In Lourdes

After being able to 'park' our bikes in the hotel meeting room, we checked into our room at Hotel St. Saveur - very clean, freshly renovated. The breakfast buffet is not French, i.e. in addition to baguette, jam, and croissant, there is also toast, cheese, eggs, ham, and cereal.

'Light a candle for us' is a sentence we heard from some people beforehand - we fulfilled our promises immediately on the first morning - although not with the largest candles.

The holy mass is celebrated at 11 a.m. in the chapel 'St Maria Vianney' (that's the pastor of Ars). On our first visit, the priest encouraged us in his sermon to stand up for the truth and not to give in to what the majority thinks and speaks, as long as we know that it is not the truth.

On Friday afternoon, we went on the Way of the Cross; it is steep in Lourdes and our legs were heavy after 17 days of cycling.

The Sacrament Procession takes place daily and leads to the underground Basilica, which can accommodate 10,000 people, where the sacramental blessing is then given - here is a picture of the Basilica:

In the evening, the Candlelight Procession takes place, during which the rosary is prayed and the well-known 'Ave, ave' resounds from thousands of throats:

The International Mass also takes place in the underground Basilica - a solemn feast of faith.

There are many other places of prayer, chapels, and churches in the holy area of Lourdes that I do not mention here. There is a lot of information about this on the Internet, about the history, the recognized miraculous healings. At this point, I would like to mention one place, the origin of the pilgrimage to Lourdes, the place of the apparitions, the Grotto - for me the 'Place of Heavenly Peace'!

Unless an Italian pilgrimage group is loudly passing by, it is for many pilgrims the place where heaven and earth touch; a place of reflection, clarity, and focus, of tranquility; the place that always triggers the vow in me: 'I will come back!'

And Lourdes is the place where the sick seek healing; 70 officially recognized miraculous healings, hundreds of thanksgiving plaques in the churches, probably countless healings of body and soul; many people who set off for Lourdes to experience healing of body and/or soul. And: many young people, as well as families with children, people of many nations and colors.

In addition, there is a large number of voluntary helpers (many of them very young) who take care of the sick people.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.