Pilgrimage to a rediscovered Marian shrine

An ecumenical pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Liskeard in Cornwall, took place on 17 August. Ray Gallet, from the 'Wintershall Marian Shrine Project', which is committed to restoring shrines to Our Lady in England, sent this report to ICN. A pilgrimage to The Marian Shrine of Our Lady of the Park Liskeard in Cornwall took place between the two great feasts of Our Lady, The Assumption (15 August). and the Queenship of Our Lady (22 August) Two ecumenical processions, one descending via the original Mass Path and one processing along the leafy lane bordering the site converged singing the Ladye Park pilgrimage hymn. An open air Catholic Mass was concelebrated by three priests in the beautiful grounds by kind permission of the Anglican owners John and Judith Wilks, but this was not all. The Wilks had felt this year, for the first time drawn to renting out their peaceful home during the Summer months, and as a result a group from the Marian shrine project had the enviable privilege of spending a whole week at this hallowed spot. Included in the group staying at Ladye Park was a Catholic priest, so for the first time in 500 years not only was Mass said daily at this historic spot but the Blessed Sacrament was kept and as much as possible, exposed for adoration in that part of the house which was originally the pre-Reformation chapel. The rosary was prayed daily around the grounds. The stations which were chosen for each five mysteries were: 1. The original baptistery which was restored, by the present owners, only a few years ago 2 An area of green foliage through which a babbling stream flows. 3. The site of a new spring which appeared in 1998 by a lake. 4. A gentle slope leading up to a pine wood, originally part of a royal hunting park and to which deer have returned in the last year. 5. The remains of what is thought to be a first millennium chapel with tiny niche in the wall for the Blessed Sacrament. The story of the shrine, rediscovered in 1955, is told in Claire Riche's book "The Lost Shrine of Liskeard". For more information e-mail: lostshrine@hotmail.com or ray@bmouth.demon.co.uk