MONTFORT, MISSIONARY OF MERCY
" OPEN TO JESUS-CHRIST ! "
17 – 23 April 2016
68th Montfortian Pilgrimage to Lourdes
Our 2016 Pilgrimage gives us the blissful opportunity to celebrate jointly a pair of Church events :
The Tricentenary of the Death of Saint Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort and
The Jubilee of Mercy
1 * 28th of April 1716-28th of April 2016 :
St Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort, the apostolic missionary with a fiery heart. 300 years ago while the parish mission at St Laurent sur Sèvre (Vendée) was on the run, exhausted and stricken by pleuresy St Louis-Marie was passing away. All the members of the great Montfortian family, are present today on the 5 continents :
The Daughters of Wisdom, the Brothers of Saint Gabriel, the Montfort Missionary Brothers and Fathers of the Company of Mary, accompanied by quite a number of Associates, are united in giving thanks for the task achieved across the world in the service of the Church mission. What Marian venue more appropriate than Lourdes to celebrate our thanksgiving at the rythm of the Ave Maria's, in unison with the pilgrims come from the whole world ? Would not St Louis-Marie “the Father with the huge rosary” have the crowd sing: “Through the Hail Mary every grace will come”?
2 *From the 8th of December 2015- to the 20th of Novembrer 2016 : The Great jubilee of Mercy: “Mercy is the Church pilar prop ” (Pope Francis) Repeating the words of the Immaculate : “ Penance, penance!” On pope Friancis's initiative, the Church proposed the grace of this Jubilee year of Mercy. And, adding in our direction : “ Mercy is the key-word of the Gospel, we can say it is the “visage” of Christ, the visage he would manifest when going along and meeting everybody (...) and most particularly when nailed on the cross forgiving...” We are determined to live in truth, in Lourdes, the return to the Father overflowing with mercy scrutinizing the return of his lost son ? That image of Mercy, St Louis-Marie would present as the goal of all his parish missions .
3 *”A pilgrimmage represents a particular sign in a holy year...
... May the mildness of Mary's glance accompany us...” (Pope Francis). Come from lots of different nations, we unite in one unique élan of trust in the Mother of mercy. She will be our leader as we walk the spiritual path across the different sanctuaries. The prayer, the sacraments of reconciliation and the Eucharist, the periods of adoration that will vitalize the pilgrimage as we proceed. And so we will testify both to mercy welcomed and mercy distributed around. Our passing through the 'Holy Door' will open our week and introduce us into the footsteps of Father Montfort.
P. Pierre Grosperrin
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