— A Non-Catholic’s View of the Lourdes Trip
Being a non-Catholic, I was originally tentative about going on the Lourdes trip. But, eventually I caved into because of the persistent nagging of my friends who convinced me that I could experience Europe for the first time and participate in a one-of-a-kind service opportunity. Asked to reflect on my experience, I realized how priceless those 10 days were, even from a non-religious perspective.
For instance,I was able to practice my French, eat the best gelato I’ve ever had, and wander around to the point where I knew the town like the back of my hand. And, I learned so much about the Catholic faith, which helped me better understand my peers and the Canterbury community. Most importantly, I was overwhelmed by the hospitality that I received from the people in charge and the strangers that I met.
Everyone there had this air of gratitude, smiling back at me, thanking me profusely if I gave them directions or a chaplet. These people had traveled for hours to get to Lourdes, and I could see how happy they were to be there. This happiness transferred to all of us. We even discussed during evening reflection how helping these pilgrims and malades was actually helping ourselves. (A malades is someone who travels to Lourdes to bathe in its waters, seeking cures for illnesses and ailments.)
One of the people on the trip said, “I had the opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives. I was amazed that simply a smile or saying ‘bonjour,’ could cause a person to feel better. My experiences at Lourdes helped me understand…the value of all the simple things we take for granted.”
When we were helping the arriving malades find their way at the train station, I bonded with one lady and had a wonderful (but barely functional) conversation with her. Then, she kissed me on the cheek and I sent her on her way with a chaplet. Near the end of my stay in Lourdes, I saw her again as she was leaving the train station, and it was as if I was meeting an old friend again. One of my friends on the trip became best friends with a little girl named Camilla, who was autistic. She kept making heart gestures towards my friend and giving her kisses, and when my friend saw her again the next day, she was overjoyed.
The highlight of my trip was definitely working with the children, even when a little boy named Baptiste tied me to a pole or when another one stole my glasses. It was amazing how strangers instantly bonded with me and how trusting and grateful they were.
Lourdes was beautiful both emotionally and visually. The view of the thousands of people at the nightly procession raising their candles to “Ave Maria” was truly breathtaking. Other notable views included the huge basilica and at the summit of the Pic du Jer, 1000 meters up.
I highly recommend going to Lourdes, even if you are not Catholic. It is an enlightening experience for anyone, regardless of faith, and I know some students who have gone for eight years! I feel like I have personally matured within the short time I spent in Lourdes and it has given me a whole new outlook on my life in New Milford. As Kevin Wallin, a Lourdes alumni, said: “Lourdes is the world turned upside-down.”
— My Experience at Lourdes
The evening sunset created a spectacle of light, flooding the sky above us with colors. Gathered in the esplanade, thousands of hopeful pilgrims from all walks of life sang “Ave Maria!” and held candles while coming in procession toward the basilica. I was standing on the top steps singing in the choir, looking out upon the crowd as the individual bodies slowly drifted into flickering candlelight as the sun went down. This is the candlelight procession, or “le procession aux flambeaux.” It’s a daily occurrence in Lourdes, no matter the weather, everyday between Easter and All Saints Day. Lourdes is where Our Lady Mary appeared to Bernadette Soubirous eighteen times in a small grotto with a spring.
Since 1858 when the apparitions took place, the dirty outskirt of town has transformed into a thriving sanctuary where millions of pilgrims bathe in the healing waters of Lourdes.
A small group of Canterbury students joined Our Lady’s Pilgrimage, an organization started by our own Hope Carter, on a ten day service trip in Lourdes. During our time there, we did a variety of different tasks in helping pilgrims get the most of the experience. Some major jobs I did included, working inside the baths, moving people from wheelchairs to stretchers, controlling crowds during outdoor mass, and singing in the procession choir.
The experience of Lourdes doesn’t lie in just volunteering or just going as a pilgrim, I was able to do both. In addition to working, I got the opportunity to bathe in the baths, walk in the grotto that Bernadette saw Mary in, participate in the candlelight procession, and bond with my friends. Lourdes is a truly incredible experience that’s indescribable in pictures or in writing; ask anyone who’s gone and they’ll say the same. I grew as a person, as a Catholic, and found a new glimmer of hope in humanity, with unity and peace unrivaled anywhere else in the world.
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