There are so many impressions from my first visit to Lourdes. Each day brought new and marvellous experiences, which stay with me now, a month after my return.

Having arrived safely, the first thing most of us did was to walk to the Grotto. The Basilica bell chimed 6 and Fr Lambert, one of our priest pilgrims, said the Angelus for us before we all went quietly to add our prayers to those of the many pilgrims who were already at the site. After the hustle and bustle of the day the peace of this place left me with an impression that I will treasure always. No matter how many times I visited the Grotto during my stay I found this place peaceful and was moved by the many pilgrims that found this a quiet retreat in the midst of thousands of others. It was here that little Bernadette Soubirous saw Our Lady, it indeed a very special place.

The Shrine authorities were generous in their hospitality to our Anglican group. They offered the Chapel of St Anne, situated at the entrance of the Upper Basilica, for our use. We left the door to the chapel open and it was good to find that others joined us during the Mass, probably attracted by the English voice. Whatever the reason, it was good to share our prayers and petitions with these fellow pilgrims.

Our Lady said to Bernadette: “Tell the Priests and people to come here in procession” and we did, thousands of us. The Rosary procession each evening, in which perhaps 10,000 people participate, all with candles and singing Ave Maria, is an experience that even now I can hardly comprehend. This number includes the sick in special chairs and the organisation is smooth. Even wet weather does not deter the people - the rain might douse the candles but it does not dampen the spirits.

We had been warned that if we wanted a seat for Wednesday’s International Mass then we had to be seated early, even by 8am for 9.30am. There must have been 25,000 present at this Mass, presided over by the Cardinal Archbishop of Florence and the international aspect made it a truly wonderful experience. In such a large auditorium, the TV screens helped everyone to see and enable them to take part in the service, even if one did not understand the language.

Later we had our own Mass at Bartres, the village in which Bernadette was fostered as a baby, and later returned to help her foster mother with her own children and farm. A large party from Ireland was already in the village when we arrived, but we were able to squeeze into the lovely village church and venerate the relic of St. Bernadette before going to the Pastourelle. As it was a warm day all the windows and doors were open and our Mass was said to a background of Paddy McGinty’s Goat being sung enthusiastically by some Irish pilgrims at a local cafe. We returned via the Lac de Lourdes for a cup of tea. Although it was teatime, I think most of us opted for coffee. It tastes so much better in France.

The Way of the Cross is a very special devotion in Lourdes. The set of Stations in the meadow, near the place where Bernadette experienced the final apparition, is not the famous set with carved life-sized figures, but it was a gentler walk more suitable for those with reduced mobility. It was a beautiful day and several parties were praying as we walked the Stations. We were accompanied by some of those who had joined our morning Mass, including a Polish gentleman who told us afterwards that his choir from home had been privileged to travel to Rome and sing for the Pope. He then offered to it sing for us and we gladly accepted. A beautiful song.

One of the memories of this trip was the sight of Fr. James being stopped in the street and the hotel, usually by little Italians mommas, who asked him to bless medals and rosaries, which they had bought to take back home. Conveniently, he had a little bottle of Lourdes holy water in his pocket. And we asked him to do the same for us. It was difficult to find a suitable time, so on our final morning, when all the bags were packed and waiting in the lobby, he blessed our cases - gifts, dirty washing and all!!

Sadly our coach left promptly, but we had not quite finished the pilgrimage because we made a stop at Betharram, an ancient shrine of Our Lady not far from Lourdes. Here, in 1825, a young priest Fr Michel Garicöits, was sent as chaplain. He gathered together the missionary Congregation of the Sacred Heart. He was also a great encourager of Bernadette Soubirous. St. Michel Garicöits was canonized 1947. We were greeted and guided by an elderly French Brother, who spoke remarkably good English for someone who had not spoken a word of the language for 40 years. He apologised for his Irish brogue.

We lit candles and said our Prayers. I went for a walk outside and found the set of Johannine Stations of the Cross set in tiny Chapels winding up the mountain. When I reached number three, I collapsed in front of the chapel, onto both knees; it is long time since I have been able to do that. A final blessing.

I am left with memories of the peace and prayerfulness of the Grotto, the joy of walking in the candlelit procession, with thousands of other likeminded folk and our sharing the beautiful daily Masses.