied , “ It is a wonderful way forward ! I love to see groups of Ordinariate and Anglican Christians on Pilgrimage together .”
Benediction
We approached the question of Sacraments and devotions such as Benediction and wondered if that would present a problem . He gave a thoughtful and considered reply . “ I can see that it may be difficult for those who have become Catholics . It isn ’ t for us here , because we don ’ t ask anything of those who turn up . We just give the Blessing ! I suppose it depends somewhat on how you interpret the journey made . When a person comes to the conclusion that they need the moreness of Full Communion with the Catholic Church , what do they make of their former life ? The ‘ more ’ they have received doesn ’ t necessarily negate or invalidate all that has gone before . The Holy Father himself has said that the Catholic Church needs what those who join the Ordinariate have to offer , so he must consider their previous life and spirituality to be worthwhile even if it was in some sense diminished without Peter .”
The New Evangelisation
Considering the Bishop ’ s background , and present ministry , in Evangelism , and Mgr Keith Newton ’ s statement that the Ordinariate is nothing if it is not Evangelistic ; we asked if there were common ground here ? Bishop Lindsay certainly agreed there is . “ At present ” he said , “ I don ’ t know how to progress this together . One of the challenges for Ecumenical Evangelism is the need for a genuine delight if the person responding decides to pursue the Christian life in the other mission partner ’ s Church . But that difficulty must be set in the context of the desperate need for us to work together if we are to reach this nation . The way things are going , in a generation or two from now the rocks and stones will be having to sing , because there will be no one in Church to utter praise .”
Warming to his theme , he said , “ Here , as at any Shrine , there is re-evangelism among existing Christians . At the heart of our hopes and work is the desire for people to have an authentic encounter with Jesus . Mary leads them to him , as they share in his ministry of healing , and share in the Mass , and acts of piety here . And there are the tourists who we hope will collide with Christian truth when they experience this place . That ’ s primary evangelism , for the secular mind set is far away from the sacred . That challenge is best done together .
Walsingham for everyone ?
We turned to the vexed question about just who Walsingham is for . Forward in Faith , Provincial Episcopal Visitors , Society of Saint Hilda and Saint Wilfrid or the Ordinariate ; or is it for those who