This year's LMS pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady, St Mary of Glastonbury, took place on Saturday 8th September, the Birthday of the Blessed Virgin.
Father Bede Rowe, the Rector of the Shrine, was the Celebrant at the Solemn High Mass. Father Philip Thomas was Deacon, and Sebastian Crawford, a seminarian with the Institute of the Good Shepherd, was subdeacon. Rupert Bevan and his choir provided the music, which included Byrd's
Mass for Five Voices and Tallis'
O Sacrum Convivium, as well as the Gregorian chants of the Mass
.
Fr Rowe preached on the historical and cultural importance of the Glastonbury shrine, which has been in existence since the earliest years of Christianity. He pointed out that the monks across the road at the Abbey, before the Schism of the 16th century, would have known by heart the same Mass of the Blessed Virgin as was being sung at the pilgrimage.
After lunch, we prayed the Glorious mysteries of the Rosary in the Lady Chapel of Glastonbury Abbey, led by Deacon Michael Belt. The day concluded with Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, confessions and Benediction in the Shrine Church.
We would like to thank all those who made this pilgrimage possible, particularly Father Rowe and the Shrine Manager, Kim Woolmer, for her support on the day.
