HCPT Blog 6 - The gift of God's Creation

Group 144 at Gavarnie

Of all the day trips away from Lourdes, the one to Gavarnie is the most popular with HCPT groups. Our coach pulled into the village - which is a ski resort in winter - after a journey this morning of just over an hour, carrying our group and Group 42. Soon, at least another eight groups were unloading their children, helpers, wheelchairs, and packed lunches.

All of us gazed at the statue of Our Lady of the Snows up on the hill as we took a breath-taking first view of the Cirque de Gavarnie ahead of us. This wall of mountain was still largely covered with snow, as I have remembered it from visits going back to 1980. Yet, our bus driver pointed out that Pyrenean glaciers are retreating and we could perhaps see this in the numerous small meltwater falls dotted around the hillsides.

HCPT groups love the beautiful natural environment of Gavarnie, which reminds us all of the life and joy provided by God's creation. The area is in the heart of the Pyrenees National Park. This year offered one of those warm sunny April days when groups could and did have outdoor Masses in one of the fields - no snowballs thrown this year. We could see the West Indies group in the distance, one of the most well-known groups on this pilgrimage. Lovely sights to take in included an eagle circling the hilltops and small yellow butterflies enjoying the purple heather. Our first and last hymn 'Sing it in the valleys' carried special meaning in this location.

We could hear river water babbling as we listened to the story of Jesus helping apostles to fish and then cooking the fish for them. They were slow to recognise him. Our chaplain, Fr Gerry McFlynn, asked us to think about times when Jesus has been among us unrecognised. And a prayer for the end of the pilgrimage in the HCPT prayer book says that, "in all we did together Jesus was very close to us."

Afterwards, some walked up to the little Church of St John the Baptist which overlooks Gavarnie. It testifies to a thriving Catholic community going back at least eight centuries and, indeed, if you open the cupboard at the back, skulls of half a dozen Templar Knights can still be found! As a stage on one of the routes to Santiago de Compostela, the village of Gavarnie is listed as a UNESCO world heritage site for its parish church. Amidst statues of Our Lady, St Joseph, and St James of Compostella was a lovely plaque on the wall in English, 'The Canticle to Our Lady of the Snows, Gavarnie'. Here is the second of four verses, which suggests that Earth too proclaims the glory of God:

Thy robe in whiteness matches

The glacier's dazzling snow.

The azure of thy girdle

Sky's loveliness doth show.

Fast flowing down our valley

Our brook upon its way,

Immaculate proclaims thee

Thus whispering night and day.

Having fun amidst the glory of God's creation and with our friends in other HCPT groups is an important part of our group's Lourdes pilgrimage. All of us in our little group, along with people worldwide and in the wider Earth community are in need of healing, as well as delighting in the blessings given to us. At our Mass today, one of the children prayed for peace in the world - a challenge young people are well aware of - and another for all the families, friends and benefactors who make lovely experiences possible for others. Long before HCPT was formed, the people of Gavarnie have believed that Our Lady watches over them and accompanies them in their sufferings and joys.

In the evening, we visited the Grotto for the last time for night prayers. We left a group candle decorated by the children of Group 144. A final 'Ave Maria' was sung. Quiet prayers of thanks were raised to God for the opportunity to be here for the first time, and some of us for the opportunity to be here again, especially on this children's pilgrimage holiday with HCPT. As we return to our usual environment, 'Let your light shine' is ringing in our ears.

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