Our Lady of Lourdes Basilica
Any priest who has gone on a European pilgrimage has his own Lourdes story. Having visited the City of Saint Bernadette a few times before, I did not have any great expectations when I went there five years ago. I knew I had an illness, but I did not know how severe, nor did I know how urgent. Within months I was to be diagnosed as having a critical stage of congestive heart failure. Further, the only chance for survival would be a heart transplant. I knew nothing of this at the time, but I was hesitant to enter the cold baths at the Spring of Massabielle. Throughout the day I wandered back and forth. Everyone said the water was so cold and therefore dangerous for cardio-vascular problems. Finally no one was in line except for a very old Vietnamese Bishop. He was very frail. I thought to myself, If he can do it, so can I. When I was immersed into the waters, I found myself feeling warm and I emerged with a sense of peace and an uplifted spirit. The following November, miraculously and successfully, I received a new heart.
In mid 19th Century France the Virgin Mary Immaculate appeared in Paris to Saint Catherine Laboure and the Miraculous Medal was struck. In 1858 Mary announced herself to be the Immaculate Conception to Saint Bernadette Soubirous . These two events, along with the dogma pronounced by Pope Pius IX rekindled Marian devotion from that time into the present. Previously, and for various reasons, the Reformation swept away the image of Mary’s role in the imagination of Christians of the Western Church. The French Revolution was the most chaotic time of all. Mary herself reestablished her place in the prayer life of the Church.
In the Old Testament reading the king, for motives of self-protection, seduces the fallen kingdom of Israel by making it easier to offer sacrifice to the Lord. In the process, he builds two false calves, one in Bethel, one in Dan. This made religious practice more convenient for the people. In so doing, he directly challenges the First Commandment of God. Secondly, he irreversibly divides the kingdom of Israel which will eventually fall away. What will be left will be Judah, from which the Messiah will emerge and the presence of God will be venerated in God’s city, Jerusalem, the City of Peace.
We read in the Gospel of Mark that great crowds followed Jesus because of his capacity to teach and to heal. It is appropriate to today’s feast. Jesus says to the disciples: “My heart is filled with pity for the crowd because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat…” Mark recalls the miracle of the loves and fishes which is Eucharistic in nature. The people do not any longer have to go to a temple of stone to experience the presence of God. Instead, the cry of their heart for mercy assures the accessibility of Eucharist and indeed, of all seven Sacraments. The image of the little town in the French Pyrenees stands as a reminder to the most profound experience of entering the heart of God. Believe me, I know!
- Father Jerome Vereb, C.P.
Thank you, Father, for sharing your story. I realized it was you when I first started reading it. I hope you are doing well and continued to grow stronger after your transplant.