Marian Pilgrimage - Our Lady of Oxford

 

The Pilgrimage moves away from London to visit the two ancient Universities, and begins with the older foundation in Oxford.

My post from last year with links to the notes from previous years can be seen at Marian Pilgrimage - Our Lady of Oxford

   

For contemporary pilgrims the obvious destination is the Oxford Oratory. Here they can find the painting of Our Lady of Oxford Mother of Mercy. This was acquired, whilst she was serving as a Papal Chamberlain by Hartwell de la Garde Grissell during the pontificate of Pope Pius IX. He and the Pope were friends and in 1869 the Pope attached indulgences to the image. The painting came to Oxford with its owner and a great collection of relics. They were housed in a chapel in de la Garde Grissell’s house in the High, and then, on his death in 1907, he bequeathed it to the Archdiocese of Birmingham for display in St Aloysius’ Church, which since 1990 has been home to the Oxford Oratory.

The painting e now has an assigned feast day celebrated on the Saturday before the fourth Sunday in July. The original indulgences expired in 1969, but have been reinstated by the Apostolic Penitentiary. A partial indulgence is granted for reciting the Salve Regina or the Litany of Loreto before the image.

May Our Lady of Oxford intercede for us and our intentions

Jesu mercy, Mary pray