In the Footsteps of St. Louis Marie de Montfort

"Footsteps Online"

Pentecost 1998 (Volume 3, Issue 2)

Montfortian International Pilgrimage to Lourdes
24 April - 1 May 1998

by Sister George

Many of the pilgrims had been looking forward to the Montfortian International Pilgrimage to Lourdes in April 1998 for over a year, having booked their places in February or March 1997.

At last the great day arrived and Friday 24 April 1998 saw 43 pilgrims assembled at Abbey House, Romsey. One or two pilgrims arrived a day or so earlier but the coach from Preston via Liverpool and Andover arrived at about 3.00.p.m. and the number was complete.

There was time to visit the Miracle Room where Sister Gerard was cured through the intercession of St Louis Marie de Montfort in 1927, or to visit Romsey Abbey before the solemn opening of the pilgrimage with the Mass, in the Convent, of Blessed Marie Louise of Jesus, Montfort's co-worker and the first Sister of La Sagesse, at 5.30 p.m.

We boarded the coach at about 6.30.p.m. and our first stop was Rownhams Service Station, about 30 minutes from Romsey, for our evening meal. From here we continued to Portsmouth to board the ferry for Le Havre. We were 13 Montfort Sisters (La Sagesse), two Montfort Fathers, Brother, and friends and Associates, altogether a very happy and friendly group.

We were comfortably lodged in our cabins on the Pride of Portsmouth by about 10.30.p.m. and had a peaceful crossing. Next morning, after breakfast, trouble began. Four pilgrims were missing when the coach was due to leave Deck 5. All the other vehicles rolled off, leaving the Wrigley coach stranded on deck awaiting the four lost pilgrims. The two Irish men had even started walking and were picked up about 20 minutes later knowing that the coach would have to pass the way they were going. After these delays we set off for Saint-Laurent, in Vendée, the Mother House of the Montfort Sisters, where we would pass the night. Some of the party had made their novitiate here before the war and the other Sisters had mostly made their final vows here. We arrived earlier than we had expected - Norman, our first-rate driver, was ahead of schedule all the time - and we were welcomed by the Sisters with a cup of tea before going to the Basilica, five minutes distance away, for Mass at the tombs of St Louis Marie de Montfort and Blessed Marie Louise.

After Mass we had time to look around the Basilica before returning to the Convent for our evening meal. We recalled how our Holy Father Pope John Paul II had asked to visit the tombs during his visit to France in September 1996.

The Sisters welcomed us with a delicious meal, and several Sisters of the community came to greet those they knew from former days. Again we had a good night's rest, some in "Bethany", others in another building in the extensive grounds. Next morning we assembled for Mass in the Bethany chapel. The petitions which people had given us were put in a blue box which was placed on the altar for Mass every day and then left at the Grotto.

Today, Sunday 26th, saw us en route for Lourdes. We were very well cared for materially and spiritually during the whole journey. Brother Peter from Andover, with the help of Sister Patricia Wragg, saw to our material needs, providing us with hot cups of tea or coffee made on the coach, as well as with sweets and biscuits.

Father Ellwood saw to our spiritual needs, saying Rosaries with us and providing us with lots of printed matter: hymns, prayers, beautiful and helpful reading material. Every need had been foreseen and a lot of thoughtful preparation had obviously been done over the last year, especially by Bernard Glenholme. To relieve the boredom of the long distances travelled we were shown videos of the Life and Times of Father de Montfort, one of Sister Briege McKenna and her work, and one of Lourdes, all very much appreciated.

We arrived at Lourdes in the late afternoon and had time to unpack and install ourselves for the next three days. The weather was not very good, except for one day, the main day of the Pilgrimage, 28th April, Father de Montfort's feast day. So, instead of processing past the Grotto, for the Opening Ceremony on Monday 27 April, the ceremony was held in St Pius X Basilica at 2.00.p.m. Over 8,000 Montfort followers, Bishops, Priests, Sisters, Brothers, Associates and Friends prayed and sang in his honour. We had all been issued with a geranium-red silk scarf with "Montfort 50" printed at each end, so the whole town of Lourdes was full of Montfortians identifiable by the red scarf.

At Lourdes we were left free either to follow the arranged programme or to do as we liked. On Tuesday 28 April Mass was celebrated in St Pius X Basilica at 9.30 a.m. Mother General came to our hotel to see us at coffee time, and also Father Scragg, an English Montfort Father, who is Bursar General in Rome.

In the afternoon we took part in the Blessed Sacrament Procession and the blessing of the sick. After supper we attended the torchlight procession.

On Wednesday afternoon 29 April some pilgrims went by our coach to Gavarni up in the mountains. Others attended a Marian Celebration in the St Pius X Basilica. The weather was very wet.

For some of our party this was their first visit to Lourdes, and I do hope they were not disappointed. For others, because of their age, this was probably their last visit.

We left Lourdes early on Thursday 30 April for Paris, and Father Ellwood and Fr.Flynn celebrated Mass for us en route by the wayside. In France the lay-bys are very much more extensive than in England with picnic areas, tables and benches, shade by lovely trees. We were very private hearing Mass. It made me think of how Father de Montfort must have lived.

We arrived just outside Paris early in the evening at the Ibis Hotel. What joy to find a lovely bedroom, bath, writing ledge, television, large sofa that would have made a spare bed, and lovely sunshine. This made a really happy ending as we knew that the next night we would be home.

Friday 1 May. We were all up bright and early and ready for off but a slight hitch held us back for about half an hour. The coach was blocked by a car and couldn't get out of the carpark. No one in the hotel knew who owned the car! Nothing for it but patience.

In France 1 May is a bank holiday. The roads were absolutely deserted and the whole of Paris lay open to us. We had a lovely one-hour tour of Paris. It could not have been arranged better for us, and then on to Calais.

We had a wayside Mass again today, feast of St Joseph the Worker. The crossing was good and we arrived at Dover ready to say goodbye to the coach and Norman, who were going straight on to Liverpool. We were supposed to take a smaller coach to Romsey and Andover. Another hitch! the supplementary coach was too small, only large enough for the Andover pilgrims. About 12 of us for Romsey were without transport. Quick thinking and acting on the part of Bernard (our courier) and taxis were available.

Everyone arrived home safe and sound, tired and grateful.

THANK YOU EVERYONE CONCERNED FOR A MEMORABLE MONTFORTIAN INTERNATIONAL PILGRIMAGE.