On Wednesday, the International Mass was celebrated in the Cathedral of St Pius X, also known as the underground Cathedral.
Cardinal Vincent was the principal celebrant, along with bishops and priests from several countries. The Mass was attended by 4,000 pilgrims representing different nationalities.
As is customary, several languages were used in the liturgy. Cardinal Vincent preached a short homily, both in English and Italian, on the day's Gospel reading from Luke 19, the story of the encounter between Jesus and Zacchaeus.
Here is the full text of his homily:
Today we rejoice to be here in Lourdes, an assembly of all nations but together in our love of Our Blessed Lady and together in our life in Jesus.
We have come at the invitation of Mary. She invites us here in the name of her Son. Our invitation to come to Lourdes was written in heaven.
Our journey here might have been a bit difficult. But not as difficult as the journey made by Zaccheus as he climbed down the tree and welcomed Jesus.
Jesus had invited him. 'Come down immediately', he said. But Zaccheus had hidden up the tree hoping that no-one would see him. But now had to climb down, an embarrassing journey, in front of everyone. He had wanted to see Jesus. Now he was going to meet him face to face because Jesus said to Zaccheus, 'I want to stay in your house.'
Mary does the same. She invites us, in the name of her Son. 'Come to the Grotto for two week, if you please' said Mary to Bernadette. We come to meet her, to talk with her and we have so much to say, so much to ask for, so many burdens to give to her.
When Jesus said to Zaccheus, 'I want to stay at your house' he was also speaking to us. He says, 'Open your heart to me. Let me be at the centre of your life. Let me be your Lord and King because I will bring you the fullness of life, the fullness of strength and joy, and for ever!'
When Jesus came into the house of Zaccheus two things happened. First, Zaccheus changed his way of life, and then he was filled with joy. We read that he gave half of his wealth to the poor and made up for all the cheating he had done. Then a great joy - the joy of salvation - filled his heart.
As Bernadette came closer and closer to Mary, she too learned that she had to repent of all sin, do penance for the sins of the world. And then her heart too was filled with joy.
In Lourdes this year we are invited to turn to God again with a fresh heart. We are called to conversion, to place Jesus at the centre of our hearts and to turn away from all that displeases and offends him. Here we repent of our sins and then our hearts, like those of Zaccheus and Bernadette will be filled with great joy.
Amen
