Knights of Columbus Carl Anderson and the Military Pilgrimage to Lourdes

On the Memorial Day weekend, injured along with handicapped American military veterans have been traveling to Lourdes, France, as part of the 55th International Military Pilgrimage.

 

This event has been sponsored by the Archdiocese for the military services and Knights of Columbus, the pilgrimage is a time for healing, both spiritually along with physically, in the sacred waters of the grotto plus the adjoining surroundings.

 

In a letter to this year’s pilgrims, the Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus Carl Anderson, expressed the heartfelt thanks of the 1.8 million members of the Knights of Columbus to the people who have served, and expressed desire that this pilgrimage would be a substantial time for them.

 

“The waters of Lourdes are actually an origin of refreshment and also healing for the millions who have visited this holy place,” he stated, “and I hope that each one of you will discover at the Grotto some measure of convenience and also peace.”

 

Furthermore responding to the pilgrims in the introduction letter, Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services conveyed his desires for the trip, stating, “We wish that these approaching days at the ‘heart of the Church’ brings reassurance, overall health, and calmness to the people who have provided so much of themselves.”

 

The pilgrims have a weekend full of activities planned for them, including a series of Masses as well as ceremonies with veterans from other countries, a recitation of the rosary and the Stations of the Cross, and even a military band performance.

 

The Knights' sponsorship of the pilgrimage is definitely the most up-to-date phase in the story of their participation in Lourdes that first began nearly 100 years ago. In the First World War, the Knights were incredibly active in serving American soldiers abroad and had an official Knights of Columbus Army Hut right in Lourdes itself. “The experiences of the Knights of Columbus in France have been almost as different as are the emotions of individual,” a report from the period affirms. 

 

The Knights have joined the military in their time of difficulties; they also have helped them to make good use of their moments of leisure time. They have knelt by their side on the battlefield, and, when no Priest was to be had, they have taken the dying lad’s last message, encouraged him in making his act of contrition, and, when all was over, they have closed his eyes. In times of military stress they have taken food to soldiers in areas, which the commissary had been unable to reach; they have made merry with them in hut and in club, joined in their pastimes, found them good reading, comforted them in body and in soul.

 

Immediately following the end of the war, the Knights additionally produced a guide to Lourdes right after repeated requests from American pilgrims.

 

“There happen to be lots of requests from the members of the American Expeditionary Forces for a “Guide to Lourdes,” the introduction to the report states, “that the Knights of Columbus really feel themselves called upon to offer this little volume. It has always been our desire to serve our forces in every way possible.”

 

Nonetheless, that is not all. With many American troops positioned all over European countries, the Knights of Columbus Carl Anderson organized the first-ever international military pilgrimage to the Marian shrine at Lourdes. In particular grateful to the sacrifice and service of our veterans, Knights of Columbus almost everywhere join with the supreme knight as well as the archbishop in praying for a prosperous and influential pilgrimage for all those at this time in France, as well as for all who have risked their lives for our freedom.

 

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