For more than 160 years, people have flocked to a little town in the Pyrenees mountains called Lourdes, to pray for healing, reconciliation and peace. On May 18, with the support of the Knights of Columbus and the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services, over 200 U.S. veterans, wounded warriors and active duty military men and women, came with their caregivers to the 60th International Military Pilgrimage as one U.S. delegation called “Warriors to Lourdes.”

Four members of the U.S. delegation were from the Diocese of Brooklyn and Queens – Sean Cintron, David and Irene Valentin and Father Mark Bristol.

The International Military Pilgrimage to Lourdes (also called PMI), was established after the Second World War when members of the French military invited representatives from the British, Belgian, American, Russian and German military to celebrate Mass together at the Basilica of Our Lady of Rosary in Lourdes.

In 1958, a miracle happened: military personnel from opposing sides of the war came together on pilgrimage to pray for world peace, which marked the 100th anniversary of the appearance of the Blessed Virgin Mary to a 14-year-old girl named Bernadette in a hollow rocky cave in Lourdes.

This year, more than 18,000 military service members with delegations from 50 nations came to Lourdes on pilgrimage under the theme, “Pacem in Terra,” or “Peace on Earth.”

Warriors to Lourdes is a unique experience because it allows veterans and active duty members, who are non-wounded, wounded, ill or injured to come on a spiritual journey to experience healing, reconciliation and peace.

Chaplain from Douglaston

Father Bristol, a Navy veteran and parochial vicar at St. Anastasia parish in Douglaston, served as one of the chaplains.

He described his experience of ministry during pilgrimage as “powerful,” saying, “to accompany men and women who are suffering from ailments in the body or the soul due their service in military was humbling. I felt honored to help these pilgrim warriors encounter some sense of peace through the sacraments, spiritual conferences and devotions such as the stations of the cross, rosary processions and the ritual baths in the waters of Lourdes.”

At Lourdes, the wounded vets are the VIPs at every event. They remind those present that God loves each person in his or her weakness, suffering and ailments and gives the grace to moved forward in life with hope.

David Valentin, an Army veteran and parishioner of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, S. Ozone Park, learned about the Warrior to Lourdes pilgrimage while he was a patient at the Military Treatment Facility for ill and injured service members.

“While a patient at the Military Treatment Facility, I noticed some of the patients received an opportunity to go to France,” said Valentin.

“As I was preparing to be discharged from the military, a chaplain interviewed me for an application with the Knights of Columbus to participate in this pilgrimage.”

Reflecting on his experience in Lourdes, David said, “I am very happy that my wife and I were given this opportunity to rejuvenate our Catholic faith. On arriving to Lourdes, I quickly felt a strong sense of spiritual relief as I walked into the vast openness of the Lourdes sanctuary.”

Spiritual Healing

The Warrior to Lourdes pilgrimage provided a deep sense of spiritual relief to veterans and military personnel who are seeking spiritual healing. For many of the military pilgrims, the grace of healing and relief came through the experience of being together with other Catholics in the military, united in prayer and worship to God through Mary. The liturgies, symbols and signs in Lourdes inspired them to take their faith seriously and become open to Our Lady’s message of peace and reconciliation with God.

“As we celebrate Memorial Day, this year, we are reminded to pray for those who died while serving in our nation’s armed forces. We are also reminded to pray for peace,” said Father Bristol.

Cintron, a former U.S. Army paratrooper and parishioner at the Basilica of Regina Pacis Bensonhurst, said, “…coming to Lourdes where the presence of Our Lady permeates the ground, I am encouraged to pray for peace.

“Many nations were represented on this pilgrimage, many of which were once enemies at war, some of which who still hold disagreements today. And yet, under the mantle of Queen of Peace, peace is what exactly reigns here at Lourdes.”

At the closing Mass on the Feast of Pentecost, the homilist reminded the military pilgrims to stay connected to the source of the peace that they have found at Lourdes, which is the Holy Spirit alive in their hearts. He told them that the Holy Spirit remains with them as they return to their military bases and homes, calling them to be like Our Lady of Lourdes – instruments of God’s healing, reconciliation and peace to all.

To learn more about the Warrior to Lourdes Pilgrimage, visit www.warriorstolourdes.com.

Also see : Soliders Find Faith, Build Peace on Lourdes Pilgrimage