A shrine is traditionally a place of pilgrimage and reminds us, in an earthly way, of our spiritual journey of faith.
Through baptism we embark on a road that is sometimes smooth, sometimes rough, but we do not journey alone.
As Christians we have our eyes firmly fixed upon the Kingdom of God as revealed to us in Scripture and Tradition by Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. The message of Our Lady, His Mother, is a simple one. In John 2:5 she points to her Son and says, "Do whatever He tells you". And so, it is in this shrine that we worship God and give honour to the Theotokos, the God-Bearer. She is a prototype of the Church in that she gives us an example of discipleship unparalleled in the history of salvation. She is humble and courageous, obedient and strong, maternal and virginal, constantly directing us towards her Son.
8th September - The Feast Day of Our Lady of Glastonbury
The Feast Day of Our Lady of Glastonbury, celebrated on 8th September, coincides with the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This day commemorates the birth of Mary, the mother of Jesus, and is one of the few birthdays celebrated in the liturgical calendar, alongside those of Jesus and John the Baptist.
Glastonbury was a significant pilgrimage site during the Middle Ages. On this feast day, many pilgrims would visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Glastonbury, and a fair was held in the town. The celebration marks the beginning of redemption with the appearance of the Saviour's mother, emphasizing her unique role in the history of salvation.
The History Of The Shrine
There is no doubt that Glastonbury plays an important part in the history of Christianity in England; it has been home to a shrine dedicated to Our Lady from the time of Joseph of Arimathea's 'Wattle Church'. Glastonbury has been a centre of pilgrimage since the Middle Ages with many making the journey to visit the parish each year.
A separate website has been created as a resource of information related to the rich history of the Shrine, as well as the present church dedicated to Our Lady of Glastonbury. Here you can read about the buildings, tapestry, statues and icons, and view a collection of photographs from the parish archives, dating back to the nineteenth century.
PETITIONS
Since the Marriage Feast at Cana, the first occasion on which our Holy Mother interceded with her Son to help others, Mary has been petitioned for her support and intercession in our prayers. Pilgrims all over the world continue to bring their problems to Our Lady as prayers for her help and support.
Your own petition can be brought to Our Lady at her Shrine in Glastonbury, via this website. If you wish to submit your own petition, please click the button below.
All petitions submitted to us are printed and bound in a book, which is placed at the the Shrine. The petitions are prayed for during Masses, as well as at other Healing Services. If you would like to view prayer petitions sent by others, please click the button below.
Visitors to the Shrine website are invited to pray for all petitioners, as they will pray for you.