Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Lourdes (Agenzia Fides) - In Lourdes, France, on Monday 10 September in the presence of about one hundred directors of pilgrimages and rectors of Shrines in 20 European different countries of Europe the 5th European Congress for Pastoral Care of Pilgrimages and Shrines, promoted by the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Itinerant Peoples in collaboration with the Shrine of Lourdes. The Congress opened with the reading of a message to the participants written by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, secretary of state on behalf of Pope Benedict XVI. In the message the Pope says he hopes the congress would foster ever deeper contemplation of Christ, the Word of the Father, and lead to generous witness to the Gospel.
Then the mayor of Lourdes Jean-Pierre Artiganave welcomed the participants. The work of the congress was introduced by Cardinal Renato Raffaele Martino, president of the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Itinerant Peoples who considered the two fundamental traits of the continent of Europe: common Christian roots and increasing mobility of people and ideas. The Church is called to interpret them - the Cardinal said - to promote brotherhood and solidarity.
Recalling that on 8 December Lourdes will start a Jubilee Year for the 150th anniversary of Our Lady's apparition to Bernadette, the Cardinal underlined the importance of invoking as a gift from the Father the heart of a child, ready to welcome the Good News and so for conversion, the first grace of every pilgrimage. The Pastoral theme of the Congress this year is “Let yourselves be reconciled with God”. On a spiritual pilgrimage Christians are call to experience the forgiveness Christ offers. Pilgrims need places of silence and communion among themselves so that may hear God speaking to their heart, like for example St Francis of Assisi, who allowed himself to be guided by the experience of God-Love and became a man of peace, tolerance and dialogue.
In a world which pushes illness and weakness to the margins of society - Cardinal Martino said - the director of pilgrimages and the rector of a Shrine bear witness that the heart of God is first and foremost mercy. But his work must go beyond the spiritual laboratories, of shrines and pilgrimages, to put the dignity of every person at the centre of our concern, and all the problems of society today.
In his address the Bishop Jacques Perrier of Lourdes, greeted the participants and illustrated briefly celebrations planned to mark the special Jubilee year in 2008 for 150th anniversary of the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary. A year of grace and joy, as in the Bible; a time for being set free and making a new start. The Church returned to this Biblical tradition, the Pope's periodically call regular Holy Years as well as special Jubilee years. The first apparitions happened in 1858, which was a special Holy Year. In those apparitions we find elements called for by Pope and the bishops for these events: catechesis, prayer and penance. Although young Bernadette was never in good health, of material wealth, she was a person who spread happiness. Since then, in a way, every day in Lourdes is an experience of the grace of a Holy Year: “an announcement of good news for the poor,… proclamation freedom to captives and to the blind new sight” (Lk 4,18-19). Lourdes is a “never ending Jubilee”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 11/9/2007 - righe 41, parole 594)
