Hundreds of couples came to renew the sacrament of marriage and pray at Lourdes, on Sunday, Valentine’s Day. Gay couples were also invited …
It was the first operation of Valentine’s Day organized at the Shrine of Lourdes , in the Hautes-Pyrenees. According to the organization, they were at least 250 couples from Sunday to renew the sacrament of marriage and pray as part of the Year of Mercy.
The idea was to welcome all couples, married or not, gay or straight, divorced and remarried. Attendance has exceeded the number of that had previously registered online.
La #SaintValentin à #Lourdes. Le Sancuaire vous invite à venir vous dire je t’aime https://t.co/M8H2VTaERb pic.twitter.com/cdQ47Bw2Yh
— Tourisme Lourdes (@TourismeLourdes) January 26, 2016
In the presence of the relics of saints husband Louis Martin
“In this time of Lent, the Lord calls us to conversion, to change our lives in fidelity to the Gospel, this is what we want to meditate on Sunday under the protection of Our Lady,” said Mgr Nicolas Brouwet, Bishop of Tarbes and Lourdes .
“Couples who are not married sacramentally benefited from the teachings of the evening, the time appointed for couples”, he also said. ” We prayed together. This is nothing new. ”
About 500 people have indeed participated in the prayer vigil for couples, at the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, in the presence of the relics of the holy spouses Louis Martin, St. Therese’s parents Lisieux , canonised in 2015 during Synod of the family for their exemplary married life. The Basilica of St. Thérèse, in Calvados, exceptionally loaned these relics for Valentine’s Day.
In the footsteps of Pope Francis
This open approach on the divorced and remarried in particular, is part of the pope François policy. Closing the synod on the family , the end of October, the pontiff asked to welcome those who are “kept on the sidelines.”
“If someone is gay and seek the Lord with good will, who am I to judge? “, Has also said the pope two years earlier.
