13 March 2013
My Lourdes Pilgrimage
A couple of years ago I was invited to go with a group of local people to 'Lourdes,' in France.
It was the very best experience that , I have ever had in my life and I shall never forget, it as long as I live. Maybe I will get to go again sometime in my life.
It was a Roman Catholic Pilgrimage but a number of the volunteers where from other religions . The volunteers came from all occupations there where nurses, a doctor, a priest , a florist, social security workers. builders, gardeners and every single one of them so lovely, and kind.
There was something magical about being with this group, something very emotional, you found yourself filing up with tears and you didn't really know the reason why.
Although I could write for hours about my week in 'Lourdes' , I'll cut it short and tell you about the wonderful experience I had on the day our group visit took us to the 'Famous Baths' in Lourdes.
We where told that because the water ran into the grotto from the mountains it was extremely cold. Out to the forty-eight people only two of us wanted to go into the water, myself and another man, his name was Bill. The rest was to have a water anointing service on a nearby green.
All my life I have been to much of a coward I'd shudder at the thought of a cold shower, always hot water for me the hotter the better.
I do really feel the cold so much, my fingers go dead within a couple of minutes even in mild weather. But I have always wanted to go to 'Lourdes' and I have often advised other people to go there when they were not well. So I was determined in the water I would go, I thought I might never get the chance again.
A Nurse whose name was Sue helped me into the baths that day, I was waiting my turn to go in. You have to go into a little cubical, there is a Nun there to help you slide discreetly into a black robe.
She takes you to the bottom of the three steps leading up to the baths. Two lovely young Nuns are waiting there to greet you They hold your arm on either side to help you up the steps. There are three steps down into the water the flowing water.
I took my arms away from them and walked down the steps into the water myself. My face was beaming with happiness, it not cold it's warm, it's not cold it's warm I cried, I walked through to the end of the bath in an absolute state of happiness.
I started ducking myself up and down in the water, throwing the water all over my face and such an happy feeling I cannot ever remember the likes of it before. I turned to make my way back, I looked up to see four smiling Nuns looking down on me I started ducking myself again when I reached the middle of the bath, I moved on I cannot remember getting out of the water or getting back into the cubical I felt so happy.
Sitting on the chair ready to get changed into my clothes I was still Smiling , the Nun that first helped me when I arrived cupped her hands around my face saying to me 'You look so,so happy,' and I felt it.
When I got back outside this beautiful feeling of happiness was still with me and since then I always remember this episode in my life to cheer me up. The rst of the group where ready for their anointment session with the grotto water, so I stayed for that also but it was nothing like my experience in the baths that day.
Later that night I discussed this with Sue , who smiled when I told her what had happened, she said the Nuns are supposed to keep hold of you while you just dip your self in the water then out again.
When it was time to leave 'Lourdes' for home , Sue bought me a book which I will always Treasure. Called " Bernadette."
I was fascinated to read a passage in this book,it explains Bernadette a sick child and needed to be kept warm and dry, she was allowed no paddle across the water with her sister and friend to collect wood, because the need to keep warm and dry.
Bernadette while waiting for her sister and her friend the water was building up and they where late getting back form wood collecting. When they arrived she had no choice but to walk through the water to make there crossing , When Bernadette entered the water she said ' This waters not cold at all it's as warm as dishwater.'
I'll never forget that most wonderful feeling, and I hope someday I go back again xxx
So Special - 260 • Opuss № I