A pilgrimage to Cure of Ars.

Reflecting on priesthood and observing the year of the priests – there is no better way to honour it than a pilgrimage to cure of Ars, the tiny village of St. John Mary Vinney the patron saint of all the priests. A pilgrimage planned and organized well in advanced by the College resulted to a beautiful experience for all (5th to 7th March 2010). We, 110 priests of the college left Rome at 7.30 pm on 5th March by two Coaches. The journey was long and tedious though. It took us 14 hours to arrive there with regular stops for fresh air. It was a journey of spiritual reflections with regular pauses of spiritual exercises.
If we had gone to Ars to satisfy the sense of magnificence; be it the scenic beauty, the panoramic angles, or some sort of artistic rarity, than it could be a disaster. Everything is normal and natural here. If there is anything to appreciate, it’s the simplicity of the place. For example, if you are entering from the front of the basilica there is hardly any place to stand around for chitchat (in case you are imagining a spacious piazza). The interior furnishing has no particular attention either. In fact, the benches are hardly comfortable to seat.
I am convinced that saints are great not by the impact of the magnificent monuments or sensational appeal they create. Saints are normally normal. We make them sensational.