Why I love Europe: Pilgrimage Sites

Rekindling My Faith

Lourdes and our Devotion to Mary

As we celebrated the Ascension of The Blessed Mother in August, I was reminded once again of our never-ending devotion to Mary. In our Catholic faith,we believe that Mary has a special place in the hierarchy of holiness. Having lived without sin and having been conceived of the Holy Spirit, we know that she sits above all of the Saints in her ability to intercede on our behalf. Millions pray to Mary every day for help but there is perhaps no place on earth where these prayers for intercession are more openly seen and felt than in the small town of Lourdes, France. This French town is the most famous healing shrine in the world and one of the most-visited of all pilgrimage sites.

For me personally, it has a special meaning and has since my youth. I remember when I was in grade school my grandmother visited Lourdes and brought back Holy Water from the sacred site. My mother kept the plastic bottle on a shelf in her closet and only brought it out when there was a special need to pray on behalf of family or friends. She prayed often and never missed her obligations to attend mass but the Lourdes water was there for when the need was the greatest. From observing this restricted use, I knew from an early age that Lourdes was a special place and that the waters of Lourdes had special meaning.

As I grew up and left home I never thought much more about Lourdes or the special water that Mom kept in her closet. Truth be known, I struggled with my faith and prayer life in my college years and continued those struggles into my adulthood. I was never quite sure of my beliefs, I went to Mass some Sundays, even consecutive ones on occasion but never really mastered the sort of dedication to God and the church that I had early in my life.

Fast forward to 2014 and what I now see as the beginning to the road back to faith and prayer. As we prepared for our next trip, we settled on an area of Northern Spain and Southern France that was of interest to us. Part of the area was the Basque Region of Spain and France famous for among other things the path of the famous “Camino de Santiago” pilgrims path. Looking at maps I realized just how close we would be to Lourdes. A bell went off in my head as I harkened back to my youth and that bottle of water that my mother guarded so closely. I immediately included Lourdes in our itinerary.

As we approached Lourdes I remember seeing hundreds of motorhomes parked along the side of the road leading into the town and I wondered what was happening. We would realize later that there was a special event in the town the next day and people were getting in line for parking. We also found that on these special occasions it is nearly impossible to get into the city or reserve a room nearby. Remember that four to six million pilgrims from around the world visit the shrine each year and it is estimated that more than 200 million pilgrims have come to Lourdes since 1860.

There is indeed something hopeful in the air as you approach the site. You begin to see pilgrims from all over the world, dozens of languages are being spoken, peoples of all colors and creeds are gathered all seeking to be close to the spot where Mary appeared all those years ago. Some, like us, are just curious to see the place, to feel the miracles that have occurred and to collect our little bottle of the

Holy Water of Lourdes. To others this is a true pilgrimage, a seeking of the healing powers. For those who seek a miracle you witness a hopeful desperation. They are pushed in wheelchairs and even stretchers in a line of people looking to bathe in the Sacred Pools. Pilgrims wait their turn desperate for a cure, outwardly prayerful, surrounded by family and friends, hopeful that theirs will be the next miracle of the Waters at Lourdes.

It is a site to behold and as we get closer I feel more than just the curiosity that I had going into this side trip. I begin to see the faith that people have in God and the devotion that moves them to travel form halfway around the world to show their faith and to pray for that peace they are seeking. After witnessing the pilgrim’s quests for miracles and seeing the exact site where Mary appeared to Bernadette, suddenly I too feel the strength of this sacred site. I fill my own small bottles from the spring and think back to that day 50 years prior when my grandmother stood in this same spot. The connections are not lost as I contemplate my own faith and recall fondly the bottle of water on my mom’s shelf.

I am filled with joy and peace as I sit quietly along the river and pray. It’s a meaningful experience made all the more meaningful from witnessing the incredible faith in God that surrounds you. This sacred place is just that, whether you are there for that one in a million cure that will restore you physical abilities or you are there to have your faith in God rekindled, Lourdes is indeed a holy place and one that I would highly recommend a visit to.

As I look back on this afternoon, something was calling me to this small town. I was not seeking the miracle that would restore my sight or allow me to walk again. Yet God lead me to this place to restore my playful life and to witness what true faith is all about. The little bottle from my youth may have evaporated but now it was full again, restored by the waters that have meant so much to so many over the years.

#thetravelinbear