We must concede that our first trip to Lourdes was a failure. We had traveled with our four children from Biarritz on the Atlantic coast of France to Ste Maxime on the Mediterranean. We arrived in Lourdes on an auspicious day – August 15th, the Feast of the Assumption. As expected, we were captivated by the sanctuary and all that was happening. But it was the overwhelming presence of the tourist shops lining the streets leading to the Domaine that was very off-putting. Would our first trip to Lourdes be our last?  Thankfully, no!

What changed? Our second visit was part of a real pilgrimage, with the Order of Malta. What caused the shops to recede into the background was the responsibility of caring for a malade. Our attention shifted toward making the experience for her as powerful and reassuring as possible. This required not only an outward focus, but also an inward reflection as how best to help. Our Lady is the perfect example to lead us in that effort. She sees the needs but always seeks guidance from her Son and the Father before acting. And she calls us to do the same.

We also came away from that first Pilgrimage with the realization that we truly could begin to see Christ in the face of each person we saw – and, hopefully, they could see his face in ours. Our mission as members of the Order of Malta is to be centered on the poor and the sick. But to do that also requires that we cultivate a deep faith and a willingness to nurture and defend our faith. The daily Masses and reflections are a wonderful source of spiritual nourishment, but so are the interactions among ALL the pilgrims. 

Memories of pilgrimages are so varied. Our first pilgrimage with the Order of Malta opened our eyes to the possibilities we had failed to see on our first trip to Lourdes. The shops now remain in the background, and we have returned to Lourdes as a couple since that first pilgrimage. In addition, subsequent pilgrimages have added to that foundation – each in a different way. We’ve never seen a healing in Lourdes of cinematic proportions – but we have seen the healing peace of Christ in action. Our Lady of Lourdes, calls us to her and to her Son. “Hail Full of Grace, the Lord is with you”

Deborah, DM, and Jean, KMOb, Brunel, 2026 Lourdes Pilgrimage Co-Hosts.