Many will know or be friends with people in Rome this week for the canonization of Saints John XXIII and John Paul II.
It is a pilgrimage filled with meaning and grace to be at St. Peter's Basilica and the other Roman churches, some of which are being kept open 24/7 to allow for the demand for Mass, prayer and Confession.
As well, some members of STM, Toronto are going on a pilgrimage this month through France to Santiago de Compostela in northern Spain.
This the famous Medieval pilgrimage route through Europe to the Shine of St. James upon which multiple millions have travelled over the past thousand years.
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| Square by Santiago de Compostela |
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| Sanctuaire Notre-Dame-du-Cap, the Canadian national shrine of Our Lady |
In July others of us will wend our way to Sanctuaire Notre-Dame-du-Cap, the Canadian national shrine of Our Lady, the Blessed Virgin Mary, near Trois-Rivières.
Then it is on to the basilica of Notre-Dame in Québec City where we will also honour and ask the prayers of the newest saints in North America: Saint François de Motmorency-Laval (First Bishop north of New Spain) and Saint Marie de L'Incarnation (Ursuline nun and educator of indigenous people) during the 350th Jubilee Year of the Church in Canada.
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| Shrine Garden at Notre-Dame-du-cap |
See previous blogs or visit the following site which shows all of Quebec's National Shrines:
As mentioned previously this is a good summer for Canadians and Americans to show their support for the new federalist government in Québec by visiting the shrines in Québec and praying for national unity.
Finally, in order to commend our pilgrim friends to God's mercy this Sunday. The following rite of blessing will be celebrated at the conclusion of Mass at STM this Divine Mercy Sunday followed by a pot-luck supper to wish them all the best on their travels.
You may want to gather a group for a pilgrimage this year and use this form of blessing to begin the journey.
AN ORDER FOR
THE BLESSING OF PILGRIMS
ON THEIR DEPARTURE
Celebrant: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Spirit.
ALL: AMEN.
Celebrant: May God, our strength and salvation, be with you all.
ALL: And with thy spirit.
Celebrant: Brothers and sisters, as you set out, we remind
ourselves of the reasons for the resolve to go on this holy pilgrimage. The
Shrine of Santiago de Compostela is a monument to the devotion of the people of
God. They have gone there in great numbers to be strengthened in the Christian
way of life and to become more determined to devote themselves to the works of
charity. You must also try to bring something to the faithful who live there: your
example of faith, hope, and love. In this way both they and you will be enriched
by the help you give each other.
Brothers and
sisters, listen to the words of the Second letter of Paul to the Corinthians We are away
from the Lord. So we are always courageous, although we
know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we
walk by faith, not by sight. Yet we are courageous, and we would rather leave
the body and go home to the Lord. Therefore, we aspire to please him, whether
we are at home or away. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of
Christ, so that each one may receive recompense, according to what he did in
the body, whether good or evil. The Word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL: Psalm 24
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see Thy face. The earth is the Lord’s and all that therein is : the compass
of the world, and they that dwell therein.
For he hath founded it upon the seas : and prepared it upon the floods. R. Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD : or who
shall rise up in his holy place? Even he that hath clean hands, and a pure
heart : and that hath not lift up his mind
unto vanity, nor sworn to deceive his neighbor. R. He shall receive the blessing from the LORD : and
righteousness reward from God of his salvation. This is the generation of them that
seek him, even of them that seek thy face O Jacob. R.
PRAYER OF BLESSING
With hands
outstretched, the celebrant continues with the blessing.
All-powerful God,
you always show mercy toward those who love you and are never far away for
those who seek you. Remain with your servants on this holy pilgrimage and guide
their way in accord with your will. Shelter them with your protection by day,
give them the light of your grace by night, and, as their companion on the
journey, bring them to their destination in safety. We ask this through Christ our Lord. AMEN.
The Pilgrims are sprinkled with Holy Water.
Celebrant:
May
the Lord guide us and direct your journey in safety. AMEN.
May the Lord be your
companion along the way. AMEN.
May the Lord grant that
the journey which begins, relying upon Him,
will end happily
through his protection. AMEN.
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