Have you ever felt called to visit a place not as a tourist, but as a pilgrim, invited to encounter Jesus and our Mother Mary in a holy place?
Lourdes: A Place of Healing and Hope
My invitation to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes was not a simple coincidence, but a gentle whisper from Our Lady herself. A year before I set foot in Lourdes, a woman I met at a business event gifted me a rosary from the sanctuary. At that moment, tears filled my eyes, for my mother was gravely ill. Each night, I found solace in praying the “Hail Mary,” clinging to the hope and comfort that only our Blessed Mother can give.
It was the summer of 2024. I wandered through London, visiting various cathedrals and churches, carrying a grief that felt too heavy to name. I had taken a month’s annual leave, hoping to find some peace of mind, but I was still uncertain about whether I should travel to Lourdes. One afternoon, as I browsed a religious souvenir shop, I was drawn to a beautiful white and blue prayer card of Our Lady of Lourdes. The name “Lourdes” echoed in my heart, bringing back the vivid memories of the rosary that the woman had gifted me the year before. As if guided by an unseen hand, I decided to follow this gentle call.
That year, my journey began with the curiosity of a tourist but gradually transformed into the thoughtful reflection of a pilgrim, as each experience deepened my understanding and opened my heart to unexpected grace amid the darkness of grief.
The Holy Rosary with Our Lady of Lourdes
In the summer of 2025, I returned to Lourdes for the second time, this time to serve pilgrims as a volunteer. On my second day, I was still adjusting to the multilingual environment, French, Italian, Spanish, English, and Mandarin, and had not known anyone there. One of the senior volunteers asked if I spoke English, and when I replied yes, I was invited to lead a part of the Sorrowful Mysteries in the English language.
As I began to pray, stumbling over two missing lines of the "Our Father" in a language that was not my own, I teared up. A senior volunteer gently stepped in to help me. With each "Hail Mary," my tears quieted. I was able to finish my part, and at the end, we sang the serene and moving chorus of “Ave Maria de Lourdes” together. Many volunteers came to me and hugged me, offering encouragement and friendship, a gift born from Our Lady of Lourdes’ compassion and our shared faith.
Our Mother Mary is gentle and patient. Countless times, I had promised myself to pray the Rosary, only to forget amidst the demands of daily life, fatigue, and a busy work schedule. Again and again, I fell short. I also regretted the moments when I approached prayer too casually, rushing through without truly meditating on the Mysteries of the Rosary.
Yet, in my vulnerability before our Mother Mary, I sensed her gentle invitation: “Begin again and learn from the very start.” From that day on, while serving at Lourdes, I began to pray the Rosary with humility, learning from others whose devotion deeply inspired me. I discovered that the gentle rhythm of the repetitive prayers had a profound spiritual effect on me.
“Do not be afraid; just have faith” (Mark 5:36)
As I led the Rosary a few more times, I felt my confidence gently blossom, as if our Mother Mary was accompanying me, showing herself as my role model. I learned that I am not just called to serve others, but to serve with “a spirit of humility”, accepting whatever service is asked of me. Experiencing the accompaniment of Our Lady of Lourdes, with her warmth, tenderness, and love, showed me that praying the Rosary is not merely a repetition of prayers anymore, but a devotion of trust that draws one closer to her and her Son, the living Christ of humility and salvation.
Learning to pray the Mysteries of the Rosary with deeper devotion has truly changed my life. Now, I seek moments of silence and reorder my priorities every day, longing to encounter Jesus and be renewed. Just as I learned to pray the Rosary from the beginning, I am learning to begin anew in faith, from the beginning again, trusting that God’s grace will guide and shape me.
October: The Month of the Holy Rosary
Though I am back home in Hong Kong now and have returned to regular life, I eagerly join the online Rosary at the Grotto, united in spirit with Our Lady of Lourdes, to pray for the sick, the suffering, the poor, and for you, my brothers and sisters. Our Lady’s companionship helps me draw ever closer to Christ each day.
This month of October, I invite you to take a moment to reflect deeply on the role the Rosary plays in your own life. Where are you on your journey of prayer, and how have you grown through it?
If you have ever experienced the grace and beauty of praying the Rosary, I encourage you to share your insights and experiences, so that together we may deepen our faith and devotion. May the Holy Spirit guide us and fill our hearts with the peace that comes from this beautiful prayer.
May this month, dedicated to the Holy Rosary, draw us all closer to the Mother Church, and through her, to the loving heart of Jesus.
Those who would like to join the “Live from the Grotto of Lourdes” may please use the following link: https://www.lourdes-france.com/en/lourdesplus/
