Did you know this about the IW Knights of Columbus?
From May 17-23, a group of American Warrior Pilgrims, including wounded and non wounded, are traveling to Lourdes, France, with the Warriors to Lourdes Pilgrimage to take part in the 59th International Military Pilgrimage.
Sponsored by the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, (AMS) and the Knights of Columbus, the program is a time for healing, both spiritually and physically, in the sacred waters of the grotto and the surrounding atmosphere.
In a letter to pilgrimage attendees, Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, (AMS) also discussed the theme of this year’s pilgrimage, sharing his hope that the trip would allow pilgrims to be touched by peace and ‘serve to strengthen the cause of peace in our time.’
The pilgrims have a weekend full of activities planned for them, including a series of Masses and ceremonies with veterans from other countries, a recitation of the rosary and the Stations of the Cross, and even a military band concert.
The Knights’ sponsorship of the pilgrimage is the latest chapter in the story of their involvement in Lourdes, which first began nearly 100 years ago. During the First World War, the Knights were extremely active in serving American troops abroad and had an official Knights of Columbus Army Hut right in Lourdes itself. ‘The experiences of the Knights of Columbus in France have been almost as various as are the emotions of man,’ a report from the period says. It continues:
Immediately following the end of the war, the Knights also produced a Guide to Lourdes after repeated requests from American pilgrims.
‘There have been so many requests from the members of the American Expeditionary Forces for a ‘Guide to Lourdes,’ the introduction to the booklet says, ‘that the Knights of Columbus feel themselves called upon to present this little volume. It has always been our desire to serve our forces in every way possible.’
But that wasn’t all. With so many American troops stationed throughout Europe, the Knights of Columbus organized the first-ever international military pilgrimage to the Marian shrine at Lourdes.
‘Nothing that the boys have done,’ the article says, ‘has given the Knights such satisfaction as has the visits of the doughboys to the shrine of Our Lady at Lourdes.’
‘Some of us had come six thousand miles,’ the author says, ‘but if we had come from the uppermost parts of the earth, the joy of these moments would have made the journey and the fatigue seem as nothing. The atmosphere was redolent with prayer and praise and thanksgiving.’
Especially thankful to the sacrifice and service of our veterans, Knights of Columbus everywhere join with the supreme knight and the archbishop in praying for a successful and impactful pilgrimage for all those currently in France, and for all who have risked their lives for our freedom.
This article was posted on the KofC.com.”
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