WASHINGTON, D.C. – A group of more than 250 pilgrims composed largely of U.S. Military personnel—including the ill, wounded, and injured, along with their companions and caretakers—headed home from France this week after a week-long journey of healing to the Marian grotto and bath springs in Lourdes. The Warriors to Lourdes went to the Pyrenees Mountain village last week to take part in the 63rd annual Pèlerinage Militaire International (PMI)—or International Military Pilgrimage—staged annually since 1958 at one of the world’s holiest Catholic pilgrimage sites where the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to Saint Bernadette Soubirous in a series of apparitions exactly 100 years prior.
His Excellency, the Most Reverend Timothy P. Broglio, J.C.D., Archbishop for the Military Services, USA, led the American delegation and selected its theme: “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:28). Several Catholic U.S. Military chaplains and other clergy went along offering pastoral support and counsel for those in wheelchairs or bearing other physical, mental, or spiritual battle scars, including moral injury—a condition that arises from committing or witnessing an act, in a high-stakes situation such as combat, that contradicts one’s deeply held values and beliefs, producing haunting sentiments such as guilt, shame, disgust, or anger.
In an opening Mass for the U.S. pilgrims on Friday, Archbishop Broglio suggested they had come to the right place for the binding of wounds: “As we gather to begin formally our pilgrimage to this place of healing we are inspired by the Word of God that calls to mind the healing of disputes and the message of love and service. This sanctuary at this time breathes healing and reconciliation.” His Excellency reminded the pilgrims of “our role as missionary disciples—how we are endowed to build up the Body of Christ and draw others into His fold. Those who hope to revolutionize the community of faith, change its nature, or make it unfaithful to the deposit of faith will be disappointed. The Church cannot be unfaithful to her nature or to Divine Revelation. It would no longer be the Church.”
It is in that spirit of missionary zeal that the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS), and the Knights of Columbus have co-sponsored the Warriors to Lourdes each year since 2013 (except for 2020 and 2021 when the annual journey was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic). This year the PMI drew 14,000 registered pilgrims associated with the militaries of 40 countries. Thanks to the generosity of the Knights of Columbus, more than 250 American pilgrims participated, including 93 ill or injured warriors, their caregivers, 87 active-duty military and companions. The U.S. pilgrims arrived in Lourdes from six U.S. airport hubs and other points of origin in Europe.
During the May 9-15, 2023 journey, the Warriors immersed themselves in prayer and reflection, confession, the celebration of Mass, anointing of the sick, and visits to the healing bath waters at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes. In a Mass of Anointing on Thursday, Archbishop Broglio preached on the importance of obedience as an essential quality of authentic love: “Jesus’ love for us demands a prompt and generous response from each one of us. It is not complicated and does not involve superhuman efforts. We are told that observance of His commandments is what is necessary and He even gives us an example. That example is a radical obedience to the Father even including the supreme sacrifice of His life.”
The celebratory atmosphere of the pilgrimage projected itself in a boundless stream of military parades through the narrow village streets under colorful flags waving to the brass horn blare and pounding drumbeat of marching bands in tight formation. The theme of this year’s PMI was que l’on bâtisse ici une chapelle, French for “a chapel should be built here,” echoing the Blessed Mother’s message to Saint Bernadette at the site where now stands the the Basilique de L’Immaculée Conception, consecrated in 1876, less than 20 years after the apparitions in which the Virgin Mary made her request.
The PMI traces its historical roots back to World War II. During the war, members of the French military visited the site of Saint Bernadette’s apparitions, where they offered prayers for peace. In December of 1944, U.S. military personnel joined British, Belgian, French and Russian military representatives for a Mass at the holy site. After the war, French soldiers and their chaplains invited German soldiers and their chaplains to gather and pray together. The purpose of this initiative was to heal memories and reconcile the past between these former adversaries by recognizing their common identity as Christians in need of peace.