Letter for the Friends of Lourdes
Tuesday, April 9, 2024
Dear Friends of Lourdes,
At the Grotto of Massabielle, early on the morning of Thursday 18th February 1858, Bernadette was deeply moved by the words of the Beautiful Lady who asked her, “Would you do me the honour of coming here for fifteen days?”
The invitation to come to Lourdes is beautiful. It is huge. It means coming “here” in procession, that is, on pilgrimage. It's like in the Gospel where Jesus invites those who want to follow Him to come to Him: “Come and see” (Jn.1:39).
Nevertheless, dear Friends of Lourdes, I know that many of you live a long way away from the Grotto, and that it's not easy for you to travel there or back.
We might naively imagine that the grace of Lourdes remains only when we are in Lourdes. Such thinking is false. Grace is given to us, not only to dwell within us, but above all to be shared with us and through us.
Dear Friends of Lourdes, I acknowledge your loyalty and thank you for supporting the Sanctuary in its mission. It is thanks to your generosity, that we have the means to spread the Virgin Mary's invitation, to come “here” in procession, to the whole world. It is thanks to you, that we are able to say: “Come in procession.”