Adam’s Page

Lourdes Trip Day 2  Friday – July 24

I think the morning came so quickly.  We had to be down for breakfast by 7:30 so we could attend mass at St. Maximilien Kolbe Chapel with the 206 group.  They chapel was very nice and located within walking distance from the hotel.  They had a very nice service and asked for intentions and Mom-Mom asked for an intention for Adam.  We had to get back to the hotel very quickly so we could take the bus to the 1^st half of the walking tour of Saint Bernadette.  When Mary appeared to Bernadette she asked for two things build a chapel and bring a procession to her.  We went to the Parrish Church where Bernadette told the priest about the sightings and they at first did not believe her until the vision on March 25^th when Mary declared she was “The Immaculate Conception” .  The words were spoken to Bernadette who could not understand the meaning of the words used, so now they started to believe.  The Church was so beautiful all the stained glass windows and was surrounded by sanctuaries from Lourdes.  From there we went to the home home of Bernadette and 5 others when things were not very good for them.  They lived in a single jail cell room for 18 months.  They had 4 beds for 6 people and the youngest boys slept on the dirt floor.  One of the boys was even found in the back of the church eating the melted wax from the candles.  Bernadette did not want to leave but her parents sent her away to work and learn the bible so she could receive 1^st Holy Communion.  This was also one less mouth to feed.  She did as she was told and returned at the age of 13 and told her parent she would rather be poor and live with the family in prayer then to work, be fed well and be away from the family.

Soon after this the visions started at the Grotto. 

Form the prison we then  visited where Bernadette was born.  The Boly mill was the name of the name of the building.  We saw the map of Bernadettes footsteps and family history of the family.  We left the home quickly because it was 12 noon and the nuns needed to get to lunch.

We went from there to the path that Bernadette took to the Grotto.  At the Grotto we could walk through and touch the walls of the cave and see where the spring was sprung for the holy water from which we washed and drank from the side of the lower Basilica.  What a tremendous feeling walking through where Mary had appeared!  We spent a bunch of time just relishing in and praying for what we needed, the healing hand of Mary and one of the faithful Miracles as we need.  We then went back to the water and washed and drank and placed Adam’s head under the water.

Next was lunch back at the hotel and Adam and Katie loved the chicken and fries (Belgian).   Javier surprised Adam with a very nice gift after lunch.  A sheep doll and we know how much Adam loves his webkinz!

After lunch we watched a video of Lourdes that lasted about 35 minutes and was wonderful to hear the history over and over.  From there the group decided to go directly to the Blessing of the sick at the Underground Basilica.  Wow, what a huge Basilica.  I think they said it could hold 25,000 people.  Lourdes is a place where the sick are always first.  The have 20,000 volunteers annually to help and if you were her you would know why.  They care and pray for all the sick and in need of help.  Adam was in the front with Mom-Mom as the blessed eucharist was blessed over them. It was an amazing procession and we got some really great photos of Adam on the Alter.

We went form there back to the Grotto to add the many petitions that were brought with the group.  I was able to put mine in first and walk through the Grotto again.  From there we went back to the hotel for dinner at 7.  Katie loved the soup!  She had a few helpings and it was very good for her.  Adam liked the pork so much he asked for more and of course he asked Javier for ice cream for desert and Katie agreed.

After dinner we went and filled our large container of Lourdes water and watched the candlelight procession from the Basilica.  We are tired now and going to bed around 10:30.  Good night.

Our Trip to Lourdes 2009

Thursday – July 23

We had a very busy 1st day getting to Lourdes but, it was worth the wait.  Our trip is run through 206 Tours with Lorraine and her mother.  They have everything so well planned out and such great helpers work with them.  I believe we had 52 people on the flight!  The long flight from Newark to Paris was a very nice flight but I just can’t seem to sit for 2 hours let alone 6.5 hours.  Adam slept for maybe 2 hours and I can not sleep on planes.  Katie did a great job helping Adam with the television games during the flight.  We landed in Paris France and it was morning their!  So much for sleeping.  We left Paris and headed for Pau after about 3 hours layover.  My mother asked if we saw the Eiffel Tower on our flight out.  This flight was much shorter and much easier on everyone.  

There were 2 buses there waiting for us to take us the hotel.  What a magnificent sight pulling into Lourdes and to our beautiful Grand Hotel Moderne.  I do not know how these bus drivers could ride down such skinny streets.   I think we went through a couple of places that we only had a few inches to squeeze through.  When we all met in the hotel lobby we met Javier our guide and he gave us instructions and our key cards for our rooms.   We had a few minutes to unpack and settle in before dinner at 6:00 at the hotel.  We had soup then beef tips and potatoes (of course everyone ate the potatoes except me!) and a wonderful desert.  During this time Javier asked Adam if he liked the food and told him if there is anything he did not like to let him know and he will take care of it.  Adam was not to thrilled with the desert and Javier made sure he got a huge helping of ice cream!

Javier could tell why we are here and he told us about his family.  You could just see him take to Adam and what we are going through.  Javier could see that it had been a long, long day and suggested that we take a quick tour of the holy land. So he took a few of us to down from the hotel to some of the most beautiful structures I have ever seen.  We first stopped at the Statue of the Crowned Virgin Mary and then the Basilicas.  He explained all about the bottom structure was built just to support the Upper Basilica.  Mary in one of her 18 sightings at the Grotto had asked for a church to be built there. We then moved on to the Grotto and to see the beautiful Statue of Mary and all the candles burning was incredible.  We eventually went down to the baths of holy water.  Javier asked Adam when he needed a bath and Adam said I just had one Sunday.  So Sunday may be the day for Adam.  We then went back past the Grotto and washed and drank some of the Holy Water as instructed by Javier.  We could not have had a better person to show us around.  He truly cares about his job and loves the reason we are here.

We have a busy day planned tomorrow and Adam fell asleep in about 3 minutes.  Now it is my turn….