‘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
Be Artisans of the Charity of Christ
“Those who believed were together and shared all things in common; they would sell their property and goods, distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.” (cf Acts 2:44-5)
Our relationships with our neighbor are of capital importance. ‘Neighbor’ obviously means those who live beside us, in the family, neighborhood; in the town or village, in the city. Also those we work with, those who are suffering, are sick, know loneliness, are really poor.
My neighbor is all those who are geographically quite distant, or who are exiled from their own countries, lack food and clothing, often lack liberty.
My neighbor is all those unfortunates who have been completely or almost ruined by unforseeable and dramatic catastrophes, which have thrown them into physical and moral want, often enough also into the sadness of losing their dearest ones. ...
‘Sharing’ is a duty which no one of goodwill, above all no disciple of Christ, can evade.
Ref: Cf Pope John Paul II, “Prayers and Devotions”, 1994, pp148-9
Generosity in our reparation
“Satisfaction is the final act which crowns the sacramental sign of Penance. In some countries, the act which the forgiven and absolved penitent agrees to perform after receiving absolution is precisely his penance.” (cf John Paul II, Apostolic Exhortation, “Reconciliatio et Poenitentia”, 2 December 1984, 31, III)
Even after our sins have been forgiven, we deserve a temporal punishment during this life; or after death, in Purgatory where souls of those who die in a state of grace go, but have not made full satisfaction for their sins. (cf Council of Florence, “Decree for the Greeks”, DZ, 673)
Moreover, after its reconciliation with God, there remains the weakness of the will to abide in good; also a certain facility for making wrong judgments: a disorder in the sensual appetite ... the weakened scars of actual sin and disordered tendencies left in man by original sin, which come about because of our personal sins.
“It is not enough to remove the arrow from the body. We also have to heal the wound ... the same with the soul; after we have received forgiveness for our sins, we have to heal the wound that remains through penance.” (St John Chrysostom, “Homily, Gospel of St Matthew”, 3, 5)
Even after absolution, “there remains in the Christian a dark area, due to the wound of sin, to imperfection of love in repentance, to the weakening in the spiritual faculties. ... an area in which still operates an infectious source of sin which must always be fought with mortification and penance. This is the meaning of humble but sincere act of satisfaction.” (cf John Paul II, Apostolic Exhortation, “Reconciliatio et Poenitentia”, 2 December 1984, 31, III; cf also “General Audience”, 7 March 1984)
Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:212-3
Repairing Sin’s Damage
Penance is closely connected with reconciliation with God, with oneself and with others. It implies overcoming that radical break which is sin. And this is achieved only through interior transformation or conversion which bears fruit in a person’s life through acts of penance ...
Sacred Scripture speaks to us of this reconciliation, inviting us to make every effort to attain it. But Scripture also tells us it is above all, God’s merciful gift to humanity. The wonderful history of salvation, a reconciliation by which God, as Father, in the blood and cross of his Son made man, reconciles the world to himself; thus brings into being a new family: those who have been reconciled.
Ref: Pope John Paul II, “Breakfast With the Pope”, 1995, 34
On Commitments
In ‘a broad perspective of our commitments, Mary Most Holy’, the highly favoured daughter of the Father, will appear before the eyes of believers as the perfect model of love towards both God and neighbor. As she says in the Canticle of the ‘Magnificat’, great things were done for her by the Almighty, whose name is holy (cf Lk 1:49).
The Father chose her for a ‘unique mission’ in the history of salvation: to be the Mother of the long-awaited Saviour. The Virgin Mary responded to God’s call with total openness: “I am the handmaid of the Lord.” (Lk 1:38)
Her motherhood, which began in Nazareth and was lived most intensely in Jerusalem at the foot of the Cross, continues as a loving and urgent invitation addressed to all the children of God, so that they will return to the house of the Father when they hear her maternal voice: “Do whatever Christ tells you.” (cf Jn 2:5)
Ref: Cf Pope John Paul II, Apostolic Letter, “Tertio Millennio Adveniente”, pp64-5
• 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; www.bethlehemobserver.com)
• Our Lady of Apparitions (Madrid, Spain, 1449). (www/divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
• Our Lady of Apparitions (Madrid, Spain). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
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