The Shrine Reborn!
The revival of devotion to Our Lady of Doncaster has been quiet and unobtrusive, one intimate among Doncaster people and without widespread publicity. The Marian Year of 1954 certainly gave great impetus to the revival, and many hitherto unaware of it became suddenly aware of the shrine so near to their homes.
The Bishop of Leeds, the Diocesan, Right Reverend Mgr. John Carmel Heenan, D.D., himself encouraged the devotion by composing a prayer in honour of our Lady of Doncaster, to which he attached an indulgence
O Lord Jesus Christ, Who from the cross bequeathed to us Mary Thy Mother to be our Mother also, grant us the grace to be worthy to be called her children. May Mary be Queen and Mother of every home. Our town in ancient days was renowned for devotion to Our Lady of Doncaster. Today, once more we crave the comfort of her motherly protection. Bless all who invoke her sweet name and may Mary lead us to Thee who are the Way, the Truth and the Life: Who livest and reignest with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, for ever and ever. Amen. (100 days indulgence.)
St. Peter's Church, Doncaster, is a worthy home for the renewed Shrine of Our Lady of Doncaster. It was built at a difficult time and externally, perhaps, might not be considered as imposing as a Shrine-church of Our Lady should be. But appearances are often deceptive and within a considerable degree of stateliness has been achieved.
That this is indeed the home of a Shrine of Our Lady is suggested before ever the visitor enters, by the remarkable tympanum over the main portal. Mr. Charles Hatfield's description of it, in his 1868 Historical Notes, gives a contemporary opinion of it, within a few months of its erection: "The doorway is divided by a shaft of polished granite, which serves as a pedestal for the statue of Our Blessed Lady, carved alto relievo, having Our Lord and Saviour in her arms and on either side standing figures representing St. Peter and St. Charles Borromeo, patron saints of the church. The background of the design is relieved with drapery and the ensemble is very chaste and effective. It is cut in Roche Abbey stone. A nimbus or halo surrounds the principal figure on which is the following inscription: BENEDICTA ET VENERABILIS ES VIRGO MARIA QUAE SINE TACTU PUDORIS INVENTA ES MATER SALVATORIS. " '
From the first going in one is assured that this is indeed a place where the Mother of God is held in due regard and with affection.
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