CARMEL'S OWN: February 2010

Friday, February 26, 2010

THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

I am the Immaculate Conception

In Lourdes, the dazzling visitor of the grotto revealed her secret: "As she had done with my previous questions, the Lady nodded, smiled, and said nothing. I don't know why, but I felt bolder and asked her again to let me know her name. She renewed her smile and her gracious salutation, but remained silent. A third time, I joined my hands, while recognizing that I was unworthy of the favor I was asking, and I presented the same prayer.

The Lady was standing above the rosebush. Upon my third request, she took a serious air and seemed to humble herself (...) She separated her hands, stretched and raised them, then brought them close to her chest (...) She looked up at the sky (...) and told me with a trembling voice: "Que soy era Immaculada Councepciou" -- "I am the Immaculate Conception."

Bernadette ran to repeat this sentence that she didn't understand to the parish priest. The latter was struck with deep emotion, and now believed in the reality of the apparitions. He cried out: "She's the Blessed Virgin!" Indeed, four years before, Pope Pius IX had infallibly proclaimed that the Virgin Mary was conceived without sin.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of death. Amen.

Saturday, February 13, 2010

The Apparitions of Mary in Lourdes

The mountain air was cold on February 11, 1858, in Lourdes. Food was scarce and the firewood was all gone in the "cachot" (the squalid room where Mr. Soubirous found refuge for his wife and 9 children). So that day young Bernadette went out with a few friends, to gather dead wood at the grotto of Massabielle near the Gave River.

Suddenly, she heard a sound like a gust of wind, and she raised her head to look at the grotto. Bernadette saw a Lady dressed in white. Her body was not different from ours except for its ineffable beauty. She was of medium height and seemed very young. The curve of her oval face had heavenly grace and her blue eyes were so sweet that they could melt anyone's heart. Her mouth breathed God's goodness and kindness. Entering a supernatural stupor but filled with joy, Bernadette dared to approach the Lady, reciting her rosary. The apparition ended.

Bernadette came out of her ecstasy, and egged on by her companions, she shared with them what she should have kept to herself. On hearing the story, Mrs. Soubirous was wary and forbid her daughter to return to the grotto of Massabielle. But the following Sunday, she gave in to Bernadette's friends and gave them permission to go. Arriving at the grotto, the visionary announced: "There she is." Then she threw holy water in the Lady's direction, saying: "If you come from God, stay or else go away!" The Lady smiled and bowed her head. The more Bernadette threw holy water, the more she smiled.

On February 18, 1858, the Lady asked Bernadette: "Will you be good enough to come to the grotto for fifteen days?" Filled with joy, the young girl promised, and the Lady continued: "I promise to make you happy, not in this world, but in the next."

On the 21st, Bernadette had to make her way through a crowd of 100 or so people to get to the grotto. The Lady had a distant gaze, her face seemed sad; then she spoke: "Pray for the sinners."

On the 24th, Bernadette, bathed in tears, could only repeat to the crowd the injunctions of the Lady, which she summed up in one word: "Penance!"

On the 25th, Bernadette crawled on her knees to the center of the grotto preceded by the Lady. "Now go drink at the fountain and wash at the spring," she said to her. Bernadette dug with her fingers at the deposit of sand. From the deep rock, a spring had found its way to Bernadette's hand. The child drank the first sip of that still muddy water and washed her face with it. The spring would soon become an inexhaustible fountain, a divine instrument of many amazing cures. Many people call it the miraculous water of Lourdes.

Adapted from a text by Dom Antoine Marie OSB, Abbot of Clairval

MULTIMEDIA : Lourdes - Padre nuestro (Nacho Cano)

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of death. Amen.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

CANDLEMAS

MULTIMEDIA : Presentazione al Tempio(Andrea Mantegna) Simeon's Canticle (Hangad ,Philippines)

This is the Time When Mary, Virgin and Queen, Came to the Temple with Her Son

It was the day of the Purification of the Virgin. I was in Foligno, in the Church of the Minor Brothers. I heard a voice speaking to me, "This is the time when Mary, Virgin and Queen, came to the temple with her Son." I listened with great love in my soul. And having listened, I was charmed. Then, in my rapture I saw the Queen enter, and I went up to her, trembling with respect. Suddenly I hesitated; I was afraid to go any closer. She reassured me and held Jesus out to me. She said, "You love my Son, so take the One that you love."

She placed him in my arms. He was wrapped in swaddling clothes. His eyes were closed as if in sleep. The Queen sat down, as though she were very tired. Her gestures were so beautiful, her attitude was so marvellous, her entire person so noble and the sight of her was so sublime that my eyes could not remain fixed on Jesus alone, and were forced to look at his mother as well.

Suddenly the Child awoke in my arms, his clothes had come loose. Jesus opened his eyes and looked at me. His glance absolutely overwhelmed me. Splendor came out from his eyes and his joy shone like a blinding flame. Then he appeared to me in his unutterable and immense majesty, and he said to me, "The one who has not seen me small will not see me great." He added: "I came to you, and I give myself to you so that you offer yourself to me."
Blessed Angela de Foligny

Book of Visions and Instructions # 45

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of death.