Traveling broadens your horizon. It enriches your mind and your spirit. But traveling uses up a lot of your time and treasure. It would be a waste if you missed something on your trip you should’ve seen or experienced. It happened to me several times and I regretted that so much. If you’re planning a trip, I’d like to help you avoid missing out. So, let my blog show you what to look out for. Prepare for your trip by traveling with me through this post. Or you might still be in the praying and dreaming stage. Manifesting your dream into reality starts here!
A
Happy Solo in Lourdes, France
“If one dream should fall and break into a thousand pieces… never be afraid to pick one of those pieces up and begin again. That’s the beauty of being alive… We can always start all over again. Enjoy God’s amazing opportunities bestowed on us. Have faith in Him always.” – St. Bernadette
Lourdes, France greeted
me “Bienvenue” for the second time. It was, to borrow the words of St.
Bernadette, “God’s amazing opportunity bestowed on me” to be back, to revisit
the place where a young unassuming girl was graced with a vision of the
Immaculate Conception.
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| Caya, our youngest and cutest co-pilgrim |
As I did in Fatima, I took the opportunity to go on a deeper spiritual journey in Lourdes and to take better photos. For a run-through of the important spots in the Sanctuaire de Notre Dame de Lourdes (Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes) click this link to my previous blog
(https://happyfeettravelbag.blogspot.com/2024/10/seekingmary-feeling-bernadette.html).
Reacquaintance
Our morning was spent
visiting places that were already familiar to me. It was like saying, “Nice to
see you again,” to old acquaintances but noticing new things about them.
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| Road marker to Maison Natale de Bernadette |
The waters of Gave
de Pau. Cascading under the bridge spanning the road to Maison Natale de
Bernadette, Bernadette’s birthplace.
 |
Rippling as it flowed
by the Grotto of Massabielle where the apparition took place.
Meandering to a gentler
flow under the bridge where people seal their promises to each other by
attaching a padlock a.k.a. “love locks” to the wire mesh fence.
I captured details of Boly
Water Mill or Moulin de Boly, home of the Soubirous family when Bernadette
was born, with fresh eyes.
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| The Mill |
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| Millstone |
Basilique Souterraine Saint-Pie X (Underground Basilica of St. Pius X)
The different angles and
moods of the Basilicas
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| The Crown on the Basilica |
and the pilgrims.
Reconciliation
One of my biggest
blessings in Lourdes which I was unable to do in my first visit was going to
confession. To be able to unburden myself in such a holy place was a balm to my
soul. If you also want to find the peace that the sacrament of confession brings,
check the timetable given by the sanctuary for the schedules. Confessions are
held in the Chapel of Reconciliation.
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| Schoolchildren passing by the Chapel of Reconciliation |
Water
Gesture
When the pandemic hit,
complete immersion in the Baths was suspended. It was still the case
when we visited but they instituted another rite that though quicker was nevertheless
just as touching – the Water Gesture. Instead of soaking in the pool, spring
water was poured from a jug over our hands as we recited a prayer. We then wet
our faces as we continued with our personal prayer. I was unable to take photos
because of the solemnity of the ritual. I read that as of this date, the Baths
are already open for full immersion.
Chapel
of Lights
Something new to me was
the Chapel of Lights. It was across the bridge from the Baths. Lighting candles
as I prayed for family and friends who requested that I bring their petitions
to Our lady Of Lourdes was another meaningful step in my spiritual journey. It was
like bringing them with me to this holy place.
Torchlight
Rosary
Another first for me was
witnessing the Torchlight Rosary. Since it is only held from March or April
till the end of October, I missed it by a couple of days the first time I was
in Lourdes. But this time we made it on the last day.
It was a gift to
witness that much devotion to Our Lady. The throng of people saying the rosary
in unison asking for her intercession to her Divine Son was a sight to behold.
In the other places we
visited, I was lucky if I can find a flower to photograph as a painting
subject. But Lourdes was kind and showed me three of them.
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| Statue of St. Bernadette |
As my memento for our
time in the Domain (another name for the Sanctuary), I went with the flowers
that adorned the chapel where we heard mass.
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| "Anthuriums de Lourdes" |
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