In the 18 year history of the Pilgrimage for Restoration to Auriesville, New York, this marks the first in which the Institute of Christ the King's young adult initiative, Sursum Corda, has participated as its own brigade. We formed the largest brigade to march this year amongst the 250 pilgrims.
Thank you to all of those who sponsored and supported us through prayers and donations. And especially thank you to our "brigade father," Julian Ptak, who dedicated his time for months to the organization of this brigade's participation in the pilgrimage. Unfortunately we cannot reward him for all of the time and energy he spent planning, organizing, praying for, and leading our brigade, but we pray that God please bless him abundantly for all he did. We also want to thank Canons Hellmann and Moreau for their spiritual support throughout the pilgrimage—for making themselves and their priestly services available constantly and tirelessly. God bless them!
Our pilgrimage began on Friday morning in view of what was once known as the Lake of the Blessed Sacrament, under the tall statue of St. Isaac Jogues. After a Solemn High Mass celebrated by Canon Jean-Marie Moreau, and an inspiring sermon preached by Canon Andreas Hellmann reminding the pilgrims of how to spiritually apply themselves while on the pilgrimage, we started off in the direction of the Shrine with banners and hearts lifted toward Heaven, and Christ our King.
We also had a Solemn High Mass to start our day on Saturday. There were opportunities for confession and spiritual direction at all times throughout the pilgrimage. While still on the road, we humbly gave honor and glory to God in many ways, which included singing daily the fifteen decades of the Rosary in Latin, reciting the Divine Mercy Chaplet, singing hymns and songs in honor of our Lord and our Lady, and recieving spiritual instruction in the form of a daily meditation from a member of the clergy.
Our brigade took St Philip Neri as it's patron, being also the patron of the Institute's Seminary in Gricigliano and of laughter, joy, humor, and mirth. This was very important to us, as one must be joyful through suffering if one is to suffer well. From this saint we also took the words of our cry "No great mortification: No great sanctity!" adding the invocation "St. Philip Neri, pray for us!"
For most of the pilgrims, the pilgrimage came to an end with the High Mass offered by Canon Hellmann on Sunday afternoon. The Sursum Corda Brigade, however, continued on to the ravine where St. Isaac Jogues placed the body of St. Rene Goupil after his martyrdom. The peace and beauty of this place demanded silence, filling us with a sense of the Divine Presence which surrounded us. Across the bed of grass, over a small wooden bridge, and up a hill, we came to the end of our pilgrimage, for there was Christ Himself, lying in the tomb after His death on the cross. And here we found ourselves chanting "Christus Vincit, Christus Regnat, Christus Imperat."
The whole experience left an impression that we hope will never be forgotten. It taught us how to suffer well—how to suffer with joy. Though it was mostly painful, our brigade did succeed in remaining joyful through it all, and showed great perseverance throughout each day. The Sursum Corda Brigade looks forward to participating for years to come.
St. Philip Neri, pray for us!
Angela McDonald, Participant