‘Tuesday.’ This day’s vision was one of the most important of the mystic events. Bernadette reached the grotto already crowded with onlookers. The crowd noticed nothing unusual compared to the previous visions although Bernadette was visibly shaken when she emerged from her ecstasy.
“Aquero” had asked her to tell the priests ‘to come here in procession and to erect a chapel on this spot’. Except for her confessor, Bernadette has never told any priest about the visions; she was a bit taken aback with the idea. After much hesitation, with her aunts, she went to the parish priest, Abbe Peyramale. She told him of the Virgin’s first request.
Receiving a curt reprimand in reply, she forgot about the chapel. The message prompted her dismissal. Though Peyramale had been informed from the first apparition by Bernadette’s confessor (with her permission), he had always kept out of it. He had forbidden the clergy to take part in the Massabielle ‘meetings’, awaiting the end of the excitement.
Bernadette realized her omission but couldn’t go back to Peyramale. Dominiquette Cazenave, one of the most fervent believers in the apparitions and sister of M. Soubiros’ employer, came to her aid. She set a meeting with the parish clergy for that evening. Peyramale, two vicars and Father Pomian listened to Bernadette repeat the request for a chapel.
Repressing his instinctive severity which would only lead to a fit of anger, Peyramale again asked the name of the Lady. Bernadette again answered that she didn’t know. ‘You’ve got to ask her’, he promptly commanded.
Ref: cf G Menotti, “Lourdes”, p11
Affliction of the Soul of Jesus
“My soul is sorrowful, even unto death.” (Mk 14:33) He was overwhelmed with physical sufferings and mental agony of one who suffers a violent death. What caused this deep sorrow?
1) The repulsive sight of the sins of men which his Father had laid on him. He had offered himself as the Victim of universal expiation. 2) The vivid and detailed torments, all the insults, he had to undergo.
Finally, the terrible thought his death will be in vain to a vast number of men who would remain hardened in sin.
How did Jesus respond to this extreme loneliness of his soul? First, he asks his three chosen disciples to share his sorrow, and watch with him. Then he resorted to prayer. Thus he acted as man, to be our model.
Jesus chose to begin his Passion with this total suffering of his soul because he willed to give his heavenly Father a complete satisfaction; and to us, a proof of inifinite love.
Man had sinned by misusing the faculties of his soul before he misused his senses. We thus learn what we may do and ought to do in our interior troubles: we may seek relief in telling a pious and discreet friend; but since what we need is supernatural strength, we ‘ought’ to pray and listen to God.
Ref: cf Practical Meditations by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp85-6
Charity is for all times and all circumstances
There is nothing more divine, more Christlike, than the meekness and patience in doing good. (cf St Gregory Nazianzen, "Prayer", 17:9)
“Of all the virtues leading to salvation, let us seek mainly those that benefit our neighbour ... In the things of this world no one lives for himself; all without exception contribute to the common good ... the good of their neighbour. This happens even more fully in the spiritual life ... He who lives only for himself and despises his neighbour is useless, is not a man ....” (St John Chrysostom, “Homilies on St Matthew’s Gospel”, 77:6)
The practice of charity will usually consist in little details: a smile, an encouraging word, a kind gesture. The “eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” (Mt 5:38) is not the conduct of a Christian; but to do good always, although occasionally such an attitude will not result in any human gain. At least we will have enriched our hearts.
Charity makes us understanding, ready to forgive, fit to live with everyone; so that “those who think and act differently from us in social, political and even in religious matters will also have a claim on our respect and charity. ... Love and courtesy of this kind should not make us indifferent to truth and goodness. ... But we must distinguish between the error and the one in error ...” (cf Second Vatican Council, "Gaudium et spes", 28)
Ref: cf Francis Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 3:340-342
The Spirit of Love and Sharing
The time of Lent was given to us as the Church and through the Church, to purify us of residues of egoism, of excessive attachment to goods ... which keep us far from those with the right to make claims upon us: chiefly those who, physically near or far from us, have no possibility of living as men and women with dignity, as humans created in the image and likeness of God.
So let yourselves be permeated with the spirit of penitence and conversion-- ‘the spirit of love’ and ‘sharing’. In imitation of Christ, bring yourselves close to the poor and those whom the world rejects.
Take part in everything being done in your local church, for Christians and all people of goodwill to be able to bring each of their brethren the means, even the material means, for living worthily, for undertaking their own human and spiritual promotion and that of their families.
May the Lenten collections (for poor countries as well), give you the means to help local churches in even poorer lands through sharing, so they may achieve their mission of being Good Samaritans to those for whom they are directly responsible: the poor, the hungry, victims of injustice and those who cannot yet be responsible for their own development and their own human communities.
Penance, conversion: this is the ‘path’, not a sad but a ‘liberating path, that of our time of Lent’.
If you still ask yourselves, ‘Who is my neighbor?’, you will read the answer on the face of Christ and hear it from his lips: “I assure you, as often as you did it for one of my least brothers, you did it for me.” (Mt 25:40)
Ref: cf Pope John Paul II, “Prayers and Devotions”, 1994, pp147-8
Our Lady of Apparitions, at Madrid, so-called because in the year 1499, the Blessed Virgin appeared during a whole week to a young woman named Yves, and ordered her to build a church in her honor, on the spot where she should find a cross planted to Our Lady. — Life of Blessed Jane. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com)
Our Lady of Apparitions (Madrid, Spain, 1449) (http://www/divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
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