Rocking around Rocamadour

Recently, eleven students from universities all around London, accompanied by Sr Mary Kenefick SMG, went on an immensely moving and eye-opening pilgrimage to Rocamadour, a sanctuary to Our Blessed Virgin Mary located in South West France. The shrine has attracted many famous pilgrims in the past, such as St Benedict and many monarchs of both England and France. It is a very popular pilgrimage site because of its rich history, the relics of St Amadour, a hermit, and the statue of the Black Madonna, to which many miracles are attributed especially those involving seafarers. Its popularity as a pilgrimage site is also boosted by the fact that it is on the St James' Way pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela.

This was my first pilgrimage and indeed my first overseas pilgrimage, and the first for a few of us, so I didn't quite know what to expect. But from the initial panic of waiting for one of our leaders at the train station to the final near-death ascent of the Way of the Cross, every part of this pilgrimage helped us to grow spiritually and has strengthened our faith greatly. The first few days we visited the village of Sarlat, Beynac Castle, and the Marqueyssac Gardens. Along the way, we visited the most beautiful churches, such as the ones in Domme and Conques. It was a humbling experience to be able to pray in churches with such a peaceful ambience. Conques, in particular, was fascinating. The abbey itself, which is home to the relics of St Foy, a young martyr persecuted by the Romans, built in 819 AD, was so grandiose considering that the town now only has 80 inhabitants. Add to this one of the world's greatest treasuries. Many facts fascinated us about the treasury but this one struck me in particular: in the chaotic period following the French Revolution, all the townspeople at one point risked their lives hiding the reliquaries in their own houses in order to save them from being taken and destroyed.

But for me personally, the most powerful experience I had in France was when we first visited Rocamadour and met the pastor, Fr Ronan, who told the most heartfelt and moving story about how he became a priest, involving his 1200 mile walk to Santiago on a broken foot, coming across a bishop in a petrol station and his spiritual guide, his mother. Built into the cliff beside the Alzou valley, Rocamadour had the most stunning views I had ever seen. The chapels of Rocamadour were so peaceful, calm and a place of wondrous beauty, especially the Chapelle Notre-Dame. I was so blessed in being able to pray to Our Lady there. I brought back a mini-copy of the statue of Our Lady of Rocamadour so that I will always be able to pray to her. I would like to thank all those involved with organising the pilgrimage for giving me this opportunity to meet and get to know new people, have some time away from the stresses of university life and visit and pray in some of the most picturesque churches I have ever been in.

See ICN's Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/pages/Independent-Catholic-News-ICN/195368037167900?ref=stream&hc_location=timeline for more pictures.

To find out more about Rocamadour, please contact the Sanctuary of Rocamadour Trust (E-mail: london@rocamadour.eu; Telephone: 07900 162220 (Frederic))