Our Lady of Lourdes

Today's destination - the Basilica of the Rosary in Lourdes, France. 

The Basilica of the Rosary (Basilique Notre-Dame du Rosaire) is one of several places of worship at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in Lourdes, France. It is located below and in front of the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception.

Click here for the Official Website.

History

The Basilica of the Rosary was built between 1883 and 1889 to replace the original chapel on the site of the apparations of the Virgin Mary. It was consecrated in 1901.
On November 5, 2001, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Rosary Basilica, Pope John Paul II issued a papal letter that read in part:

Living parable of stone and light, this basilica reveals to pilgrims' eyes the 15 mysteries of the life of Christ, thus revealing the profound meaning of the rosary. Led by the Virgin Mary, this prayer, which contemplates the redeeming Incarnation, enables us to participate in the acts of the Savior. We journey in the history of salvation with this most pure Mother and, by meditating on the mysteries of the rosary, receive the love of God, manifested sublimely in the gift of the Incarnate Word.

What to See - Visit the Official Lourdes You Tube Channel

Designed in a Byzantine-influenced Romanesque style in the shape of a Greek (equal-armed) cross, the Rosary Basilica features two unique elliptical ramps embracing a square that can hold almost 80,000 people.
Above the main doors of basilica, two mosaic circular panels made in the workshops of the Vatican depict Pope Leo XIII (left) and Bishop Schoepfer of Tarbes and Lourdes (1899-1927).
When she appeared at Lourdes, the Virgin Mary was described by St. Bernadette as holding a rosary in her hand. The Basilica of the Rosary is dedicated to this theme. Its three arches depict the joyful, sorrowful and glorious mysteries. Catholics meditate on these mysteries (events in the lives of Jesus and Mary) while saying the rosary.
Around the central dome, the transepts and the sanctuary contain 15 Chapels of the Mysteries, which are decorated with mosaics depicting the 15 mysteries of the rosary (the five joyous, five sorrowful, and five glorious).

Pictures from my camera will be in the next post.

Peace and Goodness,

FD

Day one

Thunderstorms caused our plane to leave Knoxville 45 minutes late. I arrived in Philadelphia with barely enough time to make it to my gate. I was one of the last to board, but the bonus was that weather had affected many flights and so there were a lot of open seats on the plane(including my whole row).

Flying is always stressful, but from the first announcement in Knoxville that there was a weather event in the Northeast, I kept hearing the antiphon that appears in morning prayer every fourth week, "Trust in God and He will do everything for you."

That is a difficult antiphon to pray when everything seems to be going the wrong way, but now I find myself sitting in Lourdes, France at the end of a long travel day that has been guided by God all of the way. Tomorrow I will go to the shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes and I will be taking with me, all of those who are sick and in need of healing. I think of Lourdes Garza, Karin Botica and Tom O'Neil who are battling cancer. I think of my own family and friends who are in need of healing. And I remember all of the many names that people have given me to pray for.

Intercessory prayer is so little understood and yet so powerfully effective.

Peace and Goodness

The Pilgrimage begins at McGhee-Tyson Airport in Knoxville, Tennessee!

Ready for the Voyage

5:13am
Wednesday, July 18

Ready for the voyage and ready to undertake a Pilgrimage to the Holy City of Santiago de Compostella, where the Apostle James is buried. The Camino de Santiago for me will begin in Lourdes France, where I will visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes who spoke to St. Bernadette. Then I will travel by train to St. Jean Pied de Port, France to begin walking over the Pyrenees Mountains into Spain and end 500 miles later in Santiago de Compostella.

Leaving Home

It has been quite a while since I made my mother cry(at least as far as I know). Monday I said goodbye to my parents and family.  As I said goodbye to my mom, I could see the tears starting to form and I quickly realized that leaving home never changes.  Most of the time we take leave of those we love with the thought that we will see them again really soon, even if we do not know when that will be.

Leaving on this trip for four months does not allow me the illusion that I can drop in anytime to see the people I love.  There are many ways to stay in touch, but I really am leaving.  As I am now less than 24 hours away from getting on the plane, I am very aware of all of the people in my life that I love and who have loved me: family, friends, parishioners, and even people who I do not know.  Sometimes we have to go away from home to fully appreciate what that word means.

A band that I have enjoyed recently is the group, "The Head and the Heart".  They have a song called "Lost In My Mind" in which the singer recalls,  "Mama once told me that you're already home when you feel loved."  I guess that I am already home.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjoA4nYBD5U

Getting Ready...

Sometimes getting ready for a trip can feel like this...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GyWTZXkzrM&feature=em-share_video_user

The List & The Stuff

Am I ready for this journey? How many miles can I walk in a day? Will my feet hold up for over five hundred miles?  Do I have what I need? What will the people on the Camino be like?

I am sure that pilgrims for over a thousand years have been asking these and many other questions before setting out on "The Way".  One of the ways that I deal with anxiety is by making a list. Sometimes it is a list of what I need to do, but in this case it is a list of what I need to take.

The List

It is very difficult to try to decide what I will need for almost five weeks when I have no idea what I will encounter.  Maybe that is why Jesus tells his disciples not to even take a bag. I have not missed that timing of this week's Gospel in which Jesus instructs the Apostles to "take nothing for the journey but a walking stick- no food, no sack, no money in their belts."   I have violated the letter of this instruction, but I have tried to stay true to its meaning.  I am only bring 4 cliff bars as an emergency backup for food.  I have a small bag for a few clothes and an ATM card. In total my "house" for the next month weighs about 20lbs plus some water.

The Stuff

When I look at the stuff that will protect me and support me on the way, it doesn't seem like enough, but it never does.  No one ever walks alone. The many people whom I am blessed to know are also a strength and support for me.  One thing I added to my list after several revisions was Trust.  It is the inward part of the outward journey.

St. Francis of Assisi who once walked the Camino would use the greeting Peace and Goodness. I think that is a good way to begin and end.

Peace and Goodness,

FD