Penitential Life as Love and Charity!

Is 66:10-14; Jn 2:1-11

Today we celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. 

Our Lady of Lourdes is a title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary, recalling her apparitions in 1958 at the grotto in Lourdes, France, to Saint Bernadette, a fourteen-year-old peasant girl. In her 18 apparitions, Mary revealed to Bernadette the importance of prayer and conversion. However, the more significant message of Mary at Lourdes was doctrinal in nature. In her 16^th apparition, Mary would reveal, ‘I am the Immaculate Conception.’ Mary also instructed Bernadette to dig nearby and a spring with healing properties started flowing, lasting till date. After a detailed investigation, the Mother Church approved the apparitions for devotion in 1862. Today, the shrine is a popular place of pilgrimage offering the devotees spiritual and physical healing. We cannot forget that the Marian shrine is also a place of deep spiritual renewal for the faithful. 

The feast leaves behind some key messages for our reflection.

1.The feast of Our Lady of Lourdes is a powerful reminder of poverty, simplicity, and humility. Mary could have appeared to a wealthier and more educated girl than Bernadette. However, Our Lady of Nazareth, the poor village woman, found in Bernadette her own self and life. Hence, the choice of Bernadette and her person speaks much about Mary herself and what she loves in people. Mary’s choice is a heart that earnestly loves God and neighbors.