“Invite Mary into your home” (Matthew 1:20) are the words spoken by an angel to Joseph when he learned that Mary was with child. Similarly Jesus spoke to John from the cross when he entrusted Mary to him as his mother. “From that hour, the disciple took her (Mary) into his home.” (John 19:27)
I think for all the members of our pilgrimage group, the final stop at Lourdes where Our Lady appeared to St. Bernadette was the peak experience of the entire pilgrimage. Here Mary revealed herself as the Immaculate Conception. For me, it was a deeply personal moment to visit the place that has such profound significance for my mother, our family, and each of our vocations. It was here that my mother as a young woman entrusted all of her children to Our Lady.
In addition to Lourdes one other stop at Paray-le-Monial provided the twin book end for our pilgrimage. It was in the Chapel of Apparitions (above) that our Lord in the 17th century through a series of mystical apparitions appeared to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque and revealed the devotion to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. It was through these prayerful experiences of our Lord that he revealed to St. Margaret Mary “the marvels of His Love and the inexplicable secrets of His Sacred Heart” and asked her to spread this devotion to all people.
The journey of every baptized Christian flows in and out of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The simplest summary of this mystery was spoken to me years ago by St. Mother Theresa of Calcutta when she said: “Be only and all for Jesus, through Mary.” This pilgrimage was an invitation to once again live this simple formula of the Christian life and of my episcopal vocation.
Each day our group was able to visit the tomb or important location of a particular saint. We daily prayed a rosary together and celebrated Mass (once again, the ‘twin bookends’ of our pilgrimage). We learned much of the life and ministry of each of these saints. While we have much to learn from the saints, and many graces to receive through their intercessions, we are not meant to live the lives that were theirs. Rather, each of us is called to experience the call of the Lord in our own life, to receive the grace of our unique vocation, and to grow in holiness to the best of our ability.
As we drove around the French country side, I was struck by its beauty. The vast amount of our trip was spent in the more rural parts of France, from its rolling hills, rivers and streams, pastures, cattle, sheep, agriculture crops to the stone built barns and homes was captivatingly beautiful. I felt very much at home, as it all reminded me of southern Indiana (except for the Pyrenees Mountains!)
I am convinced nature played a significant role in the spiritual life of many of the saints. I know it does for me! Certainly for St. John Vianney (Ars) and St. Therese of Lisieux, nature surrounded them. One other thought that came to mind was how these two saints in particular spent the vast majority of their lives in such a small part of God’s creation. For example, St. Therese’s home, parish church and the Carmelite Monastery she entered are all not much more than a mile for each other! And yet, their lives made a universal impact. There is a lesson in that for all of us!
As my earlier blog at the beginning of this Pilgrimage reflected on the Sacred Heart of Jesus, so too now as I wrap up thoughts do I offer a few more reflections on the heart. Pope Francis reflected in his final encyclical on the Sacred Heart, Dilexit Nos, that “our fulfillment as human beings is found in love.” (#23)
Our pilgrimage was a miniature reflection on how the love of Christ transformed the lives of the saints we visited. It was a time for each of us to reflect upon Christ and his great love for us, not just ‘in general’ but as a profoundly personal love.
I invite each of you to take some time to reflect upon Christ and especially to name specifically your own experience of his personal love for you. When and where have you had this encounter with Christ? What was that experience?
For the Blessed Mother it began with her Immaculate Conception, but became uniquely personal with the Annunciation and then the Birth of Jesus, and all that transpired in her life with Christ. For St. Paul it began with his unique encounter with the Risen Christ and all that Christ revealed to him and then how he allowed the power of Christ to work in and through him the rest of his apostolic life.
It is important to be able to name and describe our personal experience of Christ’s love. It is even more important to allow the love of Christ to transform us. The devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is all about living one’s life more and more for Christ. The Immaculate Heart of Mary is all about leading us more deeply into the life of her Son.
In Chartres, after Mass, we met the local Bishop, Philippe Christory. When speaking of the beauty of the church, he gave a beautiful reflection as to what it truly represents. As beautiful as the building of the Church may be, its real treasure lies inside, the life of the Risen Christ! He compared it to the box a man gives his bride-to-be. The box itself is beautiful, but what it contains is exquisite! And even the beauty of the ring pales in comparison to what it represents, the love of the beloved.
This is our Church and our faith. St. Paul summed up well the Christian life and journey when he said:
“But we hold this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us.” (2 Corinthians 4:7) My friends, our lives are fragile; imperfect. But each one contains the invaluable treasure of Christ and the power of his cross and resurrection which are always accompanied by his incomparable love.
Let us live the life that God has chosen for us to the best of our ability by the grace God will provide. And, let us live it in faith, hope and love.
Peace!
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