My Pilgrimage to Lourdes

At the end of May 2024, my wife and I went to Lourdes on a parish pilgrimage organised by Fr Jobin, SVP, parish priest of St Mary’s the Mount, Walsall.

On the trip with fellow pilgrims were Fr Chris SDV, Chaplain of the KSC Council 223 Walsall and Brother David Miller, Grand Knight of Council 223.

I had been to Lourdes on a number of occasions; my first visit being in 1961 when I was a young man. This time round I was interested in seeing the changes that had taken place since my last pilgrimage in the 1980s.

On the first day, Fr Jobin, SDV, Fr Chris, SDV and Fr Roberto, SDV celebrated Mass in the Rosary Basilica which was a wonderful experience.

Later in the afternoon we followed The Blessing of the Sick. This was a moving experience as I witnessed the quiet and orderly gathering of the sick and their helpers prior to setting off from The Adoration Tent ahead of The Blessed Sacrament. I was able to observe the great tide of wheelchairs, stretchers, chariots and pedestrians processing along the boulevard to the accompaniment of prayers and hymns from the devout pilgrims. I felt humbled by the visible faith of the people of God which gave me great spiritual strength. The flags and banners of different nations from all over the world were an indication of The Universal Catholic Church.

However, on the second day, I was hospitalised with pneumonia and placed in The Centre Hospitalier de Lourdes for 15 days. And so, my stay in Lourdes was linked to a hospital bed - a new experience for me as I had never spent a night in hospital before.

During my stay I was able to reflect on the purpose of life and our journey on Earth which will lead us to The Lord. My thoughts wandered to The Domain and the calmness of The Grotto, which had not changed since 1961, where I found spiritual contentment. This was in complete contrast to what I was experiencing in the leather factory where I worked at that time. The values and norms of the world are a great contrast to the ones of Lourdes.

While in hospital I recited the rosary and prayed to Our Lady of Lourdes and St Bernadette for me to accept the will of The Lord. It was indeed a wonderful thing to pray in Lourdes and even though I was in hospital, away from The Domain, I felt that I was part of the whole spiritual devotion of fellow pilgrims which was a wonderful privilege.

I eventually arrived back in Walsall on 12 June, under medical escort; an experience not to be repeated, particularly in the ambulance along the M6.

Michael Doyle

Reference: Lourdes – CTS Christian Shrine by David Baldwin 2004 (p81)