Daily Thoughts and Blessing: Good morning all! It has been a wonderful two days here in Lourdes. It will be very sad to leave in a few hours. I could stay here a week but we have to get on with our journey. There are new places to see, new people to meet, new stories to live!
Yesterday, we had mass in the Chapel of St. Anne which is in the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception and we celebrated the Feast of the Transfiguration. From there we got a three hour walking tour of Lourdes, visiting the home of St, Bernadette, all the churches that make up the holy ground here in Lourdes and we got a very good telling of Bernadette's story. Our tour end at the local parish in Lourdes which houses the baptismal font in which St. Bernadette was baptized.
The rest of the day we had for our own story and I spent most of my time on the grounds of the Grotto. Again I was overcome by my father's presence. I attended the Eucharistic procession at 5:00 pm and the Candle Light Rosary procession at 9:00 pm as I had done the night before. Once again my day ended with a trip to the Grotto at midnight! I pictured my Dad standing quietly in prayer as I was...enough said!
Today we leave Lourdes and head to Nevers where St. Bernadette is buried. It is an 800 km trip so we will be spending most of our time on the bus. But first we have mass in the St. Joan of Arc chapel in the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception before we board our bus for the days journey. We will celebrate a mass in honor of Mary giving thanks for this special time in Lourdes.
As always you continue to be in my prayers. For all of you in the US have a restful and peaceful night and I pray your day tomorrow will be blessed with the gifts of God's grace, hope, joy, and love!
Blessings to all...Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul
No comments:
Post a Comment