Our Lady of Lourdes

Our Lady of Lourdes

The Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in southern France is the most visited pilgrimage site in the world — principally because of the apparent healing properties of the waters of the spring that appeared during the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary to a poor, fourteen-year-old girl, Bernadette Soubiroux.

The first apparition occurred February 11, 1858. There were eighteen in all; the last took place July 16, of the same year. Bernadette often fell into an ecstasy during these apparitions, as was witnessed by the hundreds who attended the later visions, though no one except Bernadette ever saw or heard the apparition. The mysterious vision Bernadette saw in the hollow of the rock Massabielle, where she and friends had gone to gather firewood, was that of a young and beautiful lady. "Lovelier than I have ever seen" said the child. She described the Lady as clothed in white, with a blue ribbon sash and a Rosary handing from her right arm. Now and then the apparition spoke to Bernadette.

One day, the Lady told the girl to drink of a mysterious fountain within the grotto itself, the existence of which was unknown, and of which there was no sign. But Bernadette scratched at the ground, and a spring immediately bubbled up and soon gushed forth.

On another occasion the apparition bade Bernadette go and tell the priests she wished a chapel to be built on the spot and processions to be made to the grotto. At first the clergy were incredulous. The priest said he would not believe it unless the apparition gave Bernadette her name.

After another apparition, Bernadette reported that the Lady told her, "I am the Immaculate Conception". Though the girl was unfamiliar with the term, the Pope had declared the doctrine of the immaculate conception of the Virgin Mary in 1854. Four years after Bernadette's visions, in 1862, the bishop of the diocese declared the faithful "justified in believing the reality of the apparition" of Our Lady.

A basilica was built upon the rock of Massabielle by M. Peyramale, the parish priest. In 1873 the great "national" French pilgrimages were inaugurated. Three years later the basilica was consecrated and the statue solemnly crowned. In 1883 the foundation stone of another church was laid, as the first was no longer large enough. It was built at the foot of the basilica and was consecrated in 1901 and called the Church of the Rosary. Pope Leo XIII authorized a special office and a Mass, in commemoration of the apparition, and in 1907 Pius X extended the observance of this feast to the entire Church; it is now observed on February 11.

Wednesday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 331

Reading 1

1 KGS 10:1-10

The queen of Sheba, having heard of Solomon’s fame,

came to test him with subtle questions.

She arrived in Jerusalem with a very numerous retinue,

and with camels bearing spices,

a large amount of gold, and precious stones.

She came to Solomon and questioned him on every subject

in which she was interested.

King Solomon explained everything she asked about,

and there remained nothing hidden from him

that he could not explain to her.

When the queen of Sheba witnessed Solomon’s great wisdom,

the palace he had built, the food at his table,

the seating of his ministers, the attendance and garb of his waiters,

his banquet service,

and the burnt offerings he offered in the temple of the LORD,

she was breathless.

“The report I heard in my country

about your deeds and your wisdom is true,” she told the king.

“Though I did not believe the report until I came and saw with my own eyes,

I have discovered that they were not telling me the half.

Your wisdom and prosperity surpass the report I heard.

Blessed are your men, blessed these servants of yours,

who stand before you always and listen to your wisdom.

Blessed be the LORD, your God,

whom it has pleased to place you on the throne of Israel.

In his enduring love for Israel,

the LORD has made you king to carry out judgment and justice.”

Then she gave the king one hundred and twenty gold talents,

a very large quantity of spices, and precious stones.

Never again did anyone bring such an abundance of spices

as the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.

Responsorial Psalm

PS 37:5-6, 30-31, 39-40

R. (30a) The mouth of the just murmurs wisdom.

Commit to the LORD your way;

trust in him, and he will act.

He will make justice dawn for you like the light;

bright as the noonday shall be your vindication.

R. The mouth of the just murmurs wisdom.

The mouth of the just man tells of wisdom

and his tongue utters what is right.

The law of his God is in his heart,

and his steps do not falter.

R. The mouth of the just murmurs wisdom.

The salvation of the just is from the LORD;

he is their refuge in time of distress.

And the LORD helps them and delivers them;

he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,

because they take refuge in him.

R. The mouth of the just murmurs wisdom.

Gospel

MK 7:14-23

Jesus summoned the crowd again and said to them,

“Hear me, all of you, and understand.

Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person;

but the things that come out from within are what defile.” 

When he got home away from the crowd

his disciples questioned him about the parable.

He said to them,

“Are even you likewise without understanding?

Do you not realize that everything

that goes into a person from outside cannot defile,

since it enters not the heart but the stomach

and passes out into the latrine?”

(Thus he declared all foods clean.)

“But what comes out of the man, that is what defiles him.

From within the man, from his heart,

come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder,

adultery, greed, malice, deceit,

licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly.

All these evils come from within and they defile.”