As a number of people have asked me about my pilgrimage, I thought I would share a few thoughts/reflections.  One of the other places we were blessed to visit was Lourdes, France.  This is the where the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to St. Bernadette in 1858.  When speaking to Bernadette, Mary referred to herself as the “Immaculate Conception.”  While The teaching of Mary’s Immaculate Conception has existed and been believed from the very early centuries of Christianity, it was formally affirmed in 1854 by Pope Pius IX.  This was then affirmed by Blessed Virgin Mary herself as she used this title at her apparition at Lourdes.

Furthermore, she asked St. Bernadette to dig in a certain spot in the ground.  There Bernadette found a spring of water.  “Go and drink from the spring and wash yourself there” were the instructions given by Our Lady to St. Bernadette.  After this discovery, people came to the spring to drink the water and splash it on their faces. The first miraculous healings occurred in the days that followed. The Lourdes spring became a place of pilgrimage in itself and offered new hope for millions of sick people worldwide.  Over 7000 people have claimed to experience some sort of miraculous healing through Mary’s intercession at Lourdes.  70 of those have been meticulously researched, and have been confirmed to indeed be miraculous healings; that is that is there is no scientific or medical explanation for the sudden healing of a grave illness.

You can read about these 70 Church approved miracles at Lourdes here:

https://www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/approved_apparitions/lourdes/miracles1.html

You can also watch a 15 minute video about the office that investigates the miracles here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaG7mesmdH4

Lourdes was not only a prayerful place, but a place of peace dedicated to care for the sick and the vulnerable.  They have a Hospital there where they can host pilgrims with chronic illnesses, ailments, and disabilities of all kinds, and a dedicated team of medical staff and volunteers to help facilitate their pilgrimage to Lourdes, France.

When I was there, we participated in a Mass, a Eucharistic Procession (which they do every day at 5:00pm), and a Torchlight Procession (A prayer procession by candlelight while praying the rosary and singing Marian hymns.  This happens every night at 9:00pm).  At each of these prayer experiences there was always a front section reserved for those with physical ailments.  There was a dedicated team of people to help them get from the Hospital on the grounds to the place of prayer.

There was something about this I found so very moving.  A place of prayer, and a place of care for the most sick, weak, and vulnerable.  Our Lord tells us we “judge a tree by its fruits.” (Mt. 7:20)  And seeing this place bear the fruit of faith, of prayer, of charitable service, and healing, there was something authentically beautiful and peaceful about this place where Mary appeared.

St. Bernadette, pray for us!

Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us!

Peace,

-Fr. Kevin