BBC Radio 2...

...invited me on to the Jeremy Vine Show yesterday to talk about the Holy Father's trip to America. Would we be able to give him the same huge welcome here - cheering crowds 30-deep along the roads of the capital, full-scale pageantry?...is America more religious than us? ....etc etc...a lady atheist campaigner (can't recall her name) was on the programme with me and ranted crossly about the usual things, Church opposes abortion, won't give out condoms to children, etc. People 'phoned in and talked...I detect a vague longing for something that would give poor mucky modern Britain a larger vision and a spiritual and moral uplift, as there was some wistful talk about great Royal events and the good community spirit that is engendered when people celebrate a valued heritage and sense of purpose...even a sense of envy of the Americans, who seem to allow themselves to look - together, as a country - upwards and outwards to the things of God more than we do...

I've been away from the computer, in Norfolk, at Walsingham, filming with an EWTN team. Extremely enjoyable - hard work, but fun. The new Catholic church in the town itself is now functioning - it has a nice traditonal-style round tower made with local stones, and a fine large crucifix by the door. Inside, it disappoints a bit, sanctuary looks unfinished, the tabernacle stranded to one side. I expect that this will change in due course, as an attractive feature of the church is a small round window, so placed that the passer-by can look in directly to the altar. But at the moment the view just misses the tabernacle!

There are good numbers for daily Mass, and for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament afterwards: with a glittering monstrance on the altar, directly beneath the stained glass and crucifix, everything suddenly looked exactly right.

Pilgrim groups walk the Holy Mile to the Slipper Chapel shrine, carrying a statue - it was enchantingly beautiful doing this, voices chorusing the Rosary back-and-forth, lambs in the fields, a fizz of green just emerging on the trees, sudden groups of primroses, birds calling, crunch of feet on the gravel walk and no traffic noise.

The train journey home from Kings Lynn (WHY WERE ALL THOSE WONDERFUL LITTLE BRANCH LINES CLOSED, BACK IN THE 1960s? I learned this week that Walsingham not only had its own station, but also a special Slipper Chapel Halt) took me via Cambridge. So I stopped off there to enjoy a happy afternoon with young relatives - cheery news and eager talk, delicious great-nephew tumbling with energy, cuddly small great-niece chuckling most gratifyingly at the sight of a great-aunt...