Order of Malta

“Lourdes: A Door of Faith” was this year’s pastoral theme in the recently concluded annual pilgrimage of the Order of Malta to the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes. The sea of red, white, and black seen walking around the tiny, busy streets to and fro garbed in their working capes signifies the arrival of the Order’s members to attend the annual fraternity in service to our Lords, the sick, and the poor. Respective delegations traveled with their malades from countries such as Spain and Switzerland, Italy and the United States, Hungary, England and Malta to name a few.

All activities focused on daily mass, meditation and prayer…always focusing to attain deeper communion with God. The Blessed Sacrament procession headed by the Grand Master on the first afternoon; the Pontificial mass on Sunday and the Mass for the Sick on the last day gave everyone the chance to pray…not only to pray for the renewal and strengthening of faith but also to adoringly kneel in thanksgiving for bountiful blessings received.

The Order brings together thousands to the biggest International Pilgrimage which reminds us of the door of faith that leads us to our Heavenly Creator. Mary, our Immaculate Mother, was given to us not only to lead us to Christ Jesus but also to lead others who may be in the midst of anger and confusion in their lives. Mary helps her children to go through the door of faith, inspired by the unwavering faith of St. Bernadette. In this we look to ourselves and contemplate the mystery of faith and charity. Why does the call to mission at our baptism help us to further grasp the deeper, louder, and more painful thud we hear calling in our hearts? Charity brings us out to reach out to others, out of our usual zones of comfort. It is during these precious moments—the touch of a strangers, the smile of friendship, the tears of gratitude, all these, the little that we do, the little hope we can give—teach us to be more merciful beings. With mercy comes compassion and it is this compassion that allows us not only to stretch out our hands to others but to stretch out our hands and care for those God has entrusted to us.