Today we celebrate the feast of Our Lady of
Lourdes. Our Parish is known as Our Lady
of Lourdes and St Bernadette so here is a brief review on why our parish is so
named.
In Lourdes, France, in 1844 a baby girl named Bernadette
Soubirous was born. Bernadette’s family was very poor, and Bernadette was
responsible for looking after and caring for her brothers and sisters. The only
education Bernadette received was the Catholic teachings which she studied
faithfully in the evenings.
The beautiful lady
smiled at Bernadette and asked her to say her rosary. Bernadette said her prayers and when she was finished, she looked
up, the lady had vanished. 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. 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. Bernadette
followed the requests.
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. The miracles of body and soul performed at
Lourdes are the proof that this message was a true warning from the Queen of
Heaven to her children and that she was deeply interested in their welfare.
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.
Prayer to Our Lady of Lourdes
Oh ever immaculate Virgin, Mother of Mercy, Health of the Sick,
Refuge of Sinners, Comfortess of the Afflicted,
you know my wants, my troubles, my sufferings.
Look upon me with mercy.
When you appeared in the grotto of Lourdes,
you made it a privileged sanctuary where you dispense your favours,
and where many sufferers have obtained the cure of their infirmities,
both spiritual and corporal.
I come, therefore, with unbounded confidence
to implore your maternal intercession.
My loving Mother, obtain my request.
I will try to imitate your virtues so that I may one day share
your company and bless you in eternity.
Amen
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