April 28 - Lourdes - Second day

Father Paul and Bill Christman
Preparing for the Mass

This day began with a wonderful experience and one that none of us will never forget. Our daily Mass was scheduled for 6:30 am at the grotto. The weather finally broke so it was a clear day, although still dark when we reached the grotto. Father Paul was pleasantly surprised when he learned that he was actually going to be the celebrant, since he didn't know that until we got there.







As dawn began to break and the sun began to shine, there could not have been a more glorious setting. 

 

Bill Christman Doing the Reading at the Grotto

Basilica of the Immaculate Conception Built Over the Grotto

After Mass and breakfast at the hotel, we had another short road trip to Bartres, a small village near Lourdes. This is where Bernadette lived and worked for a short time when she was 14 and where she began to learn her Catechism and how to write. 

Parish Church of St. John the Baptist in Bartres.

We visited the Parish Church of St. John the Baptist, which was originally built in the 14th century but then renovated in the 18th century. We also had a chance to see the Burg farm where Bernadette lived and worked. 

Stream Where Bernadette Washed Clothes

Our Group in Front of the Bartres Parish Church

After leaving Bartres, we went to St. Savin, a beautiful and quaint small town with fantastic views of the Pyranees and a Church and Abbey which goes back to the 10th century.  Of course there were earthquakes and wars which caused major damage to the church, but parts of it survived. The oldest piece  in the Church is the wooden cross from 1175 a.d.

Cross from 1175 a.d.

Tomb of St. Savin 

MaryAnn Meecker and Trudi Taylor

Jose and Sylvia Perez

We were so fortunate that the weather was perfect for a visit to St. Savin.

Brian and Kim Goodman with Father Paul Wicker

Phil and Marilyn Andreski, and 
Marty and Marilyn Bunker

Frank Conte and Helen Bagnate.

After St. Savin, we went back to Lourdes and had a wonderful lunch at Alexander's with several of our fellow pilgrims. Food was outstanding.

Randy and Eileen Scholl, Brian  and Kim Goodman, Father Paul Wicker,
Steve and Pat Luebbert, and Dan and Leslie Paulonis at Alexander's

Do you Think Brian Likes His Dessert?

Waiting Area Outside the Lourdes Baths

One of the many Baths at Lourdes.

Then a most unusual thing happened - we  had free time to explore for the entire afternoon. Les and I took this opportunity to do one of the special things many pilgrims do when visiting Lourdes - immerse ourselves in the baths filled with the water from the spring Bernadette discovered. This is an act done for spiritual renewal and was a moving experience. This water is made available to drink, wash and fill bottles with to bring home (as most of us did). 

4th Glorious Mystery
Assumption of the Virgin Mary into Heaven

We then spent some time to visit and appreciate The Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary. This Basilica was completed in 1889 and consecrated in 1901.  What splendid mosaics depicting the original 15 mysteries of the rosary. In 2007, five additional mosaics depicting the luminous mysteries (which were added by Pope John Paul II in 2002) were added to the exterior facade in 2007. .Here are just a few examples. 

1st Glorious Mystery
The Resurrection

Statue of Bernadette and Mosaic of the Virgin Mary
in Front of the Esplanade Chapel.

Walking across the Esplanade in front of the Rosary Basilica at around 5:00 pm, we witnessed the Blessed Sacrament Procession. I'm not sure if this happens every day, but there were hundreds, if not thousands, of  disabled people. I'm sure some of these people were at the baths earlier in the day. It was extremely inspiring to see so many people with serious health problems come together in faith to experience the spiritual healing that Lourdes provides. 

Beginning of the Procession

 

 
Finally, we had only a short time before having to go back to the hotel for dinner, but we took the opportunity to take a short walk up the hill next to the Upper Basilica to see the Way of the Cross. These are beautiful full-size scenes placed along a path about 1 mile long. It is over 100 years old, having been inaugurated in 1912. We only had time to see a few of the stations and wish we had enough time to pray all 15 stations.

Second Station - Jesus Takes Up His Cross

After dinner and our meeting to reflect on the day's activities, we went back to the Shrine for the procession. This time, however, from the balcony overlooking the Rosary Basilica and procession. Watching the procession from above gives a wonderfully different perspective. Watching thousands of candles flickering in the darkness, and hearing all singing the Ave Maria (in different languages), to represent Christ being the Light of the World, was an experience we will all cherish and remember for the rest of our lives. And thus ends another long but extremely memorable day.

End of the Procession at the Rosary Basilica Courtyard