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When I ask for our Lady's help, she hears me. Christ's own Church blesses her titles, shrines and devotions. Here we honour her as Our Lady of Lourdes.

Holy Mass is celebrated at the Grotto in Lourdes. The angels hover above the Grotto.

When we forgive someone for a specific deed, God's grace is at work in us. His forgiveness flows through us, as water flows through a tap in Lourdes. Yet when we are so full of charity that love and forgiveness 'flow out' of us upon every thought and deed we are Godlike; for His forgiveness is like the water that pours unceasingly down a mountainside.

Though it is right that we travel to Lourdes to pray in the Grotto, and to other shrines, Christ invites us to make a 'grotto' of our own heart, where we can meet Our Lady and confide in her, who is at all times close to God Who dwells within us.

The Lord asked me to look at all the people who were standing beside the balustrade at Lourdes, watching the Rosary Procession. He said: A great deal more prayer and penance would rise up to Heaven from this place if they all joined in, instead of just watching.

God and His holy Angels look on with joy, wherever Christ and His mother Mary are present, where Christ is adored and Mary honoured, and where people follow their example - as in the Domaine, at Lourdes.

Christ showed me that from every floor of the hospital of St Frai in Lourdes we can see the sunlight and the Heavens. At every Mass, likewise, we are in contact with the Father - Who reaches out to us - and with Heaven, no matter whether the Mass has to be conducted outdoors, or underground, or in any sort of building, because of unusual circumstances.

Whoever needs help need only go to the hearts of Jesus and Mary, who work together to help and save us. This happened in Lourdes, for example, when Mary appeared to Bernadette, then Jesus was made Present in the grotto in the Blessed Sacrament.

Lourdes is not just an example of care of the sick. In looking at the Domaine in Lourdes, we have a picture of the Church which is in the world but not of it. We have a place for the sacraments, and for Reconciliation, a place for Adoration of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament, a place for devotion to Mary, a place where contemplatives pray for Church members - and much mutual help between pilgrims during our pilgrimage, including care of strangers.

The sacred Domaine in Lourdes can serve as an image of the soul of each individual. It should be kept holy. Nothing unholy should be allowed to disturb or sully its peace, purity and beauty.

God, who knows our nature, encourages us in holiness by giving us help, that we sinful humans need: things we can see, touch and feel, such as the water at Lourdes, the image of Our Lady, the grotto itself, the beautiful scenery, and lights and music and rituals, especially the Holy Eucharist.

Whether on the podium at Lourdes, or in a parish church, Christ is Really Present at every Mass, in all His glory: as truly Present as when He was with His disciples in Galilee. He is as Present, and as glorious, as at His Transfiguration on the mountain of Tabor, with three Apostles - though His glory is hidden today, under the appearance of bread and wine.

The Mass is the Sacrifice of Calvary, re-presented in a sacramental manner on the altar, whether in a great basilica or in a tiny convent chapel, a thatched hut, or an ordinary parish church. Christ is Present, interceding for sinners.

People on a pilgrimage are a mixed group: sick and able-bodied, luke-warm or fervent souls, people of every ability and background; yet by being on pilgrimage with sincere hearts, as on a journey, all are brought closer to Heaven.

A Catholic who ignores the Church's moral teachings, and the sacraments, is as much in danger as a person in the sanctuary at Lourdes, in winter, who decides to leave the town and stroll outwards, to go into the mountains, whilst not wearing sensible clothing. Just as the pilgrim might die of exposure, the unfaithful soul might die in mortal sin, and enter Hell.

The Saints in Heaven are overjoyed that we love and serve God, and that we believe what the Church teaches about the Communion of Saints, and ask them to intercede for us. The Saints, who all love Christ and His Mother, are also full of joy on seeing us, too, honour the Blessed Virgin Mary, who gave us our Saviour, and who has appeared at Lourdes, to Saint Bernadette, asking us to pray and do penance.

People walk toward Christ and Our Lady when they approach the Grotto at Lourdes; and whenever people approach Christ and His Mother - through the Blessed Sacrament, or at Mass, or at a shrine, or in private prayer - they are 'walking in the right direction'.