A spiritual day spa

Have you ever been to a day spa where they pamper you and take good care of your physical self? Lourdes is like a spiritual day spa.

From the minute you walk on to the grounds surrounding the grotto where St. Bernadette saw Mary, you feel like you are here for regeneration. There is a chapel where confessions are heard all day long in every language of man.
Holy mass is taking place in every corner in each of the three basilicas on the grounds. There are rows and rows of holders for candles symbolizing the many prayers being offered. People are lined up to fill their containers with the waters from the grotto and to be bathed in them. There is the constant hum of the rosary being prayed in a variety of languages accented by passing groups singing "Immaculate Mary".

People from around the world have come here to respond to Mary's invitation to "come and drink at the spring and wash yourself there".

Of course there are two meanings to Mary's invitation. One is the literal meaning of drinking and bathing in the waters of the grotto. But the deeper meaning is that these waters point to Christ the living water. The miracles of Lourdes are impressive, but the miracle of Christ is humbling. To be satisfied by this living water and to be washed clean from sin is the real focus.

Water and Prayer

I was a little worried about drinking the water because I did not see any filtration system, but I could not come all this way and chicken out. I also soaked my feet in the water until they almost froze. Add in confession, Mass, Benediction, several decades of the rosary, and lots of candles and I feel like a new man. I also had the chance to take in some singers from South Africa who were filming a video of religious songs.

Singers from South Africa

Tomorrow I travel to St. Jean Pied de Port. St. Jean lies at the entrance of a pass through the Pyrenees that was used by Charlemagne. That is where I will start the Camino to Santiago.