We got
back in time for 8.00am prayers at the hotel. The basic format, with hymns,
prayers and intercessions is established by the Pilgrims Handbook. However, the
contributions of individual pilgrims often make an indelible impression - and
today was no different. One pilgrim talked about how a background of disability
and pain caused her to question the value of her existence. It was the
experience of Lourdes that persuaded her that life was worth living, that God
had a plan for her and that, like Our Lady, she needed to trust in His
providence. I think all of us had lumps in our throats, which was a suitable
introduction for what followed.
The
Annointing Mass for the A&B Diocese took place in St Pius X Basilica at
10.00am. The homily, by Fr. Rob Esdaile echoed the theme of this morning’s
prayer. The Gospel was from 2 Corinthians where Paul pleads with the Lord three
times to remove his ‘weakness’ but is told ‘My
grace is enough for you; my power is at its best in weakness.’ Fr. Rob
talked in a particularly insightful way of honouring the vulnerability of
suffering through prayer and faith.
Those to
be anointed from each of the 12 hotels used by the A&B Diocese formed a
circle, outside which was a further circle of helpers and able-bodied. Healing
was available for physical, mental and spiritual needs and many took advantage
of the opportunity, it was not just the wheelchair-bound. The holy oils of
healing, blessed by the Bishop annually at Easter, were distributed, and the
priests (Fr. Ian Byrnes and Fr. Laurence Quin-Morris for Hotel Europe) anointed
each petitioner on the forehead and the inside of each wrist. As each person
was annointed the ‘supporting’ helpers and friends of the outer ring placed
their hands on the person’s shoulder and simultaneously prayed for healing. It
was a very atmospheric, highly-charged, moving and deeply emotional experience
with many tears, much hugging and patting; it was easy to believe that a higher
power was at work and, hours later, many of the participants were still visibly
moved.
After a smoked
salmon lunch it was time for a coach trip to the City of Saint Peter, a Catholic
charity that was founded in 1955 to provide basic accommodation for poor
pilgrims who pay a small charge based on their ability to pay. It is based in beautiful
wooded countryside just outside Lourdes and consists of administration
buildings and several accommodation ‘pavilions.’
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| Tour Group Outside Pavilion |
Parts of the site were so steep that we had to resort to pulling the wheelchairs along with ropes!
Before
leaving we visited the City’s church, a rustic stone-built building, a replica
of the animal shed in Bartres where Saint Bernadette worked as a child.
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| Chapel |
After
dinner (Rousette Porchee Epinard au jus), it was Party Night for the pilgrims at
the Hotel Europe and the fare on offer included fan dancing (by a clothed gentleman!),
songs, jokes, skits by the deaf group, impressions and a performance by
visiting Redshirts.
The
entertainment value of all the acts was high but, judging from the audience
appreciation (and my own highly- biased opinion), the Marvellous Moon Girls
blew the opposition away. Their performance of ‘Plastic Jesus on my Dashboard’, originally previewed last year, was
updated and extended for tonight’s performance and brought the house down.
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| the Marvellous Moon Girls |
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