Showing posts with label Pilgrimages. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pilgrimages. Show all posts

Sunday, September 18, 2022

Pray for Us as We Join the Pilgrimage of the Restoration


Later this week part of my family will be joining a brigade from our parish, students from Thomas More College of Liberal Arts, and scores of other pilgrims in the Pilgrimage of the Restoration, a traditional walking pilgrimage modeled after the annual Pentecost Pilgrimage to Notre-Dame de Chartres, France which will take a 60+ mile route from the Lake of the Blessed Sacrament at Lake George Village, NY to the Shrine of Our Lady’s Martyrs of New France at Auriesville, NY .


The pilgrimage is now in its 27th year, and, this year, will have a theme of
Restoring True Devotion to Mary, through Total Consecration of St. Louis de Montfort.  

As it has always each year, the pilgrimage will be
 "an exercise of penance and prayer, of contradiction and restoration, having both a personal and social character" with an intention of "restoration of the Catholic family, civil society and the specifically Roman spiritual and liturgical tradition".

Since this will be the first walking pilgrimage that anyone in our family has ever been on, we are a bit nervous about personal logistics, how to pack, and, to be honest, actually being able to complete the pilgrimage. Yet, we are also excited for this opportunity, impressed with the support the pilgrimage organizers provide on their website and blog, and confident that organizers, volunteers, and fellow pilgrims will work together to make this year's pilgrimage a successful one. 


If you would like to join us by jumping on as a last-minute pilgrim, you can register as a walk-on for the whole pilgrimage at the starting point or register as a Sunday-only pilgrim for the final day.

We would also appreciate any and all friends to participate from home and/or to join is in praying this prayer daily:

Pilgrim’s Prayer Pilgrimage for Restoration 2022
To be recited, at the request of Pilgrimage Chaplains, each day by every pilgrim: for the intentions of all pilgrims, for sinners everywhere, for the grace to make pilgrimage worthily together, and for the intentions of the Holy Father, Pope Francis & for all our spiritual Fathers & Mothers in Christ. 
My Lord and my God, take from me whatever keeps me from Thee. My Lord and my God, grant me whatever brings me to Thee. My Lord and my God, take my self, to live wholly in Thee.
~St. Nicholas of Flüe, 1447-1487


Thank you for for praying in union with us as we make our pilgrimage of penance, prayer, and singing to God for restoration.

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Sometimes, You Find Lovely Places when Looking for Masses While Traveling...

For years now, when traveling to different areas, I've consulted MassTimes.org to find times and locations for daily and Sunday Masses. Similarly, I sometimes click through The Real Presence to find churches and chapels that have Eucharistic Adoration.



Doing so has brought me to some lovely little chapels, beautiful churches, and peaceful shrines, the most recent of which was St. Anne's Shrine in Sturbridge, MA, where pilgrims have been traveling for over 100 years to seek solace, peace, and healing from God through the intercession of St. Anne.



At the Shrine, you will find both indoor and outdoor spaces to inspire prayer, contemplation, and peace.



Be sure to stop at the Hall of Saints...




and walk about to enjoy the picturesque grounds...



Throughout the Shrine grounds, you'll find statues...



Grottoes...



A Stations of the Cross walk...



Chapels...




Sacra Santa (Holy Stairs)



Outdoor prayer spots...




Churches, chapels, an outdoor worship space under the pastoral care of the Assumptionists.




A picnic area...






(Yes, my crew were all hungry, a bit tired, and not wanting to smile for a picture. ;) )


Plus, there is a gift shop and Russian icons display, which we, unfortunately, missed since we got there after 5 p.m. in order to go to a 6 p.m. Mass. (The gift shop and icon display close at 5 p.m. daily.)



However, just outside the gift shop and Russian Icon display area, we found a favorite sculpture, the Generations Statue, a moving depiction of the Holy Family embraced by Saints Anne and Joachim, the  parents of the Blessed Virgin and grandparents of Jesus.



And, nearby, was a striking sculpture of St. Micheal...




And and older, sweet statue of St. Anne and St. Mary.


Truly, the Shrine is a serene and holy place...




Nearly every turn there brings you to another place to contemplate and pray...

To be reminded of miracles...


To recall the saints...


To remember the simple power and beauty of prayer...



The pray for the intercession of the Holy Family...



For our own families and for the whole world.



To remember, as St. Therese de Lisiueux says that "prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy.”



If you are ever in the area of Sturbridge, MA, I encourage you to stop at St. Anne's Shrine. It is simply lovely.

St. Anne, pray for us.

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails