The current issue of Lourdes Magazine arrived today. The main theme of the issue is that of the Eucharistic presence of Jesus: "Jesus: Eucharist at the centre of our lives" proclaims the front cover. The two prompts for this choice of theme are the International Eucharistic Congress held in Quebec in June and the French National Pilgrimage to Lourdes taking place in August (this pilgrimage is entrusted in Lourdes' jubilee year with the Jubliee mission concerning the Eucharist).
One article is entitled "Bernadette's longing for the Eucharist" and explains how her return from Bartres to Lourdes just before the apparitions began was motivated by Bernadette's wish to complete the catechism lessons so that she could receive Holy Communion for the first time, something that was going to be barred to her if she stayed in Bartres.
Another article looks briefly at the three Eucharistic Congress held in Lourdes itself - those of 1899, 1914 (just before the outbreak of World War I, and just one week before France mobilised its troops for war) and 1981 (when Pope John Paul II was prevented from attending the Congress by the assassination attempt of 13th May that year).
A third article describes the Eucharistic procession as it now takes place each afternoon of the pilgrimage season. A fourth article celebrates the 50th anniversary this year of the starting of Eucharistic Adoration in the shrine, Adoration which now takes place in the Tent of Adoration through the pilgrimage season.
One article is entitled "Bernadette's longing for the Eucharist" and explains how her return from Bartres to Lourdes just before the apparitions began was motivated by Bernadette's wish to complete the catechism lessons so that she could receive Holy Communion for the first time, something that was going to be barred to her if she stayed in Bartres.
Another article looks briefly at the three Eucharistic Congress held in Lourdes itself - those of 1899, 1914 (just before the outbreak of World War I, and just one week before France mobilised its troops for war) and 1981 (when Pope John Paul II was prevented from attending the Congress by the assassination attempt of 13th May that year).
A third article describes the Eucharistic procession as it now takes place each afternoon of the pilgrimage season. A fourth article celebrates the 50th anniversary this year of the starting of Eucharistic Adoration in the shrine, Adoration which now takes place in the Tent of Adoration through the pilgrimage season.
Amongst the news items is a report on the inauguration of a house to welcome pilgrims coming to Lourdes from the Arab world. The House "Beth Maryam - Star of the East" is the inspiration of a Lebanese Maronite priest. Mgr Labaky has given his life to working with orphans in the Lebanon, a country seriously affected by both internal and external conflict over the years; he is the founder of a spiritual movement in his country - "Lo Tedhal - Do not fear". The article describes his commitment to the children of the Lebanon as follows:
Life had to go on. The islands of peace which the hearts of the children, their homes and schools represented had to be preserved.
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