Thursday, August 11, 2011

Late but beautiful arrival in Lourdes

Well we arrived VERY tired (as you can see from the photo) but safe in Lourdes. After checking in at the hotel and eating dinner we had some free time. The St. Andrew group went looking for the Grotto and eventually found it. We saw the end of the candlelight procession then ran into Kyle Saad - a seminarian from Harrisburg studying in Rome - who showed us around the sanctuary. Not having had the opportunity for Mass because of travel, we learned that there was a Mass at 11:00 pm and so we stuck around. 

Several things struck me during the Mass.  During Holy Communion people kept coming, and coming, and coming - and I was really struck by how so MANY people were coming to the Lord in the Eucharist with such faith and devotion - and how the Lord gives Himself so freely to all who come to Him.  Then, following Mass, they placed the Blessed Sacrament in the Monstrance - and from where we were, there was a candle reflecting in the luna (the round glass piece that holds the Sacred Host) - and so as I looked at the monstrance, I saw the Eucharist and a flame - the love of Jesus poured out for us sinner.  

Finally got the computer issues resolved - so here are some pictures. 
 

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