For the second and, one prays, final summer, the Ampleforth Lourdes Pilgrimage 2021 was held virtually, from July 16-23. While pandemic restrictions were loosened in time for the Ampleforth community to be able to welcome congregants in-person for liturgy, beginning Monday, July 19, this opening was neither early nor extensive enough to consider an in-person pilgrimage. Portsmouth Abbey contributed again this year a pilgrimage Mass recorded at our grotto in advance, as livestreaming at 6:00am ET proved unworkable for any number of reasons. Orchestrated by our Director of Liturgy Brother Sixtus Roslevich, and expertly produced for viewing by videographer Brother Benedict Maria, the Mass was presided over by Prior Michael Brunner, and is still available for viewing on the monastery’s YouTube channel.

This year’s pilgrimage theme: “I am the Immaculate Conception: Bringing Hope and Healing.” Our Lady famously identified herself to the young Bernadette as “la Inmaculada Concepción,” a stunning testimony from the young Bernadette that itself persuaded her pastor of the child’s authenticity. Fr. Ambrose Henley, monk of Ampleforth and the pilgrimage chaplain, prompted to address this theme fortuitously on the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, writes: “When the Holy Father entrusted the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in 2013, he intended to ask her help in welcoming her Son into the hearts of all the people of the world, and he asked the Virgin Mary to teach mankind her ‘special love’ for children and the poor, for the excluded and suffering, and for sinners. ‘Gather everyone under your protection and deliver everyone to your beloved Son, our Lord Jesus,’ the Pope said." The pilgrimage has been working to this end since 1953, started by Fr Martin Haigh and Cardinal Basil Hume of Ampleforth. In the late 1970’s, the Portsmouth community joined this work through the involvement of Hugh Markey ’40, sending monks, students, and lay faculty each summer. Joe Michaud ’90 has continued the work of organizing this group, supported through “Our Lady’s Fund,” established by Markey.

Through YouTube and still available online, the pilgrimage program included daily Mass, talks offered by monks of Ampleforth and other priests affiliated with the group, and Compline from Ampleforth. The events also offered included rosaries, lectio divina led by members of the Manquehue Apostolic Movement, the Stations of the Cross, and various social activities, all shared interactively through Zoom. While often expressing a general sense of profound loss to not be in Lourdes for a second summer, the pilgrims also shared their gratitude for the opportunities the virtual program could provide.

While this article appears after the fact, one can still return to Ampleforth’s YouTube channel to view some of the events. And it is never too late to remember the group in prayer, and to offer the beautiful Hospitalité Prayer of the pilgrimage, a prayer well worth remembering at our own grotto: “Holy Mary, merciful and compassionate mother of God, in whom the light of Christ is reflected, I thank you for appearing in the darkness of the grotto bringing healing and comfort to all who suffer. I beg you to allow me to assist you in your work, so that aided by your prayer and strengthened by Christ’s power, I may dedicate myself wholeheartedly to the service of others, seeking out the will of God in all things and striving to establish His kingdom of peace and justice in the church and in the world. Our Lady of Lourdes: Pray for us. St. Bernadette: Pray for us. St. Benedict: Pray for us. St. Laurence: Pray for us.”