Lourdes

When I was a little girl in India, my grandparents and Aunt visited Lourdes. They brought me back a rosary that glowed in the dark. It was my favourite and I fell in love with Our Lady of Immaculate Conception. She is also known as ‘Nossa Senhora da Conceição’. Some of you may recognise my maiden name in there. I’ve had this desire to visit Lourdes since then.

Today was the day!! I thought I would start crying and be overwhelmed with emotion when I got to the grotto. I was overwhelmed with emotion, but it was joy, not tears. Everywhere Paul and I walked, I was joyous. I walked through the grotto twice. I touched the smooth stone, touched before by millions of hands, blessed myself with the droplets of water rolling down the walls..just joyous.

We walked around to the baths that were far too crowded, you need to book. The smiles on people’s faces when they came out, was amazing. I didn’t want to take a spot of someone who needed the water-gesture more that I did. Paul and I were happy to bathe ourselves from the taps at the same spring as the baths. We filled up our holy water bottles, cooled ourselves down and were joyous.

We then caught the tail end of an English mass is the first chapel, had communion and hauled up a priest after to bless our water and rosaries. He was Farther Patrick Finn from Maine, USA. He used a special blessing from his prayer book. Incase you’ve never had one done…it’s an exorcism of the water first, in Latin, and then a blessing. I was very touched..and more joyous. ❤️

We then climbed up to the two other chapels and offered prayers and asked for intercessions for all our loved ones.

Am back at camp now. It’s very hot! Just made dahl, rice and chicken fry for dinner and now to cool down. I think I’m going to the Marian procession at 9pm.Læs mere