The Re-dedication of England as the Dowry of Mary

The Dedication in 1381

The first dedication was made by King Richard II in Westminster Abbey as he sought the protection of Our Lady in the face of great political turmoil. At this point, England received the title ‘Mary’s Dowry’; meaning that England was ‘set aside’ as a gift, a dowry, for Our Lady under her guidance and protection.

The Re-Dedication on Sunday 29th March

In your homes, around a statue of Our Lady, recite the rosary and then the following dedication and consecration prayer:

Solemn Dedication and Consecration of England to the Blessed Virgin Mary as her Dowry

O Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and our most gentle Queen and Mother, look down in mercy upon England thy Dowry and upon us all who greatly hope and trust in thee. 

We thy faithful people assembled here, offer thee this, our country. Once it was thine, all its children were thy children and thou wast honoured throughout England as its Protectress and its Queen. Again do we consecrate it as thy Dowry, and entrust it to thy maternal care.

By thee it was that Jesus our Saviour and our hope was given unto the world; and He has given thee to us that we might hope still more. 

To thee we entrust the members of the Church, who invoke thee as Mother. On earth thou precedest them in the pilgrimage of faith. Comfort them in their difficulties and trials.

Plead for us thy children, whom thou didst receive and accept at the foot of the Cross, O sorrowful Mother. 

Plead for the conversion of heart and soul of the people of England to the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, for the restoration of the sick, the consolation for the troubled, the conversion of sinners and peace to the faithful departed. Queen of Peace, pray for us and give to the world the peace for which all peoples are longing, peace in the truth, justice and charity of Christ. Give peace to the nations and to the souls of all, that in peace, the Kingdom of God may prevail.

Intercede for our separated brethren, that with us in the one true fold they may be united to the supreme Shepherd, the Vicar of thy Son.

May thine intercession bring back this country to the fullness of its ancient faith. May thine intercession lead us to a closer union with thy divine Son. We offer thee all the people of this land, especially those who know thee so little or not at all. May all in our country know Christ, the light of the world and its only Saviour.

Pray for us all, dear Mother, that by faith, fruitful in good works, we may all deserve to see and praise God, together with thee, in our heavenly home. 

May we who follow thy Son, be fruitful in the good work of building a culture of life in our world, where all human life is treasured and the gift of God’s creation is respected and cared for, so that all may share the fruits of God’s generous love. 

V: Pray for us O Holy Mother of God 

R: That we may be made worthy of the Promises of Christ. 

Holy Mother of God, Virgin ever blest, O Mary Immaculate, pray for us, intercede for us, disdain not to help us. For we are confident and know for certain that thou canst obtain all things from thy Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, God Almighty, the King of Ages, who liveth with the Father and the Holy Ghost, for ever and ever. Amen.

[The final prayer is one formerly used in Saxon times, found in the Book of Cerne, which belonged to Ethelwald, Bishop of Sherbourne, A.D. 760.]