Catholic Herald Correspondent ARCHBISHOP HEENAN of Westminster last Saturday opened the Holy Hour for the largest All Night Vigil ever to take place in Lourdes. The 328 pilgrims. including 15 priests, attended from many parts of England: 82 pilgrims arrived in the largest plane ever to be chartered by the Group.
"How glad I am to have this opportunity to say a few words of encouragement and to tell you personally what the work you are doing means to the whole church of God" said the Archbishop. who had arrived only that morning to lead the National Pilgrimage.
"Perhaps ten years ago it was thought that the battle against rend
gion was won and that it would gradually disappear-, said the Archbishop. "Now", he continued. "even in Soviet Russia there is a return to religion and to a trust in God. Those who have contempt for religion find it difficult to avoid its discussion. There is a desire to study and to come closer to the things of God. Is this a reaction against the threat of universal destruction and the spirit of enjoyment today for tomorrow we die?
"In every religion", said the Archbishop, "there is a curious development which is making amicable discussions possible between Christian denominations and amongst Christians and Jews, and attempts to find new meanings for ecumenism and ways and means of combating those seeking to whittle down the idea of a personal God, There is an intensified campaign of prayer as controversy is not for most of us."
In thanksgiving for the fact that the Walsingham railway line is to remain open for as long as goods traffic continues, the ANV Group have arranged a day-train leaving Liverpool Street Station 9.45 a.m. on Whit-Sunday and returning 8.58 p.m. Enquiries to Mr. McConvey, 34 Lansdowne Gardens. S W.8.