IWKnights Corner for July 10, 2022 – 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Did you know this about the IW Knights of Columbus? 

“By the spring of 1919, the once unassuming French village of Lourdes, located on the foothills of the Pyrenees Mountains, had drawn thousands — if not millions — of pilgrims, seeking miraculous healings and a deepening of faith.  More than a half century prior, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared in the village to the 14-year-old peasant girl Bernadette Soubirous, revealing herself as ‘the Immaculate Conception,’ showing her the way to an underground spring, and instructing her to tell the local religious authorities to construct a chapel on the site.

Members of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) who survived the traumatic events of World War I aspired to have a transformative experience similar to the pilgrims who had already visited Lourdes.  With an army hut already established in the town to serve the spiritual needs of the AEF, the Knights of Columbus coordinated the first military pilgrimage after the war, affording nearly 3,000 soldiers still stationed in Europe the opportunity to visit the sacred grotto on the feast of the Annunciation, March 25.

More than a century later, the Order remains committed to supporting the spiritual and temporal well-being of military personnel.  Since 2013, the Knights of Columbus has partnered with the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, (AMS) to sponsor the Warriors to Lourdes pilgrimage, which welcomes U.S. military personnel suffering from physical injuries, as well as those suffering from mental or moral injury — an injury to a person’s conscience after an act of perceived moral transgression.  This year’s pilgrimage will be the first held in person since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Warriors to Lourdes takes place in conjunction with the annual International Military Pilgrimage (Pèlerinage Militaire International or PMI), which was officially established in 1958 to promote reconciliation and peace for veterans of World War II.  The theme for this year’s PMI is Pacem Meam do Vobis —  ‘My peace I give unto you.’

‘As an organization rooted in faith, charity and patriotism, the Knights have remained committed to supporting the spiritual and temporal well-being of military personnel for more than a century, and this Lourdes pilgrimage for wounded, ill and injured service members continues our pledge to serve those who serve,’ Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly said in a letter to pilgrims.  ‘Just as Bernadette opened herself to the messages of the Blessed Mother in 1858, so too does Mary invite us to open our hearts to the transformative love of her son, Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace.’

From May 10-16, pilgrims will participate in events including an international opening ceremony, Masses, visits to the famous healing baths at Lourdes, a Unified Sports Challenge and a candlelight vigil that draws tens of thousands annually from more than 40 nations.”

There is more to this story - you can find a link to the full article above along with more information about the Knights of Columbus at IWKnights9981.com/bulletin or on facebook.com/IWknights9981 and NOW on Twitter at twitter.com/IwKnights.

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