Has anyone here visited Lourdes, France? | |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 32098210 Belgium 01/23/2013 07:41 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | i don't want to take your hope or faith away, but... i was there once, and found it to be a horrible place. just like santiago de compostella. no magic, no tranquility, only busloads of ill people deluding themselves into thinking there is a miracle reserved for them. it is a huge commercial religious fair, shaped like a town, a tourist trap. if your mother wants a nice european religious place to visit in her last days, i'd highly recommend Assisi in italy (the town of saint Francis of Assisi): very quiet and peaceful, also busloads of tourists during summer, not many tourist stalls, active churches where tourists are actively silenced, lots of exhibitions and meaningfull activities on the side. very pleasant town on a foothill in the perugian countryside. plenty of magic! but not known for miracles... [link to en.wikipedia.org] |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 32715303 United States 01/23/2013 07:43 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | I have not but have heard of so much. Lourdes and Fatima. I know a person who spiritually changed and dedicated the rest of his life to Our Lady. If you mom wants to go, take her now. Don't wait. Take advantage of all the blessings before its too late. I only wish I could go. |
chumpisme User ID: 32520610 Canada 01/23/2013 07:47 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | my mother's dying wish...Get her there, if you can financially. TV Lourdes non stop [link to en.lourdes-france.org] Last Edited by chumpisme on 01/23/2013 07:48 AM |
Anonymous Coward (OP) User ID: 23870728 Philippines 01/23/2013 07:55 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | i don't want to take your hope or faith away, but... Quoting: Anonymous Coward 32098210 i was there once, and found it to be a horrible place. just like santiago de compostella. no magic, no tranquility, only busloads of ill people deluding themselves into thinking there is a miracle reserved for them. it is a huge commercial religious fair, shaped like a town, a tourist trap. if your mother wants a nice european religious place to visit in her last days, i'd highly recommend Assisi in italy (the town of saint Francis of Assisi): very quiet and peaceful, also busloads of tourists during summer, not many tourist stalls, active churches where tourists are actively silenced, lots of exhibitions and meaningfull activities on the side. very pleasant town on a foothill in the perugian countryside. plenty of magic! but not known for miracles... [link to en.wikipedia.org] That is my feeling as well and I worry because taking her to a place with large crowds might do her more ill than good but I think my mother is hoping for a miracle. I will also look up assisi, maybe we can do a tour with her. Thank you very much for your insight! |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 32098210 Belgium 01/23/2013 08:01 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Anonymous Coward (OP) User ID: 23870728 Philippines 01/23/2013 08:04 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | I have not but have heard of so much. Lourdes and Fatima. I know a person who spiritually changed and dedicated the rest of his life to Our Lady. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 32715303 If you mom wants to go, take her now. Don't wait. Take advantage of all the blessings before its too late. I only wish I could go. my mother's dying wish...Get her there, if you can financially. Quoting: chumpisme TV Lourdes non stop [link to en.lourdes-france.org] my mother's dying wish...Get her there, if you can financially. Quoting: chumpisme TV Lourdes non stop [link to en.lourdes-france.org] Yes without a doubt we will take her. I was hoping maybe someone had some advice on how to make the trip easier for her because she is already quite fragile and I would wish that this trip will be peaceful for her. She doesn't understand that it will be very crowded, especially in May when she wants to go. Thank you very much for the video site! It's very helpful as I can let her watch it. |
Anonymous Coward (OP) User ID: 23870728 Philippines 01/23/2013 08:06 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | taking her to a place with large crowds might do her more ill than good Quoting: Anonymous Coward 23870728 Yes she wants to go in May for her birthday. She keeps saying she feels it will be her last |
Dr. Acula Senior Forum Moderator User ID: 78102 United States 01/23/2013 08:22 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Anonymous Coward (OP) User ID: 23870728 Philippines 01/23/2013 08:31 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | sorry OP about your mom. Quoting: Dr. Acula Do your best to take her :) it might help her mentality and will to live! :) Thank you! I am not much of a believer of such things however I am a great believer that happiness cures many ailments. My concern for this trip is that she will be happy and hassle free. |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 32801240 France 01/23/2013 09:28 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | [link to en.lourdes-france.org] It might help you in your endeavour. Kindest regards to your Mother and I sincerely hope that whatever you do for her helps her in this, her time of need. |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 32868114 United Kingdom 01/23/2013 09:57 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | If so, do you have any insight/ advice? I personally would not want to make the trip but it's my mother's dying wish to visit there. I've read some websites but any personal experience and non touristy tips will be most appreciated. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 23870728 ive passed through a few times on the way to bareges - in the mountains this is a very sweet mountain village a few miles south of the col de tourmalet ( high point of the tour de france)~45 min drive from lourdes its stairs and steep roads but it has a beautiful bath house with thermal springs -very rejuvenating (napoleon used to rest his troops there post battle ) lourdes is a bit neon for me- shops with flashing jesus's buses queueing , a lot of tourists in big guided tours lots of wheelchair access but i would try and get to a service if you can - and then stay in bareges if it's feasible |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 26882161 United States 01/23/2013 11:08 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | I went there a few years back in the winter time around February. No crowds, very intimate setting but very cold at the time. Almost no tourists at that time of year. Our family was able to pray at the shrine of our lady late at night alone with hardly a soul around. Personally, I had a very brief "mind snapshot" vision of our lady that I'll never forget. It's personal so I won't mention it here. My wife went to be cured of cancer, she had 2 lumps in her breast that she had to have taken out. She wanted to be spared chemotherapy. Needless to say, she's very religious and got the answer she was looking for: She felt very strongly that she wouldn't have to take chemotherapy but she'd have to have the lumps removed. She had her left breast removed and never took chemo. That was 6 years ago with no relapse since. Lourdes is a beautiful place and has a beautiful story behind it. Read the book about Saint Bernadette of Lourdes when you have a chance and go there to pray some time and possibly be cured. That's what it's there for and it's as relevant today as it was 150 years ago. God's works are eternal, timeless. |
Anonymous Coward (OP) User ID: 23870728 Philippines 01/23/2013 11:50 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Hi OP, have a look at this weblink to. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 32801240 [link to en.lourdes-france.org] It might help you in your endeavour. Kindest regards to your Mother and I sincerely hope that whatever you do for her helps her in this, her time of need. Thank you! How kind! |
Sir France's Beercan User ID: 1245590 Austria 01/23/2013 11:52 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Anonymous Coward (OP) User ID: 23870728 Philippines 01/23/2013 11:53 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | If so, do you have any insight/ advice? I personally would not want to make the trip but it's my mother's dying wish to visit there. I've read some websites but any personal experience and non touristy tips will be most appreciated. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 23870728 ive passed through a few times on the way to bareges - in the mountains this is a very sweet mountain village a few miles south of the col de tourmalet ( high point of the tour de france)~45 min drive from lourdes its stairs and steep roads but it has a beautiful bath house with thermal springs -very rejuvenating (napoleon used to rest his troops there post battle ) lourdes is a bit neon for me- shops with flashing jesus's buses queueing , a lot of tourists in big guided tours lots of wheelchair access but i would try and get to a service if you can - and then stay in bareges if it's feasible Thank you! It's nice to learn these options! It helps our plans take shape. |
Anonymous Coward (OP) User ID: 23870728 Philippines 01/23/2013 12:06 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | I went there a few years back in the winter time around February. No crowds, very intimate setting but very cold at the time. Almost no tourists at that time of year. Our family was able to pray at the shrine of our lady late at night alone with hardly a soul around. Personally, I had a very brief "mind snapshot" vision of our lady that I'll never forget. It's personal so I won't mention it here. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 26882161 My wife went to be cured of cancer, she had 2 lumps in her breast that she had to have taken out. She wanted to be spared chemotherapy. Needless to say, she's very religious and got the answer she was looking for: She felt very strongly that she wouldn't have to take chemotherapy but she'd have to have the lumps removed. She had her left breast removed and never took chemo. That was 6 years ago with no relapse since. Lourdes is a beautiful place and has a beautiful story behind it. Read the book about Saint Bernadette of Lourdes when you have a chance and go there to pray some time and possibly be cured. That's what it's there for and it's as relevant today as it was 150 years ago. God's works are eternal, timeless. That is wonderful to hear about your wife! I am quite skeptical and even reject a lot about religion however my heart outweighs my mind where my mother is involved. I worry a little inside that this trip might take a lot out of her, she's almost 90 and fragile but at the same time she looks like a child when she talks about visiting Lourdes. So hopeful and almost innocent. She is very traditional Catholic and like your wife, believes in miracles more than doctors. I cannot fault that because I am convinced that there is more to our lives than we know. I will tell her your story when I speak with her. She will be very happy! Thank you! |
Anonymous Coward (OP) User ID: 23870728 Philippines 01/23/2013 12:08 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Anonymous Coward (OP) User ID: 23870728 Philippines 01/23/2013 12:09 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 32872842 Netherlands 01/23/2013 12:25 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 32872842 Netherlands 01/23/2013 12:30 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Jeppe User ID: 32895783 Denmark 01/23/2013 06:27 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Check this out from the New York Times : [link to lens.blogs.nytimes.com] |
Dr. Acula Senior Forum Moderator User ID: 277248 United States 01/23/2013 07:57 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 28965328 Philippines 01/25/2013 12:11 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Check this out from the New York Times : [link to lens.blogs.nytimes.com] Quoting: Jeppe 32895783 Many thanks! This was touching! |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 32980376 Spain 01/25/2013 01:40 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | I have not but have heard of so much. Lourdes and Fatima. I know a person who spiritually changed and dedicated the rest of his life to Our Lady. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 32715303 If you mom wants to go, take her now. Don't wait. Take advantage of all the blessings before its too late. I only wish I could go. my mother's dying wish...Get her there, if you can financially. Quoting: chumpisme TV Lourdes non stop [link to en.lourdes-france.org] my mother's dying wish...Get her there, if you can financially. Quoting: chumpisme TV Lourdes non stop [link to en.lourdes-france.org] Yes without a doubt we will take her. I was hoping maybe someone had some advice on how to make the trip easier for her because she is already quite fragile and I would wish that this trip will be peaceful for her. She doesn't understand that it will be very crowded, especially in May when she wants to go. Thank you very much for the video site! It's very helpful as I can let her watch it. There are Catholic organizations that cater for ill people and organize trips there. Contact your local Catholic parish op Im sure they can give you a contact address and or number. It would be so much easier for you as they provide nurses and carers during the trip and stay there |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 32980376 Spain 01/25/2013 01:43 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | If you mother is ill I would advise you to do the trip and the stay there under supervised professional care. They can help you I think. Blessings [link to www.unitalsi.it] |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 33165293 Philippines 01/27/2013 09:16 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | I have lots of Italian friends that do volunteer work for this organization that takes ill people to Lourdes. I think if you contact the linbk they will be able to help. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 32980376 If you mother is ill I would advise you to do the trip and the stay there under supervised professional care. They can help you I think. Blessings [link to www.unitalsi.it] Thank you very much!! |
abeliever Members User ID: 17868616 United States 03/06/2013 11:38 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | I agree with Dr. A. You should take her. I have been there. I went with friends and we took our own rental car. It is down into a small area from mountains, like a big ravine. There's no place to park, so have someone drop you at the grotto and circle around. Because it is small it is difficult for maneuvering and tons of buses with tourists go there. It is repulsive how commercialized it is. It would make Our Lady of Lourdes cry. It took me aback. Last Edited by abeliever on 03/07/2013 10:30 PM |