Love Without Limit

 

"Love without limit"~ Words I came across on my recent trip , words that are full of meaning and should be lived by !!   There are experiences in life that happen and you just wish you could stay in that moment forever , or for as long as possible . During this past week I have had several of those moment .
    At 6:30am last Monday morning (25th of June)  a group of 18 of us set sail on a journey together . The destination was the south of France for a pilgrimage . After a very long  journey with buses and planes we reached our destination  . Now this was my 3rd time coming here so I did not have the immediate amazement at my first glance at the place , but after all this time it still never fail to take me aback!  
   Having been there twice before I knew my way around the streets and the main attractions , having this inside knowledge was particularly useful as I got to hand it onto my fellow pilgrims - giving them guided tours of this beautiful place in the south of France was such a fantastic experience for me .  
  Also the trip acted as a first for me  . It was my first time being an adult on a trip of some underagers - giving me a taste of proper responsibility , I was responsible for the well being of some of our young participants , which was scary but also quiet exciting . 

  I have had some of the most amazing experience in Lourdes during the years , but one that continues to take my breath away every time is the candle light procession !! One of the most beautiful things I have ever experience .  Thousand of people from every nation across the world walk together , shoulder to shoulder; holding a candle and praying . By the time we reach the end the sun has just set and the candles are the only thing lighting , then people raise their candles to the night sky in prayer and honor to our Lord . It is magnificent and simply beautiful. 
  


   It is trips like this that make you extremely grateful for what you have in life , surrounding this place are the poor, the sick ,the differently-able'd, the addicted and the average person , each with faith stronger then the last - no one is afraid to hide it and no one is scared of it , to be free to do that, simply pray in public is in itself profound.  When you think that in many countries the right to have your own faith is not there !
         This trip also brought be closer to friends I have had for years , but also brought new friendships too ! When you spend a week with the same 17 people, you get to know them... Their likes and dislikes their personality and their quirks . Friendships were planted and some flourished , but also relationships with God got that extra bit stronger too I think - I feel him each day with me , guiding me , strengthening me and keeping me safe . As I venture through this journey that is my life I know he was , is and always will be right by my side .   But now I walk the grounds of Maynooth College , one of my favorite weeks in the year is here . The air is full of this most magnificent music !! I am drinking it all in , the sounds, the people, the glorifying of God ( but more on all this later ) - this is my life and I can't help but love it !!        
                                                                                            

                                                                                                                            Aoife Marie Elizabeth ♪