Why Millions Travel to Lourdes, France for Miracles & Healing
[Music] Maria [Applause] Gy mighty God of [Music] Hi everyone, my name is Yuya and today we’re here with my dear friend Dr. Zil Okagiri, a spiritual teacher and author of this beautiful book, You Can Never Go Wrong by Being Kind. And he leads uh spiritual journeys all around the world. Uh this September he’s going to France Lordas and today we’re here to learn more about Ed. Welcome Z. Thank you very much. I know you read retreats to Tibet, Nepal, India and other countries. This time you’re going to Lis. What inspired you to organize this special retreat? I had the chance to go to um Lis to visit Les um December last year and um I was really moved by the experience of being in the ground of Lordes and being able to pray and meditate in one of the baselas in the sanctuary. So while I was there, I I began to think about the history of Les, this place, this little town, small town called Les. Nobody knew about it until um 1858 when a young woman saw the apparation of the Virgin Mary. And a few other people also testified to see the apparition. And ever since Les had been recognized as a place of miracles, as a place of healing, as a place that people can come and find answers to their problems. So I was very inspired not only by the history of Les but by my own personal experience and the fact that Les went from an unknown liberal town to a place that 5 million people around the world go to seek answers to their problems. Who is this retreat for? Well this retreat historically um Lotis is known as a healing place. So it’s a healing retreat to begin with. Whether you have a physical condition, um mental condition, emotional condition, you want to go to Lordis after you have exhausted other means and see whether you can receive um some kind of a spiritual grace uh to redress your health condition. Um now in addition to people who are looking for um healing, Lord is also attract people who are looking for answers live um answers such as what is my mission in life? What am I here to do? Um you know and people have all kinds of problem family problem. People are looking for love in their lives. There is just so many. So people when you when they feel called to go to Les they go they pack up and they go and stay. What is what is so special about this place? Why so many people going to this destination? Because it’s not just a place for healing the body. It’s also a place to get guidance. Um let me digress for a moment. There’s a book that I’ve enjoyed reading. I’ve read the book five times. And this book, and I have a capture of it here, um, is The Alchemist. And I think you’ve already also read the book, The Alchemist. How did you like it? I love it. I loved it, too. Now, the author is Puo um Quo. It’s a Brazilian author who who wrote this book. Now, I sound like it’s publicist. Um, but um there’s something that make people don’t know about The Alchemist and the author. Now, this book has sold over 5 million, no not 5 million, 150 million copies around the world and is translated into 80 different languages around the world. But what people don’t know about the alchemist and about the alter po is that when he was an unknown author when he was still trying to find his voice he got a calling to go to Lord he was struggling he couldn’t figure out what to do with his life so he followed the calling and he went to Lord and he knelled by the um statue of the Virgin Mary and poured his heart out and he say he’s struggling writer and he would love to be able to write a book that people are from around the world would appreciate and enjoy. And where he ended his prayer, he said to Mary, to the statue of Mary that if by any chance his prayer does come true that he would come back to Lotus after he became a famous author and he will bring back a golden garment and place it around the statue of the Virgin Mary. Such an interesting soul story. a sister story that so many people who read the book Alchemist they never knew about. So um years later um Plo did return to Les with a beautiful golden garment garment and he placed it around the statue of Virgin Mary to express his gratitude that um the divine answer his prayer. You see that’s amazing. Is isn’t that beautiful? Isn’t that beautiful? So, this is one example of a miracle that happened that didn’t have anything to do with physical healing, but it’s an answer to someone who was looking for guidance. Yes. Tell me a little bit more about the schedule. You probably already have schedule what you’re going to do at your retreat. What kind of places are you going to visit? Well, for one thing, we’re going to visit the baselas. The basilas of course are the religious structures like it be cathedrals um that have historical significance. They have um spiritual significance and of course they have architectural significance. We will be praying inside some of these basilicas um and we’ll also visit there so many different sites. The Lis is a huge compound is a big property. is about 130 acres of land which is um about 50 hectares of land. So it’s a huge place. So we will walk around uh the sanctuary and go to areas that is significant to us that we want to visit. Yes, that’s what we plan to do. Are you planning to do any meditations? Are you going to lead meditations there? Well, yes. Um I have as a part of our itinerary to lead um a group discussion, a spiritual discussion and also to lead um prayer and meditation and this of course will be optional for the participants. If they want to join um our discussion group they can but they want to use this time for personal reflection or for a personal time they can also do that. I remember you mentioned about candle light possession. And can you two share with us? Well, the candle light is actually I think the highlight of this journey. The candle light is when thousands of pilgrims have start from the far end of the sanctuary and they are holding a candle encased candle and they are walking slowly towards the baselica of the rosary. Now in front of the procession you have the statue of Virgin Mary being carried and this statue is beautifully decorated and illuminated. And around this statue are the clergy, the reverend fathers, the priests and the nuns all around the statue. And then you have people from all over the world, the pilgrims each carrying his own, you know, lantern or or or candle. So when you look at the whole procession, it’s really exquisite, especially when they begin to sing this melody um the A Maria and it’s really an enchanting music and it tends to really evoke one’s spirit and the the procession continues and you realize that each candle represents individual prayers from the pilgrims. And as you watch this there’s such the atmosphere is is the atmosphere is very peaceful and it gives you a sense that all the problems all the burdens that all these pilgrims brought to Lord is somehow lifted from them from the illumination of these candles which sort of like represent um divine love you see. And then you step back and you begin to um assess the symbolism of this whole procession and you realize that it’s not just a Catholic ritual but it’s actually a moving collective devotion of the pilgrims. You see uh where each candle represents a prayer and where each flicker of the candle has reflects its own unique story. And I think this word really makes the whole journey very enchanting. And I think that when the participants come to this retreat, it is one of the highlights will be one of the highlights for them. What do participants usually take away from this kind of retreats? Okay, that’s a good question. What do they take away from it? Well, I think it’s individualistic. Um every participant will takes away something unique and um but overall um many participant take away a feeling of fulfillment. You see and for that for some is the peace the serenity of the place that they are taking away with them. some is a a peace of mind and to have a peace of mind is a great is a great gift and the most important oh my god this is a wonderful gift to have a peace of mind and for some people is and receiving an answer to whatever question they brought with them to show them a way to show them a path um a way to redress and resolve their problems. Now, there’s another gift that people receive that almost no one recognizes or says thank you for and that is the gift of preventative grace. um whereby an event that is not very pleasant that was going to happen to us in the future is moved away because we have come there, we have prayed, we have opened our heart and poured out our heart requesting for healing and through the mercy of spirit something that was coming towards us in our life that is not so pleasant. is moved away. You see, we receive this type of gift, but we don’t know about it. We don’t know we have something coming. So, when it’s moved away, there is no need for us to express any gratitude. That’s why I think it’s always good to express gratitude for the things that we are aware of the gifts that we received that we are aware of and also gratitude for all the gift we have received that we are completely unaware of and I think it is my view that we receive more gifts that we are not aware of than the gifts that we are actually aware of. So these are some of the things that people will take away from it. And um and I do sincerely hope that everybody who comes each person who comes from wherever they are coming from and takes the journey to Lord and step foot in this place. It is my hope and wish that they will walk away with some kind of a gift to take back home. Thank you Zil so much for sharing this amazing story. But will now I want to go. You should you should definitely come. Absolutely. Yes. Thank you. I hope everyone who wants to find this retreat will find it and you can support uh uh Seal at his website supportkindness.org and join his amazing retreats. [Music] Holy Mary, [Applause] [Music] Mar [Music] the two [Music] advent. Mediterr. Vent. [Music]
Step into the sacred beauty of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, France—where miracles, healing, and peace have touched millions. Join us on a spiritual pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of Lourdes, guided by Dr. Zeal Okogeri. This video captures moments of reflection, prayer, and transformation at one of the world’s most beloved holy sites.