Dear Friends,

This was my first trip of the year to France and Our Lady's call was heard and again we had a wonderful week in Lourdes. Various Gremlins struck - well it wouldn't be our holiday if they didn't - but we got there and settled in to our Campsite around 7pm on Sat. May 3.

10am Sunday May 4 found me in the Ukrainian Church . Well actually I got there in glorious sunshine at just after 9.30, clutching Raymond's pride and joy - the Sony Digital Video Camera - so I could do what I have long promised and take some Photos of this little outpost of Eastern Catholicism. I took quite a few stills and then went into Church about 15 mins before Liturgy to give me a chance to settle and prepare myself - but did I get the chance ? You got it - as I walked in I was warmly welcomed by Sr Stephanie and greeted with a big hug and kisses. It felt wonderful. She then said that she would go and bring me a bilingual book for Liturgy and I gave a big grin and took mine out of my bag !! [ Yes we Latins over here have very good friends ] . A couple of minutes before Liturgy there were only 4 of us there [ the 2 nuns and a lady who is always there - must be a 'native' ] but then there was a wee influx of 4 and Sr went rushing off for books.

Liturgy - well what can I say - quiet, peaceful, full of joy , full participation by the faithful present - even if I can't make the responses in Ukrainian [ really must see what I can do about that - any takers ] Communion - aaaaaaaah - a truly Blessed Gift. Oh and of course - NO KNEELING - except for the lady who always does.

Afterwards we were chatting , Sr Stephanie and I , and laughing when Fr asked through Sr S. if I was sure I was not Ukrainian , looking at my blue embroidered T-Shirt. I was told that their would be an Across Mass the next morning so I decided that as this was the Charity that Raymond 'volunteers' with I would join them then - OK if I'm being totally honest I also wanted to see how this would be celebrated , a Latin Mass in an EC Church . However I then took some interior photos as well.

Next morning I got there before the Group and found several changes - the Tetrapod was now on the Solea and was ready for the Celebration of Mass. The Group arrived - 2 wheelchairs, several other mobility problems including one blind lady led by a helper. This Group had their own Priest - a monastic - and he celebrated Mass.And being honest now - I'll say no more about it.

Sunday and Monday afternoons were spent in the Domain and Grotto and finding certain things I had promised to get for friends, cards etc etc. Oh and not a few more photos either. Prayer was not forgotten - nor all your intentions.

Cometh Tuesday - well Lourdes weather hit. It really is a 4 seasons in a morning kind of place - particularly at that time of the year , and it really was time to stock the fridge in the caravan and see old friends . However I had time in the afternoon and Raymond again took me down to the Domain and we arranged the pick up point and time - and I took more photos and said more prayers and saw the changes that had taken place over the winter.

The rest of the week went in similar form - lots of prayer - some in the Grotto, some in the Tent of Adoration [ and that actually is something that cannot fail to move you as disabled people are brought in by helpers and settled for a few minutes in front of the Blessed Sacrament, sometimes lovingly supported as they gaze in awe at the Son's Physical Presence on the Altar and are then wheeled, led or assisted out] I also spent a lot of time in that lovely little Church with it's beautiful domes - it's always open from 10 till 12 and 2-6 for prayer - though a number of Pilgrimage Groups have found it and have their own Celebrations there as well.

Now the Groups from Ukraine and other Eastern Countries are able to travel there they do come , but at the same time the presence of Eastern Catholic Groups from the States and the UK and Europe has diminished markedly - Sr Stephanie longs for them to come again. The week after we left a Group from Paris was expected and the Blue embroidered Altar Linen was for them - well it had all been made by the wife of the Priest in Paris ! Sr Stephanie is not sure if she likes it - normally all the Altar linen is embroidered in red and the cloth on the Tetrapod is gold - this time it was gold and white Brocade [ sorry it does not show up well]

I will put up the photos of the Domain and Grotto later - but try this selection of the Church of the Dormition first.

BTW if anyone can tell me why a Church which celebrates according to the new Calendar was dedicated on an Old Calendar Feast day actually has an Old Calendar name I would be most grateful. The Church is the "Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos" and not the Church of the Assumption.

For the Photos - should you want to see them - please go to
http://uk.photos.yahoo.com/angela_m_tayloruk/

There are 13 of them in the folder marked French Photos.. Some are better than others - but in my defence it was the first time I have used the camera and the lighting was very variable
If you have the option I recommend the full page view.
It really is a gorgeous wee Church and I have lots more photos of it and about 50 of the Domain and Grotto.

Anhelyna

Dear Anhelyna,

If you have a pic of yourself in that T-shirt, please do share it with us as well!

I recently came across the Shrine of Our Lady of Cambrai which is in the diocese where the Chartres Cathedral is located.

Our Lady of Cambrai is a miraculous Byzantine Icon of the Mother of God - quite beautiful in fact.

When St Bernadette Soubirous saw this icon, she exclaimed that THIS was exactly how Our Lady appeared to her at the Grotto at Lourdes!

She asked if a copy of Our Lady of Cambrai, the icon I mean, could be installed in the Grotto Shrine.

Her request was denied and the statue was installed instead - a statue that she herself did not like and said bore no resemblance to Our Lady of Lourdes.

Alex

Dear Anhelyna,
Thanks for sharing your photos with us. I enjoyed them.
Lauro

Dear Anhelyna,

Here is the URL that has the icon of Our Lady of Grace of Cambrai - the icon that St Bernadette said came closest to representing Our Lady of Lourdes as she appeared to her at the Grotto:

http://www.theotherside.co.uk/tm-heritage/towns/cambrai.htm

Cheers!

Alex

Dear Angela,

Welcome back. Thanks for posting the photos. Did you realize that the Shrine at Lourdes is now accepting e-mail Prayer requests?

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LOURDES SHRINE ACCEPTS PRAYER PETITIONS VIA E-MAIL

LOURDES, France, MAY 29, 2003 (Zenit.org)

- The Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes offers an online service that lets people send their petitionary prayers via e-mail. The intentions are then placed in the Virgin's Grotto.

Prayers sent by e-mail are read every day at 3:30 p.m. in the cave.

E-mail can be sent via :

www.lourdes-france.org/bonjour.htm. [lourdes-france.org]

A faster way is to send them to:

intention@lourdes-france.com.

The petitions are placed in the cave where the Virgin Mary appeared to Bernadette Soubirous in 1858. The apparitions and message of Lourdes are recognized by the Catholic Church, but are not a dogma of faith.

Dear Two Lungs,

I think Zenit is somewhat out of date - I remember reading that on the Website early last year. The petitions are all printed out and together with all the ones that are actually taken there and placed in the box in the Grotto itself are burnt every 24 hours .

I do have some photos of the Domain and the Grotto including 2[ which are rather poor,I have to admit ] of the Underground Basilica. Given any degree of luck I will make a folder of some of the 50 or so and put them in a folder on the Yahoo Site during the weekend. I will tell you all when that is done.

If I can persuade my husband to let me take his pride and joy away in August I will try and get some better ones of some of the interiors - natural lighting should be better by then.

Anhelyna