Saints alongside us on pilgrimage | National Catholic Register

COMMENTARY: What began as a Marian pilgrimage across Europe became a lesson in Providence and the hidden encouragement of the saints.

Are there times when the saints in heaven follow us in unexpected ways? Do we notice their presence by finding their relics in unforeseen circumstances? Isn’t it surprising, then, to feel the strength of their prayers during adversity on the same day?

I have such fond memories of listening to the late Father Benedict Groeschel speak to us on the Sunday Night Live series about 20 years ago on EWTN. “There are no coincidences,” was one of his favorite phrases when he spoke about life as a true Catholic. I truly believe he was right when I recall the events of a recent pilgrimage I made to several holy sites in Europe, where I believe several of my favorite saints followed me everywhere.

The focus of the pilgrimage was the study of the Blessed Mother, particularly her apparitions at Fatima, Lourdes and in Paris, where she revealed the Miraculous Medal to Saint Catherine Labouré. Between these Marian sites, we explored the lives of primarily Carmelite saints. Nevertheless, my devotion to St. Francis of Assisi and his disciples was unexpectedly and evident in the encouragement they gave me as I completed what became a wonderfully insightful but surprisingly arduous two-week journey.

Our pilgrimage began in Lisbon before our departure for Fatima. After an incredible tour of the beautiful city, we celebrated mass at the church where Saint Anthony of Padua was born. As a Secular Franciscan, I was delighted to find not only first-rate relics of St. Anthony, but also those of St. Francis, his contemporary St. Dominic, and the first Franciscan martyrs. Even though I felt so blessed to be among these holy men at the same time that the tomb of Saint Francis was opened in Assisi, I had no idea how God was using these beloved saints as my cheering team until I returned to the hotel.

Taking a quick look at my phone before dinner, I saw several notifications from my credit union showing that my credit card had been used fraudulently at least seven times in two minutes. Instead of spending the evening contemplating the history of the Franciscans, I was forced to make a two-hour phone call to the United States to resolve the situation.

Although understandably shocked, I had the grace to patiently handle everything involved. Special thanks to St. Francis, and many thanks to all the other Franciscans of the Church Triumphant for their prayers at this time, although I remain grateful for the human support of my fellow travelers. And the next evening there was a special feeling of warmth from Mary our Mother when our group participated in the procession of the Marian statue in Fatima.

As a mother, Mary was there for all of us, as my friend and traveling companion learned after the procession that her brother had suffered a cardiac arrest following surgical complications. We are grateful for the strength of Fatima, which sustained us during this time. Other problems also arose, forcing my friend and I to respond to messages from the United States: very strong winds in Indiana felled a tree at my house, which fortunately did not affect anything, but it had to be immediately removed from the neighbor’s garden.

And yet, I believe God has pushed us further to grow in our trust and love for Him. On our last day in Lourdes, we visited a Poor Clare monastery. It was a special moment for me to draw closer in silent prayer at the chapel to my spiritual father and mother, Francis and Clare. Shortly after, there was a third financial dilemma requiring another call to my credit union in the United States. But the Franciscan encouragement from above was intensified by a presentation from our group leader on the spirituality of Saint Brother Maximilian Kolbe.

Somewhere in the middle of all this, I offered my sufferings to the Blessed Mother for the one who needed it most. Wasn’t I supposed to come to Lourdes to be cured of a problem? Or had I come with a slight entitlement mentality? Yes, it really was better to give than to receive. As I walked through the one-room home of St. Bernadette’s family, I realized that my temporary lack of access to money was nothing compared to what her family offered to God. And did I really need to know who benefited from my offerings and prayers, even intensified by a shower that evening caused by fatigue?

Badly bruised but thankfully with nothing broken, I continued with our group while my traveling companion tried to stay informed of her brother’s condition through messages with his family. The next day, in Paris, we were delighted to see the large arms of Jesus stretched out towards us from the top of the Sacré-Cœur basilica. Although I had visited the basilica before, I had never noticed the two statues at the entrance depicting two secular Franciscans on horseback: Saint Louis IX and my confirmation saint, Saint Joan of Arc. They became my next cheer squad. I was going to succeed in this pilgrimage and whatever life might throw at me.

I had to ask myself: was my pain really as great as that which my father had experienced on D-Day in 1944 during our next stopover on the beaches of Normandy? Why shouldn’t I also be tested, like he and so many other very young men were forced to do years ago? I was even more deeply touched by their sacrifice for freedom.

Our last day of travel was in Paris, when my travel companion’s brother died while we were in Notre Dame Cathedral. Mary had her arms around my dear friend as she was asked to give up another sibling in less than a year. That afternoon, when we finished our pilgrimage to the site of the Miraculous Medal, my friend was also surrounded by the love of some of her favorite saints, including the incorrupt body of Saint Vincent de Paul, the final stop on our pilgrimage.

Cynics will dismiss all these events as mere coincidences. But I know, through their healing effects, that God’s power has helped us love others more selflessly. The times we live in are difficult, but they are also an opportunity to draw closer to Christ by imitating his sacrificial love. Thank you, Holy Mother, for opening the way for our spiritual transformation so that we can become even more like your Son!

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