Chronicle of Friday 17 July

Good evening, families!

As Father says, today we did some “espadrille tourism”, but that’s forgivable: we’re warming up our engines.

The day began very profoundly at 6:30. In the meditation, Fr Ferran tackled a problem very typical of our society: we look for security in worldly goods that end up failing us, when the only thing that never fails is God, who must be the fundamental guide of our life. We went deeper into the idea proposed by St Thérèse of Lisieux: that of a God who is Father and loves us unconditionally.

Later we visited the place where Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal appeared to St Catherine, and we were urged to ask her for graces. Given the Arroyo girls’ determination to visit the place on the cover of a certain well-known album, the Luxembourg Gardens could not be left off the itinerary, and José Gomar treated us to a very well-prepared guided tour of its most exotic trees. Even so, the cultural medal of the day goes to the Panthéon, where famous French people such as Victor Hugo and Marie Curie lie at rest.

Rest came in the afternoon: a nap for the quick ones, reading, dinner... and the get-together! That moment when we share experiences and hum a few songs: Álvaro made his guitar debut, Ana Homs told us about her degree, Menchu about her volunteering in Africa, and Paula, Emma and Inés even put together an impromptu choir.

Tomorrow, more and better. A very good night from Paris.