God bless you for taking us with you to the Grotto! Glad you enjoyed the trip. I'd love to see Lourdes but likely won't get the chance..
What a blessing for you and thank you for remembering us! The gold crown really is beautiful. Imagine the faith of the Irish, so many giving whatever they could to make it possible.
Yes, thank you for taking us with you to Lourdes. You and your family are so faithful in prayers for us.
I also was blessed to get to Lourdes this summer. I went by bus and train from Spain so it felt like a true pilgrimage. I loved it there and also prayed for everyone on MOG at the grotto. The place feels very special despite how touristy it is. I'm longing to go back.
There is an approved Marian apparition site in the United States which has healing miracles similar to Lourdes. It is located in Champion, Wisconsin, as I recall. Perhaps you can go there. I would love to go there myself one day, together with my family. If I ever make it back to the U.S. I would also love to visit Cardinal Burke's place, which is nearby in Wisconsin, I think. And I would love to visit Fr. Ripperger in Colorado with my wife, who is sometimes haunted by evil spirits due to a witchcraft ritual she was subjected to as a baby. God bless!
Yes it does feel very special. Thank you for your prayers. One of my companions told me to buy a rose and leave it at the feet of Our Lady facing the basilica and she will bring you back, so I did. I've been to knock shrine 3 times in the last 12 months but some how, it did not feel anything like Lourdes. Of course we were there for a week and had mass at a different location each morning. A presentation was given on Bernadette's life and we visited a few locations where she lived and got to see her relic. We went on the light procession most evenings, praying the rosary. That is something to see once night falls. I recorded the bells ringing out over Lourdes one morning while waiting to start the out door Stations. I often play it since returning home. I would definitely encourage anyone who hasn't been there to go if you can.
thank you so much dear Mario! We all had a beautiful weekend, first Saturday devotion practiced as an entire family (a rare occasion) and today the nativity of the Blessed Virgin, with Holy Mass and Rosary in Church! God bless you and your family, and congratulations to the latest addition!
