Thoughts on Mary--Lourdes

"I am the Immaculate Conception." These are the words with which our Blessed Mother addressed herself to Bernadette in Lourdes, France. Pope Pius IX proclaimed in 1854 this Feast which was to be held in honor of this title of our Lady. Since we, this year, so close to the Annunciation, I thought I would throw this in for our contemplation.


OUR LADY of LOURDES
(1858)

The first of the eighteen apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary to the humble Bernadette Soubirous took place at Lourdes on February 11, 1858. On March 25th, when Bernadette asked the beautiful Lady Her name, She replied: "I am the Immaculate Conception." The Church for long centuries had believed in Her Immaculate Conception, Her exemption from every trace of the original sin which through Adam, our first and common father, separated man from his God. It was never proclaimed a dogma, however, until 1854. Mary Herself, in 1830, had asked of a Vincentian Sister at the Rue du Bac in Paris, that a medal be struck bearing Her likeness and the inscription: "O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee." Our Lady by Her apparitions at Lourdes in 1858 seems to convey Her appreciation for the formal proclamation of Her great privilege, by Pius IX, in 1854. Countless and magnificent miracles of healing have occurred at Lourdes, confirmed by physicians and recorded in the Lourdes shrine "Book of Life." To name but one: a doctor wrote a book describing the great miracle he had witnessed for a dying girl, whom he had observed on the train that was carrying handicapped persons from Paris to Lourdes. He had not expected her to survive and return home from the sanctuary.

Through the Lourdes Apparitions, the devotion of persons in all parts of the world to the Immaculate Mother of God has been wonderfully spread, and countless miracles have been wrought everywhere through Her intercession. The Virgin Mother of God is truly the chosen Messenger of God to these latter times, which are entrusted to Her, the chosen vessel of the unique privilege of exemption from original sin. Only with Her assistance will the dangers of the present world situation be averted. As She has done since 1858 in many places, at Lourdes, too, She gave us Her peace plan for the world, through Saint Bernadette: 'Prayer and Penance, to save souls.
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I remember when working that a certain believer(not Catholic), would talk about Jesus's immaculate conception. I told him that this 'Title' pertained to His Mother, because Jesus was perfect, not needing any kind of special graces. I asked him that if he could have formed his own mother, wouldn't he want her to be as perfect as possible? He answered in the affirmative. I then told that Jesus did too, and that He did it for her at her conception, because nothing is impossible to God. I had told him that the only way we could be made clean in God's eyes was not to have any sins on our souls. Mary, then, had to be made clean from her beginning, her conception. I left him to ponder this, which I'm sure he did, because he was a very contemplative type of person. Although, he didn't bring it up again. It must have been one of those crossroads for him, since he was a minister in the United Brethren church. We still got along great anyway, with many discussions on all sorts of topics. May God rest his soul, since he passed away a few years ago. He did, however, look just like Santa Claus, as we have seen in many portrayals.

Anyway, Bernadette's appeal for us was, and is: "Penance, penance, and penance." May this upcoming Lent keep us whole, and keep reminding us of this appeal.

Also, please remember in your prayers for my friend, Jim. He had a bout with the big "C" a couple of years ago and lost. Just when he thought he was clear of this disease, it came back with a vengeance. He had been told that it is now inoperable and incurable. I know he believed in Jesus, but he was not Catholic. I read the prayers for the dying from the "Pieta" book, which are very beautiful. I told him that the prayers were Catholic, but that the word catholic means universal, so every one can use the effects. He wasn't offended. I hope they console him wherever he is now. Also, I would like to ask for prayers for his wife. I don't know if she is a believer, but she can use the prayers. Maybe we can help her in her grief and sorrow, hopefully to bring her around so that she doesn't despair and reject God entirely.

Lord, have mercy.



Hymn

Hail, thou star of ocean!
Portal of the sky!
Ever Virgin Mother
Of the Lord most high!

Oh! by Gabriel's Ave,
Uttered long ago,
Eva's name reversing,
Establish peace below.

Break the captives' fetters,
Light on blindness pour;
All our ills expelling,
Every bliss implore.

Show thyself a Mother;
Offer Him our sighs,
Who for us Incarnate
Did not thee despise.

Virgin of all virgins!
To thy shelter take us:
Gentlest of the gentle!
Chaste and gentle make us.

Still, as on we journey,
Help our weak endeavor,
Till with thee and Jesus
We rejoice for ever.

Through the highest heaven,
To the almighty Three,
Father, Son, and Spirit,
One same glory be. Amen

V. Grace is poured forth on thy lips.
R. Therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.

Today is also the birthday of St. Teresa of Avila. This was 500 years ago. She is called St. Teresa of the Child Jesus. She arrived 20+ years after Columbus came here to the Americas, and a few years before Luther started the 'deformation'. I'm not going to say a lot about her, since it's not her feast day. However, one thing she said hit a nerve for me: "For mental prayer in my opinion is nothing else than an intimate sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with Him who we know loves us. The important thing is not to think much, but to love much and so do that which best stirs you to love. Love is not great delight, but a desire to please God in everything."