Lourdes Pilgrimage - Day 6
Massive mass
We attended another mass this morning. (I think we’ve had mass in a different place every single day). This time, it was at the Pius X Basilica, with all of the other Order of Malta associations who are in Lourdes. We had well over 10,000 people from over 30 different countries!
We still didn’t even half-fill the church. You could’ve spread out and fallen asleep on the pews in the back. The number of priests and nuns alone could’ve filled a normal church.
Giant screens hung from the ceiling, so you could see what was going on at the altar 300 feet away. While the priest, bishop, and/or cardinal spoke in one language, the subtitled played in another. If you didn’t understand either, well, mass is mass, and you could probably figure out what was going on anyway.
With that many people and Tower of Babel-level language confusion, mass went very long. Amelia was a trooper, but we still ducked out right after communion. (Yeah, we were those people.)
Our kind host took us to the baths yet again, followed by lunch on the riverside and gelato for dessert. Amelia enjoyed all three.
After that, we had a pretty relaxing day, walking around the domain and taking it all in. It’s hard to describe, but seeing all the believers so fervently practicing their faith is heartening. Plus, it looks really cool.
We also explored the hotel a little, and had some nice conversations with people on the pilgrimage we hadn’t yet met. One was a priest from South Africa, who has been in America over 30 years, but still has that colorful accent. He was, of course, saddened to hear Amelia’s story, and promised to pray for her and our family. Won’t you do the same?
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, amen.
O Most Holy Mother of my Jesus, you who saw and felt the extreme desolation of your dear Son, help us in our own time of desolation.
And you saints of Heaven who have passed through this trial, have pity on those who are suffering it now and pray that we be given the grace to be faithful until death.
And in a particular way, dear St. Bernadette, we ask for your intercession for the intentions on our heart, that Amelia be cured of her metachromatic leukodystrophy.
St. Bernadette, Our Lady asked you to “pray to God for the conversion of sinners,” which includes all of us. You once said, “O Jesus and Mary, let my entire consolation in this world be to love you and to suffer for sinners.” Today, we offer our suffering up for sinners, including ourselves and our loved ones, especially those in most need of God’s mercy.
Jesus, grow in me, in my heart, in my spirit, in my imagination, and in my senses, by your modesty, your purity, your humility, your zeal, and your love. Grow with your grace, your light, your peace. Grow despite my resistance and my pride. Grow as you did at Nazareth before God and before men, for the glory of your Father.
