Our Lady of Walsingham: The Marian Secret England Tried to Erase (24 September)

About this sermon

Discover the remarkable history and spiritual meaning of Our Lady of Walsingham, the great Marian shrine once known as “England’s Nazareth.” According to tradition, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared in the eleventh century to Richeldis de Faverches, a devout English widow. In three visions, Our Lady showed her the Holy House of Nazareth—the home of the Annunciation, where the Eternal Word became flesh—and instructed her to reproduce it at Walsingham. Despite many difficulties, the Holy House was built. Walsingham became one of medieval Europe’s most celebrated pilgrimage destinations, drawing ordinary Catholics, kings and queens who sought Our Lady’s intercession for their temporal needs and the salvation of their souls. That flourishing ended during the English Reformation. After Henry VIII declared himself head of the Church in England, the monasteries were suppressed, the shrine was closed and its accumulated treasures were destroyed. Only ruins remained—but devotion to Our Lady of Walsingham survived. During the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, Catholic pilgrimage returned. The restored Slipper Chapel, where pilgrims traditionally removed their shoes before walking the Holy Mile, became the heart of the modern Catholic shrine. This homily also considers the witness of Saint John Fisher, the only English bishop who refused to submit to Henry VIII’s religious supremacy, and examines the proper relationship between the spiritual authority of the Church and the temporal authority of the state. Finally, we turn to Our Lady of Ransom and the deepest captivity confronting every soul: slavery to sin. Sin promises freedom but binds us more tightly. Through Our Lady’s intercession, sincere repentance and a good confession, we can return to sanctifying grace and the freedom of the children of God. May Our Lady of Walsingham intercede for England, the conversion of souls, the freedom of the Church and the restoration of Christian unity. Our Lady of Walsingham, pray for us! 00:00 Our Lady appears to Richeldis 00:36 The eleventh-century vision 00:54 Our Lady reveals the Holy House 01:10 The vision repeated three times 01:18 Measuring the House of Nazareth 01:35 The Mass and Mary’s divine maternity 02:17 Where the Word became flesh 02:34 Building the Holy House at Walsingham 02:44 Miraculous assistance and growing pilgrimages 03:19 King Edward I visits Walsingham 03:27 England’s kings and queens honor Our Lady 04:28 England’s principal Marian shrine 04:43 Henry VIII and the English Reformation 05:01 Suppression of monasteries and convents 05:27 The Augustinian canons and the Act of Supremacy 05:58 Destruction of the shrine 06:38 The surviving ruins of Walsingham 06:59 Restoration of Catholic devotion 07:29 The Slipper Chapel and Holy Mile 07:49 Lessons for the modern Church 08:06 England separated from the Catholic Church 08:30 Christ and the visible head of the Church 08:46 Henry VIII’s claim to supremacy 09:24 The origins of Anglicanism 10:36 State control over Catholic worship 11:18 Anglican orders and sacraments 11:36 Can the state control the Church? 12:09 The Church does not receive authority from the state 12:24 The two spiritual and temporal authorities 13:22 Saint John Fisher’s courageous resistance 14:01 Will Catholic bishops resist? 14:33 Praying for the Church’s freedom 15:13 Prayer to Our Lady for England 15:36 High Church Anglican devotion to Mary 15:51 Saint Leopold Mandić and Christian reunion 16:50 Marian devotion at Anglican Walsingham 17:12 Prayer for Anglican conversion and unity 17:31 The Feast of Our Lady of Ransom 18:05 Sin is humanity’s greatest captivity 18:30 The devil’s false promise of freedom 18:57 Sin makes us slaves 19:38 How to escape slavery to sin 19:54 Confession and the state of grace 20:11 Our heavenly destination 20:28 Closing prayer and blessing For more please visit https://www.themarianfranciscans.org/ Please sign up at this link https://lifecrusade.org/ #OurLadyOfWalsingham #CatholicFaith #MarianDevotion #CatholicHistory #ShrineOfOurLady #CatholicSermon #HolyHouse #CatholicChurch #EnglandCatholics #Pilgrimage 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 ✝️ SUPPORT THE MISSION 🙏 Donate https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ 📬 Free Catholic Newsletter https://sensusfidelium.com/newsletter/ 📰 Read on Substack https://sensusfidelium.substack.com/ ──────────────────── 📺 WATCH & READ 📺 Sensus Fidelium App https://sensusfidelium.tv/ 📚 Sensus Fidelium Press https://sensusfideliumpress.com/ 👕 Official Merchandise https://sensusfidelium.com/merchandise/ ──────────────────── 🤝 PARTNER WITH US 📣 Advertise on Sensus Fidelium https://sensusfidelium.com/advertise-with-sensus-fidelium/ 🎤 Invite Steve Cunningham to Speak https://sensusfidelium.com/speaking/ ⛪ Parish Formation & Consultation https://sensusfidelium.com/for-parishes/ ──────────────────── 🌎 CATHOLIC COMMUNITY ✝️ Trusted Catholic Businesses https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/