By Maria R.M. Sison
Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines--“All things are possible to the one who believes, there is no doubt about it,” said Blessed Guerric of Igny.
From late April to early May, my parents and I joined other participants from the Saint Bernard Parish in Los Angeles, California for a 14-day pilgrimage to Marian sites in Fatima, Portugal; Lourdes, France; and Spain.
This would be the last pilgrimage for my dad; he soon became bedridden. My mom’s physical health is also on the decline; her ability to walk is restricted. But they both have faith that is constant and unwavering – I have no doubt that it was what made the pilgrimage possible for my 87- year old father and soon-to-be-80 mother.
The eve before our departure, we were treated to a fabulous dinner with wine and flamenco entertainment. Nasmiah, our main tour guide who is tri-lingual, shared valuable information on the cultural, social and economic heritage of Spain. She christened our group after three of our priorities: pit stops, shopping and food.
Fatima, Portugal
We were very excited as my mom, some members of our tour group and I were here for the first time. After breakfast, we got in the big green-and-white bus named “Julia.”
We passed by the original house of the three shepherd children Our Blessed Mother appeared to on May 1917. The siblings Francisco and Jacinta Marto were then 8 and 6, respectively. Their cousin Lucia de Jesus was 9. We briefly saw a few of the relatives of these three visionaries.
Rev. Gerald McSorley and Rev. Msgr. Patrick McNulty, pastor and pastor emeritus, were part of our group. They celebrated Masses, said prayers and blessed the gifts and souvenirs purchased throughout the trip.
In the evening, we joined a candlelight procession.
Braga and Santiago de Compostella, Spain
The next day, we proceeded north to Braga, seat of the Primate of All Spain in medieval times. When I saw the remains of a tower structure, it entered my mind that the horse-riding Crusaders for the Christian faith could have passed this way.
Upon arriving in Santiago de Compostella, the group viewed the Shrine of Saint James the Great, brother of the evangelist John. His tomb was moved here after his martyrdom, and the Cathedral, one of the popular pilgrimage spots, was founded and built on this site.
The July 25 issue of the Magnificat says Saint James was present at most of the miracles performed by Christ, and that he was put to death by Herod around 42-44 AD, making him one of the first martyrs after Christ.
Just as important as filling the soul is filling the body. The staple meal consisted of chicken, potatoes, bread and wine throughout our trip. Thankfully, my father speaks fluent Spanish and could be trusted to make suggestions on where to eat. (He has a special fondness for Spain; in his younger years, he trained here as a chemist making soaps and perfumes.)
We ate tasty crabs and seafood with gusto at one seafood place he recommended. After filling ourselves, we found out that it was only the first course! The food servers were waiting for us to finish before they served another course of fish and rice in good-sized portions. We had a hearty laugh over that. Yummy goodies were available at corner shops. A particular favorite was a yema-like pastry.
Next in Leon, we admiringly gazed at the architecture of the Gothic Cathedral in this capital of Christian Spain at the start of the Re-conquest. Light streamed through the cathedral and the interplay of light and color was grand.
Then we went to Burgos whose most famous resident was El Cid, the national hero who was legendary for his chivalry.
It was a privilege to visit the convent in Pontevedra where Lucia, the Fatima seer who became a nun, was graced with more apparitions by Our Lady, who asked that the first Saturday of every month be reserved for Our Lady of the Rosary.
We were told that piles of letters and requests for healing and other intentions were brought to Lucia, to be included in her prayers or for her just to touch. This is a shining example of the power of faith. Your faith has made you well, said Christ to those he gives health of body or soul, Blessed Guerric had reflected.
On our drive to the Spanish-French border, we saw lush greenery and sheep grazing in the pastures, calming and relaxing scenes. Our companions from different places, ages 30-84, sang along the way. All were filled with faith and compassion, willingly helping my parents and other senior members when needed.
We also visited the monastery in Tolosa where St. Ignatius de Loyola was born.
Lourdes, France
Lourdes is one of the most visited sites worldwide. In the evening, the group joined the candlelight procession. A steady stream of people converged in the underground chapel where benediction for the sick was given.
Lourdes is meant to be experienced. Describing it in words falls short of the immense goodwill it generates. The staff reportedly number in the hundreds; volunteers helping out are in the thousands.
A trip to Lourdes is not complete without visiting the grotto. The lame who had been miraculously cured hung their crutches near the grotto. Another must-see site is the miraculous bath. My fellow pilgrims reported feeling lighter, refreshed after a dip.
We went on a walking tour of the sanctuaries, including the local mill and the Body Mill, where Our Lady of Fatima appeared to Saint Bernadette. She had a rosary with six decades of beads instead of the usual five, said our guide. Then we attended a private Mass celebrated in the Basilica’s crypt.
We all agreed that the opportunity to visit these places is a renewal of faith and walking through these solemn, religious and history-filled places, one of life’s rare and pleasant miracles.
My father has had three transient ischemic attacks and multiple cerebral strokes that have led to his unsteady gait, diminished strength and sensation. We brought along a walker for him to use – our Spanish-speaking driver christened it taca taca and it became a marker of the whole pilgrimage.
Doubts surfaced on whether my dad could participate in the long walks. But being a man with deep devotion to the Blessed Mother and Saint Joseph, he was so determined to finish the pilgrimage that all doubts were erased on whether he could endure all the walking.
I had to assist both Mom and Dad, who both had difficulty walking. Sometimes Dad would lose his balance from stepping on the back of one shoe. I would carefully straighten the back of his shoes so he would not trip, recalling the words of John the Baptist who said he wasn’t fit to tie the sandal straps of the One who was to come.
It was truly God’s grace that my dad celebrated his 87th birthday in Lourdes, France and Spain, two special places with deep devotion to the Blessed Mother. That my soon-to-be-80 mom and I were traveling with him was providential.
Zaragoza, Montserrat, Toledo, Barcelona
Our Lady of the Pillar, one of the world’s largest Marian shrines, can be found in Zaragoza, Spain. She is the patroness of all Hispanic nations.
This was a site Our Lady visited before her Assumption, according to our guide. When St. James was evangelizing Spain, she was said to have appeared on a pillar. This pillar has been conserved and is said to emit a special fragrance.
In Montserrat we made our way to the Benedictine Shrine of the Cherished Black Madonna, said to have been carved by the evangelist Saint Luke.
We found exquisite handmade jewelry in Toledo. It’s anyone’s guess if the expression “Holy Toledo” by Robin, Batman’s ward, has some connection to this place.
Next was a visit to Barcelona, the site of the 1992 Olympics where we passed by the athletes’ living quarters. We went to two places: the Antonio Gaudi Parc Guell and Church of the Holy Family.
The Parc was meant to showcase Gaudi’s ideas on town planning. But he died before its completion. What we found was a parking entrance, two houses, a covered walkway and a long seat. The restoration of these structures has been limited since Gaudi did not leave any plans. He was however able to do the crypt and the Nativity facade.
Madrid
We took a morning flight to Madrid where the group visited the Prado Museum with its many cultural treasures. Then we proceeded to Avila where we visited the quarters of Santa Teresa.
An interesting story - once while she was praying, a man asked her who she was. “I am Teresa of Avila,” she said. Then she asked the stranger the same question, and he replied: “I am Jesus of Teresa.”
Through a pillar, a grotto, a relic or even the course of our daily routines, Our Lord and Lady continue to invite and call out to us, “Be it done unto you according to your faith.”