| Our Lady of Lourdes From
a letter by Saint Bernadette "I had gone down one day with two other girls
to the bank of the river Gave when suddenly I heard a kind of rustling sound.
I turned my head toward the field by the side of the river, but the trees seemed
quite still and the noise was evidently not from them. Then I looked up and caught
sight of the cave where I saw a lady wearing a lovely white dress with a bright
belt. On top of each of her feet was a pale yellow rose, the same color as her
rosary beads. At this I rubbed my eyes, thinking I was seeing things, and
I put my hands into the fold of my dress where my rosary was. I wanted to make
the sign of the cross, but for the life of me I couldn't manage it, and my hand
just fell down. Then the lady made the sign of the cross herself, and at the second
attempt I managed to do the same, though my hands were trembling. Then I began
to say the rosary while the lady let her beads clip through her fingers, without
moving her lips. When I stopped saying the Hail Mary, she immediately vanished. I
asked my two companions if they had noticed anything, but they said no. Of course,
they wanted to know what I was doing, and I told them that I had seen a lady wearing
a nice white dress, though I didn't know who she was. I told them not to say anything
about it, and they said I was silly to have anything to do with it. I said they
were wrong, and I came back next Sunday, feeling myself drawn to the place... The
third time I went, the lady spoke to me and asked me to come every day for fifteen
days. I said I would and then she said that she wanted me to tell the priests
to build a chapel there. She also told me to drink from the stream. I went to
the Gave, the only stream I could see. Then she made me realize she was not speaking
of the Gave, and she indicated a little trickle of water close by. When I got
to it I could only find a few drops, mostly mud. I cupped my hands to catch some
liquid without success, and then I started to scrape the ground. I managed to
find a few drops of water, but only at the fourth attempt was there sufficient
for any kind of a drink. The lady then vanished and I went back home. I
went back each day for fifteen days, and each time, except one Monday and one
Friday, the lady appeared and told me to look for a stream and wash in it and
to see that the priests build a chapel there. I must also pray, she said, for
the conversion of sinners. I asked her many times what she meant by that, but
she only smiled. Finally, with outstretched arms and eyes looking up to heaven,
she told me she was the Immaculate Conception. During
the fifteen days she told me three secrets, but I was not to speak about them
to anyone, and so far I have not." Prayer
to Our Lady of Lourdes "Oh ever immaculate Virgin, Mother of Mercy,
Health of the Sick, Refuge of Sinners, Comfortess of the Afflicted, you know my
wants, my troubles, my sufferings. Look upon me with mercy. When you appeared
in the grotto of Lourdes, you made it a privileged sanctuary where you dispense
your favors, and where many sufferers have obtained the cure of their infirmities,
both spiritual and corporal. I come, therefore, with unbounded confidence to implore
your maternal intercession. My loving Mother, obtain my request. I will try to
imitate your virtues so that I may one day share your company and bless you in
eternity. Amen." Litany of Our Lady of Lourdes
Lord have mercy; Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy; Christ have mercy.
Lord have mercy; Lord have mercy. Christ hear us; Christ graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven; Have mercy on us. God the Son, Redeemer of
the world; Have mercy on us. God the Holy Spirit; Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God; Have mercy on us. Holy Mary; Pray for us. Holy
Mother of God; Pray for us. Mother of Christ; Pray
for us. Mother of our Savior; Pray for us. Our
Lady of Lourdes, help of Christians; Pray for us. Our Lady of Lourdes, source
of love; Pray for us. Our Lady of Lourdes, mother of the poor; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, mother of the handicapped; Pray for us. Our Lady of Lourdes,
mother of orphans; Pray for us. Our Lady of Lourdes, mother of all children;
Pray for us. Our Lady of Lourdes, mother of all nations; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, mother of the Church; Pray for us. Our Lady of Lourdes,
friend of the lonely; Pray for us. Our Lady of Lourdes, comforter of those
who mourn; Pray for us. Our Lady of Lourdes, shelter of the homeless; Pray
for us. Our Lady of Lourdes, guide of travelers; Pray for us. Our Lady
of Lourdes, strength of the weak; Pray for us. Our Lady of Lourdes, refuge
of sinners; Pray for us. Our Lady of Lourdes, comforter of the suffering;
Pray for us. Our Lady of Lourdes, help of the dying; Pray for us.
Queen of heaven; Pray for us. Queen of peace; Pray for us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world; Spare us O Lord. Lamb
of God, you take away the sins of the world; Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world; Have mercy on us.
Christ hear us; Christ graciously hear us. Let us
pray: Grant us, your servants, we pray you, Lord God, to enjoy perpetual health
of mind and body. By the glorious intercession of Blessed Mary ever Virgin, may
we be delivered from present sorrows, and enjoy everlasting happiness. Through
Christ our Lord. Amen. |