Saturday night Ribbon Ceremony

Saturday night was the international Ribbon Ceremony when those knights, dames and volunteers of the Order, who are attending their first pilgrimage, receive a medal and ribbon indicating their service at Lourdes. You see these ribbons on uniforms throughout Lourdes some adorned with metal stars indicating additional pilgrimages trips. The medals were blessed by Cardinal Burke, the prelate of the Order of Malta, and distributed by the Grand Master, Matthew Festing. There were delegations of the Order from over 50 countries present. The most moving moment of the evening was the introduction of the 100 knights, dames and volunteers from Iraq. The thousands in the church rose in applause that lasted at least 10 minutes. With the trials they bear in practicing their faith, we find strength to do our much less demanding jobs and keep them in our prayers.