Stained-Glass Window, Bonneval Church, France,
The Vision of Saint Bernadette of Lourdes.
Photo: 17 July 2009.
Source: Own work.
Author: Xandar
(Wikimedia Commons)
Text from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,
unless otherwise stated.
Apparitions of The Blessed Virgin Mary at Lourdes.
Feast Day 11 February.
Greater-Double.
White Vestments.
English:
Basilica of The Immaculate Conception,
Lourdes, France.
Deutsch: Frankreich: Lourdes,
Basilika der unbefleckten Empfängnis,
Rosenkranzbasilika und Krypta in Lourdes.
Photo: 2005.
Source: Own work.
Author: Milorad Pavlek.
(Wikimedia Commons)
From 11 February 1858 to 16 July 1858, The Blessed Virgin Mary came down from Heaven eighteen times (Introit), and showed herself to Saint Bernadette Soubirous (Collect), in the cave of the rock at Massabielle (Gradual).
On 25 March 1858, she said to the little shepherdess of fourteen years of age: “I am The Immaculate Conception”. Today’s Feast, therefore, recalls Mary’s triumph over the serpent (Tract), which the Septuagesimal Liturgy has in mind.
Like the woman seen by Saint John, “clothed in the Sun, with the Moon under her feet and a Crown of twelve Stars over her head” (Epistle), The Virgin of Lourdes “is clothed in a Robe and Veil, as White as Snow, she wears a Blue Girdle and on her bare feet rests a Golden Rose,” all symbolic of her Virginal Love.
She exhorts to Penance the unfortunate Children of Eve, who have not been, like herself, preserved from sin. On the day of the Annunciation, she declared her name to us, to manifest that it is on account of the Incarnation (Collect) that God has vouchsafed to her “not to be tainted with the Original Stain” (Tract).
Remembering that Mary is “the Ark of the New Covenant” (Epistle), let us go with confidence to her, who, “Full of Grace” (Offertory), “visits our Earth to multiply in us the gifts of her riches” (Communion).
Mass: Vidi civitátem.
Commemoration and Last Gospel of the Feria. In Lent.
Preface: Of The Blessed Virgin Mary: “Et te in Conceptione Immaculáta”.
A wonderful Zephyrinus summary (thank you!), of this easily overlooked feast (coming between Epiphany and Ash Wednesday)—yet the Virgin was “compelled” to reveal to an unassuming country girl her Immaculate Conception at a time of faltering faith and leadership in France and Europe in general. Bernadette’s uncomplicated, “direct” faith is something perhaps we should all pray for through her intercession and Our Lady’s. As Servant of God Bp. Fulton Sheen used often to say, Faith is a choice, not “a feeling.” We don’t always get the warm “gustos” (as S. Teresa of Avila used to say, critically) that we would like (I am sure even Zephyrinus would like to through up his hands some days—maybe this reader is wrong). May we make that choice of Faith each day in what we do. -Comment by Dante P
ReplyDeleteA wonderful synopsis of Our Lady's Apparitions to Saint Bernadette by Our Liturgical Historical Correspondent, Dante P.
DeleteWhen “things” get too bad, or are insolvable, or too horrendous, Zephyrinus always turns to Our Blessed Mother and says: “May I leave this matter to you, Dear Mother. It is far too much for me”.
Zephyrinus, of course, often throws up his hands in desperation at events, generally instigated by either, or both of, Perkins or Jeeves.
Faith is, indeed, a choice. Let us make that choice, daily.
Saint Bernadette. Ora Pro Nobis.
From the office:
ReplyDelete“Mary Immaculate, Star of the morning, Chosen before the creation began,
Chosen to bring in the light of thy dawning,
Woe to the serpent and rescue to man.
Here, in this world of both shadow and sadness,
Veiling thy splendour, thy course hast thou run:
Now thou art throned in all glory and gladness,
Crowned by the hand of thy Saviour and Son.
Sinners, we praise thy sinless perfection;
Fallen and weak, for thy pity we plead:
Grant us the shield of thy sov'reign protection,
Measure thine aid by the depth of our need.
Bend from thy throne at the voice of our crying,
Bend to this earth which thy footsteps have trod:
Stretch out thine arms to us, living and dying,
Mary Immaculate, Mother of God. -Hymn, Our Lady of Lourdes.”
-Note by Dante P
A most beautiful Hymn, Dante P.
DeleteThank You.