Lourdes Diary: Seven Days at the Grotto of Massabieille

Father Martin went to Lourdes to serve as chaplain for a group of pilgrims sponsored by the Order of Malta, an international Catholic association devoted to charitable works. During his stay, Martin kept an illuminating diary of his trip. His touching and humorous account of the busy and gratifying days that he spent at Lourdes is a vivid description of a place filled with a powerful spiritual presence. “Lourdes is now one of those places where I have met God in a special way, “Martin writes. Through this diary, we are able to share in his journey and feel the presence of God that he encountered there.In the diary on Wednesday, April 28th, Martin wrote: “The Order of Malta has asked is to arrive at Baltimore/Washington International Airport three hours before our 7:00pm charter flight direct to Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrenees International Airport which is located a few kilometers from Lourdes. We are greeted by a sea of people, mostly middle-aged or elderly, some wearing silver medals dangling from red ribbons denoting the number of pilgrimages made. Many in the group seem to know one another. Rob makes a beeline for George, Brian and me and welcomes us to the group.Scattered in the crowd are men and women seated in wheelchairs or looking painfully thin. Couples cradle children obviously suffering from illness or birth defects. These are, as I already know from Ruth Harris’ book, the madades, or the sick, the main reason for the journey. Their trips have been paid for by the order—a wonderful act of charity. Everyone, including the malades, boards the plane cheerfully.The flight begins unlike any I’ve been on, with a bishop leading us in the rosary. The in-flight movie, not surprisingly, is the Song of Bernadette, which I have not seen for many years. It corresponds reasonably well to the original story of the apparitions at Lourdes, though it doesn’t show enough of Bernadette’s natural toughness—which to me makes her a more convincing saint than the film’s soften version.”

Jesuit James Martin is also the author/editor of books such as  Jesus: A Pilgrimage , The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything: A Spirituality for Real Life , My Life with the Saints , Becoming Who You Are: Insights on the True Self from Thomas Merton and Other Saints , Together on Retreat (Enhanced Edition): Meeting Jesus in Prayer , etc.He tells the story of how the local Abbé Peyramale told Bernadette [after she told him of the vision], "'Ask her for a name... And, as an added test, ask her to make the grotto's wild rosebush flower.' During the next apparition, Bernadette did just that, but the vision merely smiled. No rosebushes bloomed and no name was given... ON march 25, the rosebush was still not in bloom, but a name was given. According to Bernadette, the vision clasped her hands and said... 'I am the Immaculate Conception.'" (Pg. 18)He notes, "We land after a long flight... Seemingly all the hotels and shops at Lourdes have religious names, and it is startling to see a shop selling tacky souvenirs that is named after Charles de Foucauld, who lived in extreme poverty in the desert, or, worse, a knickknack shop under a sign proclaiming L'Immaculeé Conception." (Pg. 27-28)He says, "After Mass in the ornate basilica, someone suggests a visit to the grotto, which I had assumed was far-off. But the church is built directly atop the rocky outcropping, and when i go around the corner and pass huge racks of tall white candies for sale, I am shocked to come upon it... as I approach I am drawn to the obvious peace of the place... Hundreds of people are gathered before the space... Many stand in line to walk through the grotto. Joining them, I run my hand over the smooth wet rock and am astonished to spy the spring uncovered by Bernadette. I am filled with wonder at being here." (Pg. 29-30)Two days later, he recalls, "I am waiting for a turn at the baths. On long wooden benches under a stone portico sit the 'malades,' along with their companions and other pilgrims. Flanking me are two men from our pilgrimage with the Order of Malta... Carved in the stone wall are the Virgin's words to Bernadette: 'Go drink of the waters and bathe yourself there.' Every few minutes an 'Ave Maria' is sung in another language. After an hour, the three of us are called into a small room surrounded by blue and white striped curtains. Once inside we strip to our undershorts and wait patiently on plastic chairs... Inside a small chamber three men stand around a sunken stone bath... One volunteer points to a wooden peg, and after I hang my undershorts, he quickly wraps a cold wet towel around my waist. ('I think they kept it in the freezer for us!' says one of the malades at lunch.) Another volunteer carefully guides me to the lip of the bath and asks me to pray for the healing I need...Two of them gently take my arms and lead me down the steps into the bath, where the water was cold, but no colder than a swimming pool... Here, praying in this dimly lit room, in this spring water, held by two kind people, I feel entirely separated from the rest of my life. It's a kind of mini-retreat... And then---whoosh---they stand me up and point to a small statue of Mary, whose feet I kiss. Then I'm handed a quick drink of water from a pitcher... After the bath, i rush over to the Grotto of Massabielle, where our group is celebrating Mass. And, yes, the water dries from my skin immediately." (Pg. 41-43)This book is an excellent, yet brief, account of a modern pilgrimage to the site. For those who can't/won't travel there themselves, the book does an excellent job of capturing the "atmosphere."

Having never traveled before to Lourdes, I was interested to see what lay ahead. Well written (As usual for Father James Martin) this book gave me the overview I wanted so that I could arrive mentally prepared for my spiritual encounter. My husband also read the book while we were on the TGV into Lourdes. It is fast reading for a fast train ride.

I loved this book because it was a moving yet unsentimental account of Fr. Martin's visits to Lourdes (mostly his first visit). I highly reccomend this brief book to those who want to learn a little bit more about how the Lord enters history through his Blessed Virgin Mother Mary - even in recent history.

My sister loves this little book

I have read several of his books and find him both enjoyable and easy to read. He is especially good at communicating what is most difficult in terms of spirituality. He never forgets to see the lighter side as well which makes it more personal on his part.

I have enjoyed all of his books and this is a nice, short read. Very entertaining.

I enjoyed this book very much. Fr. Martin is an excellent writer. He not only shares factual information and descriptions in Lourdes Diary, he also shares his spiritual insights on his experience in Lourdes. In reading this book my love for Mary and desire to one day go to Lourdes was deepened.

Fr Jim has this great ability to bring places to life.He has a wonderful gift of communication.He conveys the thoughts of first time pilgrims well and always with his great sense of humour.Obviously he is an extremely intelligent Jesuit but he is able to teach and explain so much of Catholicism in a simplistic encouraging manner....another delightful book.

Very enjoyable and brought back very special memories of my one and only time in Lourdes. Love Rev James Martin books which are written in language easy to understand.