What a trip!
It was definitely not what we expected... it turned out to be so much more! It was am intense two weeks dash around the perimeter of France. A short summary of the itinerary:
D1: Singapore Airport
D2: Nevers - Paray la Monial
D3: Ars - Le Puy - St. Etienne
D4-5: La Salette
D6: Cotingac - Aix en Provence
D7-D9: Lourdes
D10: Le Mans
D11: Mont St Michel - Le Mans
D12: Chartres - Paris
D13-14: Paris
I have never attended Mass for more than 4 days in a row but there was Mass every day. Indeed, spiritually it was significant for both Frances and myself as we both explored our faith together and journeyed together. We travel together a lot and we've been through many things together but this was different. I cannot put a finger to it, but it was something good.
There were many highlights: the snow on La Salette, the lunch at Cotingac, the beautiful cathedrals and basilicas, the deeply moving sharing sessions, the Masses, the prayers. But the one that tops it for me has to be sitting at Lourdes, at the Massabielle in the night. We had 3 days there but it seemed all too short. I remember sitting together in the cold at 11+pm, watching the Mass and adoration, looking at the statue of our Lady looking down on the crowd, imagining what it was like some 150 years ago when She first appeared to St Bernadette. Alternating between observing the proceedings, meditation and saying a silent prayer ... time just passed so quickly.
Nothing can fully describe the richness of what I have seen and experienced, least of all a set of photos. I can only hope to give you an idea of what it was like to have been there ... if you want to hear more, drop me a comment or a line and we can talk about all of it...
See photos of the pilgrimage at:
France Pilgrimage
France Pilgrimage Part Deux
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