Recent times have been very rich and full of life in Lourdes, with the visit of Pope Leo XIV to France and the open-house weekend at the Assumption House.
Sister Marie-Geneviève echoes, in the community news, the coming of Leo XIV and this exceptional weekend at the Maison Assomption Lourdes.
Indeed, the Maison Assomption Lourdes truly embodied that Life to which the Pope invited us during his stay in France: an open house, colorful, welcoming, teeming with life, and also committed to accompanying the most fragile at the key moments of his visit to the Sanctuary.
Joy was there!
In resonance with its new signature “Come in, it’s open!”, the Maison Assomption Lourdes threw its doors wide open on the weekend of October 3 and 4, during the Pope’s visit to France: an opportunity to reveal its new identity, to communicate widely about its project and to invite the people of Lourdes to come and experience the place through 18 different workshop offerings exploring the 4 fundamental relationships.
After a timid and humid Saturday, the very beautiful Mass for the care of Creation, presided over by the parish priest of Lourdes accompanied by the rector of the Sanctuary, and the conviviality of the shared meal, beautifully united the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi.
Looking back on the event, the ecosystem of the House retains the simplicity and the palpable joy of these two days, the collective energy mobilized for its co-construction among sisters, employees and volunteers, and the new bonds woven with the parish and the local community, for a House ever more alive in the momentum of the message Pope Leo XIV delivered during his visit to Lourdes.
Two walks are offered to explore these open doors:
(Download password: Entrez, c’est ouvert!)
Now it remains for us to reread the experience without forgetting the strong and dense words of Pope Leo XIV, to further nourish our common project.
Damien Aviron-Violet, project coordinator
The heart of the Assumption house in Lourdes began to beat very strongly during the visit of Pope Leo XIV. It was located in the front row, overlooking the meadow and the thousands of people whose enthusiasm rose at certain moments like a roar, a wave, before immediately entering, in an impressive silence and recollection, into the fervent prayer of a “son to his mother.” Having become this humble pilgrim, Pope Leo set his steps on this land trodden by Mary…
His actions, his gestures, his listening were words that touched hearts. His radiant presence restored dignity to the sick and to the members of these 17 fraternities of people in precarious situations, even eliciting the cry of an abused person he met: “I am free!”
The transformation of the people housed at the House was visible.
The Lourdes house was in full swing, happy to welcome 150 people, including 80 young hospitaliers, inspired by these words addressed to them by Pope Leo: “You are the Saints of France!” Cécile, the director, and Nicole, our manager, never tire of recounting with enthusiasm what they saw and heard during this time of effervescence: people from the house or the neighborhood whom they helped settle onto the terraces, some of them with disabilities, not hesitating to drive them by car during the celebrations. Their reward? A wonderful astonishment at seeing them transformed, moving from stress at the beginning to dazzling radiance, their hearts full of gratitude…
Bishop Laurent Ulrich, who came to give a lecture during the Rosary pilgrimage on the theme The Popes, War, Peace: 1914-2026 (title of his latest book, published by éditions du Cerf), shared with us a word from Pope Leo during his visit to France: “The desire for peace can be built day by day. Each person can convert to contribute to a ‘disarmed and disarming peace.’”
This calls for an inner pacification capable of transmitting, in a world marked by divisions and tensions, the desire for peace for all. Pope Leo himself bore witness to this peace through his words and his attitude.
Just before his departure, Pope Leo entrusted Bishop Ulrich with these words: “You are in a spiritual and missionary momentum, and I encourage you: go on, keep going! The Lord invites you to seek him while going out to your brothers and sisters.”
Pope Leo advances with his candle during the procession of lights.
Sophie hands over the Life book of the Saint-Laurent Fraternity.
Source: The Lourdes Community