– Sr Margaret Fung
On the 6th day of our pilgrimage, we are going from Bordeaux / Winery to Lourdes. We have tasted the red wine which was changed into the blood of Jesus Christ. We saw the vineyard where grapes have been planted, harvested and made into all kinds of wine which France is so proud of. Now we are going from here to Lourdes, an even more famous place because in 1858 Our Lady appeared to an illiterate shepherd girl, Bernadette Soubirous there.
The journey will take us three hours. Bu now, we are used to bus trips of two, three or even four hours during which we could take a nap, relax or even pray so we would be ready to experience new things. Sense the spiritual dimension of the environment especially on this trip because people flock to Lourdes from all over the world. The number of tourists who visit Lourdes is only second to that of Paris. Yet, most people come to Lourdes with only one purpose, namely, the making a pilgrimage and asking for the intercession of our Lady for a favour. Certainly there are also people who come to give thanks for favours granted.
After our arrival in Lourdes, we will check in and get settled down for the most important event of the evening, i.e. the Torchlight Marian Procession. Years ago, I spent a week by myself here and now I come back with a group of teachers. I am still very impressed by the faith of the patients and the voluntary workers from all over the world who come to help the patients. I still remember a young girl from Hong Kong who came to render service when she got holidays from work. We will pray the rosary together while walking from one place to another. The procession always moves slowly and that gives time to remember the incidents back on February, 11, 1858.
Bernadette, a poor shepherd girl had come to the area to gather wood with her sister and a neighbour girl. As she was taking off her stockings and shoes to avoid getting them spoiled while crossing a small river she heard two gusts of wind but none of the branches of the trees moved; however, the wild rose on the cliff face did. There were dazzling lights from the cliff and all of a sudden, she saw a young, beautiful lady wearing a white dress with a blue belt, and holding a golden rosary. There were also golden roses on her feet. She invited Bernadette to pray for the conversion of sinners.
The second day Bernadette brought holy water with her to sprinkle the cliff fearing the apparition was from the devil. The lady told her she came from God. Totally, Our Lady appeared to her eighteen times.
When Bernadette asked who she was, she said, “I am the Immaculate Conception”. The name means that she was conceived without original sin. This was a dogma of faith only just declared by Pope Pius IX in 1854. Many learned persons and priests were surprised that Bernadette should mention this name. Later a group was formed to study the case and it was later declared that Our Lady had really appeared to her.
Prayer is a means of building up a relationship with the supernatural God. For those who are not Catholics, I am delighted to guide you on a pilgrimage because you want to see things differently, maybe you want to build up a relationship with God. Do try to chat with Him as a friend. On the way when you need to keep quiet, try to speak in your heart to him about things you may want to confide in your good friend.
For Catholics, I would like you to pray for the conversion of sinners. We are all sinners and so it is easy to choose some people among our friends to give them a little surprise. Pray for their conversion so that they may avoid sin. Try to say a prayer consciously for them so that you may feel the persons in front of you. As you are helping them, place them on the altar of God and tell Him what you are doing. Tell Him that you want to know Him better. Promise to do something for Him.
On the seventh day, we will be free after Mass at 6.45AM at the grotto of Massabielle, the place Our Lady appeared to St. Bernadette. There you will see many sticks left behind by those who got cured. We may choose to say prayers in the Basilica of the Rosary, the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, the Basilica of St. Pius X and St. Bernadette Chapel. Certainly there are the baths should you want to take one and water to drink. Being pilgrims, we will arrange it so we will spend equal time in each holy site and be ready to receive any spiritual inspiration.
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