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| Bernadette in the Grotto in 1862 |
Today was our "retreat day" at Lourdes. This morning we awoke early to go to the baths. Although several of us didn't feel a huge calling to enter the baths of Lourdes, none-the-less, we all felt that if we didn't do it - tomorrow we'd be sorry. So, James, Joey, Mary, Jane & myself (Fr. Bateman) all went and bathed in the healing waters of Lourdes.
It really is a wonderful, exhilarating experience. After waiting for about 40 minutes in a cue (line) we finally got to the pools themselves. After a preparing ourselves to enter the baths, each person is individually led down into the waters and given a moment of prayer... when that prayer is completed, the assistants sit you back in the water and, literally, dunk you - into the COLD water. As you are stood back up, you ask St. Bernadette to pray for you and the Blessed Mother to pray for you - that whatever request you had made would be granted and you be healed in whatever way is necessary. It really was awesome and I'm very glad I did it.
After the baths I ran back to the hotel to put on some other clothes and we gathered for the procession to the Grotto of Lourdes, where, with 1000's of other pilgrims from around the world on their way to World Youth Day, we celebrated Mass (where our new seminarian, Joey Barvir, had the opportunity to serve Mass) and spent some time there at the grotto where the Blessed Mother appeared to Bernadette in 1958. (to read about the apparitions at Lourdes, click here)
After Mass we prayed the Stations of the Cross as small groups - and it is really up a BIG hill toward "Calvary." Our pilgrims were together with Bishop McFadden for the Stations. After lunch we headed off to the nearby town of Saint Piere (Peter - I think) where we had the opportunity to reflect, in silence and in groups, on our pilgrimage experience thus far.
After dinner, several of us walked back to the Grotto to fill up our water bottles with water from the Grotto - which flows freely from faucets around the Grotto area. Then we went back to the hotel for some rest.
Tomorrow, we begin moving toward Madrid - with a few stops along the way. I hope you continue to follow along with us - and pray with and for us - as we are praying for you!
It really is a wonderful, exhilarating experience. After waiting for about 40 minutes in a cue (line) we finally got to the pools themselves. After a preparing ourselves to enter the baths, each person is individually led down into the waters and given a moment of prayer... when that prayer is completed, the assistants sit you back in the water and, literally, dunk you - into the COLD water. As you are stood back up, you ask St. Bernadette to pray for you and the Blessed Mother to pray for you - that whatever request you had made would be granted and you be healed in whatever way is necessary. It really was awesome and I'm very glad I did it.
After Mass we prayed the Stations of the Cross as small groups - and it is really up a BIG hill toward "Calvary." Our pilgrims were together with Bishop McFadden for the Stations. After lunch we headed off to the nearby town of Saint Piere (Peter - I think) where we had the opportunity to reflect, in silence and in groups, on our pilgrimage experience thus far.
After dinner, several of us walked back to the Grotto to fill up our water bottles with water from the Grotto - which flows freely from faucets around the Grotto area. Then we went back to the hotel for some rest.
Tomorrow, we begin moving toward Madrid - with a few stops along the way. I hope you continue to follow along with us - and pray with and for us - as we are praying for you!
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