Our Lady of Lourdes Memorial February 11

Our Lady of Lourdes

February 11

“For those who believe in God no explanation is necessary.
For those who do not believe in God no explanation is possible.”
George Seaton (Stenius) (Prologue to The Song of Bernadette)

On December 8, 1854 Pope Pius IX in Ineffabilis Deus declared the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception which defined “the doctrine which holds that the most Blessed Virgin Mary, in the first instance of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege granted by Almighty God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the human race, was preserved free from all stain of original sin, is a doctrine revealed by God and therefore to be believed firmly and constantly by all the faithful."

A little over three years later on February 11, 1858 in Lourdes, France, Bernadette Soubirous, a sickly, asthmatic girl went in search of firewood and received a remarkable vision. This humble, uneducated, uncatechized young girl, whose poverty stricken family of six lived in a jail cell that was deemed too unhealthy for prisoners was visited by The Blessed Virgin Mary in a hidden, damp grotto called the “pig’s shelter” because this was where the pigs feeding in the area took shelter from storms.

There were eighteen visions in all, the last taking place on July 16, 1858. During the third Apparition, Bernadette held out a piece of paper and a pencil to the Virgin Mary so that she might write down her name, but Our Lady replied: “What I have to say to you does not have to be written down.” The Virgin then asked Bernadette, “Would you do me the kindness of coming here for 15 days? I do not promise to make you happy in this world but in the other.”

On March 25th during the sixteenth Apparition Our Blessed Mother Mary told Bernadette her name. She said, “Que soy era Immaculada Conception.” It is highly unlikely that Bernadette ever heard of the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception before these visions, but God in His perfect Wisdom and timing, chose Bernadette, a sickly, poor, meek and humble young girl to deliver His message of confirmation of Pope Pius IX Dogma of the Immaculate Conception of Our Blessed Mother Mary.

On April 18 1925, Bernadette’s body was exhumed for the third time. She had been dead over forty six years, yet her body remained incorrupt. A crystal coffin was made for Saint Bernadette's body. She was placed in a chapel in the Church of St. Gildard at the convent in Nevers where she lived for thirteen years. She has remained undisturbed and on view in this chapel since August 3, 1925. Our Blessed Mother’s words had been true “I do not promise to make you happy in this world but in the other.”

Fr. James Kubicki, S.J.

The Apostleship of Prayer

No Explanation

For items related to Our Lady of Lourdes

Please visit Lynn's Timeless Treasures
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Souces
AmericanCatholic.org
http://www.lourdes-france.org/
http://www.newadvent.org/
http://www.vatican.va/
Photograph of Incorrupt Saint Bernadette taken June 6, 1997

Saint Apollonia Patroness of Dentists and Dental Ailments

February 9

Saint Apollonia

Patron Saint of Dentistry

Patron of Those with Dental Ailments

Today my husband goes to the dentist. It is his practice to go at least once every five years. Usually something happens that necessitates a visit. This time is no different. A lose filling cannot be fixed with Duct Tape or Gorilla Glue so a professional he must seek.

Today, February 9, is the feast day of Saint Apollonia, the patroness of dentists and dental ailments. Saint Apollonia was born in the third century and lived in Alexandria, Egypt. She spent her entire life preaching the word of God. In the year 249 under the reign of Emperor Phillip in Alexandria, a great crowd rose against the Christians, many perished rather than deny Jesus as the true God. Saint Apollonia was the most famous of these martyrs.

An aged virgin, captured and brought before a pagan court to be tried, Saint Apollonia was asked by the judge to state her name. She replied, “I am a Christian and I love and serve the true God.” Enraged by this statement her persecutors turned to torture, smashing and knocking out her teeth. Faced with denying Jesus or being thrown into a raging fire, Saint Apollonia stood firm. Prompted by the Holy Spirit, rather than deny her faith, she jumped into the burning fire herself. Saint Augustine attributed her voluntary martyrdom to the Holy Spirit and compared her sacrifice to that of Samson in the Old Testament, who, with the help of God, pulled down the pillars of the Temple in Jerusalem, killing himself and all of his Philistine captors.


The more I pray to God for guidance to do His will, the more I am shown a little glimpse of His presence in the life of my family. Today, the Feast of Saint Apollonia, God again gave me a subtle reminder that He and His heavenly Saints and Angels truly do walk with my family daily.


Saint Apollonia, Pray for Us.

This program is produced by
RealCatholicTV.com

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Art
Saint Apollonia by Francisco de Zurbaran
Sources
http://www.americancatholic.org
Lives of the Saints, Fr. Alban Butler
Treasurey of Women Saints, Edited by Bart Tesoriero
http://www.newadvent.org

When the Saints Come Marching In

Who Dat
May be down 10 to 3 but I still want to be in that number