Two weeks ago, I went on a once in a lifetime pilgrimage to France with the rest of the community from St. Joseph College Seminary.  We visited many holy sites in a short time span (9 sites in 7 full days)-the chapel where Jesus revealed His Sacred Heart to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, the chapel where St. Bernadette's body remains incorrupt, and St. Therese of Lisieux's childhood home to name only a few.  However, there were three locations that especially had a deep impact on me.

          We visited Ars, which is where St. John Vianney-patron saint of parish priests-was pastor for 41 years.  Also referred to as the Curé D'Ars, St. John Vianney embodied what it means to be a priest: he celebrated the Mass with great devotion, heard confessions for many hours of the day, taught catechism lessons, and visited the sick.  In other words, he cared deeply for the people of his parish.  In Ars, the original church in which he was pastor remains standing and a basilica has been added on to back side of the original church.  We celebrated Mass in the basilica, prayed before his body, and saw the confessional and pulpit he used.  It was amazing being able to stand next his confessional; he is famous for hearing confessions for up to 14 hours a day.  Since he is the model of parish priests, it was awesome being able to pray before his body, asking for his intercession and guidance.  Not only that, it also gave me an opportunity to pray for the many priests who have significantly influenced me.  The whole experience was very moving because it provided me with a hard-hitting reminder of what every seminarian aspires to be: a holy priest who cares tremendously for the people of his parish.

            We also visited Lourdes, where Mary appeared 18 times to a young

 girl, Bernadette Soubirous-now a saint.  We arrived in Lourdes in the evening, so after dinner, I went down to the grotto where Mary appeared to Bernadette.  I was completely overwhelmed.  I could hardly believe I was standing and kneeling in the exact location where Mary appeared to young, simple girl.  I saw the spring from where water flows after Mary told Bernadette to dig in a certain spot and drink the water.  I was at such a loss for words I could do nothing but contemplate the mystery of the Marian appearance.  I said it then and I say it now, but it was an indescribable moment, a moment one must experience personally.

            I knew that Lourdes and Ars would touch me very deeply.  I did not think the last location would impact me as much as it has.  On our last day in France, we were going to celebrate Mass and then leave for the airport.  We were told we were going to a simple local parish about ten minutes away from the hotel.  This seemed to be a ho-hum ending to a spectacular week.  We arrived at the church, and from the outside it appeared to be a run of the mill church.  Boy, was I wrong!  It was the Basilica of Our Lady of Victories; immediately I knew this was going to be special for I knew a few things about Our Lady of Victories.  First, Our Lady of Victories was significant in the lives of the French people in the 19^th century.  In addition to that, St. Therese of Lisieux visited the basilica when she visited Paris, and her dad also had Masses said for her at the basilica when she was severely ill.  I knew this Mass was going to be special.  The inside of the basilica was gorgeous.  Mass was celebrated at a side altar-the altar of Our Lady of Victories-and the main celebrant was the pastor.  Outside of a few phrases of Latin, the Mass was said completely in French.  I didn't understand a word, but that did not matter; this simple weekday Mass was one of the most beautiful Masses to which I have ever been.  It reminded me how beautiful Catholicism is: Catholicism is so universal that a Catholic can go anywhere in the world and the Mass will be the same regardless of location; there will be other Catholics who believe in the same beliefs.  This was certainly a fantastic ending to a wonderful week!