An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir July/August 2018 www.dfmagazine.ie 30 | T he International Military Pilgrimage (IMP) to Lourdes or as it is officially known the Pèlinerage Militaire Interna- tional (PMI) is in its 60th year. If you're not a religious person or have just never heard of the military pilgrimage to Lourdes you might ask yourself what it is all about. Well, in May every year for the last 60 years, military personnel from all over the world have converged on Lourdes to pray for peace in our world. Why? Would be another question you might ask yourself. Lourdes is synonymous with St. Bernadette, who was born in Lourdes on 7th January 1844. In 1858 a 14-year-old Bernadette began to have visions of 'Mary mother of God' at a grotto called Massabielle (Tuta de Massaviehla). After numerous visions and what was probably interrogation style interviews by the Church authorities and the French government they confirmed that what Bernadette was saying was true. At Ber- nadette's request the local priest had the 'Sanctuary of Our lady of Lourdes' built over the grotto, this site is now one of the biggest catholic pilgrimages in the world. Bernadette later joined the Sisters of Charity at Nevers and spent the rest of her life working as an infirmary assistant and later a sacristan. She died at the young age of 35 on the 16th April 1879. Saint Bernadette was beatified in 1925 and canonised in 1933. The Defence Forces have been involved since the first IMP, which had a total of 332 personnel compared to this years with over 360 personnel. The Civil Defence continued their support and travelled with 70 members. The Cadet School were present with 79 members of the 94th Cadet Class along with four instructors. There was nine DF Chaplains, and 15 members of the highly acclaimed Defence Forces Pipe Band. We started our journey in McKee Bks on the 17th May, boarding a bus on an early Thursday morning to Dublin Air- port. Here we met up with the Cadets, Civil Defence and the civilian personnel who were also travelling on the pilgrimage. A 2hr plane journey took us straight into Aéroport de Tarbes- Lourdes-Pyrénées, which was less than a half an hour's bus journey into the town of Lourdes. After being given time to settle in to our hotel rooms, we were straight out to the first mass. This took place in the 'City of the Poor' or 'Cité Saint- Pierre', it is a place where pilgrims of less fortunate circum- stances of all cultures, religions and nationalities are welcome to stay during their pilgrimage. The first mass took place in the outdoor church of the Cité Saint-Pierre, which almost seemed hidden away on the hillside. It had a very remote feel about it and as Fr Pat Mernagh celebrated mass - you couldn't help but feel it was a place of calm and peacefulness. That evening pilgrims were given the option to attend the 'Torchlight procession', I really wasn't sure what to expect with this. I wasn't disappointed, as hundreds of people walked from the Grotto to the steps of the Rosary Baslica, each hold- ing a candle. As darkness fell the candle light became more and more prominent, and as the chorus of Ava Maria was recited the candles were lifted into the air, an indescribable sight to which I have no comparison. The second day began with all the pilgrims receiving there 60th PMI badges, these badges granted wearers exclusive access to the ceremonies and processions during the PMI. The parade formed up outside the Hotel Méditerranée, the DF Pipe Band led the way. They were followed by the offi- cers, including DF COS Vice Admiral Mark Mellett DSM, and formed up behind them was the junior Cadet Class and the Civil Defence. As the parade marched off and the pipe band played - it instantly evoked a feeling of pride as shop owners, locals and other military personnel stopped to look on as the parade marched by. The parade marched to the Chapelle Saint Joseph, where the official opening mass was said by Fr. John McDonald. The Pilgrimage Candle was blessed then lit and the sick were anointed. In the afternoon the 'International Open- ing Ceremony' took place in the Underground Basilica. All nations attended this ceremony, with each nations flag on REPoRt AnD PhotoS By Sgt kARL ByRnE 60TH INTERNATIONAL MILITARy PILGRIMAGE LOURDES 2018 'Pacem in Terris' – 'Peace on Earth' Cadet flag party in position on the altar of the Underground Basilica Parade salutes the off going national flag party

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