Pilgrimage at a Glance:
1h35 From Gas to Bois du Séminaire from Gas to Seminary Wood
Chapter prayer on starting the day.
Simple presentation of the theme for the day. The Holy Spirit, soul of the Mission.
FIRST MEDITATION: HOLY SPIRIT, THE SANCTIFIER
Dear pilgrims, you know that the aim of the Christian is not to accumulate material wealth or to drown in ephemeral pleasures, but to go to heaven to live in perpetual joy, contemplating the burning love of God. To get to heaven, we must become saints.
But how can we become saints?
The previous meditation has already given us a part of the answer: to live true to the truth; to conform our actions to Jesus’ commands. In this way of sanctification the Holy Spirit, also called “the Holy Spirit Sanctifier,” can help us greatly, as we will see now.
Saints of the day: All Christians martyrs for the name of Jesus, past and present. Love is not loved.
Recitation of the Rosary: The Joyful Mysteries
Meditation : ‘The Holy Spirit and the family’.
Rosary : continuation with hymns and songs
2h05 From Bois du Séminaire to Saint Prest from Seminary Wood to Saint Priest
Presentation : ‘Tradition, Christendom, Mission’. The three pillars of Notre Dame de Chrétienté (‘Our Lady of Christendom’, the pilgrimage organisers). Invite chapter members to read the Charter in the pilgrim booklet.
SECOND MEDITATION: THE HOLY SPIRIT SANCTIFIES US WITH THE SACRAMENTS
1. He is the source of all holiness, and makes us participate in the divine life.
2. For every act of this spiritual life God gives his actual grace; a one-time gift, a passing relief that supports and directs such a thought, word or deed of this life. This actual grace increases the intensity of my spiritual life, or grants me the presence of and union with God if I have lost it by mortal sin. God always gives, thus, an aid for us to return to Him; the grace conversion, repentance, justification, “spiritual stimulus” that pushes me to return to God, like the prodigal son in the parable.
3. Sanctification refers to the action of God in the souls to make them perfect, loving God with all their strength and their neighbor as themselves. Thus we become followers of Christ, we are led by His Spirit and we walk towards the Father. Everything that is related to this movement can be attributed to the Holy Spirit. All of that can be called sanctifying and actual grace, but there also are the sacraments that communicate this grace.
The seven sacraments are the ordinary and privileged channel of this grace. Dear pilgrims to Chartres, our souls on the way down here must leave converted, “returned to God through God.” May God return to dwell in our souls, and increasingly, by grace. And for that, let us turn to the sacraments instituted by Our Lord. Let us receive, in particular, God’s forgiveness in the Sacrament of Penance, and the real presence of God in the Holy Eucharist. Let us live for God and in God.
Presentation : ‘Vocation’
Presentation : of the 2002 teaching ‘On the participation of Catholics in Politics’
Rosary : continuation with hymns and song
LUNCH HALT
This is the last stop before entering the town of Chartres. The anticipation is palpable and adrenaline runs high as French chapters perform acrobatic tricks, cheered on by fellow pilgrims.
1h55 From Saint Prest to Notre Dame Cathedral Chartres
THIRD MEDITATION: THE HOLY SPIRIT, DIVINE VISITOR OF THE SOULS
The New Testament clearly establishes a link between the Person of the Holy Spirit and the sanctification of souls. “The charity of God is poured forth in our hearts, by the Holy Ghost who is given to us.” (Rom. 5:5).
Yes, God comes in person to dwell in our souls: “If any one love me,” says Jesus, “he will keep my word. And my Father will love him and we will come to him and will make our abode with him.” (Jn 14:23). The soul in state of grace is the abode of the living God. It is raised by grace, able to unite with God through acts of supernatural knowledge and love. And God gives us this grace because He loves us. The whole Trinity comes to dwell in our souls through grace, the gift of love. And as personal love in God is none other than the Holy Spirit, the divine dwelling in our souls is specially attached to the Holy Spirit.
“Veni Sancte Spiritus... dulcis hospes animae...”, “Come, Holy Spirit, sweet guest of the soul,” sings the liturgy of Pentecost (Sequence).
Presentation : ‘The Holy Spirit and Mission’. ‘Go teach all Nations’.
Rosary : continuation with hymns and songs
Presentation : ‘A Rule of Life’.
Hymns and religious songs in the streets of Chartres
MASS IN THE CATHEDRAL NOTRE DAME of CHARTRES
Mass Offered by Dom Pateau, Abbot of Fontgombault
Sermon : Sending forth on Mission
The recessional hymn of the final Mass in Chartres Cathedral: the grand and glorious Chez Nous--love song to Our Lady.
Here is a rather long video, at the end you can get an idea of the glorious happening at the end of this great pilgriamge. Though, of course, no video does it justice.
Thank you, and we'll see you next year.