Nevertheless, a very sleepy party arrived at Cahors just before 11 p.m. The Convent at which we were to stay was in a street so narrow that the coach could scarcely enter and was unable to turn. The friendly welcome which the Sisters gave us soon made everyone feel quite at home as we settled in the spacious refectory for an evening meal.

Everything was so attractively set out - anemones on the tables and glass plates in green, yellow and red. By the time we had made our beds and retired it was midnight, and there was little chatter in the dormitories as we wished to be up for Mass in the Convent Chapel at 7.30 a.m.

On Saturday morning, after visiting the Devil's Bridge, we left Cahors with the thrilling realisation "To-night we shall be in Lourdes." As snow was still falling, we had lunch in the coaches at Moissac, but afterwards visited the Cathedral with its beautiful cloisters. As the journey continued, we found a great change in the scenery.

Here in the South, the fields were lain out in orchards and vineyards, anti fruit trees were in blossom in spite of the icy cold weather. ;When Auch was reached, we were allowed twenty minutes to visit the Cathedral. It was massive.

The Choir stalls are very famous; the Mysteries of the Rosary are carved on them so clearly and with such attention to every detail. The Renaissance High Altar was so out of place among the Gothic arches and pillars.

Lourdes was our one thought as we resumed our journey and we began counting the miles. For the first time since we left Paris the road was getting busy with traffic, cars coming and going. The whole scenery was misty with falling snow. 12 miles to go. Visibility nil! The fields were white, and as we approached Lourdes we could just see the outline of the Pyrenees. Singing the Magnificat, we entered the town - Lourdes at last.

Our residence during the three days stay was to be the Foyer Familial de la Jeune Fille, an attractive modern hostel. The girls were impressed by the place and an attractive meal was served - as English as possible, but our one desire was to go to the Grotto.

None of us will ever forget the feeling as we approached the spot where Our Lady had appeared. Her presence make itself felt; one cannot describe the impression, it must be experienced to be understood.

Sunday morning. Deo Gratias. We rose early with the realisation that our dreams had come true; we really were in Lourdes. Not a moment of the Dprecious time was to be lost, so we set off for Mass and Holy Communion at the Grotto.

The intentions of all those who would have been so happy to be there, were foremost in our minds and we prayed particularly for our families and for Reverend Mother and the Community.

Taking advantage of the fine weather, we decided to have a picnic breakfast in the fields near the Cave and go immediately after to make the Stations of the Cross. The seniors asked that we mignt go bare-foot, to enter into the spirit of penance and to try to understand a little of what Our Lord must have suffered as He walked the rough road to Calvary.

Being fortunate enough to begin at a time when we did not coincide with other groups, we were able to recite the prayers together at each Station and to sing the Stabat as we passed from one Station to the next. At the 12th Station we sang the "0 Crux Ave" three times and commended to Our Lord all the needs of the Congregation.

After the Stations had been completed we sang "Soul of My Saviour," as we descended the hill and then returned to the Grotto. This time we were able to pass round, kiss the rock and place our petitions. In the afternoon, a visit to the Rosary Basilica was arranged and the various chapels were admired. A decade of the Rosary was said at each and we then attended Solemn Vespers, followed by Benediction.

At 4.30 the children were assembled six deep for the Procession of the Blessed Sacrament, and the Boscombe Nuns then joined the Nuns representing all our other Convents and proceeded to the Grotto, as the Nuns follow the Blessed Sacrament in this procession, and the children walk in front. None of us will ever forget that experience; so very many sick lying there awaiting the passing of Our Blessed Lord - and one feels Him to be so near, where His Mother is so honoured.

The invocations were said in English, French, Spanish and Dutch, and we found ourselves repeating them with a fervour we had never known before. "Lord, that I may see; Lord that I may hear; Lord, He whom Thou lovest is sick." The "Lauda Sion" was sung by groups of all nations.

At Lourdes the universality of the Church strikes one so forcibly. We English were at once conscious of the thoroughly Catholic atmosphere: here the Faith was lived, no thought for convention, each one is face to face with Our Lady and her Divine Son.



As one of the girls expressed it: "I was taken quite out of myself." A younger member of our party, trying to voice the same experience was heard to remark, "I felt just like a Saint. It was awful"! Our group was very close to some of the dying and felt it a special favour when one of the priests came and recommended to our prayers a man who was not expected to live longer than that day.

His death occurred before the end of the Procession, but the close contact with such grave realities brought no fear. As the Blessed Sacrament was carried among the sick we realised that bodily cures are of minor importance - and one could see grace at work in the faith and courage of the suffering.

As the crowds dispersed we made our way to the underground Basilica of Pope Pius X - a building constructed with the idea of accommodating the vast crowds for the Procession of the Sick during bad weather.

In the evening we were back in the Rosary Square to take Dart in the torchlight procession. What a thrill it was to form part of that vast crowd, so numerous, yet in such perfect order, as we walked singing the Lourdes Hymn. All round us the same praise of Our Lady was being sung in many other languages.

When at last the Square was filled, there came the grand climax, The Credo, intoned by the Cardinal who was presiding, taken up by that mighty crowd, who with one heart and voice makes its profession of Faith. The final blessing was for all of us the end of a perfect day.

On Monday morning some were up at 5 a.m. and reached the Grotto when it was free of the usual crowds, Mass began at 5.30 and so did the rain! At 7.30 all the Pilgrims of the Cross went up to the Upper Basilica, where Mass was said for the intentions of the Society, by Monsieur l'Aumonier of Soissons.

After Thanksgiving we all gathered round the Crowned Statue of Our Lady in the Square, and Reverend Mother Viet spoke to us. Before dividing up into various groups we sang the Salve Regina. The rain was coming down heavily and continued all day. It seemed wise to spend the morning shopping, so that there might be some protection from the weather.

However, getting wet did not really matter to us as we wished to use every available moment, and immediately after lunch we made our way to the Baths. The whole place was drenched but the crowds were the biggest we had seen, and we had much difficulty in getting past the Grotto to the Baths. We queued for a couple of hours, at the end of which some of us were able to get in, but one group of our younger pilgrims was disappointed.

Others managed to get into the Basilica for the Blessing of the Sick, but in the evening all returned to the Foyer to try to dry our wet clothes. This process was a most entertaining if difficult one, and the consequent sorting out of possessions next morning was a work of art.