St. Mary's dates from 1158. If it was built to hold the statue then Our Lady of Cardigan is indeed ancient. It resembles an earlier shrine in the city of Arras, which was then in Flanders. Did Flemish merchants, who settled in Cardigan and traded in Welsh wool out of the port, bring the statue back with them?
Outside town, on the old pilgrim track, lie the ruins of a building by a stream. It is called Capel Bach (Little Chapel), and may have been an oratory where travellers prayed before walking the last mile to the shrine. It is the same distance from St. Mary's as Walsingham Slipper Chapel is from the shrine there.
The windows shown at the top of the page are from Our Lady of
the Taper. They depict, in stained glass, Welsh flowers associated
with the name of Mary (Mair)
The Shrine welcomed members of the UCM Wales from the dioceses of Menevia, Cardiff and Wrexham.
The program included Holy Mass at the Sacred Heart chapel Henllan, a candlelit Rosary and Benediction , Holy Mass celebrated by Bishop Regan and the dedication and installation of a beautiful new statue of Blessed Margaret Clitheroe, the patron saint of the UCM, which was donated by the mothers themselves. We thank them most sincerely for their generosity.
UCM Pilgrimage 2010
Legion of Mary
Pilgrimage 2010
It was with great delight that the National Shrine welcomed the Legion of Mary for a special day of pilgrimage. The timing was perfect in that the parish was in the midst of celebrating Forty Hours of Devotion and the Legion could participate in Eucharistic Adoration, Benediction, Holy Hour and Rosary. Father Eric Wastell graciously offered Holy Mass and gave a very well received homily on the Blessed Sacrament.
The weather was warm and sunny so the pilgrims were able to enjoy their picnic lunch in the Shrine grounds well supplemented by tea, coffee and biscuits from the Shrine Hospitality team.
We very much look forward to the second Legion of Mary Pilgrimage in the Jubilee Year of 2011.
