‘Sunday.’ Bernadette couldn’t help feeling attracted to the grotto despite her mother’s adamant refusal to let her go. A submissive nature prevented her from disobeying; but the strong longing encouraged her to beg again her mother’s permission.
Rebuffed, she turned to her father who would have refused also were it not for his employer, M. Cazenave who argued, ‘What could be so terrible about a Lady holding a rosary?’ Thus, her father consented.
Bernadette rushed off, with a group of friends, holding a bottle of holy water taken from the church. At the grotto, she started to recite the rosary. After only a short while the Lady appeared. Bernadette opened the bottle of holy water, and flung its contents in the Lady’s direction.
In Bernadette’s words, ‘Then I started to throw holy water at her, saying that if she had been sent by God she should stay, otherwise she should leave. She smiled and bent her head. The more I sprinkled her, the more she smiled, bending down her head.’ Bernadette’s account stops here because she fell into ecstasy.
When she was speaking to the Lady, Baloume (annoyed at being left behind) pushed a large rock from above the grotto into the midst of the girls. Although noboby was hurt, the loud noise sparked general panic.
The girls vainly tried to drag Bernadette away. Her body suddenly seemed so heavy. Antoine Nicolau who heard the screams and came running from the nearby Savy Mill was able to get Bernadette out of the grotto. He, too felt how heavy her body was and how she gazed at the grotto all the way to the mill.
At the mill, Bernadette recovered her senses. Her mother, summoned by the girls, rushed to the village and nearly gave Bernadette a beating. M. Soubirous declared she would never again set foot in the grotto.
Ref: G Menotti, “Lourdes”, p4
What is the Rosary?
The word ‘Rosary’ comes from ‘rosarium’ (Latin), a garden of roses. Used since the thirteenth century, it contains one-hundred and fifty ‘Hail, Mary’s’. Sometimes called the ‘Psalter of Mary’, in imitation of the one-hundred and fifty Psalms of David in the Old Testament.
The Rosary is also referred to as the People’s Bible, because its fifteen mysteries unfold to the world God’s most sublime revelation. Pope John Paul II declared: “Against the background of the words ‘Ave, Maria’ there pass before the eyes of the soul the main episodes in the life of Jesus Christ. They are composed altogether of the joyful, sorrowful and glorious mysteries, and they put us in living communion with Jesus through, we could say, His Mother’s heart.
“At the same time our heart can enclose in these decades of the Rosary all the facts that make up the life of the individual, the family, the nation, the Church and mankind. Personal matters and those of one’s neighbor, and particularly of those who are closest to us, dearest to us. Thus, in the simple prayer of the Rosary beats the rhythm of human life.”
Ref: Rev Joseph A Viano, SSP, “Two Months with Mary”, 1984, p48
THE SEVEN SUNDAYS DEVOTION TO ST. JOSEPH -- Honors the seven joys and seven sorrows of St Joseph. (Ref: “Handbook of Prayers”, Fr Charles Belmonte and Fr James Socias [Eds], 1988, pp321-3)
“What must Joseph have been, how grace must have worked through him, that he should be able to fulfill this task of the human upbringing of the Son of God.
“For Jesus must have resembled Joseph: in his way of working, in the features of his character, in his way of speaking. Jesus’ realism, his eye for detail, the way he sat at table and broke bread, his preference for using everyday situations to give doctrine -- all this reflects his childhood and the influence of Joseph.
“It’s not possible to ignore this sublime mystery: Jesus who is man, who speaks with the accent of a particular district of Israel, who resembles a carpenter called Joseph, is the Son of God.”
Ref: St Josemaria Escrivà, “In Joseph’s Workshop” in “Christ is passing by”, 40
The third sorrow and joy of St Joseph -- His sorrow when he saw Jesus’ blood shed in circumcision, his joy in giving him the name Jesus.
“When the eighth day came and the Child was to be circumcised, they gave him the name Jesus, the name the angel had given him before his conception.” (Lk 2:21)
“Interior life is nothing but continual and direct conversation with Christ, so as to become one with him. And Joseph can tell us many things about Jesus. Therefore, never neglect devotion to him ...”
Ref: St Josemaria Escrivà, “In Joseph’s Workshop”, 56
Memorial: St Cyril, monk and St Methodius, bishop -- Brothers, the youngest and oldest, respectively, from a family of seven children. Born in Thessalonica (Greece), their father was a high official in the Byzantine Empire. John Paul II proclaimed them patron saints of Europe, with St Benedict, abbot. (Fr James Socias et al [Eds], “Daily Roman Missal”, p1482)
The evangelization of the Slavic peoples
“Cyril and Methodius carried out their missionary service in union both with the Church of Constantinople, and with Peter’s Roman See ... In this way they manifested the unity of the Church ...” (cf John Paul II, “Egregiae virtutis”, 31 December 1980)
“... the European identity is not understandable without Christianity. It is precisely in Christianity that are found those common roots by which the continent has seen its civilization mature: its culture, dynamism, activity, and capacity for constructive expansion in other continents as well. In all that makes up its glory.” (cf idem “Address”, Santiago de Compostela, 9 November 1982, 2)
The very name, Europe is fairly recent. The region was known as ‘Christendom’ for many centuries. (cf L Suarez, “The Christian roots of Europe”, Madrid 1986) A multitude of races and cultures came together through the Church and based their co-existence on Christian principles.
“... an endeavor full of triumphs and apparent failures, to which each people contributed their particular genius. As always, the Providence of God was predicated on the cooperation of men. Above all, the conversion of Europe was a religious phenomenon which at the same time figured as an essential factor in the development of Western culture.” (cf J Orlandis, “The Conversion of Europe to Christianity”, Madrid, 1988)
We must christianize the world we know in our ordinary lives: to bring faith and optimism without fear of the difficulties. “If there are many obstacles, there will be abundant grace available. God himself will move the obstacles by using us as his instruments.” (cf Alvaro del Portillo, “Letter”, 25 December 1985, 10)
We can suggest that new homeowners have their house blessed; and to encourage them to hang images of our Lady to give honor to the Mother of God.
We turn to Holy Mary, ‘Queen of the world’. Let us ask her that ‘the Church be rejuvenated, that she be firmly united, that her faithful be renewed in desires for holiness and apostolate’. We pray that Christ might reign in all hearts, in all human activities. (Ibid, 12)
Ref: cf Francis Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 6:105-10
Pessimism
“We lack faith. The day we practise this virtue, trusting in God and in his Mother, we will be daring and loyal. God, who is the same God as ever, will work miracles through our hands.
“Grant me, dear Jesus, the faith I truly desire. My Mother, sweet Lady, Mary most holy, make me really believe.”
Ref: St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Forge”, 235)
You can! -- If it is God who lays the burden upon you, God will also give you the strength to bear it. (Ibid, 325)
Our Lady of Hope (Tajon, Mexico) (http://www.starharbor.com/santiago/m feasts.html)
Our Lady of Bourbourg, in Flanders. It is asserted that this image having been struck by a wicked man, in the year 1383, the sacrilegious wretch fell dead on the spot. — Bzovius, ex Archivis ecclesiae Burburg. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com); (http://www.divine will.org/feastofourlady.htm)
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