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Tuesday, April 21, 12:37:07 [ Login ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, [9], 10 ]

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Date Posted: 20:00:58 10/07/03 Tue
Author: Lissa
Subject: Sometimes, you just got to go.....

So....
I just spent 10 days in France chasing down the Feminine Divine with 4 other women. The Feminine Divine is all about being in the flow, so we went with a general idea of where we wanted to go, but the particulars were revealed to us as we went along. We rented a car and we ended up getting the deal of the century by paying only $300 for 8 days. How cool is that. We put on major miles, or rather kilometers, going from Paris to Lourdes, over to Provence, and then back up to Paris. It was such an American way to do a country, but hey, it worked for us. We felt like we fit a month into just 10 days. Every day was so full.

We began by going to Nevers to visit with the uncorrupted body of Bernadette, the woman who was visited by the "Immaculate Conception" at a stone grotto (shallow stone cave) in Lourdes. Bernadette has been dead for over a hundred years now, but she is still beautiful. I'll have to look for a picture online to show you. Walking into the chapel where she lies in state was an experience full of God's energy. She had vowed to see only Love in everything around her. It isn't just the water of Lourdes that makes the miracle, it's the state of Being, I believe. We stayed in a fantastic medieval city that evening, complete with a way cool cathedral. Then we headed toward the waters of Lourdes.

"Catholic Calcutta" is how two of my traveling companions, who have been to India, described the vacation mecca of Lourdes. It was crazy. I had heard that Lourdes was very commercial, but I wasn't prepared for the neon signs and the mass of shops and hotels and the thousands of people. There is even a mini golf and go-cart place on the edge of town. And in the midst of all this frenetic commercialism was a walled off area of world wide peace and hope for the gift of God. We got there in time to go to the nightly candle light procession. What a magical event. Then we went to the Grotto where "the Immaculate Conception" appeared to Bernadette 18 times in 1858. The energy in that place was palpable and it was a great joy to see the spring that The Lady of Lourdes told Bernadette to find. The water now flows out to many spigots lined up along the wall, and people fill bottles of water to take home with them. There are several chapels along with the Basilica on the top of the cliff where the apparition showed itself to Bernadette, and we we were able to meditate in some and take pictures of the magnificent murals in others. Participating in Mass in places such as these is what being Catholic is all about. We filled up gallons of water and drank Lourdes water for the rest of our trip.

I have to stop here, but I will be sure to tell you more of this wonderful, awesome adventure when I get the chance.

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Replies:

[> Wow Lissa, this sounds wonderful. I too canīt wait to hear what else you saw and experienced. Iīve never been to Lourdes, because of what you wrote. But I am glad the spirit is still there, and all the masses of people couldnīt destroy it. Did you do any sightseeing in Paris? I always wanted to do that, but all I got to was driving through the city once, and it was horrible. They drive worse than me!*lol* It was scary, to say the least. But I still would like to see some historical places there. Oh well, one day... Isnīt France a beautiful country? I love the different landscapes.They have everything, the ocean, mountains, celtic towns, breathtaking valleys, countryside and big cities. I donīt get tired visiting it. -- Martina, 04:56:13 10/08/03 Wed


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[> [> I forgot to say that I like the "typical american way of travelling". I get bored staying at the same place too long very easy. Driving around is much more active and interesting. My mom just came back from the spanish island Mallorca, where she stared at the ocean for 2 weeks. I couldnīt do that, too boring.*g* -- Martina, 09:47:46 10/08/03 Wed


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[> How cool! I've heard bits and pieces about Lourdes but I never really knew the whole thing behind it. I love traveling that way too. You get to see so much more and even tho' it's hard to be in the car that long sometimes, I think you do get to experience so much more. It's so nice to know that there are still places like that where people and commercialism haven't destroyed every square inch. Those grottos are so beautiful too! There is one in West Bend, IA that a man and several nuns built a long long time back. I haven't been there since I was a kid but I remember how beautiful it was. Peaceful and serene. All the work they did was amazing. We plan to visit it now as adults to see and appreciate the wonderful energy and the work of art it is. Please tell us more when you get a chance. -- Lori, 18:28:21 10/08/03 Wed


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[> WOW! -- Viive, 00:38:47 10/10/03 Fri


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