8/8/2014
After more than 6 hours of train ride, we arrived at Lourdes to a bright and hot afternoon at about 3 pm.
I was told it rained for the past days.
After checking into hotel which is near the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, we wasted no time to go out for our exploration of the most famous Marian shrine.
The Sanctuary is an area surrounding the site of Mary's Apparition to St. Bernadette in February 11, 1858. It consists of Grotto (the actual Apparition cave), Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, Basilica of St. Pius X (under-ground), many chapels, Lourdes drinking water dispensing and bathing facilities, medical center and devotional facilities.
It is a world-wide Catholic pilgrimage destination.
In french, Lourdes is pronounced as Lu De, exactly like in Mandarin 露德。
It was our first time to Lourdes, knowing nothing much of where is what and what is where. After entering the sanctuary, we followed the crowd which led us to the Grotto, where Mary appeared to Bernadette took place.
The Grotto is duplicated and can be found in Catholic parishes throughout the world.
We recited Rosary ... that was what Bernadette did when she first saw Mary.
Later, we joined in the Eucharistic procession which was led by 2 bishops and many clergy. To our surprise, we saw a few members of Legion of Mary were also in the procession.
Procession ended with a Benediction at the underground Basilica of St. Pius X.
It was about 6:30 pm when dark clouds gathered. Heavy rain was imminent.
Crowd was dispersing fast, the sky looked menacing.
We did the same as the crowd --- run for home (hotel) .
The heavy rain came shortly. We were not able to attend the schduled Rosary procession at 9:00 pm.
On the second day, we continued our pilgrimage to the shrine.
We attended an Italian Mass celebrated by a group of Italian priests at the Grotto.
After Rosary, we ventured out of the sanctuary to nearby shopping area. Shops after shops are selling religious articles, statues, Rosary ......
We went out of the beaten track, wondering into local market. We bought some fruits.
Attended our first English Sunset Mass at 6:15 pm.
Later in the evening, after dinner, we went back to the Sanctuary to participate in the Marian procession starts at 9:00 pm.
It was a beautiful candle lights procession with hymns and Rosary.
The night ended at about 10:15 pm.
(More pics in Facebook- Lourdes 1)
(More pics in Facebook- Lourdes 2)
8/8/2014
经过六个多小时，火车终于抵达目的地 - 露德。
天气晴朗，非常的炎热。听说早几天，常常下雨。
进住了酒店，我们马上的前往我们向往已久的圣母玛利亚显现圣地，它离开酒店大约十分钟步行而已。
露德圣母显现圣地（Sanctuary）占地非常的广，里面有三间大圣殿（Basilica）-- 第一间是圣母无染原罪圣殿，第二间的在它前方的玫瑰圣殿，过后因为朝圣者增加，就多建了一间地下的圣碧岳二世大殿。在大殿旁边，就是圣母显现原址山洞。其他还有圣水饮用及沐浴设备，好多间的小圣堂，医疗所等。
1858年2月11日，圣母在这里的山洞显现给一位小姑娘，名为伯尔纳德。圣母总共显现了十八次给伯尔纳德。
圣母显现的景观，被复制到全世界每个教堂里。
露德圣母显现圣地是世界著名的天主教徒朝圣地。
我们进入了朝圣地，第一件事情就是诵念玫瑰经，这也是伯尔纳德第一次见到圣母时即时所做的事。
过后，我们参加了为病人、伤残者所举行的圣体降福游戏。我很惊奇的发现圣母军也有代表参加这个游行，所以就加入了队伍。
这个有两位主教及多位神父领导的游行队伍，进入了地下的圣碧岳十世圣殿，并降福了全体在场者。
傍晚六点半，突然间天空黑云满布，看来大雨即将到来，所有的人都争先恐后的离开，我们也照样的往酒店回程跑。很快的大雨就倾盆而下。
我们不能参加晚上的烛光玫瑰经游行了。
第二天一早，我们来到了圣母山洞，参加了一台由多位来自意大利的神父主持的弥撒。
稍后，念完玫瑰经，我们就往外观光。我们自己慢慢的在市区溜达，到本地人的一个菜市场，买了一些本地水果 - 桃及蜜瓜。
傍晚六时十五份，参加了第一次英文弥撒。
晚餐后，我们回到朝圣地，参加晚上九时举行的圣母玫瑰经烛光游行。
玫瑰经与歌咏，伴着大约五千人的游行，非常的庄严与壮观。
游行在十点十五份左右结束。
（照片Facebook 露德第 1 天）
（照片Facebook 露德第 2 天）
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