During a Lourdes Day procession, volunteers push some of the “malades”
along a path at Lourdes.
ORDER OF MALTA PHOTO |
By Monica Clark
Voice editor
The Order of Malta runs numerous hospitals and clinics
around the world. It has ambulance corps and mobile first-aid facilities
to care for the wounded in wars or natural disasters. It operates relief
programs for refugees and the needy. And every year it takes thousands
of sick children and adults on a pilgrimage to Lourdes, France, where
the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to Bernadette Soubirous 150 years ago.
Each of the ill persons, known as malades, sits in a special cart wheeled
by a Knight or Dame of Malta and their volunteer assistants. During his
2007 visit to Lourdes with the Western Association of the Order of Malta,
Oakland Bishop Allen Vigneron was a “puller and pusher” as
well as celebrant of a Mass for the group.
During their stay in Lourdes, the malades are taken to bathe in the water
flowing from a spring uncovered by St. Bernadette. They also participate
in Masses, rosaries and candlelight processions — all focused on
spiritual, emotional and physical healing.
This year’s Lourdes pilgrimage sponsored by the Order’s Western
Association U.S.A. takes places April 29 through May 7.
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1st Lt. Timothy Bomke, who was severely
wounded in action in Northern Iraq in 2005 and had his right leg amputated,
sits among Knights and Ladies of Malta during a pilgrimage to Lourdes.
ORDER OF MALTA PHOTO
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A bishop washes the feet of one of the “malades”
during a liturgy opening the Lourdes pilgrimage for the Knights of
Malta.
ORDER OF MALTA PHOTO
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