It was fifteen years ago when I first visited the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, in the south of France. Getting there was a bit crazy, as travel can be, but the stress only served to highlight what happened when I finally arrived and set foot on the Sanctuary domain: an extraordinary peace settled on my entire being.
I later I went to live at Lourdes, and I thank God for that time in my life. I was also blessed to have served in our Family Rosary Center there for 3 years. Throughout that time I carried on an informal survey, asking hundreds of people what they liked about Lourdes – always receiving the same response... "I feel peace."
So I would share with them what I had come to see... that the peace of that place has a name, and the name is Jesus.
Our Lady came to Lourdes to bring us Jesus and His peace. She appeared there 18 times in 1858, to 14 year old Bernadette Soubirous, a poor young girl, who was scavenging for firewood on a cold winter day by the side of a big rock.
Bernadette was taken by surprise when she heard a gust of wind – but the leaves of the trees weren’t moving.
Then, in a hollowed out portion of the rock above her, appeared a brilliant and beautiful light.
Out of the light emerged a beautiful young woman appearing to be only a couple of years older than herself. She was terrified, unable to move even to get her Rosary out of her pocket, until the apparition took the Rosary draped over her arm and began to make the Sign of the Cross.
Bernadette did the same, and a peace much greater than she had ever known overcame her as they prayed the Rosary.
There is so much more to tell of the Story than we have time for now, but one constant point: each time our Lady appeared they prayed the Rosary. Through the Rosary Our Lady was leading Bernadette into a deep relationship with Jesus. Bernadette became a great saint.
We have heard of the thousands of miraculous cures there. Our Lady has remained in Lourdes spiritually to make it a sign, a revelation of the Kingdom of Heaven among us for our very turbulent times… A unique Haven of Peace. Fundamental to Lourdes is this prayer: the Holy Rosary.
Maybe sometime in your life you can go on pilgrimage to Lourdes. It would be wonderful. But that may well not be possible. In any case Our Lady wants to bring Lourdes to your home, to bring the Peace and Healing, particularly through prayer of the Holy Rosary!
Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.
