April 25, 2011: Easter Monday
You can ask any of my friends—this post includes my most favorite story to tell from my travels abroad.
Easter Monday. We hadn’t done homework all weekend long, and finals were approaching. We really shouldn’t procrastinate any more. But, it was the Triduum—we had a legitimate excuse. Our time in Gaming was coming to a close—we had seen the Toy Store, the Spar, the Kebab stand, Book Mountain, etc. But there was one more Gaming-site that we had not been to yet: Schleierfall. The Waterfall. Nor had we taken scenic pictures in our dirndles. We had one full day left before classes started up again, and we were used to not getting much done on weekends anyway… So, Julie, Mary, and I decided to spend our morning doing those things.
It was overcast in the morning—not good for pictures, so we hopped on bikes and searched for the Schleierfall. It took us a little while to find it, but we eventually did find it. We took pictures with it in the background. We saw salamanders and a dead rat (I poked the salamander with a stick. Note: no salamanders were harmed during this visit to the Schleierfall). And I decided that I would brave the slippery rocks and frigid waters to touch the waterfall. So, I removed my footwear, and recalling the stories of those who had gone before and slipped on the rocks, I walked very cautiously, always holding on to something, so that I would not have to bike back with dripping frozen clothes. And I made it successfully to the Schleierfall and back. My feet were pretty cold after that! On our way back to the Kartause, we stopped to get some gelato. Then we went to Mass and lunch, and planned to study after lunch.
But, during lunch, we discovered that it was sunny. We could not just leave the sun out there shinning without taking pictures in our dirndles! So, yet again, we put off doing homework—just for a little while so we can take pictures! We went back to our rooms, changed into our dirndles and fixed our hair, grabbed our cameras, and climbed the back hill. We had such a glorious time! Pictures with little wildflower bouquets. Pictures with the Kartause in the background. Pictures of us spinning and running. Pictures of Julie and Mary. Pictures of Sylvi and Julie. Pictures of Mary and Sylvi. But no pictures with the three of us. That needed to be rectified.
Fortunately, we noticed a hill at the back of the hill. We could just climb up it, then set the timer on one of our cameras, and run down and take the picture of all three of us! All of us climbed to see what the view looked like—it was pretty steep—I had to hold on to the grass to climb up. Then, we discovered that the longest timer any of us had was 10 seconds. In a moment of sheer excitement, I quickly volunteer to try it first—I had practice with moving fast and keeping balance from skating, what was any different here? So I set the timer on my camera to see if it possible to get down the hill in 10 seconds. I begin to run down the hill. Then I start to jump-run in order to help me keep my balance and stay upright. Then I start to lose my balance and tumble. Down the hill. Head over heels. Think Princess Bride moment.
Poor Julie and Mary were pretty frightened. They called down and asked if I was ok, and I called back up—“Nobody else try that!” My hand was a bit stiff-feeling, so I do the fist-check, and my left pinkie can’t unbend on its own. Problem. I know I need to go back and at least show it to an RD. And I would probably need to go to a doctor or the hospital. But I was not going anywhere outside the Kartause in my dirndle. No way. I explained this to Julie, and we went back to our room and changed. I had to scotch tape my fingers together in order to change myself. At this point, I think it’s dislocated because it’s swollen, and I’ve only ever sprained my ankle before, so I don’t really know what happened to my finger. We called the RD, and she was in the next town over, and wouldn’t be back to later on, but she recommended that we see Jenny Cassidy—Prof. Cassidy’s wife. So much for studying later in the day!
We walked across the street to the Cassidy’s and discover that the Asci family was also there. I explain what happened to the professors and their wives (a much shorter version than above!), and Dr. Asci examined my finger. He said to me, “it’s definitely not broken… I don’t think it’s dislocated, but if want I can try to put it back in place… it looks like it might be tendon damage—they’ll have to do surgery for that…” Very comforting—not! Well, I decided to have him not put my finger back into place because it probably wasn’t dislocated—and if it was tendon damage, wouldn’t that make it worse possibly? Julie and I decided that we should probably go back and study now, but Prof. Cassidy asked us, “would you ladies like some tea and a scone before you go” in his Scottish accent. So, we stay and sip tea and eat a scone while we listen to our professors and their wives talk about theological things—like what having a good Lent means, while I ice my finger.
Finally after an hour or two, Katie the RD arrived and took me to the hospital in Scheibbs (Julie also came along). She registered me in German and they take me into the x-ray room. When we spoke to the doctor, he said, “it’s definitely broken. We’re going to put you in a cast.” And put me in a cast they did! I had a huge metal split that went from my finger pretty much down to my elbow, and then they covered it with a plaster cast. I was to be in it for 4-6 weeks. We had lots of fun trying to prank Claire with my cast when she returned from Ireland. When finals time came around, I was extremely glad that I did not break my right finger!
May 12, 2012
A year ago: The Easter Triduum
April 21, 2011: Holy Thursday in Bratislava, Slovakia: Now with pictures!
April 22, 2011: Good Friday in Gaming
Today, we just stayed in Gaming and celebrated Good Friday here. We hiked the Stations of the Cross hill/mountain behind the Kartause family townhouses. Then we participated in the reading of the Last Words of Christ before the service.
The service was my favorite part of the Triduum. At the end of the service, they carried a statue of Christ taken down from the cross on a pall and we all put lilies on top of His body.
April 23, 2011: Holy Saturday
Today, Julie and I climbed Book Mountain! It was so great to see Gaming from a bird’s eye view! The first half of the climbing was pretty easy (except for the bikers that we almost ran into that were riding down the mountain on the tight, narrow paths). However, once we reached the second half, walking sticks were an absolute necessity as well as stopping every 10 steps in order to catch our breath! When we got to the top, we found the book and signed it before coming back down.
It think today for lunch, (unless it was the previous week, which now if I recall correctly, it was a previous week) we made lunch in the Tea Kitchen. It was either yesterday or today that we cleaned Claire’s part of the room and organized her closet and found her missing wallet!
That afternoon, I had music practice for the Easter Vigil mass at the Kartause. It was a beautiful mass! Prof. Cassidy chanted the Exultet, and during the Gloria the Kartause kids rang bells that they brought with them (an Austrian tradition).
April 24, 2011: Easter Sunday
This morning, I woke up at 5:30 am, ate some scrambled eggs, and got on the bus/train with Emily for Vienna. We arrived in time to get a good seat by the orchestra at Mass at St. Stephen’s Cathedral. It was a beautiful Mass in German with the orchestra and choir (they used Handel’s Mass in E flat). The celebrant was Archbishop-Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, which was a pleasant surprise, and he even made a comment in English at the beginning. (If I remember correctly, it was something about the English-German language barrier.) After Mass, we had to quickly get to our train. We missed the metro to the station by 30 seconds, but it came by very frequently, so it wasn’t a problem. We ran to our train to Amstetten, and we almost got on the wrong one. We had a layover in Göstling/Ybbs (our bus driver was talking to us in Germna, which was fun—and our train conductor previously thought we were on the wrong train!) and we went to a café and a gorgeous church and prayed a Rosary outside, accompanied by 2 exotic sounding red-tailed gray parrots.
April 22, 2011: Good Friday in Gaming
Today, we just stayed in Gaming and celebrated Good Friday here. We hiked the Stations of the Cross hill/mountain behind the Kartause family townhouses. Then we participated in the reading of the Last Words of Christ before the service.
The service was my favorite part of the Triduum. At the end of the service, they carried a statue of Christ taken down from the cross on a pall and we all put lilies on top of His body.
April 23, 2011: Holy Saturday
Today, Julie and I climbed Book Mountain! It was so great to see Gaming from a bird’s eye view! The first half of the climbing was pretty easy (except for the bikers that we almost ran into that were riding down the mountain on the tight, narrow paths). However, once we reached the second half, walking sticks were an absolute necessity as well as stopping every 10 steps in order to catch our breath! When we got to the top, we found the book and signed it before coming back down.
It think today for lunch, (unless it was the previous week, which now if I recall correctly, it was a previous week) we made lunch in the Tea Kitchen. It was either yesterday or today that we cleaned Claire’s part of the room and organized her closet and found her missing wallet!
That afternoon, I had music practice for the Easter Vigil mass at the Kartause. It was a beautiful mass! Prof. Cassidy chanted the Exultet, and during the Gloria the Kartause kids rang bells that they brought with them (an Austrian tradition).
April 24, 2011: Easter Sunday
This morning, I woke up at 5:30 am, ate some scrambled eggs, and got on the bus/train with Emily for Vienna. We arrived in time to get a good seat by the orchestra at Mass at St. Stephen’s Cathedral. It was a beautiful Mass in German with the orchestra and choir (they used Handel’s Mass in E flat). The celebrant was Archbishop-Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, which was a pleasant surprise, and he even made a comment in English at the beginning. (If I remember correctly, it was something about the English-German language barrier.) After Mass, we had to quickly get to our train. We missed the metro to the station by 30 seconds, but it came by very frequently, so it wasn’t a problem. We ran to our train to Amstetten, and we almost got on the wrong one. We had a layover in Göstling/Ybbs (our bus driver was talking to us in Germna, which was fun—and our train conductor previously thought we were on the wrong train!) and we went to a café and a gorgeous church and prayed a Rosary outside, accompanied by 2 exotic sounding red-tailed gray parrots.
May 11, 2012
A year ago: Lourdes Days 9-10
April 9, 2011
This morning we arrived in Nevers, France from our overnight train and (after asking for directions), saw the incorrupt body of Ste. Bernadette. Before that, however, in the replica Grotto just outside, we met up with the Italians we helped send out by train just yesterday!
Then we spent some prayer time with Ste. Bernadette as well as a trip to the gift store and tiny museum. Then we had Mass in French with African Francophone pilgrims. Their French was a little difficult to understand, but fortunately, they had missals for us.
Then we had Kebabs before we left which were just across the street from the train station. Then we had a layover in Dijon-Ville where we had Quality Burgers. We also had a layover in Lausanne, Switzerland and saw Lake Geneva on the train and talked with some Swiss people on the train. We also ran into the FUS group that had left Lourdes just that mourning. Fortunately, our couchette was only with Franciscan students this time, so we were able to get a bit more restful sleep and lock the door!
On the Sunday, April 10, 2011, our layover in Sheibbs was over an hour, so Julie and I did a Rosary and read some homework by the river/creek.
Then, we shortly arrived in Gaming.
This morning we arrived in Nevers, France from our overnight train and (after asking for directions), saw the incorrupt body of Ste. Bernadette. Before that, however, in the replica Grotto just outside, we met up with the Italians we helped send out by train just yesterday!
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| The replica Grotto in Nevers, France. |
Then we spent some prayer time with Ste. Bernadette as well as a trip to the gift store and tiny museum. Then we had Mass in French with African Francophone pilgrims. Their French was a little difficult to understand, but fortunately, they had missals for us.
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| Matt, me, and Regina with Ste. Bernadette. |
Then we had Kebabs before we left which were just across the street from the train station. Then we had a layover in Dijon-Ville where we had Quality Burgers. We also had a layover in Lausanne, Switzerland and saw Lake Geneva on the train and talked with some Swiss people on the train. We also ran into the FUS group that had left Lourdes just that mourning. Fortunately, our couchette was only with Franciscan students this time, so we were able to get a bit more restful sleep and lock the door!
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| Entering into Switzerland. The Swiss police came onto the train to check our passports-- and they did a very thorough search! |
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| The beautiful Swiss countryside. |
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| Julie, Jeanine, and me proving our stepping foot in Switzerland during our 45 minute layover in Lausanne, where they do not accept Euros. |
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| Lake Geneva at sunset-- through the window, hence why you can see my camera... |
On the Sunday, April 10, 2011, our layover in Sheibbs was over an hour, so Julie and I did a Rosary and read some homework by the river/creek.
Then, we shortly arrived in Gaming.
A year ago: Lourdes Day 8
April 8, 2011
This morning Jeanine and I sorted sugar and jelly after we washed the dishes at the Acceuil.
After our feedback session, we had English Mass in the Grotto. Then we did Stations as a group on the big hill.
After doing lunch dishes, Jeanine and I said goodbye to Ignatia and maria, our Spanish friends, as well as Angelique and Viviane (our responsables). Then we ate lunch and spent some time in the John Paul II Acceuil chapel before going to help the men in St. Joseph's at the train station. We helped wheel wheelchairs and walk people to the trains and then we just walked up and down the platform telling all the Italians "Ciao" and trying to talk to them. That whole experience reminded me of the soldiers-nurses experiences from war tales.
Then we went to the Guadalupe House, which North American Lourdes Volunteers owns before dinner and packing and the walk to the train station. I came with a bag on my back and on my shoulder. I left with a bag on my back, a bag on my shoulder, and a bag on my front! We were very loaded!
This morning Jeanine and I sorted sugar and jelly after we washed the dishes at the Acceuil.
After our feedback session, we had English Mass in the Grotto. Then we did Stations as a group on the big hill.
After doing lunch dishes, Jeanine and I said goodbye to Ignatia and maria, our Spanish friends, as well as Angelique and Viviane (our responsables). Then we ate lunch and spent some time in the John Paul II Acceuil chapel before going to help the men in St. Joseph's at the train station. We helped wheel wheelchairs and walk people to the trains and then we just walked up and down the platform telling all the Italians "Ciao" and trying to talk to them. That whole experience reminded me of the soldiers-nurses experiences from war tales.
Then we went to the Guadalupe House, which North American Lourdes Volunteers owns before dinner and packing and the walk to the train station. I came with a bag on my back and on my shoulder. I left with a bag on my back, a bag on my shoulder, and a bag on my front! We were very loaded!
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| Me and Julie at the Basilica |
A year ago: Lourdes Day 7
April 7, 2011
Today Jeanine and I had 10 minutes to eat a quick breakfast because we had service at 7:30am. We did most of the dishes on our own and then we wiped down the handrails and ledges.
Then we did the Stations of the Cross on the big hill which are golden colored and life size.
Then we met St. Bernadette's great-great-great nephew before we ate lunch and went back to serve in the Acceuil again. After lunch, we went back to the room to prepare for the procession.
At the Notre-Dame de Lourdes Hospitalite procession, Jeanine and I represented the Acceuil and help carry the banner. And-- we got to wear belts with our outfits. Usually only second stage and up volunteers get to wear a belt, so it was a big deal!
After the procession, we played a round of Pooh sticks before it was time to serve in the Acceuil. Tonight we had to say goodbye to Veronique.
Then we had pizza at an Italian restaurant. Then Regina and I sang during the Rosary procession again. As English speakers, we got to help lead the English Hail Marys (one person lead in one mic and the rest would stand around a second mic for the second half). When it was my turn, I was going right after the French, so as I stepped up to the mic, I said, "Je vous salut.... uhhhh.... Hail Mary...". Only I would do that!!! During that "uhhh", I actually was trying to remember how the prayer started in English! Because we learned the Hail Mary and Our Father in German while we were staying at the Kartause, we were also able to help the German speakers because they did not have a lot of people for the second half.
Today Jeanine and I had 10 minutes to eat a quick breakfast because we had service at 7:30am. We did most of the dishes on our own and then we wiped down the handrails and ledges.
Then we did the Stations of the Cross on the big hill which are golden colored and life size.
Then we met St. Bernadette's great-great-great nephew before we ate lunch and went back to serve in the Acceuil again. After lunch, we went back to the room to prepare for the procession.
At the Notre-Dame de Lourdes Hospitalite procession, Jeanine and I represented the Acceuil and help carry the banner. And-- we got to wear belts with our outfits. Usually only second stage and up volunteers get to wear a belt, so it was a big deal!
After the procession, we played a round of Pooh sticks before it was time to serve in the Acceuil. Tonight we had to say goodbye to Veronique.
Then we had pizza at an Italian restaurant. Then Regina and I sang during the Rosary procession again. As English speakers, we got to help lead the English Hail Marys (one person lead in one mic and the rest would stand around a second mic for the second half). When it was my turn, I was going right after the French, so as I stepped up to the mic, I said, "Je vous salut.... uhhhh.... Hail Mary...". Only I would do that!!! During that "uhhh", I actually was trying to remember how the prayer started in English! Because we learned the Hail Mary and Our Father in German while we were staying at the Kartause, we were also able to help the German speakers because they did not have a lot of people for the second half.
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| Jeanine and I helping with the banner-- notice our belts!! |
A year ago: Lourdes Day 6
April 6, 2011
This morning we were fortunate enough to be given the opportunity to serve in the baths. My Madame (the lady in charge of the individual piscine) was Dutch and spoke so many different languages. I was also able to go in the baths as well when our shift was finishing.
Then we went directly to the Aceuil to serve at the lunch shift before we ate our own lunch. Then we went to the bookstore to look around and then we hung out around the river and played Pooh Sticks (you throw your stick into the river on one side of the bridge and then run to the other side of the bridge to see whose stick got to the other side first) before French Rosary.
After Confessions, I met with Regina to go to the Eucharistic Procession. Sr. Carrie Ann now has an Italian fan club and they are calling her Sr. Clare!!
This morning we were fortunate enough to be given the opportunity to serve in the baths. My Madame (the lady in charge of the individual piscine) was Dutch and spoke so many different languages. I was also able to go in the baths as well when our shift was finishing.
Then we went directly to the Aceuil to serve at the lunch shift before we ate our own lunch. Then we went to the bookstore to look around and then we hung out around the river and played Pooh Sticks (you throw your stick into the river on one side of the bridge and then run to the other side of the bridge to see whose stick got to the other side first) before French Rosary.
After Confessions, I met with Regina to go to the Eucharistic Procession. Sr. Carrie Ann now has an Italian fan club and they are calling her Sr. Clare!!
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| Hanging out by the river in my nurse outfit! At one point, someone actually asked me if I was a nurse (in French, so fortunately, I remembered what an infermiere is!). The sign on the tree says that fishing is forbidden. I find it very amusing that the French word for fishing is the same for sinning. So, no sinning allowed!!!! |
May 10, 2012
A year ago: Lourdes Day 5
April 5, 2011
Today Jeanine and I served a bit for breakfast, cleaning dishes with our Spanish friends. Then we had a tour of the Sanctuaries for formation followed by group photos.
Then we served at lunch before we ate and then went to the adoration chapel. Then we learned how to move people using wheelchairs, stretchers, and transferring them from each kind of equipment. This was with Soeur Chantal who did the meeting in French, and translated by our formateur Michael.
Then Regina, Jeanine, and I hung out around the river until it was time to serve for dinner again. After that, we had dinner and shortly after we had Mass. But the sacristan didn't come, so we had Mass at the Maison des Chapelains. And there are a ton of Bishops here-- I don't think I've ever seen so many at once before!!!
Today Jeanine and I served a bit for breakfast, cleaning dishes with our Spanish friends. Then we had a tour of the Sanctuaries for formation followed by group photos.
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| Kimmie, Regina, Sr. Carrie Ann, George, Jeanine, and me |
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| Kimmie, Regina, Sr. Carrie Ann, Jeanine, and me |
Then Regina, Jeanine, and I hung out around the river until it was time to serve for dinner again. After that, we had dinner and shortly after we had Mass. But the sacristan didn't come, so we had Mass at the Maison des Chapelains. And there are a ton of Bishops here-- I don't think I've ever seen so many at once before!!!
A year ago: Lourdes Day 4
April 4, 2011
Today we had our first formation meeting with George from Malta and Michael from England. We learned about Ste. Bernadette and the theme this year: "Saying the Our Father with Ste. Bernadette." Then we went on a short tour of Lourdes to see her museum, birthplace, home, site of her old parish church, and hospital where she volunteered and received her First Communion.
Then the Acceuil women rushed off to serve, but they did not need us yet on second floor, so we ate lunch and looked at the Underground Basilica (which was modern and shaped like a boat) before we met up with the 3rd floor Acceuil and went back into town.
Then we said a French Rosary at the Grotto and had our meeting for the Acceuil with Noel, who only spoke French. So I was asked to interpret the entire 45 minute meeting for the Anglophones, and fortunately some of the French speakers were able to help me out in a couple places where I got stuck. It took a lot of discipline and it was really difficult towards the end, but we made it through and understood what they were saying!!
Then we had Mass in the crypt church again and then dinner followed by serving in the Acceuil. We washed dishes with Veronique, who speaks French and English, as well as two ladies from Spain (Ignatia and Maria) who only spoke Spanish.
Then on our way back, we ran into Regina who was going to choir rehearsal for the procession and I joined her. Also joining us in the Anglophone section was an Irish priest. It was neat seeing the Rosary procession from that point of view and leading it.
Today we had our first formation meeting with George from Malta and Michael from England. We learned about Ste. Bernadette and the theme this year: "Saying the Our Father with Ste. Bernadette." Then we went on a short tour of Lourdes to see her museum, birthplace, home, site of her old parish church, and hospital where she volunteered and received her First Communion.
Then the Acceuil women rushed off to serve, but they did not need us yet on second floor, so we ate lunch and looked at the Underground Basilica (which was modern and shaped like a boat) before we met up with the 3rd floor Acceuil and went back into town.
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| The underground Basilica |
Then we had Mass in the crypt church again and then dinner followed by serving in the Acceuil. We washed dishes with Veronique, who speaks French and English, as well as two ladies from Spain (Ignatia and Maria) who only spoke Spanish.
Then on our way back, we ran into Regina who was going to choir rehearsal for the procession and I joined her. Also joining us in the Anglophone section was an Irish priest. It was neat seeing the Rosary procession from that point of view and leading it.
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| Regina petting one of the Bishop's horses. We named them: the brown was is Philippe and this white one is Jean-Claude. |
A year ago: Lourdes Day 3
April 3, 2011
Today we began our day with a French breakfast of bread and jam before we headed for Mass at the side chapel of Ste. Anne's in the main chapel. Then we went on a very brief tour followed by some free time. Julie and I went shopping in the town in the souvenir shops.
Then we went to lunch and had our orientation meeting before we registered at our respective services. All of us in room 105 were give the honor of serving in the Acceuil Notre dame, which is where the sick pilgrims stay. The lady registering us (Maria-Luz) was from Spain, so fortunately Pam was there to help us translate. However, she had to register for the Piscinces, so Kimmie and I were left to translate for Regina, Jeanine, and Sr. Carrie Ann when we went to see where we would be working.
Jeanine and I will work on the St. Nicholas floor. Kimmie and I worked later that night after dinner to help with dishes. We were going to go to dinner, but it wasn't open yet, so went into town to shop a bit.
Then we looked at the gorgeous ground floor Basilica. After praying by the Grotto, we went to serve in the Acceuil, and it was great fun conversing and translating in French. Then we ate dinner and went to the International Rosary procession. Then we came back to the Maison and got our nurse outfits and got ready for bed.
Today we began our day with a French breakfast of bread and jam before we headed for Mass at the side chapel of Ste. Anne's in the main chapel. Then we went on a very brief tour followed by some free time. Julie and I went shopping in the town in the souvenir shops.
Then we went to lunch and had our orientation meeting before we registered at our respective services. All of us in room 105 were give the honor of serving in the Acceuil Notre dame, which is where the sick pilgrims stay. The lady registering us (Maria-Luz) was from Spain, so fortunately Pam was there to help us translate. However, she had to register for the Piscinces, so Kimmie and I were left to translate for Regina, Jeanine, and Sr. Carrie Ann when we went to see where we would be working.
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| Me, Regina, Katie, Jeanine, and Julie modeling with our North American Lourdes volunteer bags! |
Then we looked at the gorgeous ground floor Basilica. After praying by the Grotto, we went to serve in the Acceuil, and it was great fun conversing and translating in French. Then we ate dinner and went to the International Rosary procession. Then we came back to the Maison and got our nurse outfits and got ready for bed.
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| The main Basilica. Can you see the fireworks? Welcome to Catholic Disneyland! |
May 09, 2012
A year ago: Lourdes Day 2
April 2, 2011
Today we took our train to Lourdes and picked up/bought our reservations. On the train through the beautiful French countryside, we were discussing our philosophy paper.
When we got off the train we started to find our way, but there were no street names, so we stopped at a hotel to ask for directions (in French!), which was very helpful. At the Basilica, we asked for directions again and followed the road to the Maison St. Pierre et St. Paul where Pam from the North American Lourdes Volunteers met us. It is a gorgeous building that used to be a seminary.
After settling down, we went to Mass at the original shrine built at the request of Our Lady. Then we had a delicious dinner in the cafeteria and stopped at the Grotto on our way back, taking the path that Bernadette did. Then we got more settled in and did Evening Prayer and some reading for my Christian Spirituality class. I'm rooming with Regina, Jeanine, and Kimmie.
Today we took our train to Lourdes and picked up/bought our reservations. On the train through the beautiful French countryside, we were discussing our philosophy paper.
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| Bienvenue a Lourdes! |
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| The Basilica |
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| The Maison St. Pierre et St. Paul |
After settling down, we went to Mass at the original shrine built at the request of Our Lady. Then we had a delicious dinner in the cafeteria and stopped at the Grotto on our way back, taking the path that Bernadette did. Then we got more settled in and did Evening Prayer and some reading for my Christian Spirituality class. I'm rooming with Regina, Jeanine, and Kimmie.
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| The Grotto |
A year ago: Lourdes Day 1
France 10 day previous update
April 1, 2011
Last night we left Gaming right after our classes ended and headed for Paris (our stops included Salzburg and Munich). We (Regina, Katie, Julie, Jeanine, Marianne, and I) had tons of fun-- especially in the 6 person compartment--when we were playing games. Our overnight train was from Munich to Paris and 3 of us were separated, but it worked out. It's super nice when when you can lay down and sleep on two seats. We also ran into Helen and Matt. Fortunately we found Helen's Eurrail that she left on the train.
And so, we set off to explore Paris-- the one place I've always wanted to visit.
We began with Mass (in French!) at the Shrine of the Miraculous Medal (the bodies of Ste. Louise de Marillac and Ste. Catherine Laboure are there) and then walked down the street to see St. Vincent de Paul. When we walked in to this church, someone was playing the organ and we were able to go up right in front of his body by climbing the stairs behind the altar.
After praying there for a bit, we stopped in a epicerie and bought some delicious bread for lunch. Then we went to the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe for some pictures.
Then we went to Notre Dame at 3pm for the Veneration of the Crown of Thorns. The line was long to get in and to venerate. It started at 3pm and we weren't done until 4:40pm! But it was some good prayer time before we were able to venerate the Crown, which was in a class/plastic box/ holder.
Then we ran into Joe and Joey and went to a cafe and had crepes (mine was chocolate and coconut). (And they spoke to me in English when I spoke to them in French-- sad day!) Then we went to the Louvre and saw the Mona Lisa (and ran into Casey), Venus de Milo, and some French painting, some of which were very familiar to me from classes I've been in.
Then we made our way to Sacre Coeur to stay with the sisters-- and I was finally able to use my French to first find out where the entry was and to help interpret when we were checking in. They had beds for us and our roommates were all Franciscan women-- yay! We had our holy hour at 11pm which was in the main Basilica.
April 1, 2011
Last night we left Gaming right after our classes ended and headed for Paris (our stops included Salzburg and Munich). We (Regina, Katie, Julie, Jeanine, Marianne, and I) had tons of fun-- especially in the 6 person compartment--when we were playing games. Our overnight train was from Munich to Paris and 3 of us were separated, but it worked out. It's super nice when when you can lay down and sleep on two seats. We also ran into Helen and Matt. Fortunately we found Helen's Eurrail that she left on the train.
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| The house that I think Regina or Katie wanted to live in. |
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| Julie, Me, Katie, and Regina in our compartment. |
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| Playing "Honey I Love You" on the train... |
We began with Mass (in French!) at the Shrine of the Miraculous Medal (the bodies of Ste. Louise de Marillac and Ste. Catherine Laboure are there) and then walked down the street to see St. Vincent de Paul. When we walked in to this church, someone was playing the organ and we were able to go up right in front of his body by climbing the stairs behind the altar.
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| Shrine of the Miraculous Medal |
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| St. Vincent de Paul's. |
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| Does this one really need a caption? |
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| This is probably my favorite picture! It was April Fools' Day when we were in Paris, so I decided that it would be appropriate to participate in the French custom of putting fish on people's backs. It's a good thing that I know this innocent tourist! |
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| Me by the Eiffel Tower. If you look closely in the background, you'll see King Tut! |
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| Notre Dame de Paris! |
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| Me at the Louvre! |
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| Katie, Jeanine, and me taking a break in the Louvre-- finally!! |
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| Me and Casey in the Louvre! |
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| Me in front of the Sacre Coeur |
A year ago: Medjugorje
March 25, 2011
Last night we left for Medjugorje, Bosnia & Herzegovina. (At midnight we stopped for a passport check at the Slovenian border.) And at the Bosnian border, I think they gave the guard beer and cereal... but that's a side note... Prof. Cassidy and his almost 6 year old son Johannes came with us. And the roads were really winding.
When we arrived at the Castle (which is not like an ancient castle-- it's very new and is built on the model of St. Teresa of Avila's Interior Castle of the Soul), Nancy and Patrick and the Ukranian doctors greeted us with cheers and applause. She is so joyful and charitable and loving-- it is beautiful how much joy she has!
After we got our rooms (I was in the large dormitory with 30 other women-- all Franciscan students), we went to the parish church (St. James) and saw the statue of the Risen Christ. There is a miraculous flow of water coming out of His knee and it's the consistency of human tears (and it's also about the height Mary would have been at as she embraced Him on the cross). We were told of this phenomenon, but you don't realize it until you touch it.
Then I got to sing for the Mass at St. James (Solemnity of the Annunciation) and then we had lunch. Then we went to Cennocole, a men's rehab for drug/substance addiction and heard 2 men give their testimonies of what this place has done for them.
Then we climbed Apparition Hill where Our Lady appears as we prayed the Glorious Mysteries on the way up. At the top, we had some good prayer time by a statue of Our Lady.
Then we walked back to the church for evening services. JoBob and I didn't end up going there, but went to the Bookshop, Luminous Mystery mosaics, Stations by the Risen Christ statue, and then dinner before we had a holy hour. Markita and I walked back in the dark together. We were going to walk through the field, but just as we were about the walk through I decided that I couldn't walk through a pitch dark field without any light. So we started to turn back, but then we ran into some other Franciscan students who had lights, so we walked through with them.
March 26, 2011
Today, we ate breakfast and then hurried off to hear the visionary Vitka speak. She was always smiling! She also talked about in order to blossom, we need to water our flower with prayers or it will wither and die.
Then we went to Mass and a talk by Fr. Svet and he talked about the need to be adventerous-- risky. On the way back to the castle, Markita and I stop by some shops. The vendors were really nice and gave us free prayer cards and a piece of candy.For lunch, the men from Cennocole made us pizza and spaghetti.
Then we climbed Cross Mountain-- a real mountain. It has the same Stations of the Cross that we have on main campus.
Then we rushed off to get to the Sunday Vigil Mass, which was backed and we stood most of the time. After the holy hour, Nancy and Patrick let us pile in to their van to get a ride back to the Castle.
March 27, 2011
Today we had the time change and woke up very early for 6AM breakfast. While we ate, Patrick gave a beautiful testimony of how he went from money being his god and how sinful he was until his wife gave him the book of messages from Our Lady and he, and later his family, turned to the Lord.
We prayed morning prayer on the bus while we waited for people who forgot their passports. Then after stopping in Split, Croatia where we saw a Franciscan Church and Diocletian's former palace, we prayed a Rosary and told glory stories from Medjugorje, which was a great time to reflect on our experiences.
Last night we left for Medjugorje, Bosnia & Herzegovina. (At midnight we stopped for a passport check at the Slovenian border.) And at the Bosnian border, I think they gave the guard beer and cereal... but that's a side note... Prof. Cassidy and his almost 6 year old son Johannes came with us. And the roads were really winding.
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| Markita and me in front of the Castle. |
When we arrived at the Castle (which is not like an ancient castle-- it's very new and is built on the model of St. Teresa of Avila's Interior Castle of the Soul), Nancy and Patrick and the Ukranian doctors greeted us with cheers and applause. She is so joyful and charitable and loving-- it is beautiful how much joy she has!
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| Sheep in a vineyard!!! |
After we got our rooms (I was in the large dormitory with 30 other women-- all Franciscan students), we went to the parish church (St. James) and saw the statue of the Risen Christ. There is a miraculous flow of water coming out of His knee and it's the consistency of human tears (and it's also about the height Mary would have been at as she embraced Him on the cross). We were told of this phenomenon, but you don't realize it until you touch it.
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| The Risen Christ statue |
Then I got to sing for the Mass at St. James (Solemnity of the Annunciation) and then we had lunch. Then we went to Cennocole, a men's rehab for drug/substance addiction and heard 2 men give their testimonies of what this place has done for them.
Then we climbed Apparition Hill where Our Lady appears as we prayed the Glorious Mysteries on the way up. At the top, we had some good prayer time by a statue of Our Lady.
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| Statue of Our Lady outside the parish church |
Then we walked back to the church for evening services. JoBob and I didn't end up going there, but went to the Bookshop, Luminous Mystery mosaics, Stations by the Risen Christ statue, and then dinner before we had a holy hour. Markita and I walked back in the dark together. We were going to walk through the field, but just as we were about the walk through I decided that I couldn't walk through a pitch dark field without any light. So we started to turn back, but then we ran into some other Franciscan students who had lights, so we walked through with them.
March 26, 2011
Today, we ate breakfast and then hurried off to hear the visionary Vitka speak. She was always smiling! She also talked about in order to blossom, we need to water our flower with prayers or it will wither and die.
Then we went to Mass and a talk by Fr. Svet and he talked about the need to be adventerous-- risky. On the way back to the castle, Markita and I stop by some shops. The vendors were really nice and gave us free prayer cards and a piece of candy.For lunch, the men from Cennocole made us pizza and spaghetti.
Then we climbed Cross Mountain-- a real mountain. It has the same Stations of the Cross that we have on main campus.
Then we rushed off to get to the Sunday Vigil Mass, which was backed and we stood most of the time. After the holy hour, Nancy and Patrick let us pile in to their van to get a ride back to the Castle.
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| St. James, the parish church |
Today we had the time change and woke up very early for 6AM breakfast. While we ate, Patrick gave a beautiful testimony of how he went from money being his god and how sinful he was until his wife gave him the book of messages from Our Lady and he, and later his family, turned to the Lord.
We prayed morning prayer on the bus while we waited for people who forgot their passports. Then after stopping in Split, Croatia where we saw a Franciscan Church and Diocletian's former palace, we prayed a Rosary and told glory stories from Medjugorje, which was a great time to reflect on our experiences.
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| Markita and me next to the Adriatic Sea in Split, Croatia |
March 13, 2012
A year ago: Rome/Assisi Day 10
March 14, 2011
Today we had an early morning. We left the hostel to catch our train in Padua. This time we were a bit nervous on the train because... we couldn't find Jeff's Eurrail! We were all praying and trying to stay calm as we helped him go through his bags and sort through papers, until we finally found it in his Soprani's bag!
When we arrived in Padua, we hopped on the bus to St. Anthony's Basilica. Before a beautiful Italian Mass at 7:30am, they said morning prayer in Italian. Then we walked around the church for about an hour. I was able to touch St. Anthony's tomb and venerate it. In the reliquary, we saw his jaw, tongue, and voicebox.
There was also a gorgeous picture of St. Maximilian Kolbe with his dead body on the ground and his "resurrected"/pre-Auschwitz body above. Also, there was a Eucharistic chapel with 2 angels holding candles in the front.
We were also able to make a short visit to St. Matthew's which was just up the street aways. There were relics of Sts. Matthew and Matthias.Within 10 days, we saw relics of most of all the 12 Apostles and Paul and Matthias.
It appears as if I did not record anything from the trip back. Let me see if I can recall it.
We took the train to a certain place and then we switched to a double-decker bus. Emily and I sat in the front row of the top, so we had a fantastic view. And we walked about Lord of the Rings and how our travels relate to it-- especially as far as carrying around something extremely valuable and living on bread!
Today we had an early morning. We left the hostel to catch our train in Padua. This time we were a bit nervous on the train because... we couldn't find Jeff's Eurrail! We were all praying and trying to stay calm as we helped him go through his bags and sort through papers, until we finally found it in his Soprani's bag!
When we arrived in Padua, we hopped on the bus to St. Anthony's Basilica. Before a beautiful Italian Mass at 7:30am, they said morning prayer in Italian. Then we walked around the church for about an hour. I was able to touch St. Anthony's tomb and venerate it. In the reliquary, we saw his jaw, tongue, and voicebox.
There was also a gorgeous picture of St. Maximilian Kolbe with his dead body on the ground and his "resurrected"/pre-Auschwitz body above. Also, there was a Eucharistic chapel with 2 angels holding candles in the front.
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| St. Anthony's Basilica |
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| St. Matthew's |
We took the train to a certain place and then we switched to a double-decker bus. Emily and I sat in the front row of the top, so we had a fantastic view. And we walked about Lord of the Rings and how our travels relate to it-- especially as far as carrying around something extremely valuable and living on bread!
A year ago: Rome/Assisi Day 9
March 13, 2011
Today we saw all of what there was to see in Venice. We all tried to sleep in, but all of us got up before the alarm. So, we took our time to get ready before we made our way over to San Marco's Cathedral. It was beautiful-- covered with Byzantine-style icons! I wish I could have had more time in there and taken pictures. Mass was in Italian with the common prayers in Latin. After Mass, they put ashes on our heads like on Ash Wednesday.
We ate pizza for lunch and tried to find the treasury. But since we couldn't, we went on a gondola ride and saw the Bridge of Sighs, Marco Polo's family's residence, a church, a bank, a post office, and some royal residences.
We sighed as we walked over the Bridge of Sighs and found the treasury in San Marco where we saw some more relics (including St. George's arm and a stone from Christ's Scourging). We were going to pray in the church a bit, but they wanted us to keep moving.
Then we got gelato, groceries, and postcards before we walked back to the hostel and met our other roommate.
Today we saw all of what there was to see in Venice. We all tried to sleep in, but all of us got up before the alarm. So, we took our time to get ready before we made our way over to San Marco's Cathedral. It was beautiful-- covered with Byzantine-style icons! I wish I could have had more time in there and taken pictures. Mass was in Italian with the common prayers in Latin. After Mass, they put ashes on our heads like on Ash Wednesday.
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| San Marco's Cathedral. No photo inside. |
We ate pizza for lunch and tried to find the treasury. But since we couldn't, we went on a gondola ride and saw the Bridge of Sighs, Marco Polo's family's residence, a church, a bank, a post office, and some royal residences.
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| Regina, Emily, me, and Jeff on the gondola! Unfortunately, our driver did not sing to us. |
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| Regina and the Merchant of Venice!! (in the background-- you can only see his head...) |
We sighed as we walked over the Bridge of Sighs and found the treasury in San Marco where we saw some more relics (including St. George's arm and a stone from Christ's Scourging). We were going to pray in the church a bit, but they wanted us to keep moving.
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| Me and Regina and the Bridge of Sighs-- which we sighed as we walked across. |
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| I'm riding on a lion just outside San Marco's! |
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| Emily, Marianne, me, and Regina pausing for a quick moment on one of the many bridges over the canals. |
A year ago: Rome/Assisi Day 8
March 12, 2011
Today, we made our way to San Francesco-- the Basilica of St. Francis where we had Mass. Then we had a walking tour with Sr. Carrie Ann. At the Basilica, we were unfortunately unable to see St. Francis's tomb because they were doing renovations. However, we were able to see the reliquary of St. Francis, which included his special shoes from St. Clare, his habit, and the cover for his side wound.
Then, we prayed a walking Rosary as we walked up the hill to St. Mary Major, which is just outside the Bishop's residence (where St. Francis returned his clothes to his father). Then we went where St. Francis's father's cloth shop was and where his father chained him up. It is now a beautiful church.
After lunch, Jeff, Marianne, Regina, Emily, and I made our way to the train station to leave for Venice. We were early, so we were able to go back to the Portiuncula church again. On our way, we passed through Florence and Bologna.
In Venice, we found our hostel (the Venice Fish) which had its own private bridge entry. It was a bit sketchy, but they fed us pasta and we all shared a room-- thank goodness!!
Today, we made our way to San Francesco-- the Basilica of St. Francis where we had Mass. Then we had a walking tour with Sr. Carrie Ann. At the Basilica, we were unfortunately unable to see St. Francis's tomb because they were doing renovations. However, we were able to see the reliquary of St. Francis, which included his special shoes from St. Clare, his habit, and the cover for his side wound.
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| San Francesco Basilica |
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| The Bishop's residence just outside St. Mary Major. |
Then, we prayed a walking Rosary as we walked up the hill to St. Mary Major, which is just outside the Bishop's residence (where St. Francis returned his clothes to his father). Then we went where St. Francis's father's cloth shop was and where his father chained him up. It is now a beautiful church.
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| A statue of St. Francis's parents outside the place where his father chained him up. His mother is holding chains since she released him. |
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| The church which used to be Francis's father's cloth shop and where he was chained up. |
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| On the road to Venezia!! |
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| Farewell, Assisi! |
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| The Venice Fish-- our hostel. Isn't this a nice bridge? |
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