Day 6
Lafayette to Battle Ground – 15.6 miles
High of 83° and Mostly Cloudy
The crucible of western expansion: We head into downtown Lafayette, then venture off-road back in time along the Wabash Heritage Trail. The route follows the river from downtown Lafayette north to Battlefield Memorial Park. We’ve reached the midpoint of the Notre Dame Trail as the day concludes at the site of the Battle of Tippecanoe. We celebrate mass and eat lunch on the historic battlefield site that is defined by extreme tumult, bloodshed, and cultural tension as the United States’ expansion displaced an ancient Native American civilization and prompted war once again against the British in 1812.
Joy
View Fr. David Eliaona’s reflection on Joy
As I Begin This Day
“Joy is not the same as happiness. Happiness is the result of external circumstances. Joy is the experience of knowing that we are unconditionally loved and that nothing—sickness, failure, emotional distress, oppression, war, or even death—can take that love away. Joy is essential to the spiritual life. It does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy every day. It is a choice based on the knowledge that we belong to God.”
Adapted from The Heart of Henri Nouwen: His Words of Blessing,
edited by Rebecca Laird and Michael J. Christensen
Photography
Sacred Heart of Jesus
Prayer
God of unconditional love, You sent Your Son to be my companion on the journey. Help me to accept your unconditional love for me and to choose to live in the joy of your love each day. Amen.
Notre Dame, Our Mother,
PRAY FOR US
Questions for Reflection
- How have you experienced the joy of unconditional love in your life?
- What makes it difficult to choose to live with joy in your everyday life?
- As I begin my pilgrimage today, this is my intention:
Gospel of the Day
13 Children were brought to Jesus that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked them, 14 but Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” 15 After he placed his hands on them, he went away.
MATTHEW 19:13-15
The Journey
August 13-26, 2017
In the tradition of Father Sorin’s inspirational journey and intrepid spirit—our Notre Dame spirit—we will retrace his journey from Vincennes to Notre Dame. We will travel those miles in a collective renewal of our determination, to rededicate ourselves to Notre Dame’s mission to seek God, study the world, and serve humanity—to boldly lead the way into the new chapters of our story.