December 17, 2008

Lourdes hymn

In 1958, as a young U.S. Airman stationed in the Mediterranean, I had the rare privilege of visiting Lourdes.  It was, of course, the 100th anniversary of the apparitions.  Our chaplain had been granted permission to celebrate Mass at the grotto.  Sometime during Mass a train passed on the knoll of the hill, several hundred yards from us.  Emanating from the train as it passed were the voices of men singing the Lourdes hymn (“Immaculate Mary”).  It was awesome!  We learned, later, that they were a group of French Army soldiers.  Since then, whenever the Lourdes hymn is sung, my thoughts flash back to that one inspiring moment at the shrine.

Mike Egan
Queen of Peace Parish
Aurora