Go to the spring, drink of it and wash yourself there - Words that St Bernadette heard at the Grotto at Lourdes. Those words continue to draw the faithful closer to God through Mary our Lady. I joined the knights and dames of the Order of Malta and 10,000 others to rededicate ourselves to God and to give praise for His amazing graces worked through the intercession of our Lady. The guests of honour at the Lourdes Experience were our brother and sister Maladies - the elderly, the sick, the disabled. It was an incredibly moving experience, there was a palpable sense of the miraculous in the air. The heart skips a beat as ten thousand voices raise up to sing. Baby Francis joined us for the whole 5 hours. Jocelyn and I were worried that he would be fidgety but he was a real gem, silently observing and praying along. His Grace Archbishop William said to Francis in jest at lunch on Monday that he was thankful Francis didnt co-preach with him :D But what touched me most was a really simple gesture that Francis did at the end of the Lourdes Experience. Seated right next to us was a row of our brother and sister Maladies. L sat in his wheelchair beside Francis. In his 60s, L had cerebral palsy but the brightest smile. He and Francis seemed to make a connection almost from the start. Right at the end, Francis was holding on to a candle that we carried during the procession. On his own accord, he reached out his hand to give L the candle as a parting gift. The smile that connected the two of them melted my heart... Thank you to the Order of Malta for organising the 2014 Lourdes Experience, may you all be richly blessed! [Photo credit: Henry Seah]
Posted on: Wed, 17 Dec 2014 03:47:22 +0000
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