Lourdes #2

 

When I find myself in times of trouble,
Mother Mary comes to me ...

We went down for breakfast just before 8am. 

Cheese is a must.

We have to try all 3.

Breakfast is self-served.

All our favourites. 

The round one is goat cheese.

The yogurt has a different texture from back home. Not as smooth. 

Ooh. This is how you should eat butter with croissant.

The butter is so creamy good.

Savour every bite.

Baguette keeps Bryan happy.

Enjoy every bite.

We could drink this coffee everyday. 

Breakfast won't be complete without a croissant.

2nd round of coffee. 

Truly blasco!

We cleared our table after breakfast so there are no evidence as to how many mini-pieces of butter and cheese spread we took. 

On the way to the grotto, this cute flower-decorated car caught my eye.

I snapped a photo. I'm checking at the time of blogging that the time recorded was 09.21.
That's 12.

Decode angel number : 21

Number plate : 41 HNS 3

Angel number : 44

HNS : Super Nice Heels?

Bryan was not kidding when he said he didn't want to get any souvenirs. 

See the long line to touch the rocks at the grotto.

We are making our way there.

The air was icy cool and crisp.

Apparently, there was an English mass here celebrated at 8am. We were not aware of the 8am mass. We were planning to attend the 11am mass at the indoor chapel.

We walked about at leisure.

Holy water taps ahead.

Today,  we brought ...

... a bottle.

Drink this water, 

says Our Lady.

We shall over-drink whilst we are here.

At the baths.

Pilgrims waiting for their turn at the baths.

How tranquil. Across the river ...

... from the baths.

There are several pilgrim groups. See red scarfs.

Another group is gathered ...

... at the field.

This is where we light our candles.

Very large candles.

Some are taller than Bryan. 

We plan to light 2 candles a day. 

That will be 10 candles ...

... when we leave here ...

... on Tuesday.

For thanksgiving ...

... and special intentions :

1. Mom Anne Lai
2. Bryan & Lynn
3. Craig & Jessie
4. Chris & Diana
5. Kyle & Carol
6. Kayden & Justine
7. Megan, Dylan & Ryan
8. Dad Peter Lai (RIP),
Tracy (RIP) & Daniel (RIP)
9. Mama Ho Yok Lan (RIP),
Aunty Iris (RIP) & Gerard (RIP)
10. Charlie Kirk (RIP)
& David Kodish (RIP)

We remember Daniel lighting his candle

(Sept 2009).

Another pilgrim group over here.

These candle hubs were not here in 2009.

After our candle activity,

we just chilled for a bit.

Talking photos here ...

... and there.

We spotted some priests at the grotto and hurried over. 

German mass is going on. 

We observed for a few minutes ... 

... before leaving to take some selfies.

While we were posing ...

... at stone background ...

... and tree backdrop ...

... we suddenly spotted a tiny white feather gently floating before our eyes. I tried to take a photo of it just drifting down ...

... but it was too late.

We were heading to the chapel when we passed this bureau.

Declarations of cures. Ooooh. 

Chapel of St Come and St Damien.

No cushion for kneeling.

Ah. Good idea. Can kneel here. 

We were early.

Bryan took a photo of the window beside us. Nice weather outside.

Opening hymn was number 376. I made a mental calculation. First sign :

Ah, 16.

16 years exactly since Daniel was in Lourdes.

Second sign:

Here I am,  Lord.

The words on your Flower Garden 21 blog.
(See photo at the bottom).

Sign 3:

Daniel

In small fonts at the top of the hymn. Only saw his name at the time of blogging.

My favourite offertory song. I was happily singing loudly. Lol. 

Left Priest from Lourdes, middle from Kerala ...

... and right from South Carolina.

Communion hymn : 634

Ah, 13.

Angel number 4.

Closing hymn : 597

Oooh. Wahhh!

Angel number : 21

The home Priest mentioned that today is the feast day of St Come and St Damien (chapel is named after these twin brothers). Ahh. No wonder the chapel was filled up to the brim. Feast Day.

After mass,  we saw some banners outside the chapel.

How to classify a miracle?

Miraculous cures

We took a walk up the hill to visit the basilica.

The sun is out.

The crown of the Immaculate Conception.

Back at the hotel, I asked the owner,  Peter,  if we could buy coffee (from the hotel). He brought us to the coffee machine and said we could help ourselves to coffee.

It's FREE, Peter said.

FREE?

(See photo at the bottom.)

We bought cheese and ham for tea time.

Look at the size of it.

Mann ...

Justine should see this.

Looks like a big, holy communion.

The body of Chri ... cheese.

Hmm. Amen.

Don't forget the ham. 

Roll it up and snack with cheese and French coffee.

We went back to the grotto ...

... at 3pm to attend the rosary.

After the rosary session, we walked towards the bath.

Bitter-sweet memories.

Bryan commented that the wheels are different now.

Sept 2009.
One of Daniel's better days. 

One of his not-so-good days.

Dinner was delicious.

Veal with eggs. The veal was so juicy and fresh.

Sept 2009

Justine and Daniel at the Basilica.

Here I am,  Lord.

Flower Garden ... reminded me of the flower car this morning. 

Daniel In his FREE t-shirt with Diana in Lourdes (Sept 2009).