Our Lady of Lourdes
Praying for our beloved Fr. Grimm...We all know of someone who needs healing!
Lourdes, and water from the Lourdes grotto has been the catalyst for 67 vatican approved miracle healings. See here.
Here is a powerful novena to say from Saturday, Feb 2nd to the 11th. Devotion to Our Lady of Lourde's message is more special this anniversary as there is a plenary indulgence attached!
St. Bernadette is the most beautiful incorrupt saint! God must have made her so undefiled as if to say to us, "this is an apparation, and a soul worth taking note of!"
Meditation--
Between February 11th and July 16th 1858, the Blessed Virgin came down from heaven eighteen times and showed herself at Lourdes to Bernadette Soubirous a little girl of fourteen years of age. On February 11th, while gathering wood, Bernadette heard a whistle of wind. With astonished eyes, she saw a niche in the upper part of a rock filled with golden light, and there in the midst of it stood a Lady of great beauty.
Her robe glowed with the whiteness of snow in the sunshine and swept in majestic folds to the ground. Her head and shoulders were framed by a white veil, which fell the full length of her robe. A blue sash encircled her waist, and its two ends, wide and unornamented, reached down in front almost to her feet. Each of her feet bore a rose of purest gold. A rosary, whose beads were white and whose cross and chain were of gold, hung from her right arm. Her hands were open, and her arms outstretched slightly in front.
In her apparitions our Lady appealed for penance and prayers for sinners. On March 25th, the feast of the Annunciation, the Blessed Mother declared her name to Bernadette and the world. On that day, Bernadette made this request, "My Lady, would you be so kind as to tell me who you are?"
This is how Bernadette describes what happened in that last apparition: "Three times I asked the apparition her name. At the third instance, she stretched out her hands, which until then she held joined, raised them, and she said, 'I am the Immaculate Conception.'" Then having completed her great message to the world, the Lady smiled on Bernadette and withdrew without further word of farewell.
Less than four years before these apparitions, on December 8, 1854, Pope Pius IX proclaimed that Mary in the first instant of her conception was preserved free from all stain of original sin through the merits of her Divine Son. At Lourdes, the Virgin Mary had come to confirm the infallible utterance of God's Vicar on earth and declared herself not only immculately conceived, but "the Immaculate Conception."
On October 30, 1867, Bernadette made her religious profession in the Convent of the Congregation of the Sisters of Nevers, France. In January, 1873, Bernadette became ill.
On April 16th, about three in the afternoon, Bernadette prayed, "Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for me, a poor sinner!" She made a Sign of the Cross , took the glass that was handed to her, twice swallowed a few drops of water, and then bending her head, gently gave up her soul to her Creator.
Bernadette died, worn out with physical suffering on April 16, 1879, at the age of 36. Now her incorrupt body can be seen as she lay in death in the side chapel of the motherhouse of the Sisters of Charity at Nevers, where she lived and died as Sister Marie Bernard. Thirty years after her death, her body was found in a perfect state of perservation, undoubtedly a token of love of the Immaculate Virgin Mary. She was beatified in 1925 and on December 8, 1933, she was canonized by Pope Pius XI. Her feast day is February 18th.
Novena Prayer--
Mary, Mother of God, I firmly believe in the doctrine of Holy Mother Church concerning your Immaculate Conception: namely, that you were, in the first instant of your conception, by the singular grace and privilege of God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin.
Alone of all the children of Adam, you were gifted with the fullness of sanctifying grace that made you the object of a very special love on the part of God. How wonderful were the workings of Divine power to make you a fitting dwelling for the Redeemer of the world! With no tendency to evil, but with a deep yearning for all the highest virtue, you glorified God more than all His other creatures. At the very instant of your conception, your mind was filled with the light of God, and your will was entirely conformed to the Divine Will. You were always intimately united with God.
I thank God with you for these wonderful blessings. Help me to imitate your holiness to some degree. Your holiness was not the result of the privilege of your Immaculate Conception and sanctifying grace alone, but followed from your gift of yourself to God and your constant cooperation with His graces. Help me to be generous with God by turning to good account the graces that He ever bestows on me, and by rising promptly when I fall, with renewed confidence in His mercy.
Ever Immaculate Virgin, Mother of mercy, health of the sick, refuge of sinners, comfort of the afflicted, you know my wants, my troubles, my sufferings. Deign to cast upon me a look of mercy.
By appearing in the Grotto of Lourdes, you were pleased to make it a privileged sanctuary, from which you dispense your favors; and already many sufferers have obtained the cure of their infirmities, both spiritual and corporal. I come, therefore, with the most unbounded confidence to implore your maternal intercession.
Obtain, O loving Mother, the granting of my requests. Through gratitude for your favors, I will endeavor to imitate your virtues that I may one day share your glory.
Through your loving compassion shown to thousands of pilgrims who come to your shrine at Lourdes, and through your special love for your devoted client Bernadette, I ask for this grace if it be the Will of God: (mention your request).
Our Lady of Lourdes, aid me through yoru prayer with your Divine Son, to be a true child of yours, as Bernadette was, and to grow daily in your likeness.
Prayer to Saint Bernadette--
Saint Bernadette, little shepherdess of Lourdes, favored with eighteen apparitions of the Immaculate Virgin Mary and with the privilege of lovingly conversing with her, now that you are eternally enjoying the entracing beauty of the Immaculate Mother of God, do not forsake me, your devoted client, who am still in this valley of tears.
Intercede for me that I, too, may walk in the simple paths of faith. Help me to imitate your example, at our heavenly Queen's request, by saying the Rosary daily and by doing penance for sinners.
Teach me to imitate your wonderful devotedness to God and our Lady, the Immaculate Conception, so that, like you, I may be blessed with the grace of lasting faithfulness and enjoy the happiness in heaven of the eternal vision of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Prayer-
God of infinite mercy, we celebrate the feast of Mary, Our Lady of Lourdes, the sinless Mother of God. May her prayers help us to rise above our human weakness. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever, Amen.
Between February 11th and July 16th 1858, the Blessed Virgin came down from heaven eighteen times and showed herself at Lourdes to Bernadette Soubirous a little girl of fourteen years of age. On February 11th, while gathering wood, Bernadette heard a whistle of wind. With astonished eyes, she saw a niche in the upper part of a rock filled with golden light, and there in the midst of it stood a Lady of great beauty.
Her robe glowed with the whiteness of snow in the sunshine and swept in majestic folds to the ground. Her head and shoulders were framed by a white veil, which fell the full length of her robe. A blue sash encircled her waist, and its two ends, wide and unornamented, reached down in front almost to her feet. Each of her feet bore a rose of purest gold. A rosary, whose beads were white and whose cross and chain were of gold, hung from her right arm. Her hands were open, and her arms outstretched slightly in front.
In her apparitions our Lady appealed for penance and prayers for sinners. On March 25th, the feast of the Annunciation, the Blessed Mother declared her name to Bernadette and the world. On that day, Bernadette made this request, "My Lady, would you be so kind as to tell me who you are?"
This is how Bernadette describes what happened in that last apparition: "Three times I asked the apparition her name. At the third instance, she stretched out her hands, which until then she held joined, raised them, and she said, 'I am the Immaculate Conception.'" Then having completed her great message to the world, the Lady smiled on Bernadette and withdrew without further word of farewell.
Less than four years before these apparitions, on December 8, 1854, Pope Pius IX proclaimed that Mary in the first instant of her conception was preserved free from all stain of original sin through the merits of her Divine Son. At Lourdes, the Virgin Mary had come to confirm the infallible utterance of God's Vicar on earth and declared herself not only immculately conceived, but "the Immaculate Conception."
On October 30, 1867, Bernadette made her religious profession in the Convent of the Congregation of the Sisters of Nevers, France. In January, 1873, Bernadette became ill.
On April 16th, about three in the afternoon, Bernadette prayed, "Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for me, a poor sinner!" She made a Sign of the Cross , took the glass that was handed to her, twice swallowed a few drops of water, and then bending her head, gently gave up her soul to her Creator.
Bernadette died, worn out with physical suffering on April 16, 1879, at the age of 36. Now her incorrupt body can be seen as she lay in death in the side chapel of the motherhouse of the Sisters of Charity at Nevers, where she lived and died as Sister Marie Bernard. Thirty years after her death, her body was found in a perfect state of perservation, undoubtedly a token of love of the Immaculate Virgin Mary. She was beatified in 1925 and on December 8, 1933, she was canonized by Pope Pius XI. Her feast day is February 18th.
Novena Prayer--
Mary, Mother of God, I firmly believe in the doctrine of Holy Mother Church concerning your Immaculate Conception: namely, that you were, in the first instant of your conception, by the singular grace and privilege of God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin.
Alone of all the children of Adam, you were gifted with the fullness of sanctifying grace that made you the object of a very special love on the part of God. How wonderful were the workings of Divine power to make you a fitting dwelling for the Redeemer of the world! With no tendency to evil, but with a deep yearning for all the highest virtue, you glorified God more than all His other creatures. At the very instant of your conception, your mind was filled with the light of God, and your will was entirely conformed to the Divine Will. You were always intimately united with God.
I thank God with you for these wonderful blessings. Help me to imitate your holiness to some degree. Your holiness was not the result of the privilege of your Immaculate Conception and sanctifying grace alone, but followed from your gift of yourself to God and your constant cooperation with His graces. Help me to be generous with God by turning to good account the graces that He ever bestows on me, and by rising promptly when I fall, with renewed confidence in His mercy.
Ever Immaculate Virgin, Mother of mercy, health of the sick, refuge of sinners, comfort of the afflicted, you know my wants, my troubles, my sufferings. Deign to cast upon me a look of mercy.
By appearing in the Grotto of Lourdes, you were pleased to make it a privileged sanctuary, from which you dispense your favors; and already many sufferers have obtained the cure of their infirmities, both spiritual and corporal. I come, therefore, with the most unbounded confidence to implore your maternal intercession.
Obtain, O loving Mother, the granting of my requests. Through gratitude for your favors, I will endeavor to imitate your virtues that I may one day share your glory.
Through your loving compassion shown to thousands of pilgrims who come to your shrine at Lourdes, and through your special love for your devoted client Bernadette, I ask for this grace if it be the Will of God: (mention your request).
Our Lady of Lourdes, aid me through yoru prayer with your Divine Son, to be a true child of yours, as Bernadette was, and to grow daily in your likeness.
Prayer to Saint Bernadette--
Saint Bernadette, little shepherdess of Lourdes, favored with eighteen apparitions of the Immaculate Virgin Mary and with the privilege of lovingly conversing with her, now that you are eternally enjoying the entracing beauty of the Immaculate Mother of God, do not forsake me, your devoted client, who am still in this valley of tears.
Intercede for me that I, too, may walk in the simple paths of faith. Help me to imitate your example, at our heavenly Queen's request, by saying the Rosary daily and by doing penance for sinners.
Teach me to imitate your wonderful devotedness to God and our Lady, the Immaculate Conception, so that, like you, I may be blessed with the grace of lasting faithfulness and enjoy the happiness in heaven of the eternal vision of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Prayer-
God of infinite mercy, we celebrate the feast of Mary, Our Lady of Lourdes, the sinless Mother of God. May her prayers help us to rise above our human weakness. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever, Amen.
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2 comments:
Thank you so much for posting this! I think this will be the perfect year for me to pray this novena. Thank you for all this wonderful information, as always!
Kelly
I wonder how our seperated brethren cannot believe when we have such clear cut evidence as with incorrupts. Hmm. I didn't get in on this in time, but I did love reading through the Novena. Thanks!
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