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Lourdes

by Horacio Espinosa
Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Lourdes

We arrived in Lourdes, not knowing exactly what would be there, we had never been in a Sanctuary, we had not even talked to anyone who had passed through Lourdes, since it was not in the plans of the trip.

We arrived in Lourdes, not knowing exactly what would be there, we had never been in a Sanctuary, we had not even talked to anyone who had passed through Lourdes, since it was not in the plans of the trip.

On a tour that is totally touristy, Andrea notices that we are not too far from Lourdes, but that meant for me to “lose” a day of sightseeing in the city where we were, as in the past I mentioned, pilgrimage was not my first choice at that time , nevertheless, and perhaps thinking only that Andrea liked it, I accepted.

We could say then that we were practically lost in a city where vehicular chaos abounded, a peculiar chaos as it was caused by thousands of pilgrims on foot, and many cars moving sick. It was in itself a strange situation, for someone who hardly knew the invocation of Lourdes.

We stayed in a hotel near the entrance of the Sanctuary. The person at the hotel reception gave us some guidance on the activities that took place there.

As I sometimes tell you, Mary will take you, and so it was, she guided us into the Sanctuary.

The first advice the hotel girl gave us was to try to go to the pools, but maybe they were not available for the schedule, however we went, without knowing exactly what the pools were.

When I arrived at the place, I waited to wait in the corresponding row, along with many people who spoke languages ​​I did not understand, it was not long before the Rosary began, and thousands of voices, of several languages ​​praying in unison Mother, from there, we all understood what we were doing there, and we understood the meaning of each word our brother said. The prayer of the Rosary has no language or barrier of any kind, as well as our Faith.

At that time I had a personal problem that I considered very important, Mama Maria would take care of the issue.

Initially the row I had to stand up, but later I sat down. At that time, a disabled person with very poor health was left in front of me. My only thought was on the cross that both this person and his family should carry. I was only struck by the joy that this group showed despite their pain. Note that only at that moment and I did not understand anything else. Later, this would be a great teaching of Mary.

Continue praying the Rosary until my turn arrives. The pools are several individual baths separated from each other, and filled with water from the spring that Maria showed to Santa Bernadette, they have an image of Maria de Lourdes. The extremely cold water, where one submerges (if you want to the head). After a few seconds the cold water disappears, as do the people around, and there is only one left with Maria. It is one of the most important moments of my life, where one feels embraced by the arms of the beloved Mother.

Shocked to tears by the grace of having felt the love of Maria so closely, I withdrew from the pool area and prepared to wait for Andrea. On one side, under the sunlight, and only thinking about the experience.

Finally Andrea comes out of her experience in the pool and we prepare to visit the Sanctuary.

At the time we realized that we had missed the schedule of the Mass in Spanish. There are masses in many languages ​​in the many existing chapels, it was then that we began to look for them where we could understand the language. Finally we entered one where we did not understand a word of what they said, but something made us stay and we enjoyed the mass without understanding the language, but understanding everything that happened there.

Before the close of the day we went to a permanent Adoration Chapel that is a little away from the main Shrine. It is an incredible place where one meets the father in an unspeakable peace.

Almost at the end of the day we went to an internal chapel where there is another image of the Virgin of Lourdes, it is not the main one that is in the grotto of the apparitions. There were many people there and I had to stand behind a very tall man, who although he let me see the image of Maria, prevented me from seeing what was in front of him.

There were many people in the whole Sanctuary and the probability of meeting someone twice a day is practically null

When this gentleman decides to retire, he leaves an empty space between the person in front of him and myself, that is to say that María was there, that person and I in a straight line. That person was the same disabled person who had been in the pool and me in the morning.

Then I understood.

It was a great teaching of Mary for me, it was putting my problem in context, it was a clear demonstration that this person, in spite of his health problem, enjoyed life, as I was not doing it because of a minor problem. It was a teaching of a loving mother to a son who did not understand what was happening to him, and who could not see the reality of his problem, which in itself was not serious, but I thought it was serious.

After that, what more could I ask for, I retired to mourn because I had understood my mistake.

At the close of the day an internal pilgrimage begins through the Shrine, it is headed by the Blessed Sacrament, followed by the priests, then the sick and the pilgrims closing it. During the same candles are lit, and the hymn of Lourdes is sung, along with the recitation of the Holy Rosary. A magical moment called march of the torches

It is a beautiful closing, full of joy, Faith and devotion to the Mother of Lourdes.

This was my first visit, to Lourdes, this visit began to make me a Pilgrim.

But there was a second one. Lourdes has that, Maria catches you in an incredible way, generates so much Mother’s love that one has the desire to return.

The second visit if it was in Pilgrimage, thought from the beginning as such. It was a more extensive visit where we could enjoy each place more relaxed. We dedicated a time to the meditated Holy Rosary, we were able to confess and have our cerebration of the Mass inside the Grotto of Lourdes.

We were also able to participate in the talk given by Father Horacio Britos, who is the director of the Shrine, Argentinean and Tucuman, who happened to be a professor of Father Luis Zazano in the Seminary, and it was through him that he came to know Father Britos.

A special section for this priest, as well as for his talk. He has an immeasurable love for Maria, as well as for Saint Bernadette, told us the details of the apparitions, as he also explained the kind of life that the Soubirious family had to endure after the beginning of the Industrial Revolution.

As we had a little more time on this visit we decided to visit the town of Lourdes and learn about the historical places of the family of Saint Bernardita Soubirous.

I hope I have a little bit of love for Maria de Lourdes. And hopefully they could have experienced the Sanctuary a bit.

Traveler Tips

  • Before planning the trip, make sure that the pools are open at that time, we know that there are times when they are not.
  • Lourdes is in the middle Pyrenees, it is a cold zone even in summer.
  • To get to Lourdes there are several ways, you can get to Barcelona and from there a bus, or you can get to Toulouse and from there also bus or car. Driving is quite easy in the area.
  • Do not rush to buy things, there are many religious affairs businesses and although you will surely devote time to shopping, the main thing is the experience of the Sanctuary.
  • Try to sleep somewhere near the Sanctuary, it is more comfortable to walk there, than having to move daily. In fact, arriving at the Sanctuary by vehicle is usually cumbersome.
  • Do not stop listening to Father Britos, he gives open talks in general at 3:00 p.m., but check the schedule in the office that is inside the Shrine.
  • You can not miss the march of Torches at the end of the day.
  • Do not stop going to the Adoration Chapel.
  • And of course the pools can not be lost.

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9 Comments

Graciela Sventirati January 18, 2019 - 11:25 am

Estuve en el Santuario de Lourdes por 3 veces y recien pude encontrar las piletas en el ultimo viaje. Fue una experiencia increible, y me senti muy emocionada. De hecho me hizo muy bien y la recomiendo siempre. El agua es fria si, pero no la sientes tanto, y tambien me quede sorprendida cuando me fui a vestir y comprobe que estaba totalmente seco mi cuerpo a pesar de haberme mojado totalmente. No sabia de la charla del pdre.ni de la Exposicion al Santisimo, creo (y deseo) una 4to viaje.
Graciela Sventurati de Mdeo. Uruguay

Reply
Gerardo Meneses January 18, 2019 - 11:36 am

Gracias por compartir esta bella experiencia

Reply
Nicolasa January 18, 2019 - 2:03 pm

Me encantaria vivir una experiencia pero solo Dios me lo podrá conceder Dios les bendiga ????

Reply
Paula January 18, 2019 - 2:42 pm

Cuantos caemos en ese error y siempre nuestra madre nos muestra lo equivocados que estamos.

Reply
M C Pardo January 18, 2019 - 2:51 pm

He ido a Lourdes y tampoco vi las piletas. Donde estan?

Reply
Ramón Ángel Montero January 18, 2019 - 3:25 pm

Oh..! Lourdes, lugar de hermosos milagros, ahí donde el científico Francés Alexis Carrel encontro su conversion….Dios bendiga a cada viajero que con respeto y devoción logra llegar

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Magdalena January 18, 2019 - 4:29 pm

Hola no que estuviera ahí, como leo el artículo. Los ojos llenos de lágrimas. Es MI SUEÑO estar ahí. Gracias por escribir . Magdalena bendiciones

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Horacio January 18, 2019 - 9:48 pm

Gracias por sus comentarios, y correcciones algunas veces, siempre son agradecidas.
Las piletas estan debajo de la iglesia principal, antes de cruzar el arroyo, cercanas al lugar de las apariciones
Horacio.

Reply
Andrea January 19, 2019 - 7:31 pm

Lourdes. El destino mas deseado por el Colo y por mi. Si antes teniamos ganas… imaginate ahora. Gracias!!!!!!

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