February 11 is the feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes, one of the most celebrated apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary that took place in southern France. Most of us are familiar with the incidents that took place during these visions in the year 1858 – how Virgin Mary appeared to a young, poor girl named Bernadette Soubirous, who was out collecting firewood with her sister and another friend near a grotto. From 11 February to 16 July 1858, she reported 18 apparitions of “a Lady”. Bernadette described the lady as wearing a white veil and a blue girdle; she had a golden rose on each foot and held a rosary of pearls.

On 18 January 1862, the local Bishop of Tarbes Bertrand-Sévère Laurence endorsed the veneration of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Lourdes. On 3 July 1876, Pope Pius IX officially granted a Canonical Coronation to the image that used to be in the courtyard of what is now part of the Rosary Basilica. Bernadette, who became a nun, was later canonized as a Catholic saint by Pope Pius XI in 1933.

Lourdes has become a place of pilgrimage and healing, but even more of faith. Church authorities have recognized over 60 miraculous cures, although there have probably been many more. To people of faith this is not surprising. It is a continuation of Jesus’ healing miracles – now performed at the intercession of his mother. Many who visit Lourdes return home with renewed faith and a readiness to serve God in their needy brothers and sisters.

Many of us may have had an opportunity to visit this place of pilgrimage. Venerating the Virgin Mary by visiting the place of her apparitions does in fact help our religious fervour and to deepen our devotion to her. But doing just that will have no meaning if we do not imbibe what she asked. On the occasion of the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, let us embody the message that the Virgin Mary gave to Bernadette.

In one of her statement to Bernadette, Virgin Mary said: “I do not promise to make you happy in this world but in the other.” When Jesus, in the Gospel, invites us to discover the Kingdom of Heaven, He invites us to discover the “another world” within our world as it is. If we are going to pray to God to let his kingdom come, then we need to be the instruments, like Mary, through whom God can realise His kingdom here on earth. This may not entitle us to the best of things while we are here, but this will surely guarantee the best in God’s kingdom, which is exactly what Virgin Mary promised at Lourdes.

Being happy in the other world also means that we learn to be happy while we’re here. Life has its own ups and downs. In all these, decerning the will of God – like Mary always did – and doing that will is so very important. “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). ‘Let go and let God’ should be our guiding principle. Let go of all the worries of the daily life and let God take charge of our lives.

Mary stresses the importance of prayer, especially the rosary. Our Lady appeared with a rosary hanging from Her right arm. Rosary is not just beads woven together, but it is a prayer which weaves the families together. Let us bring the beautiful prayer of the Rosary back to our families. In all our busy schedule, let us make time to be together, with Mary, as one family bound together in prayer.

Our lady of Lourdes, intercede for us!

Fr. Movin Menezes