Prayers of Spanish -speaking pilgrims in Lourdes
On this February 20, 2025, an unusual sweetness enveloped the hundred pilgrims collected in an arc of a circle in front of the Massabielle cave. Between the feast of the first appearances of February 11 and the opening of Lent, the sanctuary lives in slow motion. The evening breeze carries the spring scents, and makes the flames of the candles dance one by one for the 8:30 am, recited in the languages of all the nationalities present.
“We particularly pray for Pope Francis, who faces a serious illness,” announces the priest at opening. An intention that has been inaugurating all the celebrations of Lourdes since the beginning of the week. “The instruction was given to the 35 chaplains to proceed in this way during the duration of his hospitalization,” explains the rector of the sanctuary, Father Michel Daubanes. It is important to signify this concern for the sick pope. Millions of people join us every day from a distance, through social networks and televisions around the world. ”
At the Standard du Sanctuaire, seated under a photo of Sainte Bernadette, Giusy receives many requests all day to bring to the cave of prayer intentions for the Pope. “These are mainly Italians who call,” said this employee with long Venetian blond hair, from the country of Petrarch, with the long hair.
The proximity of François to humanity as it is: this is what enthusiasts the large Barroillet family, from Latin America. “As Chileans, normally, we should not appreciate an Argentinian,” jokes the father, Sergio. He, his wife Patricia and their 7 children have undertaken a one -month marial pilgrimage across Europe, from Fátima to Medjugorje via Lourdes.
“We are very sad to know that it is undoubtedly little time to live in François,” says Patricia. It is a pope who showed God’s merciful face and brought many people from the Church closer. I saw him among young people around us, and in friends who have felt welcomed ”.
“A word that marked me was when he asked Catholics not to look at society from their balcony but to descend to live among people, abounds the eldest girl,” Patricia Junior “. “And with a smile! Complete Javier. For me, a Christian is not really a Christian if he is not happy.”
Perrine is a 42 -year -old Lourdaise, married to a Spanish. “This pope touches me more than the others by its simplicity, its sobriety, its proximity to people,” she also confides at the exit of the rosary pronounced in Spanish, accompanied by her husband and their baby as 5 months.
Affected by cancer, a damn pink tied around the head, it feels concerned by the explosion of diseases of environmental origin. And grateful for encyclical Laudato if ‘, published in 2015. “It develops the notion of integral ecology, which links respect for others and nature. I work at the city of Saint Pierre (Home Center for Secours Catholique in Lourdes Editor’s note) And I can see how this text moves our practices: discovery outings in the Pyrenees National Park, more local and less meat food ”.
Miguel, he appreciates this “less theological and more human” Saint-Father than other pontiffs. “In the Church, you can have a lot of theory and catechesis, and lose sight of it. In the Hispanic world, the pastoral figure of François speaks to the faithful.
