Happy Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes! 
I wanted to post a reflection about Mary today but I’ve run out of time! Headed to the Motherhouse to visit with my IHM Sisters and to collaborate on some projects.
So I turn over the blog post to you — Who is Our Lady of Lourdes? What meaning does she have for you this day? What other names for Mary are particularly meaningful for you and why?
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Like her Son, Mary uses the most unlikely persons to get her message across to her children. When I think of Our Lady of Lourdes I cannot help but think of St. Bernadette, she who, because of learning disabilities, was nicknamed “the stupid one”. It was to this humble “stupid one” that a loving mother entrusted her message of healing and hope through the waters of Lourdes and the pronouncement, “I am the Immaculate Conception”. This feast day, as with all Marian celebrations, should serve as a hopeful reminder to the rest of us that, no matter our individual limitations, God desires us to spread his love, to become living gospels. And Mama is there to help us accomplish our mission. Happy feast day, Mom!
Hi, Julie. Happy Feast. When You go to the IHM motherhouse to visit be sure to have someone sing the Lady of Lourdes hymn for you. I just sang it as I read your message today. (It is stuck in my memory!)It was composed by one of our IHM sisters long ago and loved by all of us. We sang it at Our Lady of Lourdes School in River Rouge also. Nothing like beautiful memories to bring peace to the soul. Thanks for all you are and all that you do. Pat
I, too, think of St. Bernadette, a girl who was so certain of her faith that nothing would dissuade her from believing in what and who she had seen, not even those of higher authority who tried to force her to recant. May we all be as strong and may God’s presence be as real to us as Mary’s was to Bernadette.
When I was growing up in Camden, NJ, I lived down the street from Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital. It was a tall building and at the top was a big statue of Our Lady with a circular light like a halo on her head. You can see her from all over the city. I went to nursing school across town, and there was Our Lady glowing across the miles. It gave me such comfort. Right next to it is a Dominican Monastery of Nuns, and they have a smaller steeple and bell. I would look from Our Lady to the Monastery’s steeple and I would know peace! To this day, I can close my eyes and see this…and it still makes me smile and give me an ok feeling! Our Lady of Lourdes, yep, She signify’s healing to me to this day. And yes, she is still glowing in Camden!
The story of Our Lady of Lourdes was a big event in our family when I was growing up. My Dad grew up in a parish named Our Lady of Lourdes … a beautiful church. My parents traveled to Lourdes as part of their trip to visit my uncle when he was ordained to priesthood. They returned with a small Lourdes grotto and holy water, which we used during evening prayers.
I watched the movie “Story of Bernadette” a few times a year. When I was little, I remember being mesmerized by the lovely “Lady in the Grotto.” As I grew older, I remember feeling delighted to see the many hopeful people who followed Bernadette on her trips to the Grotto. I also remember feeling saddened about peoples’ disbelief in Bernadette’s apparitions and those who were hurtful towards Bernadette and her family even after she repeated the words spoken to her by the Blessed Mother … “I am the Immaculate Conception.”
I am in awe of our Blessed Mother’s choice in appearing to a 14-year-old peasant girl and of Bernadette’s faith and perseverance during years of dealing with doubt and accusations shared by disbelievers.
I join with all who celebrate “Our Lady of Lourdes” today.
Kathleen
ps: my other favorites include “Our Lady of Fatima” and “Our Lady of Guadalupe.”