PPC in Lourdes.... what is all about ?

At the end of the month of September 2018 a French legionary from Mater Dei was sent to Lourdes.

What happened ? How PPC in Lourdes are organized ?
Herei is a full report.

What is a PPC ? 

PPC stands for Peregrinatio Pro Christo. It is basically a Legion mission. During a PPC a Legionary involves himself to do a full time Legion work for a week or two. Usually he/she is going abroad and work on behalf of a parish. During the PPC he/she will do the Legion's work such as : home visitation, personal contact work on the streets and in other public meeting places of people, conversion work, presenting the Catholic faith especially to non-Catholics and of course the distribution of the Miraculous Medal with a good explanation of it. They all worked in the closest harmony with the local Parish Priest and his parish.

For a week or two the Legionary becomes a real missionary. 

However in Lourdes a PPC is no done in the "classic" way. In Lourdes the Legionary is totally involves within the activities of the Sanctuary and works on his behalf. 

So why Lourdes ? 

A little brief history to start with.

In 1858, 160 years ago, in the cold winter of February, a young teenager named Bernadette proclaimed to see "a beautiful lady" in a grotto at Massabielle, near Lourdes a small town in the Hautes Pyrennées department, Southern France. According to Bernadette, this lady appeared to her 18 times.

At the beginning doubtful, the population of Lourdes, the parish priest and Bernadette's family started to believe her. More and more people followed the young child each time she was going to see "la dame" at the grotto.

During the apparitions, "the lady" showed Bernadette a spring ("la source") hidden in the grotto and asked her to wash herself with its water. At first Bernadette could not find the spring and went straight to the river Gave to "wash herself'" with the water. But the Lady indicated her the proper location of the spring. So Bernadette digged the ground of the grotto. After a while some water started to flow a little. Without waiting more longer Bernadette "washed" herself with a mixture of water and soil.... a SPA mask so to speak as her face was covered in mud...!  When the spring started to flow more properly some followers followed Bernadette's way. From this water, some sick people were totally and immediately healed from their disease Today we count more than 7500 unexplained cures and 70 officially recognized miraculous healing. Since then, Lourdes is well known to host thousand of sick people each year in the hope of their sickness or disability to be miraculously cured.  

Toward the end of the apparitions "the lady" revealed herself to Bernadette. She is "the Immaculate Conception", the Mother of Jesus, the Mother of God. She asked for a chapel to be built and people to come in procession.The Church recognized the authenticity of the apparitions in January 1862, 4 years after the first apparition.

Lourdes in 1897 (only two years after the invention of the cinematography). Pictures taken by the Lumières brothers. (C) Library of Congress

The Sanctuary welcome each year more than 7 millions visitors from all over the world. After Paris, Lourdes counts the most number of hotels in France. The Lourdes airport welcomes more than 400 000 passengers per year. The railway station receives more than 600 000 passengers a year, this station is also especially equipped to welcome disabled travelers.

Tarbes/Lourdes Airport.

Lourdes is also an unique place where sick and disabled people are served, looked after and treated as V.I.Ps. In one word : Loved.

The Legion in Lourdes

Frank Duff arrived in Lourdes in 1934 with the first Irish Pilgrimage, 15 years after the creation of the Legion of Mary in Dublin.

Cross given by the Irish Pilgrims situated at the end of the Way of the Cross

He asked Cardinal Gerlier, Bishop of Tarbes and Lourdes, the authorization to set up a Legion of Mary group in Lourdes. The response from the bishop was "Of course, you are at home here", which means than the reputation of the Legion of Mary already crossed the sea despite the fact that the Legion started in France in 1940, 6 years later and during the Occupation! It took some years though before "La permanence" (the Permanent opened house) actually opens its door.

Today the Legion of Mary owns this house.

It is the nearest "hotel"or guesthouse  from the Sanctuary, only meters away from the main entrance.The house has around 14 rooms, individual cell type. It contains a garden, a reception, an office, a small library, a large kitchen and a large dining room. No, there is no SPA or swimming pool !
It is situated just beside the "Musée de Sainte Bernadette" (Sainte Bernadette Museum), a small museum which belongs to the sanctuary.
The house is open for visitors mornings and afternoons. Those who want to stay for few days must be Legionaries and be involved in all  the activities linked to the Legion in Lourdes.

While Lourdes is in France, Lourdes is not really a French territory as such. Every nationalities are welcome here.This year, 2018, the house welcomed 60 legionaries, among them only 6 French. So everything is translated within the house (how to use the boiler, where are the cutlery, etc...). Lourdes is the host town of the catholic - means Universal Church. And while in Lourdes you will hear many different languages !

The house has a collection of  brother Frank Duff's "Handbooks" written in different languages, including Irish '"gaélique".

The reception also offers and sales books and leaflets in 6 different languages, French, Spanish, English, German, Italian and Portuguese, about Our Lady and the Legion of Mary.

Statue of Saint Joseph in the reception hall. 

What does a Legionary do in Lourdes ? 

To answer this question the best way is to show you a typical day.

7am : Mass. (for French speaking legionaries. This is the first mass of the Sanctuary)

8am : Breakfast

9am : Legion Meeting (daily normally).

10am - 1145am : Work. ("Permanence" duty or Lourdes evangelisation in the nearby street)

12 noon - 2pm : Lunch

2pm - 5pm : Work (Been a guide in the Sanctuary, for example. Visiting camping...)

Two legionaries working for the Sanctuary as Guide.

This year the Rector of the Sanctuary asked the Legion for us to work as guide within the Sanctuary. A guide (called "un pilote" - a pilot) is assigned to a particular location in the Sanctuary and welcome and guide pilgrims in need of information, such as where are the pools, time for the next procession, time of mass, etc... The pilot also makes sure pilgrims follows the rules : no calls using mobile phones, no smoking, no eating, silence when closed to the Grotto, no dogs, etc... When we wear this yellow jacket we are part of the Sanctuary staff: A very interesting work indeed as working for the sanctuary is working for Our Lady.

We meet people who came here for the first time, sometimes relapse or non Catholics in search of a miraculous cure.Our mission then was trying to explain than miracles could happen only with prayers and faith. 

We were deeply moved by those people looking for the "last resort". In today's world where the medicine science seems to be so accurate and in progress, Thanks God, still an awful lot of diseases are incurable. And Lourdes is the "last resort", the ultimate place to be to hope for full healing. 

But before we are assigned we go through a proper induction, visiting most places.. even the General Manager office ! As Lourdes welcomes lots of foreign visitors, we are free indeed to practice many languages, especially Italian...   

5pm : Carrying the Legio Mariae banner for the Day  Procession (usually Eucharistic procession or Blessed Sacrament indoor).

Legio Mariae Banner always first as it is indicated in the protocol! (Underground procession in the Saint Pius X basilica)

Eucharist Procession outside

7pm : Dinner

9pm : Carrying the Vexillum during the Torchlight Procession.

Torchlight Procession is a major moment, one of the most important and spectacular in Lourdes Every pilgrims carry a little candle and we pray 5 mysteries of the rosary in different languages. It is a very emotional moment as we all become ONE, the Militant Church, gathered and singing in one tone the "Ave Maria of Lourdes". The Legion participates in ALL those processions during the season. Torchlight processions are "la crème de la créme" of  Lourdes. No pilgrim shall miss it. It was a request from Our Lady and processions exist since the very beginning of the apparitions.

At the end of the march, the Vexillum is taken apart from the crowd and placed on the steps of the basilica Our Lady of the Rosary in an allocated location.beside the statue of Our Lady, facing thousand of pilgrims. No other groups or pilgrimages has such a privilege. This privilege belongs ONLY to Legion of Mary and happens at every procession. Indeed Lourdes is the dear home of the Legion ! 

Vexillum is posted on the steps of the Basilica, facing the crowd

Depending of the number of legionaries present works and duties can be quite intense. The less number, the more duties are assigned as meals are also to be prepared among other works such as processions...

Sunday is a day off with no meeting or work...

It is time to relax and spend more time in front of the Grotto for personal prayers.

Or light some candles 

Or do a "funiculaire" (funicular) ride to the 1000 meters "Pic du Jers" and enjoy the beautiful Lourdes environment and Pyrenees scenery...

To Finish

Some pictures taken from the Musée Sainte Bernadette.

First mention of the apparitions in the local newspaper.

Sainte Bernadette's catechism. Bernadette spoke only her local dialect language, could not write or read.   We can imagine how difficult it was for her to learn from this book !

Intact Veil taken from her confin. 

Statue of Sainte Bernadette just near the Legion Permanence

What's Next ?

The Permanence is usually open 6 months a year (Lourdes seasonal period) from May to October. You must first contact the Legion de Marie in France : secretariat.legion.de.marie@gmail.com.

Price for accommodation is around €20 a day. Cost of food is shared between all present.

Travelling from Dublin became easier and cheaper as Ryanair, at last, will provide from June 2019 regular flights from Dublin direct to Lourdes for a price starting at €100 return.  

Alternatively you can also flight to Carcassonne for a cheaper price and then take the train to Toulouse and then Lourdes. Prices including train will be similar. 

The Legion in Lourdes has a little website in French with more infos and pictures. Some articles are written in English. 

And of course you can be connected to Lourdes and the Grotto 24/7 via their YouTube channel

Conclusion

As you find out Lourdes is the Legion of Mary's home. Treated with respect and love, the Legion is not only welcome but is part of the Sanctuary. How it could be otherwise as Frank Duff dedicated his entire work to Our Lady. Lourdes is the oasis so many Catholics are trying to reach. Our Lady is a refuge, the refuge of sinners. Lourdes managed to build an extraordinary place where all Catholics or non or relapsed Catholics are welcomed indeed. Miracles happen all the time in Lourdes. Of course body healing miracles but also spiritual miracles. Our Lady is omnipresent at the Grotto, absolutely no doubt about this. 

Lourdes belongs to Our Lady and is Her Home. No wonder why the presence of the Legion is so important and shall be. 

Every Legionary is at home in Lourdes.

God Bless you all

Our Lady of Lourdes, Pray for us

Sainte Bernadette, Pray for us !

Long time no see !

First of all... my apologies.

I did not update this blog in a loooong time. Most of our news are now published in our Facebook page which you can access without being a member of Facebook.

Mater Dei is still very much active. While some legionaries had left this praesidium after the conference, Fr Agnelus moved to England for example, Luigi moved to Dublin,.. we still have 10 active members. .

So our activities as Legionnaires keep going. 

Most recently we organised a procession in Wexford town in honor our Lady of Fatima on the 101 anniversary of the Miracle of the Sun. A Gran' Premiere for Wexford which did not see such religious event on Main Street in years. For the occasion, our eldest member organised yellow jackets with "Legion of Mary" written on it.. in just couple of days. Fr Michael Doyle, our new Spiritual director, leaded the whole rosary (15 mysteries) all through. Despite rain and grey weather, no miracle of the sun that day !, we gathered around 50 people, from 5 years to.... older !

Once again, we thank the Franciscan Friary to help us to host this event.

Some of us went on PPC. Two legionaries went to the UK and one came back to his own country... in  Lourdes. Regarding this last, a full report will be published on this blog.

We participated also to the Rosary on the Coast of Ireland (and beyond) the Sunday 7th of October. Fair play to one legionary who took in charge the devotion to our Lady that day near the Tourist Office in town.

During the sad abortion referendum, most legionaries were involved in the NO campaign. Despite a great campaign, the victory of the Yes sounded like a great defeat for the partisans of God given life No more than today, souls need directions. This is the "raison d'être" of the Legion of Mary. .

Many other events occurred. Among them, two legionaries decided to go in the street of Wexford and stand not far from the Pubs on a Saturday night.... Distributing Miraculous Medals to the lads going to drink and dance ! And it worked ! Most young lads were happy to receive it and at no moment our two legionaries faced aggressivity or hostility.

This is it for today. For instant and more recent updates please go to our Facebook page.

Many, many blessings in Our Lord Jesus and Mary.

Live Broadcast from Lourdes. 24/7

Welcome

Welcome to the official blog of the Praesidium of the Legion of Mary in Wexford Town.

Meetings occurs every Monday @ 7pm sharp on the ground floor of the Dun Mhuire Theater, South Main Street in Wexford.

Everyone is welcome to attend a meeting, and, if God's will, to join the Legion of Mary.

"The object of the Legion of Mary is the glory of God through the holiness of its members developed by prayer and active co-operation in Mary’s and the Church’s work. The unit of the Legion of Mary is called a praesidium, which holds a weekly meeting, where prayer is intermingled with reports and discussion. Persons who wish to join the Legion must apply for membership in a Praesidium. The Legion sees as its priority the spiritual and social welfare of each individual. The members participate in the life of the parish through visitation of families, the sick, both in their homes and in hospitals and through collaboration in every apostolic and missionary undertaking sponsored by the parish. Every legionary is required to carry out a weekly apostolic work in the spirit of faith and in union with Mary."

This blog will present the activities of the Legion in Wexford and articles of religious interest.
You can also check out our Facebook Page.

We hope you will enjoy this visit, and will be able to join Our Lady's Army.

Many Blessings, in Jesus & Mary

The Legion.

Young Legionaries, hard at work or hardly working?...

Howdy, Greetings and Salutations....but most of all a hearty Ave Maria! from the Wexford Praesidium of Legion of Mary on this fine Saturday 9th September. Your local legionaries (not to be confused with legionnaire's disease, we don't have that, please God we don't anyway) have been busy at work preparing for our youthful event for youthful people.

Now, it's the moment we have all been waiting for.... our long awaited "short promotional film" is finally ready to be released into the world! If you don't know anything about the event that is taking place, please take a look at our *Brand* *New* *Promotional* *Video* to find out a little more. Go ahead, it's only 60 seconds long, we'll still be here waiting for you when you are finished watching it :-)

Now! Did you enjoy that? Please go ahead and share it on your "social media" if you wish. What an age we live in! Gee Whizzikers Batman!

Here's a little more information about our event.

This is Catholic event, taking place in Ballyvaloo retreat centre, Blackwater, beautiful Co. Wexford by the beach, on the 28th October. This event is for *any* and *all* young people who like us, are intrigued by the concept of “letting light shine out of darkness”, which of course is our theme. It's taken from 2Corinthians in the good book. Quite thought provoking don't you think? We all go through periods of darkness, that's a universal fact of being human, right?

Are you a kinda-sorta Catholic or a Christian who is confused or unconvinced or unimpressed by the legalities of the Church? Come anyway. In fact we especially want you to come. Everyone has something to offer and we can learn from each other. I can certainly say for myself - the writer - that am often extremely confused and I make so many mistakes and don't know right from wrong, and I don't just mean typos on this blog. Seriously!

What we do believe here is that we don't have to be bound by the darkness or the confusion that we all can find ourselves in. We don't have to carry our mistakes like a millstone around the neck. Jesus Christ is our LIGHT! and Mary, his mother is our mother too, and she will take us by the hand and guide us to him; if we choose to hold on tight to our Mama. Have I got your interest? Need to find out more? Then come to our event! There's going to be prayer, there's going to be fun, there's going to be fellowship.... (and we hope that you, dear reader, will be there too).

Here are some photos of the gang putting all the preparations in place for the feast that is ahead (that is, our ultra special wonderful fantastic interesting and did I mention oh-so-humble little event).

There will very soon, please God, be new blog update on our progress. We are flat out sourcing amazing speakers, we are really into music here and have some incredible tunes we are practicing up as a part of our music ministry. In the last fortnight we have been suuuuuper busy making our promotional short film. I can reveal that the next blog entry will focus on the making of this film; hands up who wants to see a picture of Fr. Agnellus sporting a boom pole?

So if you want to read more come back next week and read about our progress, Same bat-day! Same bat-time! Same bat-blog! … or for those of you who are not fans of the original cheesy 1960's Batman with Adam West, come back next week and read a bit more about our adventures here at the Legion of Mary.

Yours,

Carla Maria

Farewell to Father Ciprian.

The Legion of Mary -  Mater Dei, Wexford - had learnt the departure from Wexford of Father Ciprian Budau, OFM. Since 2011, Father Ciprian was the guardian of Saint Francis Friary in Wexford. During those 6 years, under his guardianship, the friary provided spiritual needs for the population of Wexford such as daily masses or confession. Many legionaries attend mass at the friary and some of them are members of the Third Order of Saint Francis. 

On many occasions, Father Ciprian had demonstrated his friendship for the Legion and he never said no to our requests....We are happy to know that Father Ciprian had became the Superior of the Order of the Friars Minors Conventual of Great Britain & Ireland, the "Greyfriars". We congratulate him for this "promotion" and we assure him of our prayers. May God help him in his new mission, under the holy guidance of Saint Francis, Saint Clare & Mary Immaculate.