Did I ever tell you about the time ... French Edition

Many years ago my brother, who was a priest, now known as ‘The Monk’, was the choirmaster in the Cathedral in Leeds. He asked me if I would like to come over to visit him, and I agreed to it with alacrity.?

I arrived, 17 years old, full of excitement and a desire to experience everything while technically ‘on my own’ sans the parentals! He had arranged for me to stay with a lovely family whose daughter sang in the choir he led.?

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It was my first time meeting her and she was just the loveliest soul you can imagine. Her name was Teresenia, and she had a quality about her that just oozed gentleness and kindness. I felt at home immediately. I was welcomed with open arms, and made to feel so at home. The following day it was time to go meet the choir.?

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Walking into the cathedral was such an experience. I love churches anyway because of the smell of the incense and the savage acoustics, but I was about to experience the inside of a church in a whole different light. I met the choir, every single one of whom were the most awesome people in the world. All around my age, and all so welcoming, and I could sense … a lot of fun. They gathered together on the stage, warmed up their voices a little and then … they began to sing.?

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I started crying almost as soon as they opened their mouths because the sound that was coming from them as a whole was heavenly. Have you ever listened to music and were overcome with emotion because the sound or the words, or the combination touched something inside your soul that made you feel it all over your body? I know you have. I am 100% certain you have felt that moment. Well, I was feeling that magnified for 3 straight hours. I experienced the most deep catharsis during that time all from these incredible singers practicing their gift. That feeling and experience has stayed with me for my whole life.

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They finished with a hymn I had never heard before, and one I would invite you to listen to, it's called Deep Peace, and since then I have only heard one other choir do it justice. They are LIBERA, you can check it out on YouTube. When they began singing this hymn, I was transported into my heart and every piece of hurt I had ever felt in my life, every sadness, rose to the surface and was healed ( that’s what it felt like ). I had never experienced anything like it. These days I listen to the song whenever I think of it, and it does the exact same thing. You won’t be surprised to hear, I have it on while I write this.?

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I spent a couple of weeks in Leeds, listening to the choir, spending time with my new found friends, I even got a lift home on a horse from a mounted police officer one night when I lost my way. I had some incredible experiences, and loved my time there. And then … it was time to go home.?

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Not long after I arrived back in the West of Ireland, I received a message from my brother, it read ‘do you want to go to France with me and the choir and 6 other priests’? I jumped at the chance, and then read the rest. “We leave in 2 days, we will be traveling around France and finishing in Paris for World Youth Day where I will be serving mass in Sacre Coeur” YES! YES! YES!?

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I want to say something here, I had never been religious. I didn’t even think I had much of a relationship with God at the time, but the feeling I felt at this whole trip was not something that would allow me to ignore it and so … YES! It was a resounding yes. My brother arrived to pick me up, got angry that I had too much luggage, and sneakily left one of my suitcases behind! That resulted in some sailor-like language toward him when I found out … priest or no priest!

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Picture the scene, 33 17 year olds on a bus with 7 priests on the way to France.?

We began in Normandy where we all were farmed out to stay with different hosts. Teresina and I got to stay in a beautiful Chateau, where I was fed horse and donkey meat after dinner, before I knew that was what I was being fed. I threw up when I found out, and thankfully the host wasn’t at all offended, but rather, laughed uproariously at my reaction.?

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We camped around Normandy, spent time hanging around outside boulangeries at 5am, the fresh smell of croissants and pain au chocolat wafting up our noses. We went to Lisieux to visit the Basilica of Saint Therese, and on our way up the hill to get to it, I noticed the red cross was at the bottom in a tent. I thought, well isn't that interesting, and carried on my merry way. On the way down the hill I slipped on my own foot, slid into the splits with one foot staying under me and broke my ankle. The red cross people had to lift me in split position, off the ground, pop a stone out of my foot that had buried itself INTO my skin, and I was whisked off to the hospital where my foot was cast … with a cast from my hip to my toes! Why oh why was it put on from my hip? Who knows! But there I was. Everyone else left to get ready to go to Paris, while I endured the butcher from France wrenching my ankle into the position he wanted it to be in before he cast my whole leg.?

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The trip was hilarious. It was my first experience being in a vehicle on the Arc de Triomphe and if you haven’t experienced it, all I can say is buckle up and hold on for dear life. There was a lot of screaming and laughing as we went round it three times trying and failing to get off at the exit we were meant to take. The bus driver cursing as he went.?

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We spent our 7 days in Paris walking through the streets with thousands of other youth, saying the rosary as we followed priests carrying a giant wooden cross on their shoulders 4 at a time. We went to mass in various places, did a thing called Catechesis (I had never heard of that word before ), and went to see my brother serve mass in Sacre Coeur … well … most of the group did, apart from me and one other, who arrived late, the doors were closed so … I missed it. But no one needs to know that little bit of information, least of all my brother!?

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We explored the city, even venturing into the red light district, where … even with my cast from my hip to my toes … I was told I would do well in one of the little side ‘shops’. I wasn’t special though, they told all the girls the same thing. We hightailed it out of there as fast as our legs could carry us, which for me was not fast at all, due to the cast.?

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We climbed the Eiffel Tower, well … the others climbed it, and I was carried up by a fabulous guy I met who was in the army and decided to be chivalrous. He didn't complain once, but I can confirm that there were many stops, more than one almost dropping me, and a lot of laughs.?

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We ended our trip in France by going to the celebration for World Youth Day, which they held in Longchamps, where 1.2 million youth gathered to sing, attend the mass given by Pope John Paul 2, and the energy was electric. Imagine 1.2 million people singing hymns all at the one time. There were speakers the height of 2 story houses littered around the course, youth from all over the world singing in harmony, and a massive stage where the pope was casually baptizing 12 people, and do you know who was up there with him … only my brother!?

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It was a magical experience from beginning to end. Friends made, a whole new world taken in, adventure sought and had, and a deepening of faith I never knew I had or needed. I am not remotely religious but you don't need religion to experience a deep presence with something bigger than you. I call God - The Big G these days, and we have a very close bond.

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I will never forget that whole time, and being given that opportunity. Everything happens for a reason, and we have to jump on the opportunities when they feel so aligned that you can’t ignore them. And that's the key, tuning in to the knowing!?

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What did I learn from that whole experience?

1. Say yes to the things that light your soul up like a Christmas tree … whether they make sense, or not!?
2. Opportunities for expansion of self are everywhere, the right ones will often hit you in the face … or break your ankle.?
3. Music is the key to unlocking everything and healing whatever needs to be healed when it's delivered with passion, joy, and love.
4. When in Paris, remembering that driving is an adrenaline sport will give you a much better chance of survival.
5. Don’t trust your brother with your luggage, priest or otherwise, never leave your luggage unattended!!!?

XOXO

Ciara

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