The English Camino: The Road to the Triumph Begins

Today marks a momentous chapter in the spiritual landscape of England. As the sun rises, the pilgrims of the English Camino begin their trek toward the ancient heart of English devotion: Walsingham.

From the perspective of the wider Church and watching with deep admiration from as far away as Australia, there is something stirring about seeing English Catholics putting their “heads above the parapet” to stand out for Jesus and reclaim their sacred heritage. This is not just a walk; it is a profound testament to faith, providence, and the enduring spirit of the English Camino, as shared on the Road to the Triumph website.

A Journey Born of Trust

Stephen Gallagher, who started walking to Walsingham in 2023 as part of the English Camino, shared a powerful reflection as he prepared to lead the first group out of Stockport. His words remind us that the most beautiful paths often begin in moments of great uncertainty:

“That time of year again, tomorrow I’m setting off on the English Camino. 3 years ago I left on a journey of thanksgiving, my career over, unemployed and unsure what the future had in store, but I had complete trust that God had a plan for my life. Well let’s just say the past 3 years have been the most fulfilling of my life. Tomorrow 18 of us will set off from Stockport on the 170-mile journey to Walsingham, a marathon a day for 8 days. A group will simultaneously set off from Yorkshire and another will set off from Cambridge next Monday. A hair-brained idea has turned into a wonderful and inspirational event drawing pilgrims from all over the UK. God is great! I shall offer this walk for everyone I know. God bless.”

Under the Patronage of the “Pearl of York”

It is deeply significant that this year’s English Camino commences on the Feast of St. Margaret Clitherow. Known as the “Pearl of York,” St. Margaret was a woman of immense courage martyred for her refusal to abandon the Catholic faith. Her life reminds us that the path to Walsingham was once a forbidden one, trodden only by those willing to risk everything for the Truth.

Walsingham: A Beacon in the Wilderness

Walsingham, known as “England’s Nazareth,” holds a unique place in Christendom. Its history, from its flourishing in the Middle Ages to its destruction during the Reformation, mirrors the biblical narratives of exile and persecution. We are reminded of the words in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9:

“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”

Just as the Temple in Jerusalem was leveled only to be rebuilt in the spirit of the people, the “Dowry of Mary” was physically stripped away, yet its spiritual foundation remained dormant in the English soil, waiting for a new springtime.

The Promise of Return: From Faustina to the Future

There is a profound spiritual parallel in the Diary of St. Faustina, where the message of Divine Mercy is linked to the renewal of nations. There is a long-standing conviction that when the English Catholics return to Walsingham, the faith will return to England. As these 18 pilgrims from Stockport, alongside those from Yorkshire and Cambridge, walk a marathon a day, they are participating in a spiritual reclamation of the land.

The Cloud of Witnesses: The Forty Martyrs of England and Wales

The pilgrims of the English Camino do not walk alone. They are accompanied by the legacy of those who paved the way with their lives. Here are the Forty Martyrs canonised in 1970:

Secular Priests: St. Cuthbert Mayne, St. Ralph Sherwin, St. Alexander Briant, St. John Paine, St. Luke Kirby, St. Eustace White, St. Polydore Plasden, St. John Boste, St. John Almond, St. John Southworth, St. John Plessington, St. John Lloyd, St. John Kemble.

Franciscan & Augustinian: St. John Jones, St. John Wall, St. John Stone.

A Prayer for the Pilgrims

O God, our Heavenly Father,

We thank You for the gift of Our Lady of Walsingham and the courage of the English Camino walkers. We ask for Your divine protection over every pilgrim from Stockport, Yorkshire, and Cambridge.

Strengthen their feet as they cover these 170 miles. Protect them from exhaustion and injury. May their “marathon a day” be a living sacrifice for the conversion of hearts and the restoration of the Dowry of Mary.

As the footsteps return to the Shrine, let the light of faith return to the land.

Our Lady of Walsingham, pray for them.

St. Margaret Clitherow, pray for them.

Amen.

Call to Action: Join Our Lady of Walsingham’s Army

The time for silence has passed. We are calling for a “Reformation of the Heart”, an undoing of the spiritual division that has persisted for centuries. As the pilgrims of the English Camino set their faces toward Walsingham, they are the vanguard of the spirit, and the first ripples of a tide that intends to wash over England once more.

How to join the spiritual reclamation:

• Walk with the Remnant: If you cannot be there in person, walk where you are. Offer your daily steps as a prayer for the “Triumph of the Immaculate Heart.”

• Put Your Head Above the Parapet: Do not hide your light. Be an unapologetic witness for Christ in your community, just as the Martyrs were.

• Storm Heaven: Support the 18 pilgrims with daily Rosaries and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.

• Reclaim the “Dowry of Mary”: Dedicate your home and family to the Immaculate Heart.

The ruins of the old Priory are a reminder of what was lost, but you are the living stones of what is being rebuilt. We do not look back with bitterness, but forward with the fire of the Holy Spirit.

For God, for Our Lady, and for the soul of England!