News #37 APRIL 2019 • www.lourdes-.org THE JOURNAL OF GRACES

Editorial Ps 34, 15 Heart to Heart "Seek peace and pursue it" with Jesus, 17-19th May, 61st International Military Pilgrimage another Jesus BY FATHER ANDRÉ CABES, Since 1958, the date of the first International Military Pilgrimage RECTOR OF SANCTUARY in Lourdes, the military have been loyally attending this great and This was how unique international event in the Sanctuary of . Bernadette de- scribed what As Pope Francis writes in his she experienced message for the 52nd Wor-

during her first © SNDL/Pierre VINCENT " communion on 3rd ld Day of Peace: Offering June 1858. She was prepared peace is at the heart of the by Mary, who knew how to mission of the disciples of cultivate her capacity for love Christ." This theme again and prayer. Lourdes is noth- illustrates the triptych: fra- ing other than communion of ternity, peace, hope. souls, drawn to the source of the Gospel. Eucharistic mira- Peace, a gift from God cles, like the healing of Sister In the scriptures, peace is Bernadette*, occur in the grace the gift of God to men. Even of each person’s encounter today, this beautiful gift is in with their brothers and sisters, our hands. There is no per- and with their God. This is the fect peace, but we all have

miracle of a new humanity © SNDL/DURAND that our world so badly needs. the freedom to advance it. The Body of Christ, the bod- Peace for others and with nue to grow. Let us be Inner Peace ies of the sick, as we discover creation witnesses of hope and dis- with emotion in the new film The question of forgive- Peace at all levels requires seminators of peace in our Lourdes: even through suf- ness requested, implored, the restoration of dialogue. daily lives. We wish you a fering and death, receive the received from others and For Pope Francis, peace is wonderful and holy pilgri- miracle of Life. from God in the context of not gentle but energetic. It mage. the sacrament of reconcilia- *Editor’s note: Sister Bernadette Moriau, is embodied in our abrupt Arnault Berrone, chaplain 70th miraculous healing in Lourdes tion is central. Peace is the physical world where des- and director of the IMP recognised on 11th February 2018. fruit of justice and charity. peration and despair conti-

SANCTUARY OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES www.lourdes-france.org 1 avenue Mgr Théas / 65108 Lourdes cedex-FRANCE Te l. +33 (0)5 62 42 78 78 THE EUCHARIST AT THE HEART OF THE SANCTUARY Pages coordinated by Joel Luzenko

At the beginning of 1858, before the Apparitions, Bernadette lived in Bartrès. Driven by the desire to make her first communion, she decided to return to Lourdes. And a few days later, she would be honoured to experience the first of 18 Apparitions. And finally, on 3rd June 1858, Bernadette would make her First Holy Communion. Reading about these events reiterates the central place of the Eucharist [1] in the pilgrimage. Bernadette and the Eucharist If little Bernadette Soubir- prepare for my First Holy on the Message of Lourdes munion, on 3rd June 1858, ous was not, according to Communion." On 17th Jan- explain that the Virgin Mary she was asked, "What were historians, "a particularly uary 1858, a few days be- was in a way Bernadette’s you most happy about: pious child", she was deeply fore the first Apparition, she catechist in preparing her your first communion or the marked by her desire to re- left Bartrès, alone and on for her first communion. Apparitions?" Bernadette ceive Jesus. While living with foot, explaining, "The priest This is illustrated by the mo- responded with her usual her former nanny in the vil- wants me to make my first saic in the choir of the Ro- simplicity, "These two things lage of Bartrès, she said, communion and if I return sary Basilica with the words, go together but cannot © SNDL/LACAZE "I want to come back to to Lourdes, I will be able to "Through Mary, to Jesus." be compared ... I was very Lourdes to go to class and do it." Some commentators The day after her first com- happy about both."

Pilgrims and the Eucharist The sacrament [2] of the through the loudspea- At the blessing of the Eucharist is at the centre kers in the Sanctuary. This sick with the Blessed of the pilgrimage process marks the start of the Eu- Sacrament, the doctors in Lourdes. Eucharistic charistic procession, from present that day follow worship comes especially the prairie in front of the the priest around the to the fore at two particular Grotto. Sick pilgrims, the basilica. Why? This is a moments: the international hospitality and visitors are tradition that has been masses and the daily Eu- invited to walk to the Basi- maintained in Lourdes charistic procession. bol of the universal Church lica of St. Pius X; the priest for over a hundred years. At the end of gathered in Lourdes. It is holding the monstrance [3] > International Mass the 19th century, many called «international» be- is celebrated every Wed- completes the procession. healings took place cause songs and readings nesday and Sunday mor- There follows, in the huge during the blessing are proclaimed in several ning in the underground underground basilica, a of the sick. To avoid languages. deceit, doctors were Basilica of St. Pius X. For time of silence and adora- invited to observe and all pilgrimages present, it > Eucharistic procession tion of the Blessed Sacra- ment [4], followed by the verify the authenticity offers a collective Eucha- every day, at 5 pm, the or- of these cures. ristic celebration, as a sym- gan and trumpet resound blessing of the sick.

Prayer of Saint Bernadette "Grow, Jesus, grow in me, in my heart, in my mind, my imagination, my senses, by your modesty, your purity, your humility, your zeal, your love. Grow with your grace, your light, your peace. Grow despite my resistance, my pride; grow to the fullness of the perfect man, grow as in Nazareth before God and men, for the glory of your Father. Amen."

UNDERSTANDING THE MASS

WELCOMING LITURGY OF THE WORD st • Welcome • 1 reading (often a passage from the Old Testament) • Psalm • Forgiveness nd • Glory to God • 2 reading (often a letter or an extract from the acts of the apostles) Lourdes• Gospel News (often - 2 followed by a homily) 4 CATECHESES TO FOLLOW IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF BERNADETTE The collection of catecheses launched by Father André Cabes, Rector, in 2017, is enriched this year with 4 new docu- ments, to help us experience the mes- sage of Lourdes in 2019, the Bernadette Year. In 2019, the Sanctuary of Lourdes is encouraging pilgrims to follow in the footsteps of Bernadette. We are, in- deed, in a jubilee year. Bernadette was born on 7th January 1844, and was baptised on 9th January, 175 years ago. She passed into the light of Heaven on 16th April 1879, just 140 years ago. Starting with the demonstration of a beautiful sign of the Cross, Bernadette’s meeting with the Lady of Massabielle teaches us the secret of the joy of believing. In this way, we experience life in the Church. Bernadette had to ask the priests to build a chapel, and to start processions. A new humanity, a people made up of the little ones and the poor, heads for the family home that is the Sanctuary of Lourdes. Yes, happy are the poor, you delight in the hap- piness of Jesus, you live in the happiness of God! This is the path that we are suggesting in these catecheses, our journey with Bernadette, the way of the Gospel and of true life.

Priests in the service of the Eucharist The community of chap- experience the Eucharist gives himself to us. Go to symbolic gestures must lains of Lourdes is com- during your pilgrimage: the spring means: go to Je- lead us to the spiritual re- posed of about thirty "The Virgin Mary ad- sus. Drink at the spring: re- ality: the Mass. Jesus is priests. Their mission of dressed Bernadette asking ceive the gift of God. Wash present, he gives himself welcoming pilgrims is re- her to go to the spring to yourself at the spring: God to us, and we receive him flected particularly in the drink and to wash there. forgives all sins. All this is in the Eucharist. If we are celebration of the sacra- Even though the spring is the Eucharist. A pilgrimage in communion with him, it ments of the Eucharist and real, and it still flows today, In Lourdes involves the ges- is because our sins are for- penance (confession). One Mary uses a symbolic lan- ture of water at the taps, given. That’s why it’s good of them, Don Anne-Guil- guage. The reality behind drinking the water and to have gone to confes- laume Vernaeckt, explains these words and behind washing your hands and sion before attending the why it is so important to the spring is Jesus who face with water, but these mass." A short glossary of the Eucharist [1] Eucharist means "thanksgiving" in Greek. Among Christians, and more specifically among Catholics, the Eucharist is the celebration of the sacrifice of the body and blood of Jesus Christ who is truly present in the form of bread and wine. [2] Sacraments: concerning the sacraments, the Church speaks of "signs" which are gestures by which Jesus acts in our souls by giving them his grace in a special way. There are seven sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Reconci- liation (confession), Anointing of the Sick, Ordination and Marriage. [3] Monstrance: the monstrance is a liturgical item in which we place a consecrated host that can be seen through a small window. [4] Blessed Sacrament: This is an expression that evokes the Eucharist as the sacrament par excellence, because it contains the very author of grace, through his «real presence» in the host consecrated during the mass.

LITURGY OF THE EUCHARISTIC DISMISSAL • Preparation of the gifts (bread and wine) • Consecration • Thanksgiving • Our Father • Final blessing • Communion THE DIARY OF GRACES Pages coordinated by Martine Korpal

The first apparition begins with the sign of the cross. Saint Bernadette tells us: "... Then I put my hand in my pocket and took out my . I wanted to make the sign of the Cross, but I could

not. I could not bring my hand to the © SNDL/ARCHIVES ET PATRIMOINE forehead, it fell down ... The Lady took the rosary that she held in her hands and she made the sign of the Cross. So, my fear began to lessen. I took my rosary again, I could make the sign of the Cross. From that moment on I was calm." © SNDL/VINCENT All my prayers answered Married for forty- mense grace: I cried, with- four years, mother out stopping. These tears of three children and carried away my long-bur- grandmother to 2 ied suffering. Another grace was granted to me, grandchildren, Marie- during the Espelugues (up- Claude dreamed of a per) Stations of the Cross. pilgrimage to Lourdes, In front of the XIII station, with her husband, my husband and I, at ex- just the two of them © DR actly the same moment, felt the joy of the Resurrec- and their faith. This all that I receive, all that I faith. And all my prayers tion. In our family, we have dream came true on know, is for giving to and have come true, especially rd lost children before birth. I 3 October during the sharing with those around that of meeting the priests did the Way of Consolation Rosary pilgrimage to me. Today, thanks to the that I see from my home where I felt the love of our Sanctuary’s free app the via the app. At the Baths, Lourdes. mother of Heaven. We met (download from Google when it was time for me to a priest there whom we play or the App store), I can go in, all my fears disap- "I was born and raised in a asked to say a mass for us. be connected to Lourdes peared. I am hard of hear- loving home of great faith. As I wrote at the beginning every day. I do not miss ing. I removed my hearing My parents participated in of my story, all my prayers a rosary, 3:30pm (French) aids before going into the the pilgrimage of the Ro- have been answered. To at the Grotto, (2:30pm on water. Despite the isola- sary to Lourdes, each year, end this wonderful day, Monday and Wednesday tion of my deafness, I was for as long as their health we decided to attend a in English). We came on able to pray and entrust allowed. They died in the Mass at the Rosary Basilica. pilgrimage for the first time all my intentions to Our peace that God alone Guess who was celebrating with our three children thir- Lady of Lourdes, and one gives. I prayed to Mary it? ... We came back from ty-two years ago. Married in particular: that I should every night that I cared Lourdes filled with an over- for forty-four years, we hear my children and my for them. All the prayers I whelming sense of faith. were waiting to experience grandchildren as long as make have been answered. Thank you, Mary!" I am always focused on the Lourdes, my husband and God will lend me life. It was Virgin, I understand that I, just the two of us and our there that I received an im- Marie-Claude (France)

THE JOURNAL OF GRACES - 4 Besides the unexplained physical healing attributed to the intercession of Our Lady of Lourdes, officially recognised as miraculous by the bishops of the dioceses where the healed people live (70 to date), we receive many testimonies of graces received in Lourdes. These pages are dedicated to them.

Our Lady of "Take us by the hand, Mary" Pellevoisin and On the 1st January, on the feast of Mary, Mother of God, Pope Francis spoke the following: "God appears as a little child, held in the arms of Our Lady of a woman who feeds her Creator. (...) She is a mother who generates in her children the amazement of faith, because faith is an encoun- Lourdes must ter, not a religion. (...) It is beautiful, especially, to be gazed upon by have talked to the Virgin. When she gazes upon us, she does not see sinners but © DR children. Let us allow ourselves to be embraced. (...) Our Lady took each other... everything to heart; she embraced everything, events both good and bad. (...) And in the journey of life, let us allow ourselves to be taken by the hand. Mothers take their In 2017, my wife and I drove children by the hand and lovingly introduce them to life. Mary, take us by the hand. to Châteauroux to pick up Clinging to you, we will pass safely through the straits of history. Lead us by the hand the A20 motorway and head to rediscover the bonds that unite us. to Lourdes. To our greatest Pope Francis, 1st January 2019, Rome astonishment, signs directed us to Pellevoisin. So, we stop- ped at the village church and then at the place of the ap- paritions where we asked for

© SNDL/VINCENT What God wants the grace of protection for Elisabeth wished to testify to the graces she received through the our children, their families and our grandchildren. We set off intercession of Saint Bernadette and Our Lady of Lourdes. again, happy to have discove- "After ten years of mar- chines that were keeping red Pellevoisin and its message. riage, I still had no children. him alive. I refused. De- The A20 motorway affords I called on St. Bernadette. spite the risk that he would beautiful, contoured lands- In my prayer, I did not ask be blind, deaf, dumb, as capes. At Saint-Céré, just after for anything. I just said, if I the medical team told me. going through a pass, I was have a child, I will be hap- I prayed to Saint Berna- about to increase my speed py. If I do not have one, I’ll dette, Our Lady of Lourdes to 130 km / hour when a car be just as content through and Saint Charbel (I am of appeared behind me going the grace of God. I prayed Lebanese origin). He came at 200 km / hour. My reflexes every day, at home, and in out of the coma on Easter pulled the steering wheel to the the churches of Saint Ber- Monday! Blind, deaf, dumb right, but my car made several nadette and Our Lady of and completely floppy. He "S" turns and, after a few se-

Lourdes, near my home could not open his mouth © DR conds, I regained control of the in Sydney (Australia). And and could not sit up. It vehicle. My wife was shocked, but quickly took charge and Bernadette was born. To- took several operations tall 16-year-old. He can see, helped me not lose my cool, as day she is 18 years old, very for him to be able to eat. he can hear, he can speak. I already have several points on sweet, very caring. Then, He stayed in the hospital He has autism. But what is my licence. Could I tell you the two years later, Nassar for nine months. With my normal? After Nassar, my make and colour of the car? was born. A beautiful boy husband, my sister and my third child was born, a girl, No, he was going way too fast. weighing 3 kg, in perfect mother, we prayed a great filling us with joy. Every But I am certain that Our Lady health ... for 4 days. When deal, always invoking Our day, I give thanks. I come of Pellevoisin and Our Lady of suddenly on Good Friday, Lady of Lourdes, Berna- to Lourdes as regularly as Lourdes talked to each other he had a heart attack. He dette Soubirous, and Saint I can. This is my best gift. I and protected us from certain was revived but remained Charbel. God made lies of find so much peace!" in a coma. The doctors all the worst scientific pre- death. God be praised and his Elisabeth (Sydney, Australia) wanted to unplug the ma- dictions. Today, Nassar is a mother too. Our Lady of Pelle- voisin and Our Lady of Lourdes, thank you for continuing to be As a member of the hospitality, I give a smile, a hello, just a small sign for these 100 pa- with us. tients that I help in April, every year, in Lourdes. G. Lafosse (France) Olivier and Martine (France)

THE JOURNAL OF GRACES - 5 If have received a grace in connection with Lourdes, write to us : [email protected]

Sortie au cinéma du film "LOURDES" Nous encourageons ceux qui le peuvent à se rendre au cinéma, à partir du 8 mai 2019, à l’occasion de la sortie du film LOURDES, réalisé par Thierry Demaizière Laurent Jarneau’s videos et Alban Teurlai. Ce documentaire donne la parole à des for the Sanctuary website www.lourdes-france.org pèlerins, à des malades, ou à des hospitaliers qui ont tous un point commun : ils aiment Lourdes ! Un film fort et vrai.

"Two drops of water released me" © DR I came to the Sanctua- arm. From that mo- to me, I long to return The 7 successive presidents of ry to entrust my burden ment, my head, heavy to the Sanctuary to the Hospitality of Anjou (Angers, to Our Lady of Lourdes, with serious worries, speak to Our Lady of Maine-et-Loire, France) took time because life was beco- became very light, and Lourdes, my Mother. out for a photo in the Sanctuary ming more and more some tears came to Even a persistent neck of Lourdes, on the occasion of difficult. On the first my eyes. An immense pain has disappeared. I their diocesan pilgrimage. They day, I went to confes- joy invaded my whole confidently took up my are called Annie, Roger, Claude, sion. In the afternoon, being. I felt liberated, volunteer work: giving Marie-Claude, Colette, Bernard, for the first time in my happy and soothed. I Dutch language classes Nicolas. They give thanks for all life, I attended the ro- then said, "Thank you, to refugees, helping their that they experience through sary. After the prayer, I Mother." I don’t know children with homework. contact with the sick pilgrims queued along the Grot- what more I can say, ex- The best thing for me is they accompany. to to greet Our Blessed cept that since that day I regularly attending the Mother, the Virgin Mary. have increased my daily rehearsals of our Gre- Earvin was a Then surprise, as soon prayers by giving a lot gorian chant choir which young man going as I finished the sign of of time to Our Heavenly makes the Sunday ce- through a tough the Cross, while I was Mother, who has taken lebrations so beautiful. time in his life. beneath the Marian care of my sorrows and In union with Christ and After hitchhiking all

statue, two drops of my fears. As soon as Our Mother of Lourdes. the way, he arrived © DR water fell on my right an opportunity is given Leonard (Belgium) in Lourdes with the hope of changing things. On his way, he met the Cenacolo Returning from Lourdes, I asked to be baptised community ... Like , who scraped the mud As a student in military the chaplain prepared from the bottom of the Grotto to college, despite being an me to receive the sa- bring out pure water, Earvin then atheist, I joined the In- crament at the next IMP. discovered the Source that is th ternational Military Pilgri- And so, during the 60 Jesus Christ, the God of Love. An mage (IMP) to Lourdes. I IMP, in 2018, I received incalculable grace through which, had put my name down this sacrament. It was a by baptism, he was "reborn from to go to the Baths, but I very intense moment. above". went apprehensively. Not Despite the crowd of pil- See the videos knowing how to pray, I grims, I really felt a strong © SNDL/VINCENT and other repeated "Hail Mary!" chaplaincy where I disco- presence of Jesus in my testimonials on in my head when I went vered a cheerful, caring heart. From then on, I our youtube channel: into the water. I then felt a community that welco- have come alive again, I /LourdesWebTV strong emotion and a hi- med me for who I was. finally found that love that therto unknown joy. Back After a little exploration, I I had been missing. Your reactions in college, I went to the asked to be baptised and Chloé (France) facebook/ndlourdes

Publishing manager: Guillaume de Vulpian • Director: Mathias Terrier • The editorial team: Laurent Jarneau, Martine Korpal, Joel Luzenko • Graphic Design: Freddy Men- gelle, David Torchala • Iconography: Marie Etcheverry, Pierre Vincent. • Impression: BCR Imprimeur 32200 Gimont • Sanctuary Our Lady of Lourdes - Communications Department 1, Avenue Mgr Théas 65108 Lourdes Cedex - www.lourdes-france.org

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