mattersofthemoment

Here we are rain and all in beautiful Lourdes!

Now I realize when Dave and I walked El Camino Spain 2010 we walked with St. James to Santiago de Compestella for 29 days.

This time a little different with shorter walks for me and a 10 day walk for Dave and a rented car and more private accommodations. on this pilgrim we walked and visited more with Mother Mary, Mary Magadeline and St. Joseph ( Fr.Medaille founder of Sisters of St. Joseph) and St. Eugene de Mazenod( founder of the Oblate Fathers).The history and journey with those sacred people is special.

Being at Lourdes today was astounding even though it rained. We attended Mass, stations of the cross and adoration. We were touched and grateful for such a blessed opportunity.Pictures to follow.

Sent from my iPhone

The Canal du Midi was built in the 1600s to enable shipping from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean to bypass Spain.  Declared a world heritage Site, we took a leisurely cruise today.

We left the Mediterranean yesterday and headed inland to Cathar Country.  The Cathars were a duelistic group  
who ran afoul of the Catholic Church in 1209.  They believed in a simple life free of Bishops control and worshipped 2 God's (1 good representing all the things you cannot see in life) (1 bad representing everything you can physically see).  They also believed in reincarnation – you could only escape if you led  a 'perfect' life free of material things.

After leaving Aix en Provence we rented a car and head out to A9 hwy off to St. Baume St. Maximen ( marche day)to hike and explore St. Magadeline grotto 500 metres in the Mountain. That was worth the journey, very sacred and silent place as we explored the Church inside a cave, wet, dark and very different, with her relics and many statues and pictures.

Then we drove to St. Marie's del Mar along the Mediterrrean Sea where they honor all the Mary's every year with a festival and throw flowers into the Sea. This is the place where Mary Magadeline came after the Ressurection.

Today we drove to Gruissan Plage and got stuck in the sand. It took 4 strong men to get us out. The sun was hot all day and what a journey. Dave drove and I navigated. The beach was worth the wait. Now we have a tan.