168 years ago today, the Blessed Virgin Mary began appearing
to a poor peasant girl in a small village called Lourdes in France. The poor
peasant girl’s name was Bernadette. Bernadette was 14 years old. She was poor. She
was not a strong student. She had asthma and was often sick.
One day, while gathering firewood near a rocky cave called
the Grotto of Massabielle, Bernadette saw something amazing. She saw a
beautiful Lady dressed in white with a blue sash and golden roses at her feet.
The beautiful Lady was the Blessed Virgin Mary. From
February 10 to July 15, 1858, Mary appeared to Bernadette 18 times. Mary didn’t
give long speeches. Rather, Mary told Bernadette to do simple things: Pray,
especially pray the Rosary, and to do penance for sinners.
Furthermore, the Virgin Mary requested that a chapel be
built at the grotto so that people could come there in procession.
During the ninth apparition, on February 25, 1858. Mary instructed
Bernadette to “go, drink at the spring and wash yourself there.” Bernadette,
seeing no spring, instinctively dug with her hands in the muddy ground. Soon,
clear water began to flow, and this spring has never ceased.
Over the last 168 years, millions of people each year have
made pilgrimage to Lourdes, to the miraculous spring there, to wash in those
waters, for it has become a place of countless miraculous healings. People who
are sick and crippled and even dying have been miraculously healed there at
Lourdes. Many more have received peace, consolation, strength, and renewal of
faith.
In the Gospel today, we read the story of the wedding feast
at Cana, when Jesus performed the miracle of changing water into wine. And
notice, Mary was part of the story. Mary was paying attention to the needs of
the wedding party. She detected that they had run out of wine and brought that
need to Jesus. Mary then directs the servants of the wedding party to bring the
jars of water to Jesus. “Do whatever he tells you.” And because they listened
to Mary, they became witnesses of the miracle of Jesus and benefited from it.
When we listen to Mary, and does as she tells us, God works
miracles. Lourdes is proof of that. Real miracles—miraculous healings—miraculous
renewals of faith—occur every year at Lourdes. But not just Lourdes: those who
take seriously Our Lady’s message—to pray the rosary and do penance for sinners—we
see God doing amazing things all the time.
You don’t have to be Catholic to pray the rosary and you don’t
have to be Catholic to do penance for sinners—penance like fasting, abstaining
from meat or dessert or video games regularly. But if you do, I promise, you
will begin to see God doing amazing things in your families and in your
community. You will know peace and strength like you’ve never known.
May Lourdes continue to be a source of faith and healing for
the Church, may it inspire us to turn to Mary as the heavenly helper God has
made her for us. For Mary always helps us to follow Jesus more closely and to
love Jesus more deeply for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.
Trusting in God’s mercy and in the loving intercession of
the Blessed Virgin Mary, let us bring our prayers before the Lord.
For the Church throughout the world: that she may continue
to proclaim Christ boldly and lead many people to the waters of salvation.
For those who do not yet know Jesus or who have wandered
away from Him: that Mary may gently lead them the healing waters of Christ.
For those who are sick, suffering, or discouraged,
especially members of our school families: that through Mary’s intercession
they may receive comfort, strength, and hope.
For all who have died, especially those who suffered greatly
in this life: that they may now share in the joy of heaven.
Priest: Heavenly Father, you gave us the Blessed Virgin Mary
as a loving mother and helper. Hear these prayers we offer with confidence,
through Christ our Lord.
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