‘Wednesday.’ Bernadette, with her mother and faithful aunt Bernarde, left for the grotto at seven in the morning. She had to cross a mass of about three-thousand people to reach her usual place. Despite her prolonged prayers, Bernadette was not awarded with an apparition. Crying, she anxiously thought of reasons for “Aquero’s” not appearing. Finally, she returned home and went to school.
That afternoon, her uncle advised her to go back to the grotto. On arrival, she found the Lady awaiting her. As soon as she fell into ecstasy, as we read in her memoirs: “when I was inside the grotto, after reciting the rosary, I asked on behalf of our parish priest, to tell me her name”. The answer she got was a tender smile.
When Peyramale was informed, he was skeptical. While he couldn’t deny that the visions had reawakened religious fervor in Lourdes, the affair was dangerous. Bernadette should stop meeting with a stranger.
If she really wanted a chapel built, she would just have to identify herself and give some sort of sign, for example, make the rose arbor in the grotto bloom. That would certainly be tangible proof of her powers.
Ref: Cf G Menotti, “Lourdes”, p12
We pray for those who do not like us
A Christian must always have a big heart and show respect for all, even for those who act as enemies, “not because they are brothers, but because brothers they must become; one must show fraternal love towards him who is already a brother, and towards the one who acts as an enemy, so that he may become a brother”. (St Augustine, “Commentary on 1 John”, 4, 10, 7)
This attitude presumes a prayerful life. It distinguishes us from those who refuse to be Christ’s disciples. For “if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the Publicans do that? And if you greet only your brethren, what are you doing more than others? Do not even the Gentiles do that?” (Lk 6:32-3; Mt 5:45-6)
Our Faith calls not merely for a correct human behavior, but for living heroic virtues daily. Trusting in everyone’s capacity to rectify his errors, charity will impel us to devote ourselves to prayer, to give good example; and to do apostolate and practise fraternal correction. If at some time we suffer through particularly painful offences, injustices or calumnies, we must ask Our Lady’s help.
Ref: Cf Francis Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 3:342-3
Fulfilling our professional and social duties
Our professional duties are an exceptional means of living the virtue of justice. Giving to each one his due means in this case fulfilling the terms of our contract. The business proprietor, the mistress of the household with domestics, the chief executive of an organization, all are obliged to give just compensation to their workers.
For their part, workers and employees have the grave duty of working responsibly, in a professional manner, using their time well. Thus industriousness is a practical manifestation of justice. “I don’t believe in the justice of idle people, because they fail, sometimes seriously, in that most fundamental principle of equity, which is work.” (cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “Friends of God”, 169)
The same principle applies to students whose work is to study. They are obliged to render justice to their family and society, who together support them economically, so they may prepare themselves to give effective service. Our professional duties also involve solving social problems for a more just world.
The Second Vatican Council reminds us that “every citizen ought to be mindful of his duty to promote the common good by using his vote” (“Gaudium et spes”, 75).
Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:205-7
Unbounded Liberty, the Same as Slavery
‘Creating God’s kingdom means being with Christ.’
Creating the unity which ought to exist in us and among us means gathering (accumulating) together with Him. This is the basic program of God’s kingdom. In His statements, Christ sets it in opposition to the evil spirit’s activity which stakes its program on apparently unbounded liberty for man.
It flatters man with a liberty which is not his own. ... It flatters to make clear in the end that this liberty is nothing but adaptation to manifold constraints of the senses and instincts.
Can man awaken? Can he say to himself clearly that in the end this unlimited liberty becomes slavery?
Christ does not flatter man with the semblance of ‘unrestricted’ liberty. He says, “Know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (Jn 8:32). He shows that liberty was not given to man only as a gift but also as a duty which measures life. It is not a property which we may make use of in any way whatever and squander as well.
Ref: Cf “Prayers and Devotions from Pope John Paul II”, 1984, p119
Beginning again many times
The Christian’s daily struggle will entail fighting on very minor matters. Fortitude will be necessary to sincerely fulfil our acts of piety towards God despite setbacks or our state of mind during the course of the day.
There will be moments of falling and of rising again. We must always begin again ...; it is what God asks of all of us. The struggle demands a love that is vigilant and an effective desire to seek God throughout the day. This cheerful struggle is the exact opposite of lukewarmness which means carelessness, laziness and sadness in fulfilling our obligations towards God and other people.
In this struggle we can always count on the help of Mary our Mother, who follows step by step our journey towards her Son. Each time we begin again, we receive the help of Our Lady, ‘Mediatrix of all graces’.
We must turn to her with complete abandonment whenever temptations become stronger. ‘My Mother! Mothers on earth look with greater love upon the weakest of their children, the one with the worst health, or who is the least intelligent, or is a poor cripple.
“Sweet Lady, I know you are more of a Mother than all other mothers put together. And, since I am your son, since I am weak, and ill, and crippled, and ugly ...” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Forge”, 234)
Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 4:89-90
· “My Mother and Lady, teach me how to pronounce a ‘yes’ which, like yours, will identify with the cry of Jesus before his Father: ‘not my will but God’s be done’ (Lk 22:42)”. (St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way of the Cross” 4th Station, 1)
• Establishment of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception by Sixtus IV (1476). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
• Our Lady of Angels of Toulouse, France. (www/divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
• Our Lady of Longport, in Valois. This abbey of the Cistercian order was founded in the year 1131 by Josselin, Bishop of Soissons. — Gallia Christiana, t. iv. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com)
• Our Lady of Longpont / Longport. Valois, France. 1131. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
• Our Lady of Longpont (Valois, France). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
• Our Lady of Longport, Valois, France (1131). (www/divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
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