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France - Day Eight

Day eight:

 We departed from Tours early this morning and traveled south through picturesque French countryside as we made the journey to Lourdes. 
We arrived in Lourdes in the early evening and checked into our fourth and final hotel the Mercure Lourdes Imperial.  Upon check-in, we each received a brass room key on a tassel and were instructed to return the keys to the board next to the front desk every time we head out from the hotel. As it turned out, 
Some of us found it a little more difficult than others getting our keys onto the board. 

 Having made really good time on our 570-kilometer drive, we had ample time before dinner to explore the shrine city of Lourdes.  After some sightseeing and shopping, we gathered for dinner at our hotel where we were joined by a special guest, Fr. Jim Phalan, C.S.C. '73.
  Fr. Phalan is currently on assignment in Lourdes working for Family Rosary International, a ministry of the Congregation.  

 After dinner, Fr. Phalan and our guide Deborah led us down to the Marian torchlight procession, a beautiful ceremony during which the rosary is said in up to fifteen different languages.  It was truly a breathtaking sight to see people from all different ends of the world coming together to pray to Our Lady. 

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January 21, 2020 at 6:02 AM
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