Lourdes Blog 2011

You should see the hotel we're staying in for our last night on pilgrimage . . .it's sumptuous; power showers, huge televisions (even one in the bathroom, would you believe?).   I've got a luxurious leather sofa in my room and a picture window to look out of.   Mind you, the room is so big it's a long walk from the bed to the loo . . . but I'm not complaining.   So here we are on our last day and we went to the international Mass in the cathedral of Notre Dame this morning.   It was beautiful.   Tangney Tours had reserved seats for us, the first few rows to be precise, which was smashing.   It was a lovely Mass.   It was also a bit of a novelty in a way because the tourists were allowed in while it was in progress but had to move round the sides of the cathedral and they kept doing what tourists do, which is to stand and gaze at one thing or another and take photographs.   Still, nothing disturbed the flow of the liturgy and Father Paschal and Father Anthony were very pleased to be able to concelebrate in such a lovely setting. 

After that it was goodbye Paris and we were heading north for Calais.   You could say that our pilgrimage was topped the same was it was tailed, or maybe that should be the other way round.   In any case, just as on the way out, we missed the boat going back.   In fact, what with one thing and another, we missed two boats  and it was really quite late before we arrived in Heston.    However we all got home safely, thanks be to God.

This pilgrimage has been very different for me and there have been quite a few frustrations, and things going wrong but, as Father Paschal pointed out when we set off over a week ago, we shouldn't complain.   When you think about it, a pilgrimage is suppose to be a mirror of our journey through life and who of us, gets a difficulty-free life?

Here's to next year.

After yesterday's long journey we were grateful for a slightly slow start this morning.   We visited the convent where Bernadette lived and were able to venerate and pray in front of her incorupt body in the convent chapel.   It was there that we celebrated Mass before walking down to the little grotto at the bottom of the garden to see the statue of Our Lady of the Waters.   Bernadette used to like to come to this spot and said that she saw something of what she had witnessed in the apparition in this statue.   Then we had a little time to walk around the museum and the bookshop before getting back on our bus and heading for Paris.

I must say the weather has really brightened up now and it was lovely and sunny as we hit Paris.   There was just time for a light lunch before we went in to the church in the Rue du Bac where Our Blessed Lady appeared to Saint Catherine Labouré in 1838.   This was twenty years before the apparitions at Lourdes and apart from the interest which any apparition arouses, it's interesting because the Blessed Virgin instructed Catherine to have made a small medaillon which is nowadays known as the Miraculous Medal.   The design given to Catherine is very specific and the inscription is 'O Mary, conceived wthout sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.'   This is obviously a very direct reference to the Immaculate Conception but it wasn't until 1854 that the Church promulagated this doctrine.   And, of course, one of the most noteworthy things to come out of the Lourdes apparitions is that the 'lady' told Bernadette that she is the Immaculate Conception.   So the events in the Rue du Bac are like a precursor to those at Lourdes.   The incorrupt body of Catherine Labouré can be seen in the church in the Rue due Bac.   Several of us then popped round the corner to another chapel to see the incorrupt body of Saint Vincent de Paul.

Then it was time to set off for our hotel; it's been quite a day.

It's come around again, the closing Mass of the pilgrimage.   I usually find I have mixed emotions at this event.   Of course it's sad that the pilgrimage is over but as we were reminded by Archbishop Nichols in the homily, the big pilgrimage - our journey to Heaven - goes on.   It's good to think of life like this and very comforting to know that we have such marvellous help from Our Lady, the saints and, of course, God himself as we go on our way.  

In fact the pilgrimage isn't over for the group with whom I'm travelling.   We set off for Nevers at the end of the Mass.   Nevers has a very direct link with the story of the apparitions at Lourdes as it's the place where Bernadette entered the convent and lived for the rest of her life.    The first thing to say about Nevers is that it's a very long way from Lourdes.   We arrived about eleven.   I'm sure there's an internet connection somewhere in this hotel but I'm too tired to find it tonight.   I'll update you again tomorrow.

The plan had been to have today's Mass in the Cathedral of the Trees but, even though it wasn't raining this morning, the recent wet weather dictated otherwise and we celebrated instead in the nearbye Salle Padre Pio.   This is a fairly recent addition to the Cité Saint Pierre, just a little way into the mountains, and it's a lovely auditorium, very roomy with good acoustics.   We all fitted in easily and comfortably.

The principal celebrant was Father Paschal Ryan of the Stoke Newington Parish and the homily was given by Father John Hemer of the Mill Hill Missionaries.   He spoke of Jesus growing up under the authority of Mary and Joseph and that he would have learnt his humanity from them, from his mother in particular.   He told us that bad religion teaches us to escape from our problems but that good religion leads us to enter fully into our lives with all it's sufferings and dfficulties.   He made special mention of the things that we encounter that make no sense to us, saying that if we ponder on these things in our heart, as the Blessed Virgin did, we will come to understand them.

Westminster was leading the Blessed Sacrament procession this afternoon and, as always, it was very beautiful and meaningful.   Thankfully, although not that bright, it was dry and quite warm as we solemnly made our way from the front of the Rosary Basilica along the esplanade and into the underground Basilica for Benediction.

Going about later I ran into Vincent Malone, perhaps I should say, Father Vincent Malone.   Vincent first came to Lourdes as one of the redcaps and now, after being ordained to the priesthood last year he's here as a chaplain in the Saint Frai.

And so we've arrived at Thursday evening, which is party evening.   One of our regular pilgrims, Michael Slater has arranged a sing-along-party for us.   As well as being a jolly event it was also an open-mike one and everybody joined in with the singing and made a great deal of noise.

This morning (and Saturday) is traditionally the day of the international Mass in the underground (Pius 10th) Basilica.   It's a huge occasion and many of our pilgrims set out in good time to be present.   I, on the other hand attended Mass in the Chapel of Saint Joseph, not far from the undergound basilica.   The group from St Joseph's Pastoral Centre in Hendon, who are part of our pilgrimage this year, were celebrating a very special occasion.   One of their members, young Martin McDonagh, was receiving his first Holy Communion.   Martin, resplendent in a beautiful sailor suit, was there with his whole family for the big event.   Several of the children and young people from St Joseph's were involved in the liturgy.   The Gospel, the feeding of the five thousand, was acted out in tableau form and others were on hand with either the bidding prayers or the offertory procession.   Giovanni Marseglia and Liz Simpson did a sterling job with some very lively and joyful songs and we all joined in with the clapping and the singing.   It was a lovely Mass.

And, low and behold, when we came out of the chapel the weather looked as though it was brightening up.   Now this really is something to write home about.

Wednesday afternoon on the Westminster pilgrimage is, traditionally, the time when we all ease up a bit and, for those so inclined, there is the option to go on an excursion.

A couple of coachloads of us went up to Gavarnie, a little place in the Pyrenées and by the time we set off it was definitely sunny.   Gavarnie was beautiful.   As someone born and bought up in the London basin I can never get over the wonder and majesty of a mountainous region.   It is truly stupendous.  We just took a walk, had a drink and chilled out in the mountain air before coming back for our evening meals.

Because it was an afternoon of relaxation I haven't got too much to say today, but my afternoon off has refreshed me and I'll be back on the case tomorrow.