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| Our Lady's Grotto at Lourdes |
On
December 8, 1854, Pope Pius IX proclaimed the dogma of the Immaculate
Conception in the apostolic constitution Ineffabilis Deus. A little
more than three years later, on February 11, 1858, a young lady appeared to
Bernadette Soubirous. This began a series of visions. During the apparition on
March 25, the lady identified herself with the words: “I am the Immaculate
Conception.”
Bernadette
was a sickly child of poor parents. Their practice of the Catholic faith was
scarcely more than lukewarm. Bernadette could pray the Our Father, the Hail
Mary and the Creed. She also knew the prayer of the Miraculous Medal: “O Mary
conceived without sin.”
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| Fr. Cyriacus Anointing During the Service |
During
interrogations Bernadette gave an account of what she saw. It was “something
white in the shape of a girl.” She used the word aquero, a dialect
term meaning “this thing.” It was “a pretty young girl with a rosary over her
arm.” Her white robe was encircled by a blue girdle. She wore a white veil.
There was a yellow rose on each foot. A rosary was in her hand. Bernadette was
also impressed by the fact that the lady did not use the informal form of
address (tu), but the polite form (vous). The humble virgin
appeared to a humble girl and treated her with dignity.
Through
that humble girl, Mary revitalized and continues to revitalize the faith of
millions of people. People began to flock to Lourdes from other parts of France
and from all over the world. In 1862 Church authorities confirmed the
authenticity of the apparitions and authorized the cult of Our Lady of Lourdes
for the diocese. The Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes became worldwide in 1907.
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| Parishioners were afforded an opportunity to pray together |
Since
then, 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. Some would say that the greater miracles are
hidden. Many who visit Lourdes return home with renewed faith and a readiness
to serve God in their needy brothers and sisters. There still may be people who
doubt the apparitions of Lourdes. Perhaps the best that can be said to them are
the words that introduce the film The Song of Bernadette: “For
those who believe in God, no explanation is necessary. For those who do not
believe, no explanation is possible.”
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| Fr. Cyriacus prays with the Sardinha's |
For the
Community-in-Formation in Bloemfontein, St. Bernadette carries much
significance. It for her that the parish church cared for by our mother house
in Port Elizabeth is named. And so on the 11th of February this year, the
feast was kept in the Sacred Heart Cathedral with a Mass of Our Lady in the
morning (held in the Lady Chapel as usual), and a Healing Service in the
evening. The latter was attended by around 100 people, some of whom are among
those housebound who receive communion through our Extraordinary Ministers.
The
service began with a Rite of Blessing and Sprinkling of Water, followed by a
short service of readings with hymns and a homily prepared by Fr. Phillip.
After that there was a chance for those present to receive the sacrament of the
sick, confession, or to simply have the opportunity to pray with fellow
parishioners.
A healing
service of sorts takes place in the Cathedral every year, but a member of the congregation commented that
the attendance this year was noticeably better than in previous years.
Furthermore, an encouraging sign was the length of the queue outside the
confessional!
St.
Bernadette, pray for us!
Our Lady
of Lourdes, pray for us!
