This
is our most unusual Holy Week ever, as we “shelter in
place”. While doing so, I invite you to pray at home, pray the Rosary, and also
to participate with Catholic Mass offered online. Check LOURDESWESTORANGE.ORG for
audio + video postings, Mass, prayer. I offer this Holy Week and Easter message,
considering our altar-icon and the grotto with Bernadette on RIGHT praying her
rosary and Blessed Virgin Mary on LEFT.
THE
TRAIL TO LOURDES On
February 11, 1858, Bernadette of Soubirous went out to collect firewood, a good
idea, in winter in southwestern France. Bernadette was of a very poor family, living,
essentially, in a debtor’s jail, unable to pay the money they owed.
On her way, Bernadette saw a vision, describing, in her
dialect, a petito damizelo, a petite
damsel, or "a small young lady" or “beautiful girl.”
Despite her insistence, no one (including family, local
parish church) believed Bernadette at first as she did not command respect with
her youth and lack of education. But, Bernadette insisted on what she saw, that
she saw a beautiful lady.
THE
TRIAL OF BERNADETTE While
not believing Bernadette, they also decided to test her, asking her to ask the
beautiful lady for her name.
So, Bernadette, at the next appearance, asked the petito damizelo: who are you? Bernadette
was told: “I am the Immaculate Conception.”
This caused more problems – at least in the short term – for Bernadette
– because no one had spoken of Mary and the Immaculate Conception in quite that
way.
At that time, no one said: “Mary is the Immaculate
Conception”, but would have said Mary was immaculately conceived or: “please open your church hymnal to number 783,
Immaculate Mary.” J !
It may be awkward to us, but was even more so in the
1800’s. Yet, Bernadette insisted. I
think the townspeople wanted Bernadette to “shelter in place” or do “social
distancing”!
THE
TENACITY AND FAITH OF BERNADETTE (and
us!)
This tenacity made Bernadette believable. Others recognized
that the only way for Bernadette to know “Immaculate Conception” was for this
to have been divinely revealed in an apparition of our Blessed Mother. While
Bernadette’s vocabulary may have been limited by lack of schooling, her faith
was not.
Later, as attention came to Bernadette at Lourdes, as
pilgrims and visitors came to Lourdes, Bernadette spurned all fame and notoriety
due to the apparitions.
Bernadette exemplified the humble disciple, the light of
the world and salt of the earth.
Bernadette could also see what others could not see and
feel what others could not feel.
In God’s Word, we read “faith is the realization of what
is hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1) Bernadette manifested that faith.
THE
LITTLE PRINCE Around
the time I entered the seminary, I read the novella, The Little Prince, by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. Also, a favorite of our beloved pastor of
many years, Monsignor Joe Petrillo.
With illustrations and large print, The Little Prince appears to be a children’s book but certainly is
not exclusively for children and has much wisdom for grown-ups. One famous
quotation: “The most beautiful things in the world cannot be
seen or touched, they are felt with the heart.”
Bernadette saw what others did not see, expressed what
others could not express – yet.
A
LITTLE FAITH Sometimes,
I am asked: “why did you become a priest? How did you know?” I wish I could
tell you there was one single a-ha moment or Thomas-Edison-light-bulb over my
head.
That is not how it happened; that’s not really how life
works. Mine was a gradual experience of being called; even being called when I
did not know.
During college, for example, I remember we had a Catholic
Mass on campus every Saturday afternoon. A priest from the local area would
come. We would take a break to go there. (I was not thinking about being a
priest at this time).
One friend of mine wanted to go to Mass, but could not remember.
This was because he was pre-med and absorbed in molecular biology, organic
chemistry, etc. So, I would invite him:
“want to go?” At one point, he told me
that he wanted me to remind him, “Jim I want you to remind me.” To be invited, interrupted.
This reminded me that my witness mattered to someone else. You are
called to invite others to pray, to come to church here at Lourdes. I hope
we can all gather again soon.
FAITH:
A LITTLE MEANS A LOT!
Your witness – your testimony – your prayers – matter, which others
perhaps cannot see or do not see, matter.
Your witness, now hidden “sheltering in place” matters! It
matters to me as your pastor and priest, your family and friends, your
neighbors. It matters on days when we can come to church and days we cannot.
The most beautiful things in the world, those we cannot
see, matter to God, matter to those who see you and those who do not.
It matters to me that you continue to pray, for health
care professionals, nurses, medical assistants, physicians, cleaning staff all
those who are working to care for us “seen and unseen”. Each one takes up the cross
each day. We pray for our own West Orange police, firefighters, EMS and first
responders everywhere.
It matters to those around you that you are here. It is
beautiful that you are here, that we are here together, that this witness
matters to our world and helps to build up the Body of Christ in the world.
It reminds us that: “faith is the realization of what is
hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)
“The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or
touched, they are felt with the heart.” (The
Little Prince)
Notre-Dame de Lourdes, priez pour nous! Our
Lady of Lourdes, pray for us!
Hope to see you soon!
Blessed Easter to you.
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