I tried to find a bus service to get there 'on line,' and came up with County Clare. LOL Still trying to find out a way to get to the right place by bus. I wonder what time on the 22nd we would need to get there. Would the day before be better and stay in a bed and breakfast ?? To be ready to catch the boat across on the 22nd June.
Don't be putting yourself to too much strain, Julia. Perhaps this might all be too much for you? You have a long way to come.
Padraig, I feel it is important to try my best to make this trip, if not in June, maybe in August God willing. Just trying to get all the information I can. Have not done well with the internet searches as yet. Will also try local travel people. Not ready to give up without a holy fight yet. LOL
http://www.loughderg.org/join-a-group-pilgrimage-or-retreat contact phone numbers for pilgrimage organisers are in this link. Hope it helps.
Padraig, your post reminded me of something funny I heard a few years ago. There was a big sign at a railway station in Bristol UK. It read " Let the train take the strain" Underneath someone wrote. "The train's a pain, take the bus." LOL
I love your fighting spirit, but think Padraig's advice may be worth considering. God bless your discernment on this.
I could contact friends or relatives to stay with in Ireland. But they would probably think I am nuts to want to do this. And be more determined to stop me than anyone here. So will explore possibilities. Bear in mind, most people I know don't even think it is a mortal sin to miss Holy Mass on a Sunday any more. And have not yet taken on board that the Bishops at least in UK have asked us to abstain from meat on Fridays again. I am trying to be a Roman Catholic in a post Christian world. Pilgrimages are not cool or sensible any more. Hopefully here I might get enough factual information to discern the possibility. For Saint Patricks sake. I would not be able to live with myself if anything dreadful happens in Ireland, and I have not made a bid for Gods Mercy in the only way I know how. Lough Derg.
Julia, I think you read my description of it on the first page of this thread, also I forgot to mention there is a lot of kneeling on stones involved too and one would really need to be in fairly good fettle to do it. Your friends could be right this time! The last time I was there a lady slipped on the wet grass and hit her head off a stone in one of the beds and left a very nasty gash, poor thing.
Julia "I could contact friends or relatives to stay with in Ireland. But they would probably think I am nuts to want to do this." Actually I don't think you need to worry too much about that bit. Lough Derg is very well known and quite highly respected in Ireland. People won't think you are mad to do it, vast numbers of Irish people have done this.
I would like to share a little about the very first Pilgrimage I ever went on. Sorry, Julia is not articulate; but it is a memorable true story from the treasure of our Faith. It is a God incidence thing. I was that excited at the time, I thought it would be a bucket of flowers for the Blessed Mother and to do this, I asked most everyone I met if they had a request I could take on their behalf. Well the requests poured in. And they were not from Catholics. Some were very moving from the most unlikely people. For example the builder who asked that God help him to understand himself better. How deeply spiritual is that. Anyway, when it was all said and done, I arrived at the Shrine, and so, so sad, said to the Blessed Mother, "I wanted to bring you a bucket of flowers from your children, and all I have brought you is a bucket of tears." One of these requests was from my boss (a self proclaimed atheist) whose only daughter was living with a Lebanese man. The girls father was not happy about 'the living with part' of it and had banned the boyfriend when he said he would not be allowed to marry their daughter. In other words the boyfriends' intentions were not honourable. The daughter fell out with her parents, and hence my (atheist) boss asked me if I could ask the Blessed Mother to find her daughter a tall dark handsome wealthy husband. My boss said to me at the time, now we shall see what you can do. I said to her no, it is not me who can do anything. It is God who does these things. Before I went on the pilgrimage, I went to confession and told the Priest about my intentions. Along with my bosses request. The Priest said, you should not have done that. What if her daughter meets an alcoholic, the mother will blame God. Well I said to him God would not allow that to happen. And I truly believed that to be true. Why make a long story short. LOL I came back from my Pilgrimage in October that year. And Every morning my boss would say to me. Well, where is the tall handsome wealthy husband for my daughter. I used to say to her, hang on. He may be in USA happily working with no intention of coming across your daughters path. You have to give the Angels time to inspire him to make plans, and make it possible to happen. Be patient. I never worried about it, in fact my boss ended up making a sign to me and saying we are still waiting on the little woman. This is what my boss started to call Our Blessed Mother. It was the following February, about four months later when my boss arrived one morning and said to me 'bingo' the little woman (Blessed Mother) has done it. Her daughter met the man of her dreams. They married within the year. He was the only son of a wealthy family. He was a tall, dark, handsome doctor. And what I found so amusing was, he was doted on by his parents, they adored his new wife. And my boss and her husband were competing with the new parents in law for the couples time. Children arrived very quickly to my bosses delight. And the last I heard they were living happily ever after. Then the beautiful thing happened. One morning my boss arrived at work, she had been away for a week end. She left a parcel for me in her office, and I had to go and collect it. Inside was a statue of Our Lady of Fatima, the book about Fatima by Lucy, (I already had one). A little statue of the Angel with the children of Fatima and a picture of Jesus in the Garden at Gethsemany. My boss had made a week end Pilgrimage to Fatima to thank God and I was the only link she knew to make that thanks complete. I was very humbled by that. Praised be Jesus. And thank you for bearing with me on this. There were other marvels permitted by God, but enough for now.
But they may be right given the state of her health, I don't mean to be negative here but one does need to be in good health to do it. The admin themselves may refuse on insurance grounds. It is a long journey only to be turned away.
The Presentation Brothers are organising a pilgrimage to Lough Derg (Friday, 26th - Sunday, 28th June) for young adults (18-40). Full details at www.PresentationBrothers.org Contact Andrew at 01-2300824 or email comms@PresentationBrothers.org
Border Collie, you are very kind to express your concerns. I went to Mass this morning, celebrating the Feast of Sacred Heart of Jesus. There was Eucharistic Adoration just before Mass. And I asked Our Lord to let me know if He thought I should not make this Pilgrimage. He has not yet let me know. I had thought of asking our parish Priest to look me up and down and tell me what he thought, since he is Our Lords Minister; but there were a couple of other people waiting to see him, and I though for now it is more important to join with the Rosary group after Mass (all 3 of us!). Yes, there is always a dozen or so people who like to go and have tea and a gossip after Mass, and they think us few who say the Rosary together are a bit over the top pious. But that does not put me off. I loved the post earlier about the old nun who escaped from the convent and went to Lough Derg. She did not tell the other nuns, or they would have tried to stop her. She got back in one piece. And the rest of them, well they were probably like the people after Mass in my parish who can find time to get up to date with the gossip instead of getting up to date with the Gospa. Julia must come across as incorrigible, well if she gets to Saint Patricks Purgatory, she might meet her match.
Since I did not do much in the physical battle to defend marriage in Ireland I can only do the next best thing and return to Lough Derg to make it three in a row. The first time was in 2013 and I took the trip because I was unemployed and rebelling against God. Well he kept at me till he brought me to my knees. I went to pray not knowing I would have to go to confession. This was the first time time I went to confession in over 30 years and boy did I get a purification during the night vigil with the wind and the rain the blew at 3 am. The pilgrimage to Lough Derg is a smaller version of 'The Way' Camio de Sanitago which is broke into three part. The first 200 miles is marked by physical pain and blisters. the next 200 miles the land is flat and boring and is a mental challenge and a spiritual battle. The final 100 miles is when you bring the two parts together and grow closer to God. Like wise with Lough Derg the vigil and fast is a physical challenge. The second day is a challenge because you have to stay awake and is a great mental challenge. Finally on the third day you can bring it all together and a seed is sown that will grow strong till the following year. They say you have to severe 7 years in purgatory for each mortal sin so I have a bit of work to do to reduce my time in purgatory. Will aim to travel on the 26th, 27th and 28th of June. When you come off the Island stop at the village and purchase some oat cakes which taste great as well as a fizzy drink. This is my tonic as I have a six hour drive to Waterford.
I had hoped to travel but due to family demands it is now not possible. I just had an idea though. I could join you in fast and prayer from my home. It's a thought for anybody who like myself would like to travel to Lough Derg but can't make it.
Border collie, was very kind to invite me, but like you, maryrose I unfortunately can not go at the time agreed on. But perhaps there will be another trip at a later date. I wish all those that are going: a grace filled and happy journey. God bless!
They do indeed paddymclovin . I found them almost as hard a challenge as on the island cos one can only have them once and then continue the fast until midnight of that same day
