Mary's Dowry: England's Consecration to Our Lady

Flying from Houston to Heathrow on my first international trip, I nervously pondered the country I would soon experience. During my two weeks on England’s shore, I discovered Catholic roots and memories in almost every nook and cranny. All around me were buildings, symbols, impressions, and scripts witnessing to England’s Catholic origin and its devotion to Our Lady, the Mother of God. Even visiting now Anglican Cathedrals and historical sights, I felt the mark of Catholicism forever imprinted on this country.

England’s title “Mary’s Dowry” came from the Latin word for dowry or “donation” which means setting aside a donation for the bride in-case of being widowed. Thus, England was “set-aside” in a special way for Our Lady. Historians speculate about the earliest origins of the title “Mary’s Dowry.” Tradition attributes the devotion to St. Edward the Confessor (1003-1066) and the establishment of numerous Marian shrines and the pilgrimage site, Our Lady of Walshingham. The Wilton Diptych, a historical two hinged panel, depicts Richard III (1377-1399) kneeling before Our Lady and offering England to her with the inscription “This is your dowry, O Pious Virgin.”

In 1399, Thomas Arundal, Archbishop of Canterbury wrote, “But we English, being the servants of her special inheritance and her own dowry, as we are commonly called, ought to surpass others in the fervour of our praises and devotion” (Dayton.) Oral and written tradition documents Henry V’s battle cry at Agincourt to Mother Mary: “To Our Lady for her Dowry; St George and St Edward to our aid”. By During the Middle Ages, numerous Marian guilds and fraternities passionately devoted to Our Lady organized. During the medieval era, most flowers were names after Mother Mary, and Mary Garden’s bloomed (Gardens.) Despite speculative origins, historians agree England developed a committed devotion to Our Lady thus embraced the title, Mary’s Dowry.

Monarchs and peasants alike upheld this strong devotion to Our Lady until the Protestant Reformation. The rift between the formerly Catholic nation and the Church of England changed the religious landscape of England. For a period of time, this change only heightened the devotion to Our Lady as many Catholic men and women died for their faith. As recalcitrant England continued and the edicts of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I were carried out, the devotion to Our Lady dwindled and the title Mary’s Dowry became suppressed not absent.

In 1829, the passage of the Catholic Relief Act enabled Catholics to worship freely. In 1893, Pope Leo XIII declared that, “the wonderful filial love which burnt within the hearts of your forefathers towards the Mother of God, to whose service they consecrated themselves with such abundant proofs of devotion that the Kingdom itself acquired the singular title of Mary’s Dowry.” In 1893, the newly restored Bishops at the request of Pope Leo XIII, re-consecrated England to the Mother of God and St. Peter (TomorrowsWorld.)

What about modern, British Catholics? Like many European countries, a large percetnage of the British population identifies with secularism, agnosticism, or atheism. According to the Telegraph, in 2007, a larger population of Catholics attended Mass than Anglicans. In 2013, Telegraph reported that Roman Catholics maintained a holding pattern in population percentage as other Christian denominations declined. Though a small Catholic population, many British Catholics are devout, dedicated to their faith and Our Lady.

When I attended packed Masses at Our Lady and the English Martyrs Catholic Church (OLEM) in Cambridge, surrounded by people from all walks of life, ages, ethnic groups and languages, our participation in the Aacrament of the altar embodied the four marks of the Church: one, holy, catholic (universal,) & apostolic. I felt Christ amoung us and within us. My soul soared into the rafters of this neo-Gothic Cathedral. An unusual, beautiful wooden and bronze sculpture, thought to be an ancient and venerated statue of Our Lady and Child hangs near the south aisle stone pillar. A lingering testimony to Mary’s Dowry’s past, present, and future. Visiting England reawakened and strengthened my Catholic faith inviting me to grow deeper in my relationship with Our Lady, Mother of God.