A rather wet trip to Ladyewell in the Diocese of Lancaster today, in the shadow of the fells and Forests of Bowland to support the annual Diocesan and Server’s pilgrimage to the shrine to Our Lady. The heavens truly opened for us which put a stop to the usual procession through the countryside, but this did not dampen the occasion. Bishop Paul Swarbrick with several of the local clergy led the servers and other faithful in a Mass, Exposition and Benediction in honour of Our Lady of Fernyhalgh.

Bishop Swarbrick noted in his homily, the procession at the start of Mass, may have seemed long with all the servers and clergy, but we are all part of a procession which stretches back to Christ himself, and stretches forward, we are moving with Christ in the right direction, and we should be encouraged. We should, despite events in the world and other temptations, not give up, we must persevere, grow in fidelity, in our knowledge of the Mass, in our ability to serve well with confidence, and with reverence. We all have our plans, but God has a BETTER plan, it may seem sometimes like He is making a mistake, but with the help of Our Lady, we can listen, through her, who knew Jesus best, and understand what He is asking of us.

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