‘Tuesday.’ The day before, Bernadette had failed to convince her parents to let her go to the grotto; when she did go no encounter had taken place. Obediently she had gone to school in the morning. After lunch she made another attempt to obtain her parents’ consent, but they refused.
Mme. Soubirous decided to accompany her daughter up to the school grounds. Bernadette, plagued by the thought of her vow to “Aquero”, had taken advantage of her moment of freedom and had rushed off to Massabielle where she found fifty or so people already gathered. Nothing happened.
As soon as she finished reciting her rosary, she started homeward full of anguish, wondering where she had failed. She sought her confessor’s (Father Pomian) help in whom she had confided from the beginning. He observed that authorities had no right to prevent her from going to the grotto.
At about the same time, the very same “authorities” relaxed their rigid stand through the efforts of M. Lacade, mayor of Lourdes, who did not want to oppose the ever-growing ranks of the citizenry following Bernadette.
By Thursday it was no trouble to get permission to go to Massabielle and a hundred people were waiting for her. The Lady immediately appeared; onlookers watched Bernadette in ecstasy for an hour or so. Of this meeting, she would later reveal, she had been told a secret, “only for her”.
Ref: G Menotti, “Lourdes”, p8
Jesus heals the demoniacs
Jesus had shown that all nature and elements were subject to him. Now he wished to show even evil spirits were, too. An opportunity arose when upon landing in Gerasa two men possessed with evil spirits cast themselves at his feet. One had an “unclean spirit” (Mk 5:2). He was most miserable. Here is portrayed the misery of a slave to the vice of impurity.
“No man could bind him ... for, often bound with fetters and chains, he had burst the chains.” (cf Mk 5:3-4) He was “exceedingly fierce, so none could pass by that way”. When asked his name, he replied -- “My name is Legion, for we are many. He wore no clothes, was day and night in the mountains, crying, cutting himself with stones.” (cf Lk 8:27)
Jesus, ever compassionate, said loudly: “Go out of the man ...” (Mk 5:13) Driven out, the devils asked to enter a herd of swine feeding nearby. Jesus immediately acceded ... the herd, about two-thousand, violently rushed headlong into the sea and drowned.
Instantly, the demoniac became quiet and gentle as a lamb. The people were astonished to see “him ... sitting, clothed, and well in his wits” (Mk 5:15). Not knowing how to sufficiently express his gratitude, he begs Jesus to take him as his disciple. Jesus, satisfied with his good intention, bade him -- “Go home and tell your friends the great things the Lord has done for you ...” (Mk 5:19).
He left and did what Jesus told him. The Gerasenes, having lost their herd of swine asked Jesus to “depart from them for they were exceedingly afraid” (Lk 8:37). Jesus punished their selfishness and stupidity by granting their prayer.
An impure man, mad with passion, cares not for his reputation or health. Nothing can control nor restrain him. Not afraid of judgment, he seizes his accomplices or victims. Thus, it is dangerous to go near or talk with him. Legion, the true name for the vice of impurity, draws an infinite other vices. He is miserable without the will or the power to cure himself.
Let us pray to God that he spare us from the temptations of avarice; and to detach ourselves still more perfectly from all that does not lead to him.
Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp397-9
Impurity
Immoral indulgence in sexual pleasure such as deliberate sexual arousal, masturbation, fornication, adultery and homosexual actions are all acts of impurity. While excessive emphasis on preserving purity can lead to scrupulosity, however, it should not deter us from appreciating the need for purity.
A philosopher noted how drives for violence and pleasure, particularly sexual pleasure, are closely associated. He argued: one can only restrain a love of violence by also limiting one’s love of pleasure; and living a life of purity.
This view receives support from claims now being made that majority of felons who commit acts of violence also are involved with pornography. There is growing speculation about the role of sexual stimulation through pornography and acts of violence.
Ref: “Our Sunday Visitor’s Catholic Encyclopedia”, 1991, p504
‘Free Us From Evil ...’
As we recite these words from Christ’s prayer, it is very difficult to give them a meaning different from opposition to what is against peace, destroys it, threatens it.
So let us pray: “Free us from war, from hatred, from destruction of human lives! Do not let us slay! Do not permit the use of means which are at the service of death and destruction ... ‘Free us from evil!’”
Father in heaven, Father of life and Giver of peace ... How meaningful are Jesus Christ’s words: “‘Peace’ is my farewell to you, peace is my gift to you; I do not give it to you as the world gives peace.” (Jn 14:27)
It is this dimension of peace, the deepest dimension, which Christ alone can give to man. It is fullness of peace rooted in reconciliation with God himself. ...
We implore this peace for the world ... for all men, for all nations, of differing languages, cultures and races. For all continents ... ‘Peace is indispensable.’
Ref: Cf Pope John Paul II, “Prayers and Devotions”, 1994, p49
Prayer for Chastity -- “My Queen! My Mother! I give myself entirely to thee; and to show my devotion to thee, I consecrate to thee this day my eyes, my ears, my tongue, my heart, my whole being, without reserve. Wherefore, good Mother, as I am thy own, keep me, guard me, as thy property and possession. Amen.” (Very Rev Charles J Callan, OP, STM and Very Rev John A McHugh, OP, STM, “Blessed Be God”, 1925, p490)
• Our Lady of Roches, near Salamanca, in Spain. The image venerated here was found miraculously in the year 434, by Simon Vela, who then erected a church. — Balingham on the Calendar. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com)
• Our Lady of Rocks, near Salamanca, Spain (434). (www.divine will.org/feastofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
• Our Lady of the Rocks. Salamanca, Spain, 434). Brotherhood of the Americas of Our Lady of the Rock (Also in Spanish). (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
• Our Lady of the Rocks (near Salamanca, Spain). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
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