Farewell

Thank you to all of my readers who have experienced this journey with me, I have now arrived home and it has been a truly wonderful experience. If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment, and I'll get back to you.

"...And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart" - Luke 2:19 - remember, you're never alone, Our Lady, the Immaculate Conception, The Mother of God is always watching over you, caring for you, and forever loving you.

God Bless You All,

Kind regards,
Savannah Walker 

Day 4: Reflection on my Pilgrimage

So today is my final day in Lourdes, and it is sad that such a wonderful and enlightening journey has to come to an end. However, since I am not leaving for the airport until this evening, I thought I would reflect with all of you about my experiences throughout this pilgrimage.

When I first learnt of the Church Teaching about Mary, I was amazed – how could someone so young and pure be chosen for such a responsibility? But I know why now, she had faith – not only in herself, but in others – the poor, sinners, and those who are simply looking for forgiveness. She knew that if they have faith and embrace the Holy Spirit, they will find a light within themselves that is white, bright and pure of love and God’s help and spirit.

The council of Ephesus taught us that Jesus is truly God, and because of this, it makes Mary the Mother of God – she is the bearer of God. Jesus is without sin – not only has he obtained this from the Holy Spirit, but his mother also – Jesus was born whilst Mary was a virgin, as she ‘was conceived of the Holy Spirit, and born the Virgin Mary’. She was the depiction of the Immaculate Conception; she had no prior stain of original sin, nor did she reject the responsibility of bearing the son of God.

This all links into my pilgrimage and the story of Bernadette Soubirous as Our Lady appeared to Bernadette to not only pray with her, but to ask for her help – just like the angel Gabriel asked for Mary’s help. Our Lady needed Bernadette to get the local priests to build a chapel so that pilgrims could come in procession to ask for both forgiveness and bathe in the healing waters of the Massabielle.

No matter what evil or sin has been bestowed upon us, we can make a journey on our own or with others to somewhere that we can reflect and appreciate the world we have today, and how those before us were able to grant that to us. Through reflection, we are able to thank both Jesus for his contributions and sacrifices to the Catholic Society then and now, but also his mother, Mary; without her, how could we be here today? She has saved humanity, even if humanity doesn’t realize.