12 January 2013

Our Lady of Walsingham Scapular

J+M+J

In looking at an old 1928 Pilgrim's Manual for the Anglican Shrine, I was reminded of the Scapular of the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady of Walsingham.  My point in writing this post is simply to suggest that it would be salutary for the Ordinariates and Anglican Use congregations to vigorously promote revival of and enrollment in this scapular in the context of the Roman Catholic Church.  This Anglican scapular was an adaptation of the Theatine Blue Scapular of the Immaculate Conception as I understand it; however, another sage individual has assured me that it was a separate development.  I imagine others better versed in its history can sort those things out.  Whatever the origin, this unique scapular if promoted for use by those of Anglican heritage or attracted to the spirituality of the Anglican Patrimony within the Catholic Church would be a very good thing I think.

Such a devotional item could unite those of Anglican heritage wherever they may be in the Catholic Church whether in the Ordinariates, in the Latin Rite or in the Eastern Catholic Churches ... the Anglican diaspora may be found in all of those.  Such a revival of the Scapular of Our Lady of Walsingham within the context of the Catholic Church strikes me as a simple and wonderful way to honour Our Blessed Mother and to grant to those who desire a sacramental means by which they may be clothed as children of Our Lady of Walsingham and daily rejoice in her Immaculate Conception.

Below are two scans from the 1928 Pilgrim's Manual of the little service for the Scapular of Our Lady of Walsingham:



If such a thing as I proposed above is too much, then perhaps promoting the devotion to Our Lady of the Atonement is something worthy of the same group of people as it is the only devotion to have originated in a branch of the Anglican Communion to have then been brought into the Catholic Church with papal blessing and promulgation.  

+Ave Maria!