MARY MOTHER OF GOD

FEAST OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES

CATHOLIC FEAST DAYS, MARY MOTHER OF GOD

I AM THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.

PROLOGUE

Today, February 11, we celebrate another Marian Feast Day, Our Lady of Lourdes. In 1858, Mary appeared to Bernadette Soubirous. 14 years old, in Lourdes, France.  Bernadette was doing her family chore of collecting fire wood near a cave.

Near the opening of the grotto, Bernadette glanced and noticed the cave was suddenly filled with golden light. Lifting up her eyes, she saw a lady of great beauty, dressed in a pure white robe with a blue sash, a veil over her head, a rosary clasped in her hands and yellow roses at her feet.  Bernadette rubbed her eyes.   What a beautiful lady!  But where did she come from?  And what was she doing here?  The Lady looked at Bernadette and immediately smiled and signaled her to advance, in a way that a mother motions her child to come near.

Bernadette took out her rosary and knelt before the Lady, who also had a rosary on her right arm. As Bernadette prayed the rosary, the Lady passed the beads of her rosary between her fingers.  When the recitation of the rosary was finished, the Lady returned to the interior of the rock and the golden cloud disappeared with her.

BERNADETTE SOUBIROUS

Our Blessed Mother appeared eighteen times to Bernadette Soubirous in 1858. Her messages to Bernadette are ageless and apply to all of us today…. A call to conversion, praying for sinners, acts of reparations for our sins and the sins of others.  Penance, Penance, Penance, pray, pray, pray for sinners

The third time Bernadette went to the grotto, the lady spoke to her.  The beautiful lady asked Bernadette to come here every day for fifteen days.  The Lady instructed Bernadette to scrape the mud of the Grotto until a stream appeared.  She said that she wanted Bernadette to tell the priests to build a chapel here.

Bernadette’s parish priest asked her to ask the Lady’s name. On March 25, 1858, the day of the sixteenth Apparition, Bernadette went to the Grotto, and asked the Lady for her name.  Three times Bernadette asked the question. On the fourth request, the Lady responds, “I Am the Immaculate Conception.”

Pretty amazing that only four years after Pius IX (1854) declared the Immaculate Conception of Mary a dogma of the Church, Mary herself confirmed the dogma to Bernadette at Lourdes. The Immaculate Conception means that Mary, whose conception was brought about the normal way, was conceived without original sin.

From the first instant of her existence Mary was in the state of sanctifying grace and free from the corrupt nature original sin brings.  Mary was redeemed by the grace of Christ, but in a special way—by anticipation.  Mary received grace merited by her Son’s death and resurrection applied to her before she was able to become mired in original sin and its stain.

Mary is our model of faith and commitment.  The Blessed Virgin Mary is also our greatest intercessor with God.  At Cana, the Queen Mother asked her Son, Jesus, the King of Kings, to perform His first public miracle.  Who can say no to their Mother?  Go to Mary, ask her to intercede with her Son, but be patient, God is in a different time zone (eternity)

EPILOGUE

Bernadette, at the age of 22, entered the convent of the Sisters of Notre Dame in Nevers, France, serving our Lord with dignity, grace, and love, praying for the conversion of sinners and to the service of God.  She passed away from tuberculosis on April 16, 1879 at 34 years of age and was canonized as a saint in 1933.

Bernadette was buried on the convent grounds.  Her body was exhumed thirty years later on September 22, 1909, in the presence of two doctors, several appointed officials, and nuns from the local convent. When Bernadette’s coffin was opened, there was no odor, and her body was completely untouched by the laws of nature.

To this day her body remains incorruptible (that is to say, it shows no signs of decomposition or decay), another sign of the miracles associated with her.  The sacred relic (Bernadette’s body) was placed in a coffin of gold and glass and can be viewed to this very day in the Chapel of Saint Bernadette at the motherhouse in Nevers, France.

Lourdes has become a place of pilgrimage and healing, but even more of faith. Church authorities have recognized over 60 miraculous cures, although there have probably been many more. To people of faith this is  a continuation of Jesus’ healing miracles—now performed at the intercession of his mother. Lourdes water is brought home by pilgrims and shared with thousands in need. Would you believe this spring still provides 27,000 gallons of water every day!

Many of the sick and afflicted who go to Lourdes and are not healed but leave there stronger spiritually. They know that their various ailments still have a redemptive character, much like our Lord’s did at Calvary in His Passion and, as long as they do not lose faith in Him, their sufferings will not be in vain!

MARIAN PRAYER

MEMORARE

REMEMBER, O most gracious Virgin Mary,

 that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection,

implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided.

Inspired with this confidence, I fly to thee,

O Virgin of virgins, my Mother;

to thee do I come; before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful.

O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions,

 but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

OUR LADY OF LOURDES I AM THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

MARY MOTHER OF GOD

INTRODUCTION

Tomorrow, February 11, we celebrate another Marian Feast Day, Our Lady of Lourdes. It is ironic that only four years after the dogma of the Immaculate Conception was proclaimed by Pope Pius IX, 1854, Mary appeared to a young woman of Lourdes and confirmed she is, “I am the Immaculate Conception”

I suppose the unique message of Lourdes is the heavenly confirmation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception.  Other messages are consistent with other Marian apparitions.  A call to conversion, praying for sinners, and acts of reparations for our sins and the sins of others.  Mary tells Bernadette the important thing is to be happy in the life to come by attaching ourselves to the crucified Jesus and His cross.  Mary over and over again stresses prayer, especially the rosary. Today, Lourdes, is a favorite shrine of Christian pilgrims for its miracles of healing.  Lourdes water is brought home by pilgrims and shared with thousands in need.

The Immaculate Conception means that Mary, whose conception was brought about the normal way, was conceived without original sin. From the first instant of her existence she was in the state of sanctifying grace and was free from the corrupt nature original sin brings.

She was redeemed by the grace of Christ, but in a special way—by anticipation.  Mary received grace merited by her Son’s death and resurrection applied to her before she was able to become mired in original sin and its stain.  Mary is totally inhabited by God.  She is our model of faith and commitment.  Turn to Mary and ask she help you to always say Yes to Jesus!

(SEE MY POST IN CATEGORY OF MARY FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION)

I AM THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION LOURDES 1858

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.

APPARITIONS OF MARY AT LOURDES 1858

In Lourdes, France, on January 7, 1844, a baby girl named Bernadette was born to Francois and Louise Soubirous.  Bernadette’s family was very poor, and Bernadette was responsible for looking after and caring for her brothers and sisters.  Bernadette suffered many illnesses including asthma which prevented her from attending school and was schooled at home.

The only education Bernadette received was the Catholic teachings which she studied faithfully in the evenings. At the age of 13, Bernadette was preparing for her First Holy Communion.  One of Bernadette’s chores was to collect wood for the fire.

On a cold day in February 1858, Bernadette and 2 companions headed off to the Gave River to collect pieces of wood.  Near the river outside a grotto/cave, Bernadette heard a great noise like the sound of a storm, but nothing was moving.   She turned her head towards the Grotto of Massabieille and saw in the opening of the rock a rosebush, one only, moving as if it were very windy. Bernadette looked up towards the grotto and the caves on the riverbank.  Near the opening of the grotto, Bernadette glanced and noticed the cave was suddenly filled with golden light.

Lifting up her eyes, she saw a lady of great beauty, dressed in a pure white robe with a blue sash, a veil over her head, a rosary clasped in her hands and yellow roses at her feet.  Bernadette rubbed her eyes.   What a beautiful lady!  But where did she come from?  And what was she doing here?  She looked at Bernadette and immediately smiled and signaled her to advance, in a way that a mother motions her child to come near.

Bernadette took out her rosary and knelt before the Lady, who also had a rosary on her right arm. As Bernadette prayed the rosary, the Lady passed the beads of her rosary between her fingers.  When the recitation of the rosary was finished, the Lady returned to the interior of the rock and the golden cloud disappeared with her.

In the beginning the Lady spoke no words to Bernadette.  Our Blessed Mother appeared eighteen times to Bernadette Soubirous in 1858. Her messages to Bernadette are ageless and apply to all of us today.

BERNADETTE SOUBIROUS

The third time Bernadette went to the grotto, the lady spoke to her.  The beautiful lady asked Bernadette to come here every day for fifteen days.  In Bernadette’s day, the Grotto was a dirty, hidden, damp and cold place. The Grotto was literally called the “pig–sty” because that was where pigs feeding in the area took shelter.

The Lady instructed Bernadette to scrape the mud until a stream appeared.  She said that she wanted Bernadette to tell the priests to build a chapel there.  She told her to drink water from the stream.  The lady also told Bernadette to pray for the conversion of sinners,“Penance, Penance, Penance, pray, pray, pray for sinners.”.

Bernadette’s parish priest asked her to ask the Lady’s name. On March 25, 1858, the day of the sixteenth Apparition, Bernadette went to the Grotto, and asked the Lady for her name. Three times Bernadette asked the question. On the fourth request, the Lady responds in dialect of the area,  ‘Que soy era Immaculada Councepciou’ (I am the Immaculate Conception). Bernadette does not understand the meaning of these words but the parish priest does.  He understands that it is the Mother of God who has appeared at the Grotto of Massabielle.

On March 25, the Lady finally told Bernadette that she was Mary, the mother of Jesus, and that her purpose in appearing to Bernadette was to warn her to pray and make sacrifices for sinners.  Bernadette’s daily visits to the grotto caused quite a stir in the countryside.  Crowds of people began to gather.  They watched Bernadette scrape away soil beside the grotto until a spring of water started to trickle out.  Would you believe this spring still provides 27,000 gallons of water everyday!

At first, the priests, the town’s folk, and the families doubted Bernadette’s visions and the purpose in her activities.  But Bernadette was stubborn and determined to follow Mary’s plans for her.  Eventually everyone did believe Bernadette and the grotto at Lourdes became a place of worship and the Lourdes holy water was sacred for performing miracles.

CHURCH SHRINE AT LOURDES

EPILOGUE BERNADETTE POST APPARITIONS

At the age of 22, Bernadette joined the order of the Sisters of Charity, devoted her life to Mary, to praying for the conversion of sinners and to the service of God.  Throughout her life she remained sickly, but attended patiently to her duties as infirmarian and sacristan. She died a holy death on April 16, 1879.at 34 years old.

Bernadette was buried on the convent grounds.  Her body was exhumed thirty years later on September 22, 1909, in the presence of two doctors, several appointed officials, and nuns from the local convent. When Bernadette’s coffin was opened, there was no odor, and her body was completely untouched by the laws of nature. The sacred relic (Bernadette’s body) was placed in a coffin of gold and glass and can be viewed to this very day in the Chapel of Saint Bernadette at the motherhouse in Nevers, France.

 

BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, MODEL OF FAITH AND OBEDIENCE

CATHOLIC CHURCH TEACHING, MARY MOTHER OF GOD

October is one of two months of the year particularly dedicated by the Church to honor Mary.  It is the month of the Holy Rosary and also includes the last apparition at Fatima, the miracle of the Sun, October 13. It is good to ponder Mary’s role in Salvation History.

For our Protestant brethren, let me say right up front that the Catholic Church does not worship Mary or make her an idol.  We honor her as the Mother of God, Jesus.  It is Mary’s flesh that Jesus took on to share in our humanity.  All covenants failed until the New Covenant of Jesus.  Man could not save himself under the law.  Constantly man was breaking the law of the Covenant. It took a human and Divine human being to atone for our sins.

Mary did not just drop from the sky.  Her part in the salvation story had been predicted in the Old Testament book of Genesis, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, ,and between your offspring and hers; They will strike at your head, while you strike at their heel.”

Genesis 3:15.

 In the Prophet Isaiah, a sign of the awaited Messiah is given, “The Lord himself will give you a sign, the young woman, pregnant and about to bear a son…” Isaiah 7:14.  Even the place is predicted in Micah, “But you, Bethlehem-Ephrathaha least among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel” Micah 5:2

Mary is foreshadowed in the person of Eve.  Both are mothers of all the living, yet in different ways. Eve is the mother of all those living with natural life, while Mary is the mother of all those living with supernatural life,

Without Mary, no Jesus, without Jesus, no salvation.  Some will say I don’t need Mary, I pray directly to Jesus.  Fine, but don’t we need all the help we can get.  Why not ask His mother to intercede on our behalf too.  After all Jesus performed His first miracle at His Mother’s request although His time had not come yet.

When we are having upcoming surgery we don’t just ask one friend to pray for us but we ask for all the prayers we can get.  Praying to Mary can’t hurt anything but can only help.

Mary is the model of faith and obedience.  At the Annunciation, Mary’s fiat, “let it be done to me according to your word…,” Luke 1:38 demonstrates her complete obedience to God and to His will for her. Church Father, St. Irenaeus, says, Mary “being obedient, became the cause of salvation for herself and for the whole human race.”

.The knot of Eve’s disobedience was untied by Mary’s obedience: what the virgin Eve bound through her disbelief, Mary loosened by her faith.  Our obedience of faith must be given to God as He reveals Himself, to us.  It involves a complete submission of one’s self to God’s will.

We must have a humble faith, which means that we recognize it as an unmerited gift from God.  Recall when Mary’s cousin Elizabeth greeted Mary as singular blessedness, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.”

Mary immediately turned the attention away from herself to magnify the Lord. Mary’s hymn of praise, known as the Magnificat, is a shining example of the humble being exalted.

Mary’s perfect humility constantly leads her to point to her divine Son.  “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness… Luke 1:46.

We, too, who have been baptized into eternal life must magnify the Lord through our very lives.   Like Mary, our “humble faith” must lead us to bear witness to the great things God has done for us. We must proclaim Christ at every opportunity in a way that invites others to “come and see.”

In Luke 1:29 and Luke 2:19, Mary is pictured as a woman of faith who pondered all things, Jesus, in her heart.  Mary’s “recollected faith” teaches us the importance of listening to God’s word, pondering the truths of our faith, and praying daily that our faith be preserved and strengthened.

Faith is a gift that is received or revived at any given moment in history. Faith is also a virtue. Like a muscle, it will go flabby if it’s not exercised but it will also grow stronger if we actively strive to grow in holiness.

Mary advanced in her pilgrimage of faith, from the Annunciation to Calvary, then to Pentecost. Mary never ceased to “wonder” in awe all that faith had revealed to her.  Are we still awestruck in our faith at all that God has done for us or have we become indifferent and lukewarm?   Mary, now assumed into heaven, is no longer on a pilgrimage herself, but continues to be a beacon of light for those of us still on the journey home.

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