Our Lady of Lourdes Feast Day is Tuesday, February 11^th.  Our Lady of Lourdes, is the title given to the apparitions event, that took place at Lourdes, for a 14 year old girl named Bernadette Soubiroux, between February 11^th and July 16^th 1858.  There were a total of 18 appearances of the vision, which Bernadette identified as “Aquero”, “a small young lady”.

I refreshed my memory of the story of Bernadette, by rereading the Wikipedia version on-line.    There, you will find described the visions, Bernadette’s family history and situation, the reaction that she received from family, townspeople, the church and the French government.  You will also find the subsequent consequences of this event for her life and for the Church and for the town/village of Lourdes.  You will find the information regarding the number of exhumations of her body and how it is still very much intact even after 130 years plus.

What I found significant about the facts of the event , is that, it was on the 17^th apparition that “Aquero” says that she is the “Immaculate Conception”.  It had only been four years since the Church received this formal dogma. All who knew Bernadette, attested that she had no knowledge of this title for Mary. This information tells me of the genuineness of Bernadette’s experience and also says that Mary accepted this title that the Church gave her.  This was confirmation for the Church who Mary was and is for us.

Another significant fact about “Lourdes,” is that, it is reported that 67 cures that we know about, came as a result of the sick visiting the now well established shrine. As well, it should be told that the holy water that is thought  to be at Lourdes, derived from Bernadette’s chewing of the mud and grass  and then the Holy water flowed. It is understood that she did this as a request of Mary’s for penance.  I think, it would be appropriate to say, that Bernadette was asked to be a mediator with Mary and Christ for the cleansing and healing of the people, and she very likely continues to do that from heaven.

Bernadette goes on to become a religious sister at Nevers.  She died at age 35 with Tuberculosis of the Knee. Her remains are preserved and are in the Church at Nevers. Attesting to the saints holy life, is the fact, that her remains are hardly decomposed.

What does the story of Bernadette say about Christ and the poor? What comes immediately to my mind, are the scripture words…..”the secrets of the Kingdom  of Heaven are revealed to the little ones” and “the pure of heart shall see God”. It is the latter statement that speaks volumes about what kind of heart Bernadette had, as well as, speaking volumes about what kind of heart other people in the story probably had. No one else is said to have seen the visions and Bernadette was interrogated by the Church and the Government.  There were people who thought she ought to be put into an asylum.  There were people who believed her as well.

Bernadette’s family were very, very poor and she apparently had been sickly.  I wouldn’t say that it was Bernadette’s physical poverty, as much as it was her spiritual poverty , that allowed for her to experience the apparitions.  What it does say though, is that, THE LORD HEARS THE CRY OF THE POOR….He hears those who belong to Him….He hears those who are of pure heart.  The apparitions and the Christian life of Bernadette tell us that CHRIST IS ALWAYS WITH US and that while we may not SEE visions ourselves….it is CLEAR….that GOD, MARY, JESUS, AND ALL OF THE DIVINE ARE ALWAYS PRESENT.

Bernadette, with Jesus and Mary and the Divine, is a powerful intercessor ,  especially for the sick.  Those who belong to Christ and who suffer, particularly, with long term illness, are God’s poor. Bernadette had to cope with Asthma, so she is willing to help with those who must also endure this disease.  Bernadette’s story attests to the enduring and abiding presence not only of Mary, but, of Christ, who is our Lord, our redeemer, our lover, our brother, our friend, and our healer and that certainly does not exhaust the list.  All this relationship with Christ, is available, to the world and the church, if we, but believe.

My bedroom is decorated with a number of yellow roses, as it is with a yellow rose in each foot, that Mary appeared to Bernadette.  I send out to you yellow roses and I pray that the mystic, Bernadette, with Jesus and Mary answers your most urgent prayers.  Happy Feast Day of Our Lady of Lourdes!

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