Our pilgrimage, fun though it may be, is a week of intense
work. It requires a new level of physical and mental rigour, as we are asked to
complete strenuous tasks and solve problems from the (ironically) unholy hour
of 5am at the earliest to 11pm, with quick breaks for lunch and dinner at the
hotel in between. You will walk miles. You will sweat buckets. You will probably
want to give up at times. But for all the tough work we are faced with, there
are an infinite amount of calming and pleasurable moments in Lourdes that make it all
worthwhile. The very act of working as a 400-strong team in faith is magical.
And the feeling you get when looking back at what you have achieved is
incredibly satisfying, and even cathartic.
At our last meeting, Christine outlined the sort of
activities and issues we might face: the slippery-when-wet red road that guides
pilgrims from the St. Frai; the frightening-at-first Baths and Over 18’s duty
in the St. Frai; manoeuvring voitures (chariot style wheelchairs) for larger
pilgrims; climbing the various hills of the town; attending mass every day. The
list goes on. It is a packed schedule, but one that is very stimulating.
Some youth pilgrims enjoy the work so much that they want to
take on a new role later in life. The first step might be joining the St. Frai
team, who wear purple t-shirts and do various duties in the hospital, but a
further step up would take you onto the Hospitalite. Chris Wright, former Coach
4 member and husband to Titch, one of our beloved staff members, is now part of
the Hospitalite. He came to the last meeting to talk about the jobs that they
do in Lourdes. As their name suggests, they spend most of their time in the St.
Frai doing hands on work with the pilgrims. Some of them are specialist doctors
and nurses, while others are regular people who are willing to work behind the
scenes to keep the pilgrims safe and healthy. From making teas and coffees to
doing personal care, they fuel and maintain the pilgrimage.
Chris’ job is to take pilgrims from Liverpool on the jumbulance.
This is for pilgrims who are unable to travel by plane, and need extra care
while they travel. I have personally dealt with bed-ridden pilgrims while
working in the baths. To see a man with such a debilitated body brought into a
state of peace by bathing in the blessed spring was nothing less than
miraculous. It’s small wonder that the members of the Hospitalite come back
every year to carry out these tough tasks. It reaffirms faith in oneself,
each other and in God. And it is only through perseverance that Bernadette built up a relationship with Our Lady, convinced her peers that the apparitions were a reality.
Thursday 18th February: The Lady Speaks
For the first time, the Lady spoke. Bernadette held out a pen and paper asking her to write her name. She replied; "It is not necessary" and she added: "I do not promise to make you happy in this world but in the other. Would you be kind enough to come here for a fortnight?"
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