Me getting my feet washed
The Fort overlooking the town
Baths entrance
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
More Memories!
Me getting my feet washed
The Fort overlooking the town
Thankfulness
The fourth day in Lourdes, France we had a Eucharistic procession where all of the malades from all over the world gathered in the square. They processed in lines and one by one I saw their beautiful faces, young and old. Many of these malades had deformations and mental illness. I could not image what they were going through and I thought to myself, I am a lot better off than these people. At that moment all I could be was grateful that God has given me life and an illness to open my eyes to learn to suffer with love.
When we are sick we rely on doctors to heal us, but we need God as well. Being a sick person myself, I know how it can be when times get tough and you cannot rely on people, only God. After my conversion back to Christ, the Holy Spirit has been working through me and gave me wisdom about God's goodness and truth. Through Christ and my Catholic faith, I now understand what suffering and love mean. Likewise, I understand why Jesus had to die for us and where I am going. These truths have made me see life in a whole new perspective. I am now living for my creator by loving and serving him through my suffering. Therefore, my life is beautiful because I know the truth and I know my goal; heaven. My real home, OUR real home.
" Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Jesus Christ our Lord." ~ Romans 8:39
When we are sick we rely on doctors to heal us, but we need God as well. Being a sick person myself, I know how it can be when times get tough and you cannot rely on people, only God. After my conversion back to Christ, the Holy Spirit has been working through me and gave me wisdom about God's goodness and truth. Through Christ and my Catholic faith, I now understand what suffering and love mean. Likewise, I understand why Jesus had to die for us and where I am going. These truths have made me see life in a whole new perspective. I am now living for my creator by loving and serving him through my suffering. Therefore, my life is beautiful because I know the truth and I know my goal; heaven. My real home, OUR real home.
" Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Jesus Christ our Lord." ~ Romans 8:39
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Marriage and the Love of Christ
On January 7, 2013, My sister was popped the question from her beloved boyfriend of one year, Jacob Ryan Nichols. The location, an historic yet beautiful Catholic Church in Novato, California. In Lourdes, my sister told me that Jacob had proposed to her in the replica Lourdes grotto on the grounds of the church. When I was informed about this, I knew this was a sign from God.
Throughout my trip, I was contemplating what Lourdes meant to me. First, it came to me when I was in the grotto. I was praying silently to Our Lady and looking at all of the people who were processing through the grotto, touching the rocks, lighting candles and putting their prayer intentions in the intentions box. Suddenly, I remembered the first day in which all of the sick people were able to go into the baths. The baths where we wash ourselves and hope for a healing. Finally, it all connected, Our Lady loves us so much that she gave us this special gift in order to know and understand true love and healing through God's love. Therefore, the grotto and the baths reminded me of Love and Marriage.
Marriage is the institution of a man and a woman for life. It is the sacrament in which the man and the woman are showing the world what God's love is. Through this, the couple's goals are to love like Christ and get each other to Heaven. However, we are all sinners, so God has given his grace to the couple through the sacrament of marriage in the church.
The coincidence of Jacob proposing to Mary at the replica of the grotto, and me actually experiencing Lourdes is incredible. It amazes me how Our Lady planned this out for Lourdes, to be a place where you can find God's love, and how God has shown his love for the world through the sacrament of marriage.
Throughout my trip, I was contemplating what Lourdes meant to me. First, it came to me when I was in the grotto. I was praying silently to Our Lady and looking at all of the people who were processing through the grotto, touching the rocks, lighting candles and putting their prayer intentions in the intentions box. Suddenly, I remembered the first day in which all of the sick people were able to go into the baths. The baths where we wash ourselves and hope for a healing. Finally, it all connected, Our Lady loves us so much that she gave us this special gift in order to know and understand true love and healing through God's love. Therefore, the grotto and the baths reminded me of Love and Marriage.
Marriage is the institution of a man and a woman for life. It is the sacrament in which the man and the woman are showing the world what God's love is. Through this, the couple's goals are to love like Christ and get each other to Heaven. However, we are all sinners, so God has given his grace to the couple through the sacrament of marriage in the church.
The coincidence of Jacob proposing to Mary at the replica of the grotto, and me actually experiencing Lourdes is incredible. It amazes me how Our Lady planned this out for Lourdes, to be a place where you can find God's love, and how God has shown his love for the world through the sacrament of marriage.
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Pictures
 |
| Side of Basilica and location of baths. |
 |
| The Beautiful Rosary Basilica |
 |
| Washing of the feet |
 |
| Me at the Grotto |
Grotto at night
Getting blessed before going into the baths
At the stairs near the altar after the International Mass
Rosary Procession
 |
Me getting pulled in the carts
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Our Lady's messages
When our Blessed Mother appeared to Saint Bernadette, she said three profound things.
When Our Lady first appeared to Saint Bernadette she asked her why she was so beautiful. Our Lady responded, " I am beautiful because I love."
The second is when Our Lady told St. Bernadette her future of suffering. She said," I do not promise you happiness in this world, but in the next."
The third and final message which is the miracle of Lourdes which is when Our Lady told Saint Bernadette to "wash yourself in the water."
When I was young, I remember my mother talking to me about St. Bernadette and the story of Lourdes. I specifically remember when I watched the movie, The Song of Bernadette for the first time. I remember all of it, but being in Lourdes where St. Bernadette walked and lived, it all connected.
Through the messages of Our Lady, I came to realize my suffering as a sick person. My end is only the beginning. Heaven is my beginning because there will be no suffering there. In the meantime, I can wash myself clean in the water present in Lourdes. We all have some sort of suffering whether, it being an illness, disease or disorder. Therefore, the messages apply to all of us and we can learn through these messages the great power and love of our heavenly mother.
When Our Lady first appeared to Saint Bernadette she asked her why she was so beautiful. Our Lady responded, " I am beautiful because I love."
The second is when Our Lady told St. Bernadette her future of suffering. She said," I do not promise you happiness in this world, but in the next."
The third and final message which is the miracle of Lourdes which is when Our Lady told Saint Bernadette to "wash yourself in the water."
When I was young, I remember my mother talking to me about St. Bernadette and the story of Lourdes. I specifically remember when I watched the movie, The Song of Bernadette for the first time. I remember all of it, but being in Lourdes where St. Bernadette walked and lived, it all connected.
Through the messages of Our Lady, I came to realize my suffering as a sick person. My end is only the beginning. Heaven is my beginning because there will be no suffering there. In the meantime, I can wash myself clean in the water present in Lourdes. We all have some sort of suffering whether, it being an illness, disease or disorder. Therefore, the messages apply to all of us and we can learn through these messages the great power and love of our heavenly mother.
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Suffering and Our Lady
When I stepped into the Rosary Basilica, I could not help but see beauty all around me. There were beautiful mosaics of the mysteries of the rosary which came to life once you looked at them. When I was praying in the church, I knelt down to pray in front of the first station of the Joyful mysteries. I looked up and I remembered my past and all of my sufferings and I could not help but realize that our blessed mother was with her son throughout his suffering.Moreover, our lady even chose to suffer so that Jesus would come into the world and die for us. It was finally clear to me that I was not alone in my suffering and I did not have to worry because my mother and father in heaven love me, and are there with me during my suffering. I started to cry feeling guilty for not seeing this before. Afterwards, I came out of the church feeling loved and blessed.
Our baptism and the healing waters
The holy miraculous water of Lourdes is the one reason why so many people travel to Lourdes. The healing water is something special, not only because it has healing powers but because it reminds us of our baptism.
The sacrament of baptism in the church is an initiation of us becoming the children of God. It also erases our original sin which reminds us of who we are in the risen Christ.
Our Lady said to Saint Bernadette, " Come and wash yourselves in the spring."
Our Lady is saying come and be healed because I love you and you are my children.
Our Lady has given us this gift to remember our baptism, the day which we became a new person in the risen Christ.
The sacrament of baptism in the church is an initiation of us becoming the children of God. It also erases our original sin which reminds us of who we are in the risen Christ.
Our Lady said to Saint Bernadette, " Come and wash yourselves in the spring."
Our Lady is saying come and be healed because I love you and you are my children.
Our Lady has given us this gift to remember our baptism, the day which we became a new person in the risen Christ.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
The Kingdom of Heaven and the Mass
In Lourdes, there are gorgeous Gothic churches that are once in a lifetime attraction. What stuck out to me were two large chairs behind the altar.
It reminded me of a throne of the king and queen in their royal court with the altar as the large table which is for big feasts and celebrations.This made me realize that the holy sacrifice of the mass is like a feast with God who is king and our lady, the queen. We his children are all invited to this great feast, man woman, child, rich or poor.
It all came together, in heaven, our goal, we will someday face the king and queen of heaven. Their love for us is everlasting but this great gift of being invited to a feast will give us the strength to overcome sin and which will keep us closer to them. Now every time I do not want to go to Mass, I will remember this revelation and remember that it is worth it.
It reminded me of a throne of the king and queen in their royal court with the altar as the large table which is for big feasts and celebrations.This made me realize that the holy sacrifice of the mass is like a feast with God who is king and our lady, the queen. We his children are all invited to this great feast, man woman, child, rich or poor.
It all came together, in heaven, our goal, we will someday face the king and queen of heaven. Their love for us is everlasting but this great gift of being invited to a feast will give us the strength to overcome sin and which will keep us closer to them. Now every time I do not want to go to Mass, I will remember this revelation and remember that it is worth it.
Sunday, May 12, 2013
My experience synopsis
My Lourdes experience 2013
Why? Why me Lord? I
am not worthy that you should enter under my roof. These are the words in which
we say in the mass. However these were the words that I spoke in my prayer
after I found out that I was going to Lourdes, France. I prayed to our
blessed mother, why me? I am just an unworthy sinner, but if this is your will
let it be done. These words refreshed me as I began to see that Mary wanted
this for me, I have no idea why but I was to say yes like Mary did. I knew that
maybe she would cure me of my illness.
During the visit, we got to go inside the Huge Basilica near the grotto. This basilica is dedicated to the holy mysteries of the Rosary. As you enter you feel overwhelmed with beauty and awe as you go from one mosaic to the other. It is incredible to see all of the beautiful detail and colorful arrangements which are presented in each picture. One day i went in the church to pray and contemplate. I started to look at the first station of the Joyful mysteries which was the annunciation. This mystery stuck out to me because of the fact that Our Lady said yes to suffering but, she had faith and trust in God that he would take care of her. I know our lady revealed this to me while i was there because many times i feel like God is not with me during my suffering, but no he is always there holding me tight like Mary held Jesus tight in her arms after he was born and after he died. Looking at all of the mysteries, Our Lady also revealed to me that she is with me through my suffering, just like she was with Jesus when he was suffering on the cross. This is a reminder to all who are suffering, that Our Lady is with us and we need to trust in her to get us through. Our Lady's Message to Bernadette was I do not promise you happiness in this world, but in the next. This is the message for all of us, but more importantly the people who are suffering. Remember that you are not alone and you have the throne next to God when you reach the end of your life.
During the visit, we got to go inside the Huge Basilica near the grotto. This basilica is dedicated to the holy mysteries of the Rosary. As you enter you feel overwhelmed with beauty and awe as you go from one mosaic to the other. It is incredible to see all of the beautiful detail and colorful arrangements which are presented in each picture. One day i went in the church to pray and contemplate. I started to look at the first station of the Joyful mysteries which was the annunciation. This mystery stuck out to me because of the fact that Our Lady said yes to suffering but, she had faith and trust in God that he would take care of her. I know our lady revealed this to me while i was there because many times i feel like God is not with me during my suffering, but no he is always there holding me tight like Mary held Jesus tight in her arms after he was born and after he died. Looking at all of the mysteries, Our Lady also revealed to me that she is with me through my suffering, just like she was with Jesus when he was suffering on the cross. This is a reminder to all who are suffering, that Our Lady is with us and we need to trust in her to get us through. Our Lady's Message to Bernadette was I do not promise you happiness in this world, but in the next. This is the message for all of us, but more importantly the people who are suffering. Remember that you are not alone and you have the throne next to God when you reach the end of your life.
On the last night, we
had a small farewell mass with 15 people around an altar near the grotto. This
was the first time I actually understood the mass and its mysteries. The mass will never be the same for me and
feeling that love from the people around me, it is clear to me now. When the priest began to start the mass, I was astounded
that he memorized all of the prayers and readings in which we say in mass. One
thing that stuck out to me was the symbolism of a feast in which we celebrate with Jesus and
our lady and all of the saints in heaven. I also connected that the sense of a
family reunion. The people I was with I became close with during the trip and
they were there with me celebrating with me the life, death and resurrection of
our king, Jesus. At the end I had hope that one day we would reunite and we
would be in heaven in which we will be joyful the rest of our lives.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
My Disease
About one year ago I suddenly got a rare disease called Scleroderma. Scleroderma is an auto immune disease which effects the skin and internal organs. Basically my bodies immune system attacks itself which makes me tired easily and more prone to illness. Ultimately, this disease effects my fingers and my skin which can limit time on computer and doing regular house work.
For a more detailed understanding go to
http://www.scleroderma.org/site/PageServer#.UVz0QJOG2kg
God Bless,
Grace
For a more detailed understanding go to
http://www.scleroderma.org/site/PageServer#.UVz0QJOG2kg
God Bless,
Grace
Monday, March 25, 2013
Greetings!
Hello Friends and Family,
This is Grace Meihaus. I am so excited to go to Lourdes, France and tell you about my whole experience on my journey of faith and healing. This blog is to inform my family and friends of my experience in Lourdes and the new experiences of faith that I have learned along the way.
Please send any intentions via email- gracemeihaus29@yahoo.com
God Bless you all!
This is Grace Meihaus. I am so excited to go to Lourdes, France and tell you about my whole experience on my journey of faith and healing. This blog is to inform my family and friends of my experience in Lourdes and the new experiences of faith that I have learned along the way.
Please send any intentions via email- gracemeihaus29@yahoo.com
God Bless you all!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)