SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2026 - MONT SAINT-MICHEL

Imagine what it would be like living on top of a mountain on the top of an island surrounded by water!  Mont Saint-Michel is such a place with an active abbey at the very top of a mountain.  The curvy walkway consists of steep walks and staircases and can be physically challenging.  In the early days you’d traverse lots of sandy beach with areas of quicksand and the possibility that the tides could sweep you away if you didn’t time it just right.  This beautiful castle like setting has been in existence since the year 708 A.D.  When Bishop Aubert was visited by 3 persons who urged him to build a sanctuary on what then was called the Tomb Rock.  A community of Benedictine monks would be established in 966 A.D. And then a Romanesque Abbey church would be erected between 1204 and 1228.  At one time the island was even used as a prison with 14,000 inhabitants.  One of the displays had some beautiful quotes about the meaning of the abbey and the meaning of the pilgrimage site for its visitors: 

 Whether demanding of joyful, the paths leading to the Marvel invite us to detachment.  The at immense flatness of the bay contrasts with the vertical thrust of the abbey reaching toward heaven.  The walker experiences that through physical effort, an inner journey begins.  By journeying toward this rock alongside Saint Michael, we do not merely reach a remarkable historical site: we listen to a spiritual call that transforms our lives . . . 

It is such a moving experience to be able to pray in this place, which for centuries has seen prayers raising up to God in a unique way.  Here, it feels as though a little bit of heaven has come down to earth.  Ot is it perhaps that we ourselves are lifted up a little through prayer? I therefore feel particularly inspired to ask for intercession or to pour out everything that weghts on my heart.  What also helps me is seeing all these people of different ages, backgrounds and cultures, coming to admire this marvel and pray in their own way.  . . 

A sanctuary is as place set apart, carrying a universal message.  Here, for 1,300 years, the faithful have come to seek teh protection of the Archangel Michaell. They pray to him to entrust their departed, find strength in daily trials, or experience forgiveness.  Whether a fervent pilgrim or a simple visitor seeking meaning, the Mount offers everyone a place for reflection.  Under the benevolent gaze of the Archangel, everyone can lay down their burden and find peace. . . 

Knowing how to be silent before the power of Creation and the pilgrims’ paths . .. .Each crossing calls me to humility.  The guide listens.=, leads across the sands, and warns of pitfalls.  I leave no trace; my footprints are washed awqy with every tide.  From the tip of my staff, I simply point to the sanctuary’s spire, a sacred direction pointing to Heaven.  The Archangel Michael, our ultimate Guide, stands ready to lead our souls there. . . .

Reaching the Mount seems easy today, thanks to the footbridge and shuttles.  But it was not always so.  From the 8th century, drawn by St. Michael, pilgrims ventured into the bay “at the peril of the sea”, braving tides and quicksand.  Many wrote their wills before risking it.  Crossing the bay today, accompanied by passionate guides, we walk in the footsteps of these men and women driven by profound faith. . . 

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2026 - AMERICAN CEMETERY, OMAHA BEACH

Nothing can really prepare you for the 9,500 or so graves you encounter at Normandy. On June 6, 1945 the invasion of Allied forces against the Nazis was a remarkable victory that forever changed the world and saved Europe from the scourge of Communism and brought about the defeat of the German forces.  It was a choreographed and synchronized military operation that cost thousands of allied lives but gave the world the gift of freedom and democracy that we remain ever grateful for.  The deep appreciation and somber respect for what happened on these beaches is evident in the tangible signs of prayers, flower memorials, rituals, and searches for loved ones who served and died for the protection of freedom and liberty.  In a world which can take freedom so easily for granted this is a place of honor and gratitude for those who made it possible and gave their very lives to insure that we continue to live today the values and  ideals they fought for.  We walked along Omaha Beach and then visited the remnants of German bunkers which were built by French citizens recruited by the Nazi as forced laborers, most of whom were conscripted to support the Nazi regime under penalty of punishment or death.  

LOURDES - THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2026 - The Feast of St. Theresa of Avila

Today is the Feast Day of the Great mystic, St. Therese of Avila.  She plays a special role in the life of the Church in the fact that she wrote much of the deeper interior castle and of a deep and intimate personal relationship with Jesus.  The famous statue of Bernini, the Ecstasy of St. Therese in Rome shows the almost hypnotic passion she had for the Lord as she was pierced by the sword of love for the Lord by an angel from heaven.  

For us at Lourdes, we have been invited to a personal retreat day - a day to draw closer to Jesus, through the Blessed Mary.  This day is a day of time alotted for personal prayer and reflection.  A day to wander the shrine grounds - to pray at the grotto, to join in the stations of the cross, pray the rosary, go to confession, bathe in the waters of Lourdes or to join the Eucharstic procession with the sick - whatever we would choose to do to grow closer to the Lord and to deepen our faith.  The bishop invited us, in his homily, to spend the day deepening our relationship to the Lord.  So there is not much to report here.  

I took a group up the steep stations of the cross just to the side of the main basilica - up the winding hills at the foot of the Pyrenees mountains - away from the noise and haste of the souvenir stores, streets and tourists.  This journey was not for the faint of heart - it was a more challenging journey - probably not unlike Jesus’ own final days on his way to Calvary.  The prayerful stations walked us through many reflections - from the saints and other authors - bringing the story of the final days of Jesus to our own world and its many issues, problems and possibilities.  

The final two pictures depict the basilica where we had mass this morning and a Eucharistic procession that takes place every day at 5:00 p.m. With the Blessed Sacrament.  This is a special procession that includes all the sick in wheelchairs and stretchers.  I can watch this procession from the balcony from my room.  It is both beautiful and very humbling.  Here in Lourdes there is a designated lane on the streets for wheelchairs and stretchers only.  The sick and suffering are treated as the most important people in the world.  I imagine they are treated the same way in heaven!

Tomorrow will be a day of travel as we board a high speed TGV train from Lourdes to Paris and then we’ll take a 3 hour bus ride from Paris to Normany to explore its rich history and role in World War II.  I will write if there is anything to report.  Otherwise look for another update on Saturday.  Until then, Go Guardians!!!  

LOURDES, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2026

We began the day with a beautiful Mass in the grotto, the very place where the Blessed Mother appeared to Bernadette Souborous in 1858.  It is here that she encountered the beautiful woman who would tell her to discover the spring below, who would urge people to conversion and he would define herself as the Immaculate Conception.  This place is so special.  Mass was at 10:30 a.m. And concelebrants and deacons were from California, Pennsylvania, India and New York.  Once again, the universality of the Catholic church was evident.  Bishop Malesic did a beautiful job with the homily and we were proud to have our own bishop preside and preach.  

Our next stops were to the two places where St. Bernadette was raised.  The first was an actual flour mill.  Her father owned the mill but failed tomake it financially lucrative for the family.  He lent to people generously when they had no means to pay him.  Thus his family went bankrupt and they had to move to a 2 room former jail where they lived in dire poverty.  This cachot (jail) was a miserable existence but Bernadette loved her family and was grateful for the very little she had.  

The Jail:

We finished off the day with the beautiful candlelight procession with the carrying of the Statue of Our Lady of Lourdes and the praying of the rosary.  Thousands participate, praying in their own native language, singing together the Ave Maria’s and joining the walk until all our gathered at the bottom of the basilica.  The 2 hour celebration is always a highlight of the experience of Lourdes, signifiying our Lady’s desire for God’s children to pray and showing the universality of our holy, Catholic church as it unites with every nation, tongue and race - all united in prayer and mind and heart.  

TOLOUSE, FRANCE - TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2026

As I write these words I do some from Toulouse, France on the way to Lourdes.  You may not have heard of Toulouse but it is headquarters to Airbus, the second largest airplane manufacture.  The other, of course, is Boeing, located in Seattle, Washington.  But Toulouse is also an important location in Catholic history as well.  Pope Fabian in the year 257 C.E. Sent Saint Sernin to the city as its first bishop.  He was not warmly received!  He was actually martyred and his body was dragged through the city by a bull.  Today, Saint Sernin is buried in the country’s largest and most famous Romanesque Basilica, St. Sernin in the very center of the town.  Also significant to Catholicism is the fact that St. Dominic founded the Dominican community in Toulouse in the year 1215.  One of its most prominent members, St. Thomas Aquinas is prominently remembered in the Basilica as his skull and other remnants are placed under the main altar at the basilica.  Toulouse was also the center of a major heresy in the church called the Albigensian movement which rejected the incarnation of Christ and the material world.  Pope Innocent III had to launch a brutal army crusade against southern France to crush the movement. 

 

I had the privilege to preach today in the Basilica and I spoke about our pilgrimage to Lourdes and why each of us came.  I welcome you to reach the homily by clicking here.  

 

 Keep us in your prayers as we are doing for you.

On our way to Tolouse, France.  Landed safely in Montreal, Canada and taking off from here to Munich, Germany via Lufthansa.  Enjoying time with Bishop Malesic and his friend, Fr. Chuck from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.  Will be remembering you all in our prayers and thoughts throughout this journey.   Keep us in your prayers as we will do the same for you.

Landed safely in Munich, Germany.  It’s 5:10 a.m. Cleveland time and we’re waiting our flight to Tolouse, France.  We’ll stay one night in Tolouse and have a tour of the city tomorrow morning before heading on the bus to Lourdes.  

Farewell to Paris

 Just some final photographs as we bid farewell to Paris.  A few of us took an evening cruise down the Seine River to bid farewell to the city of lights on this beautiful Saturday