The Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes is worth the trip, no matter how far you have to trek. I traveled down there before beginning the Camino de Santiago because I wanted to ask the intercession and protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary on this pilgrimage.
This was my fourth time there, and each time has been special. In January, the town is pretty much closed up, so creature-comforts are hard to come by. That's a plus, as there are too many tacky stores selling cheap goods anyway. With all the commercialism in Lourdes, the walk from the train station to the Sanctuary can be an assault on the senses. But once you enter the Sanctuary, it is all tranquility and peace. Entering the Sanctuary is like coming home to an old friend. With so many pilgrims praying there year-in and year-out, only special things can happen there.
The Lord spoke profoundly to me about the importance of learning how to love Him all over again in a basic way. That's what is so great about messages from the Lord -- they are never too complex or hard to grasp. Usually the Lord asks us to do something that we know how to do (or have done before), but this time in a fresh, renewed way.
The Sanctuary is open from 5 am until Midnight each day. Last night I was there around 9 pm, and had the Grotto (where the Virgin appeared to Ste. Bernadette) almost all to myself. I was so privileged to be at the same spot that Mary spoke 153 years ago. It was sublime, holy, and memorable.
It's now off to Lyon (closer and closer to starting the Camino at Le Puy-en-Velay).
-Joseph
Monday, January 17, 2011
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Paris, Part 2
Greetings all,
I'm still in Paris, enjoying all the usual things (which in my case means architecture-- especially churches -- pastries, sightseeing, and eating).
So many have the wrong idea of Paris; they may think of it as a risqué city, full of decadence. Some think of it as the town that features the Eiffel Tower and the grand church of Notre-Dame. Others may view it as a place with a large, confusing airport. I can't judge others' experiences, but for me Paris is a wonderful city, with many delights and people who care about culture and beauty. Amidst this grand metropolis, it all somehow fits together and works well.
Take the Paris Metro (subway) for example. It is heavily used. No matter where you live in Paris you're only a few blocks away from a station. The price is reasonable ($1.50 no matter where you go), and where else can you actually open the door of the subway car before the train has come to a full stop? You have to love that feature. The trains are frequent, so waiting time is minimal.
This town is a haven for the epicurean in all of us. You can't walk on the sidewalk more than 50 yards without running into something that deals with food. In fact, in order to conceal my gluttony, I just eat at different pastry shops on the same day. Yesterday I was at the "Grande Epicerie de Paris" (huge gourmet food store) that just makes you want to move in.
This town also has an interesting Catholic history. With beautiful churches scattered everywhere and a tradition that stems back some 1,700 years, Paris can claim quite a few chapters in any church history book.
So what's not to like?
-Joseph
I'm still in Paris, enjoying all the usual things (which in my case means architecture-- especially churches -- pastries, sightseeing, and eating).
So many have the wrong idea of Paris; they may think of it as a risqué city, full of decadence. Some think of it as the town that features the Eiffel Tower and the grand church of Notre-Dame. Others may view it as a place with a large, confusing airport. I can't judge others' experiences, but for me Paris is a wonderful city, with many delights and people who care about culture and beauty. Amidst this grand metropolis, it all somehow fits together and works well.
Take the Paris Metro (subway) for example. It is heavily used. No matter where you live in Paris you're only a few blocks away from a station. The price is reasonable ($1.50 no matter where you go), and where else can you actually open the door of the subway car before the train has come to a full stop? You have to love that feature. The trains are frequent, so waiting time is minimal.
This town is a haven for the epicurean in all of us. You can't walk on the sidewalk more than 50 yards without running into something that deals with food. In fact, in order to conceal my gluttony, I just eat at different pastry shops on the same day. Yesterday I was at the "Grande Epicerie de Paris" (huge gourmet food store) that just makes you want to move in.
This town also has an interesting Catholic history. With beautiful churches scattered everywhere and a tradition that stems back some 1,700 years, Paris can claim quite a few chapters in any church history book.
So what's not to like?
-Joseph
Monday, January 10, 2011
Paris
This morning I arrived in Paris. Those transcontinental flights are always too long and claustrophobic. Either I'm getting fatter or the aisles in the planes are getting narrower.
I was going to leave on 25 January, but moved it up a couple of weeks.
If you haven't been to Paris, make plans to go. It's an incredible city, with something for everyone. I would never be so arrogant as to try and describe what it is, because I couldn't. Paris is a different experience for each person. It's a city with some of the most interesting nooks and crannies that you can imagine. Modern streets abut alleys that are several hundred years old. There are restaurants, pastry shops, and bakeries every fifty yards. Yes, this is my kind of town!
I have never understood why Paris gets a bad rap on the hospitality scale, as I have received nothing but kindness. Today at the airport a man just missed his bus going to a certain section of the city. Instead of saying "Too bad, the next bus comes in 30 minutes," my bus driver followed the other bus until this passenger could make a safe transfer. But I've seen other acts of kindness this very day.
So it's a big town... but filled with people with big hearts!
-Joseph
I was going to leave on 25 January, but moved it up a couple of weeks.
If you haven't been to Paris, make plans to go. It's an incredible city, with something for everyone. I would never be so arrogant as to try and describe what it is, because I couldn't. Paris is a different experience for each person. It's a city with some of the most interesting nooks and crannies that you can imagine. Modern streets abut alleys that are several hundred years old. There are restaurants, pastry shops, and bakeries every fifty yards. Yes, this is my kind of town!
I have never understood why Paris gets a bad rap on the hospitality scale, as I have received nothing but kindness. Today at the airport a man just missed his bus going to a certain section of the city. Instead of saying "Too bad, the next bus comes in 30 minutes," my bus driver followed the other bus until this passenger could make a safe transfer. But I've seen other acts of kindness this very day.
So it's a big town... but filled with people with big hearts!
-Joseph
Monday, January 3, 2011
January 3
I can almost guarantee that most everyone will be in a good mood on the following four days: Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, and New Year's Day. There's just a natural (supernatural!) ebullience in the people that you encounter on those days. This is natural and the joy felt is absolutely contagious.
I can also say that the first Monday of the New Year (today) brings with it a lot of less than joyous moods, as people go back to work and school. This is much less fun than opening presents, eating cookies and drinking egg nog around a beautiful fire in the living room.
I believe that we too often forget that Jesus' birth in Bethlehem of Judea renewed and reinvigorated humanity. Nothing would ever be the same after the Word took on human flesh. This includes us. Jesus came to save us from our sins, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin, but rather the brothers and sisters of the Lord, God's children by adoption.
I know that we believe that this is wonderful stuff... but maybe we stumble thinking how this applies to us as individuals?
It applies to each one of us through our faith, hope and dreams. The coming of Jesus the Christ anticipated the downfall of sin and death. His death and resurrection redeemed us. So we are a redeemed people, a people who have been "purchased back" from slavery to sin and death. This is cause for rejoicing.
But this joy sometimes only lasts until Christmas is over or the tree gets taken to the road. We can't allow fear to take away our hope; we can't let trepidation rust away our joy. We were created for very special things, so let's match our talents up with God's call. I doubt that God would give us a joyful idea if he didn't want us to follow up on it.
This is a new year. Just like the Magi risked everything by following the star to find the Christ, so too may we take appropriate risks in finding the Lord in new and different ways in 2011.
-Joseph
I can also say that the first Monday of the New Year (today) brings with it a lot of less than joyous moods, as people go back to work and school. This is much less fun than opening presents, eating cookies and drinking egg nog around a beautiful fire in the living room.
I believe that we too often forget that Jesus' birth in Bethlehem of Judea renewed and reinvigorated humanity. Nothing would ever be the same after the Word took on human flesh. This includes us. Jesus came to save us from our sins, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin, but rather the brothers and sisters of the Lord, God's children by adoption.
I know that we believe that this is wonderful stuff... but maybe we stumble thinking how this applies to us as individuals?
It applies to each one of us through our faith, hope and dreams. The coming of Jesus the Christ anticipated the downfall of sin and death. His death and resurrection redeemed us. So we are a redeemed people, a people who have been "purchased back" from slavery to sin and death. This is cause for rejoicing.
But this joy sometimes only lasts until Christmas is over or the tree gets taken to the road. We can't allow fear to take away our hope; we can't let trepidation rust away our joy. We were created for very special things, so let's match our talents up with God's call. I doubt that God would give us a joyful idea if he didn't want us to follow up on it.
This is a new year. Just like the Magi risked everything by following the star to find the Christ, so too may we take appropriate risks in finding the Lord in new and different ways in 2011.
-Joseph
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