I HAVE recently returned from a week's pilgrimage to the well-known town of Lourdes in the south of France. Among the thousands there were about 800 people from our Catholic diocese of Westminster; many were in wheelchairs. Guiding those chairs were scores of our young people - all decked in red cloth 'breastplates'; they had given up their holidays and part-time jobs just to help out. It was great to see such commitment.

In those wheelchairs were people suffering from all kinds of medical problems. Some were elderly and didn't have the strength to move any distance. At the beginning of each day they were all ready for collection by their 'chauffeurs' and would be guided on their way, through crowds of fellow pilgrims, to the open-air 'church' where the Eucharist and services of healing and forgiveness were celebrated.

Every evening we had a torchlight procession with thousands of people carrying screened candles. We sang hymns and made prayers of intercession for ourselves and for those in need. We prayed also for those who died in the Concorde crash. It was a holy and peaceful time and we felt the presence of God in our midst - even during our funtime.

And then I was back in Watford - and down with a thump from such great spiritual heights. I was in the doldrums (again) with, seemingly insufficient spiritual energy to do anything more than just get through one day at a time. Peter! James! John! I know why you wanted to hold on to your transfiguration experience. I was feeling sorry for myself.

That was when I remembered a particular lady whose husband died recently. Some years ago her two sons had also died in sad circumstances. Her remaining son has been an invalid since childhood. And this lady still loves God and has great faith and is very involved in her church. Thank you Lord, for this witnessing. Lord, increase my faith.- Fr Frank Leonard, Holy Rood Church, Watford.