Religious Experiences: Lourdes

Religious Experiences

After my recent trip to Lourdes with the BCYS in the summer of 2014, I have been interested in religious experiences and the ways in which they can affect, and subsequently change an individual’s life forever. I have learnt recently that any religious experience is completely personal and different from anyone else’s and I never thought that I myself would receive one. Considering it was my first time travelling to Lourdes and even having any involvement with the BCYS, I didn’t really know what to expect. However, one thing I can say I did expect was to be suddenly overwhelmed and astonished on my arrival (many people had said to me how Lourdes had changed their lives), however that did not happen. Although Lourdes is one of the most iconic holy places in the world and although I was taken aback by how truly beautiful it was, it didn’t feel particularly ‘holy’ at the beginning of the trip. However, I discovered that the power of Lourdes does not actually hit you right away as it wasn’t until the Monday evening during confession at Reconciliation, that I truly appreciated being in such a beautiful and holy place. Firstly, we walked a rather long way in the rain to discover that we were locked out of the room that we needed for our Reconciliation session. It was then that we decided, whilst waiting, to pray a decade of the rosary together as a group. As we all huddled under umbrellas together, trying not to get soaked in the rain, I looked around at the people that surrounded me; the people who didn’t care that they were getting soaked and chilly, that didn’t care that they were completely exposed to the rain that was now pounding down along with hailstones, but just blocked everything out around them and concentrated on praying. I also realised that I didn’t know some of these people at all, (apart from my group and various friends I had made on the trip already) however, we all shared one thing that brought us all together: Our Faith. This was the first thing that really inspired me at Lourdes, however it didn’t stop there. At first, I didn’t feel that I really wanted to go to Confession, as it was optional. However, I felt that I needed to make the most of my time at Lourdes whilst I was still there, and went to confession with Father Dominick. I didn’t believe my fellow group members, who had been to Lourdes before, when they said that Reconciliation was an emotional night in which everybody seemed to cry. However, I proved myself wrong. As soon as I sat down and was asked what it was I wanted to confess, I burst into tears as something just seemed to hit me that I felt so overwhelmed and astonished. I had not envisaged what I believe was a religious experience to be like this at all. It wasn’t what I wanted to confess that made me cry so much, it was just the realisation that I was in such a special place surrounded by the most inspirational people I had ever met. It was the constant reminder of how fortunate I was, and how unfortunate others were that made me extremely upset, especially when I felt that I did not always deserve everything I received. I was surprised that I had been constantly reminded in school and at Mass how fortunate I was and how others around me were suffering greatly, but there was something different about this moment that made it real. In Lourdes, you are constantly re-evaluating your life in comparison with the various people around you. Every day, our group walked past mothers holding sick children, the elderly getting pushed in wheelchairs by volunteers, and more directly, Father Bob’s group who needed constant care and assistance from the year 13’s. Confession and Reconciliation for me was a religious experience in itself, and has taught me to sometimes take a step back from the business of my life and really appreciate the things that I have and to never take them for granted. After my emotional reconciliation, we walked back through the Domain together to light candles as a group. Once again, I noticed the beauty of Lourdes, but in a way that really affected me and once again reduced me and my friends to tears. It was virtually pitch black, apart from the Upper Basilica, The Grotto and the Candles shining light around the Domain, all lit up beautifully. It was also the silence in the Domain that really allowed me to reflect and appreciate being in such an amazing place and getting to experience these feelings. As we lit a candle as a group, and prayed for a group leader that was taken ill, I also realised that I was surrounded by people who would constantly be there for me when I needed them, and who would keep me in their prayers even if I experienced the smallest of problems. Meeting such an amazing group of people really inspired me to reflect on my own faith and my own relationship with God and this has stayed with me even on my departure from Lourdes. I believe that this experience is something that will stay with me throughout my entire life and has really strengthened my faith in so many ways. You do not have to be the most devoted Catholic to go to Lourdes, as I certainly wasn’t and still aren’t, however, Lourdes will affect different people in different ways. I am happy to say that I believe I made the most of my time at Lourdes and am extremely grateful for the important life lessons it taught me and the strong impact that the journey had on my faith.

K.F