Lourdes: This pilgrim reflects!

Lourdes: This pilgrim reflects!

Recently we had a successful pilgrimage Lourdes. The journey to Lourdes was by coach so not one for the faint hearted! Next year we are going to go via air and spend the whole time in Lourdes. Still the journey this year did not detract from the wonderful spiritual blessings which we received in Lourdes. Lourdes has a peaceful security that wraps itself around the discerning and unaware pilgrim alike. I like the coming together as a group but also the individual graces that we receive from our own time spent in prayer and awe at the place.

Peace is difficult to find in this of world of ours that rushes around and seems to heading somewhere but at times loses its way. So finding peace is a bonus indeed! The peace in Lourdes from my perspective is a fulfilment of the craving to be close to God. Being in Lourdes is to be blest to experience the brushing of the earth with the imprint of heaven.

Now I experience this peace every time I celebrate the Mass; in the intimate conversation with the Crucified Christ who is made present in the sacrifice and the hope and anticipation of the Risen Christ witnessed in the words and actions that take place; in the silence of the consecration there is a peace given which transforms the pangs of life’s lack of faith into the hope eternal.

At Lourdes I am moved by the attention and care given to the sick and I feel the sense of peace comes from accepting God’s will ,not expecting a cure or a miracle (even though that is always a possibility!) but inviting Christ into the suffering allowing the grace of God to sooth and comfort the struggle that sickness brings upon us.

Also in Lourdes I revel in the quietness of the grotto. To be able to sit on a bench by the grotto praying is a special grace. It confirms for me the glory of God and the wonderful mystery that is his presence in the world igniting faith and encouraging hope.

The truth of Lourdes rests for me in the mirroring of St Bernadette with Mary. A truth expressed in the virtues of poverty, simplicity and humility. Mary expressed those virtues in the Magnificat, her song of thanksgiving at the Annunciation.

There is a real poverty of spirit in Mary’s words of trust “he has exalted the lowly.” Mary was in poverty of state and also she embraced an interior poverty too. Her simplicity is expressed in hearing the words from the angel and straight away saying yes! She Allowed the word of the Lord to be received in faith. Her humility is evident in denying her own will and allowing God’s grace to reside.

These virtues are echoed in the life of St Bernadette too. Her poverty is one of life’s circumstances. Her family had to live in the hovel of an old prison. That physical poverty was mirrored in her own spirit too that allowed her to see the vision of Mary. The simplicity walks hand in hand with poverty through her little education. Her humility shines through in her listening to the instructions of Mary and carrying them out without hesitation. Bernadette was asked by Mary to kneel down and drink water while the water was not there!  Those watching ridiculed her as she had dirt and twigs in her mouth. But later they found that the stream was flowing beneath them! Bernadette’s preserved body, incorrupt, also echoes Mary’s immaculate entrance into heaven, no decay touched her.

Lourdes is authentic, it is truthful and it creates a peace so incredible that it attracts millions to come in pilgrimage. I look forward to next year!

It is well worth going on a pilgrimage to Lourdes. If the parish is not organising one there are many companies who arrange pilgrimages.

Posted by Fr Patrick Brennan   humblepiety.blogspot.com