Knights of Columbus and the Military Pilgrimage to Lourdes

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Knights of Columbus and the Military Pilgrimage
to Lourdes

• Knights of Columbus reported on the Memorial Day
  weekend, injured along with disabled American
  military veterans were traveling to Lourdes,
  France, as part of the 55th International
  Military Pilgrimage.
•  
• This event had been sponsored by the Archdiocese
  for the military services and Knights of Columbus
  insurance, the pilgrimage is a time for healing,
  both spiritually as well as physically, in the
  holy waters of the grotto and the bordering
  surroundings.
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• In a letter to this years pilgrims, the Supreme
  Knight of the Knights of Columbus, Carl Anderson,
  conveyed the honest thanks of the 1.8 million
  people in the Knights of Columbus to individuals
  who have served, and expressed desire that this
  pilgrimage is an important time for them.
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• The waters of Lourdes are actually a source of
  refreshment as well as healing for the millions
  who have visited this holy place, he stated,
  and I pray that each one of you will discover at
  the Grotto some measure of relaxation and
  solace.
•  

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In addition responding to the pilgrims in the
opening letter, Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of
the Archdiocese for the Military Services
conveyed his wishes for the trip, saying, We
hope that these upcoming days at the heart of
the Church bring comfort, overall health, and
also calmness to those who have provided a lot of
themselves.   The pilgrims have a weekend filled
with activities structured for them, including a
series of Masses and rituals with veterans from
other countries, a recitation of the rosary and
the Stations of the Cross, and even a military
band performance.   The Knights' sponsorship of
the pilgrimage is definitely the latest phase in
the story of their participation in Lourdes,
which first commenced nearly hundred years back.
In the First World War, the Knights were very
active in serving American soldiers in foreign
countries and had an official Knights of Columbus
Army Hut right in Lourdes itself. The
experiences of the Knights of Columbus in France
have been nearly as various as are the emotions
of man, a report from the period says.  
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The Knights have joined in the military in their
time of difficulty they also have served them to
make good use of their instances of leisure time.
They have knelt by their side on the battlefield,
and, when no Priest was to be had, they have
taken the dying lads last message, encouraged
him in making his act of contrition, and, when
all was over, they have closed his eyes. In times
of military stress they have taken food to
soldiers in areas, which the commissary had been
unable to reach they have made merry with them
in hut and in club, joined in their pastimes,
found them good reading, comforted them in body
and in soul.   Right after the end of the war,
the Knights also produced helpful tips for
Lourdes right after repeated demands from
American pilgrims.   There have already been
lots of requests from the members of the American
Expeditionary Forces for a Guide to Lourdes,
the introduction to the report states, that the
Knights of Columbus really feel themselves called
upon to deliver this little volume. It has always
been our desire to serve our forces in every way
possible.   However, that is not all. With the
number of American troops stationed all through
the European countries, the Knights of Columbus
Carl Anderson arranged the first-ever
international military pilgrimage to the Marian
shrine at Lourdes.
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In particular grateful to the sacrifice and
service of our veterans, Knights of Columbus
everywhere join with the supreme knight as well
as the archbishop in wishing for a prosperous and
influential pilgrimage for the people now in
France, as well as for all who have risked their
lives for our freedom.   Source for This Article
- http//www.kofc.org/un/en/news/releases/detail/l
ourdes.html