Gasping for life after plunging into a frigid pool of water is a strange experience. While you know that there are two people on either side of you helping you through the process, you feel as if you are dying in the plunge. As you search for air you feel as if you are searching for life, and when you find it, you feel that it is new, clearer and pure.
On the first Sunday of the pilgrimage, many of us awoke early to experience the baths of Lourdes that we had seen so many faithful people waiting for. While the rest of the group went later in the day, we came early to escape the crowds. As it was an individual event, I can only speak for my own bath. Entering into the bath chambers, I was required to strip down and was then covered by a towel. As I stepped towards the bath, there were a few men to help me through the process. Wading into the water, a man on either side walked me through the ritual. After praying for intercession through Sts. Mary and Bernadette, I was dunked into the seemingly freezing water by the men on my sides. They then gave me a cup of water from the spring and told me that as I bathed in the waters of Lourdes, I must drink of it as well. Drinking this pure cleansing water and being covered by it as well was a refreshing experience; one that I hope was as significant to the rest of the pilgrims.
Later in the day, we attended Mass in the grotto with pilgrims from many other countries. While the Mass was primarily in English, the readings and homily were given in English, Italian and French and the hymns were sung in multiple languages. I was once again struck by the significance of the Gospel. From Mathew, we heard of a Canaanite woman who went to Jesus to request the relief of her daughter from a devil’s tormentation. Because of her faith, Jesus frees her daughter. These stories of faith hold great weight while walking through Lourdes and seeing people in wheelchairs, families with disabled children and old women and men all coming to the baths with the intense faith that they may be healed. It truly made me realize how much father I have to go on my faith journey.
Following Mass and lunch, we separated into different groups to tour the city. The set I was with went to St. Bernadette’s childhood homes, le Basilique de Notre Dame l’Lmmaculee Conception (the Basilica of our Lady of the Immaculate Conception) and Lourdes’ castle. Bernadette’s homes gave a good image of how her life changed as she went from middle to lower class with the loss of her father’s job. While this all happened a century ago, the economic times of the day really put the situation into our own perspective. The Basilica was absolutely beautiful as it really showed the dedication of those who built it to our Lady. The castle, provided an interesting history of Lourdes as a point for the Muslim invasion of Europe and the later recapture by the Christians as well as an extraordinary view of the city.
That evening there was a candlelight procession of all those attending World Youth Day who were in the city and others who wished to attend the procession. On the way down the hill, we were situated next to pilgrims from the Virgin Islands, Poland and Chile. As we all sang songs from our perspective areas, it really gave an impression of the universal nature of the Church. As we moved on, we entered the courtyard of the Basilica which was filled with thousands of the faithful with candles and praying the rosary in different languages. While we all came from different places and backgrounds, we were and are all one. After praying seven decades of the rosary which were dedicated to Mary, gave each other the sign of peace in our own languages. I was reminded at this time of a line of the Psalm that day, “Let the nations praise you, God, let all the nations praise you” (Psalm 67:3).
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