Latin Mass Society - seventh annual pilgrim to Walsingham

The Latin Mass Society seventh annual pilgrim to Walsingham takes place from August 25th-28th - 55 miles in three days with a Sung Traditional Latin Mass celebrated each day, walking to one of the greatest shrines in England. Participants on the LMS walking pilgrimage from Ely to Walsingham will praying for the conversion of England returns for its seventh year.

Inspired by the pilgrimages of Chartres in France and Christus Rex in Australia, and the medieval pilgrims who walked from all over England, the LMS Walsingham Pilgrimage began in 2010 with just a handful of pilgrims and some vehicle support.

Pilgrims meet at Ely on the Thursday evening and, after Mass early Friday morning, start the 55-mile walk to Walsingham. Each night accommodation is organised either sleeping in a hall or camping.

During the pilgrimage there will be a sung Traditional Latin Mass each day, Confessions, recitation of the Rosary, the singing of traditional hymns, periods of silence and quiet reflection, and the chance to chat and relax with other pilgrims. Arriving in Walsingham on the Sunday, pilgrims will be joined by day pilgrims from around the country for Mass at 2pm at the National Shrine in Walsingham. Pilgrims will have the opportunity to visit the Slipper Chapel. This will be followed by a procession along the Holy Mile from the Slipper Chapel to the ruins of the Abbey in the centre of Walsingham itself.For those wishing to make a day pilgrimage on the Sunday, a coach will leave central London, returning in the evening.

Over the seven years, the LMS pilgrimage has had a variety of priests and volunteers helping with the pilgrimage, including many FSSP priests and seminarians, and one year the Sons of the Holy Redeemer from the Orkneys. This year we are joined by two FSSP priests, Fr James Mawdsley, Fr Ian Verrier, a Fraternity seminarian, Thomas O'Sullivan, a secular priest from Australia, Fr Michael Roweand Friars from the Franciscans of the Immaculate.

We also have several pilgrims taking part this year who will already have travelled a distance before they even embark on the walk.

Aili Whelan is flying from America to do the walk. She writes: "I've walked Chartres, and I've walked Auriesville (the Shrine of the North American Martyrs in my home state of New York), but Walsingham is my favourite pilgrimage by far!

"I love the songs and the countryside. My fellow pilgrims have always been lovely to me, and I've made some wonderful friendships along the way.Most importantly, I find so many spiritual benefits from making this pilgrimage- while it's a break from "the real world," it's also more real- a time for prayer, and reflection, and also some actual, physical penance. The pilgrim journey is what our lives ought to be like-as we share our journey with our fellow pilgrims towards Walsingham, we can think about our daily journey towards heaven."

Since 2013 we've been able to have Solemn High Mass each day of the pilgrimage, and provide chant and polyphony to a high standard to accompany it. Another special feature of the LMS pilgrimage is the quality of the food: a proper, sit-down hot meal is provided each evening by our dedicated catering team.

LMS Chairman Joseph Shaw said "The LMS annual Walsingham pilgrimage is an unforgettable experience. We walk accompanied by the Traditional Mass and devotions, in the spirit of the great Chartres Pilgrimage."

"As pilgrims we show our devotion to Our Lady, walking in the footsteps of our Catholic predecessors, doing penance and taking important intentions to the feet of Our Lady of Walsingham."

We may have had our fair share of rain over the years but a huge amount of time and energy goes into the planning of the pilgrimage. We want to encourage families, young and old to sign up and join us in this important annual event and you do not need to be a member of the LMS to take part. All are welcome.

All the information about the pilgrimage can be found here: www.lms.org.uk/news-and-events/2016-walsingham-walking-pilgrimage