Thursday, August 12, 2010

This morning we worked at the the underground basilica (holds about 25,000 people) placing malades in voitures (special chairs) in rows for a Mass. It may seem quite simple, but in reality it can be quite frustrating. Working with the French, although wonderful at times, can be very chaotic. They think they know best and think we (Americans) are incompetent. In the end it all works, however.

During the Mass, some of the group went to the Rosary Basilica to help take up the collection. Others waited until the underground basilica Mass was over, and they wheeled malades back to their hospitals. Then it was back to the hotel for lunch.

After lunch we did the stations of the cross. In Lourdes, there are about four sets of stations: the larger-than-life stations, the water stations, the marble stations (newest), and the stations in the underground basilica. We did the larger-than-life stations, which were erected in the early 20th century. Monsignor Wallin provided interesting meditations on each station.

In the evening some of us worked the candlelight procession by walking on each side of the Virgin statue as it wound its way to the esplanade. Others did crowd control, others sang.

After the evening’s reflection, pilgrims took time to get a quick ice cream before going to bed.

Monday, August 16, 2010. 11:13 am

Yesterday, the Feast of the Assumption, was not just another ordinary day in Lourdes – not because the streets were more crowded than usual, and not because the morning was very chilly and overcast, but because late in the morning an anonymous caller phoned in a bomb scare.

According to news reports from such sources as AP and Reuters, the caller claimed to have placed four bombs set to go off around 3 pm in the sanctuary. Police evacuated thousands of pilgrims from the area and closed all access points to the Domain and grotto.

News of the event traveled quickly. At about noon, a couple of our students reported to us that they were unable to get into the grotto to get their Lourdes water because St. Josephs’s gate, our usual entry point, was closed – no explanation given. I went over at about 3 pm to check things out and found that the gate and St. Michael’s gate, another entrance, was also closed. I glanced into the esplanade area and I didn’t see a single person in there – a extremely rare occurrence.

I went back to the hotel and sent a text message to my friend Marco, asking him if he knew what was going on. He quickly called me to explain the news about the bomb scare. A quick check of Google news stories on Lourdes confirmed Marco’s report. Rumors on the rue de Grotto claimed that police had found a bomb (some said two) and detonated them. No one was able to confirm the rumors and no news reports mentioned that a bomb had been found.

At no time were any of us in danger. Life in Lourdes continued more or less as usual.

Nine years ago, on the same day, a car tried to drive into the Domain area (no cars allowed) and the car began to emit smoke. Nothing came of that event either.

At about 4:30 pm, I received a call from Yves, one of our French team’s leaders, asking us to help them at the afternoon procession that was set to start at about 5 pm. By then the police had reopened the sanctuary. We gathered our troops and walked to the Crown Virgin statue as instructed and waited for our assignment. We did crowd control duty – forming human chains that acted as corridors for the procession and barricades from onlookers.

The area was jammed packed with pilgrims and at a certain point our efforts to act as barricades failed because we were simply overwhelmed by people wishing to go where we didn’t want them to go.

Back at the hotel by 6:30 pm, we waited for dinner, after which we had Mass and reflections.

This morning the group got out of bed at about 4:15 to prepare to go to the station to load malades onto departing trains for such places as Paris and Marseilles as well as points in Italy. They loaded about 5 trains. We were scheduled to help with train duty late his afternoon, but I think that plan is being reconsidered.

At least once a day, someone from the French National Pilgrimage – not in it’s 137th year – tells us how much they appreciate our help and how energetic we are.

This afternoon after Mass and lunch, we all went to the grotto to place our intentions, get our water, and light candles. Then eight members of the group went to the Lourdes radio station studios to make a recording of the rosary. The recording will be used to make a CD/DVD of the procession.

Saturday, August 14, 2010. 11:25 am

It’s hard to believe that we are approaching the end of our pilgrimage. Lourdes is filling up in anticipation of the Feast of the Assumption tomorrow. The French will celebrate with an huge outdoor Mass in what they call the Prairie. Despite the growing numbers of pilgrims all week, we can tell that there are fewer pilgrims in Lourdes this year. The whole world is feeling the economic pinch.

Last night some of the group sang while others guarded the statue of the Virgin during the candlelight procession. I took my position at the top of the Rosary Basilica to take photos. My friend Marco joined me, and I used his tripod to steady my camera for long exposures.

The top of the basilica was crowded and it was difficult for me to get a clear shot to the procession. However, we started talking to a few people who it turns out were from Israel. Eventually, they offered their prime spot to me so that I could get good pix. It was very nice of them. They didn’t seem to know much about Lourdes, so Marco and I answered their questions.

After the procession, we hung around to take some pictures and meet Marco’s friends Anna and Lydia – both from Spain. Anna, Marco, and I went to the Foyer for a soft drink and some talk. I practiced a bit of my very rusty Italian while Anna tried her best to speak a bit of English with me. Marco speaks to her in Italian, and she speaks to him in Spanish. It seems to work.

This morning we returned to the underground basilica to work. Again, some of the members of our group found it difficult to work side by side with their French counterparts. But in the end it all worked out.

The French asked five of the group to assist with the anointing of the sick part of the Mass. Steve Kuss, Geoff Bradley, Blake Buna, Bobby McCooey, and Brian Vatelle each followed a priest as they went out into the congregation anointing a few malades.

Our plans for the rest of the day are a bit up in the air. Tonight is the big candlelight procession that winds its way through town. It’s quite a show.

Below are a few pictures from last night and this morning.

Here is the reading the day.

“The Lord said, “Go.”
And I said, “Who me.”
And God said, ” Yes you.”
And I said, “But I am not ready yet. I am not ready yet. I’ve got business to attend to,
And there’s no one to take my place.”
And God said, “You’re stalling.”

Again the Lord said, “Go!”
And I said, ” But I don’t want to go. I’m not the kind of person to get involved in controversy. Besides, what will others say?”
And God said, “Baloney!”

A third time, God said, “Go!”
And I said, “Do I have to?”
And God said, “Do you love me?”
And I said, “Look, I am afraid, I can’t take it all by myself.”
And God said, “Where do you think I’ll be?”
And the Lord said, “Go!”
And I said, “Here I am…. send me!”

Wednesday, August 11, 2010. 3:40 pm

I have a few minutes to summarize our day before we go to the trains for the first time since we have been here to assist a bunch of arriving pilgrims. The men are going there, while the women are at the baths. Yesterday, some of the women (including Linda Bianowicz) spent about 9 hours working inside the baths. (Yes, Bill, Linda is okay. Her phone card doesn’t work here.)

After breakfast we went to hear Barbara Davis speak about the implications and meaning of Bernadette’s visions of the Blessed Mother. After that Mon. Wallin said Mass. Then if was back to the hotel for a great lunch of spaghetti, chicken, and french fries. Ice cream for dessert.

The guys then got to rest for three hours before going to the trains, where it will be a long night because the last train we have to cover arrives at 10 pm – and the trains are rarely on time.

We also had our group photo taken this morning at 8:30 in the esplanade.

Photos below.

Here is the reading that kicked off the morning. Maybe it will help you put your day in perspective.

“I will try to live through the next twelve hours and not try to tackle all of life’s problems at once.
I will improve my mind. I will learn something that requires effort, thought and concentration. I will be agreeable. I will look my best, speak in a well modulated voice, be courteous and considerate. I will not find fault with friend, relative or colleague. I will not they to change or improve anyone but myself. I will have program. I might not follow it exactly, but I will have it. I will save myself from two enemies – hurry and indecision. In will do a good turn and keep it a secret. I’d anyone finds out, it won’t count. I will do two things I don’t want to do, just for the exercise. I will believe in myself. I will five my best to the world and feel confident that the world will give it’s best to me.”

Monday, August 9, 2010. 6 p.m.
Well, we all arrived safely in Lourdes. Our flight to Paris was delayed by one hour because of heavy volume of take offs in front of us. Regardless of that, we arrived right on time. We met the Kim sisters in Charles de Gaulle airport after their having flown for 12 hours and waited for us for 16. We also met our chaplain, Mon. Kevin Wallin.

We arrived in Pau at about 10 a.m. local time then made the bus ride to Lourdes. After a brief time for a quick shower, we had lunch. Then it was time for an orientation meeting and then a tour of Lourdes, which we call in the footsteps of Bernadette. Then at about 4:45 we went to the Poor Clares’ chapel for Mass.

At the end of Mass, we gave our service cross to each first-time pilgrim to Lourdes. Then we all recited a pledge to do our best to serve the sick while we are here.

Now we are relaxing before having dinner at 7:00 p.m. After dinner we will have a quick meeting. Then it will time for lights out.

I am using an iPad to blog, so the WordPress app doesn’t have all the bells and whistles that the computer version has.

A few pictures below.