For the first time in three years the French national pilgrimage to Lourdes took place last Friday. Tens of thousands of pilgrims came from all parts of France in spite of great material difficulties and physical discomfort. On Sunday morning High Mass was sung on the terrace in front of the giotto in the presence of many bishops and members of the Governmerit. The immense crowd of the pilgrims•included 150 sick and numerous liberated prisoners of war.
The sermon was preached by the Bishop of Lourdes. It was a moving exhortation to all Frenchmen to unite for the sake of France; to unite behind the Chief of State and to co-operate with the " Revolution Nationale," whose benefits are already felt ; to unite in a common thought of the great past of France, of her great Christian traditions and of her still greater future if her children make the necessary effort to renovate their spirit ; if the ' mother teaches her children in their early age to know and love God and their country ; if schoolmasters renounce that so-called neutrality which was hut masked hostility to God and retivion: if employers and employees loyally co-operate to the reconstruction of the agriculture, commerce, industry of the country in order Co give her back her prosperity, by faithfully fulfilling their respective duty to one another ; if all respect and obey the established power; if' God. religion, the family, I work and authority are restored to their I, place in the nation and duly honoured