b'and just as Jesus loved and sufferedJesus, the worlds greatest lover, and Mary, His sinless Mother.THE APPARITIONS COURTESY OF THE MARIAN LIBRARY, UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON.In todays wonderful Gospel story about thewedding feast at Cana, we read that Mary saved In 18 apparitions from Feb. 11 the day for a couple who would have been greatlythrough July 16, 1858, the Blessed embarrassed if their supply of wine dried up. DidMother appeared to 13-year-old that couple know that one of the guests, a middle-agedBernadette Soubirous at the grotto at woman, would save the day? I doubt it. Did theywhat is now known as the Sanctuary know that one of their guests was the Son of God? of Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto in I doubt it. Mary sees the problem and steps in. SheLourdes, France. says two things. First, she says to her Son, They haveA lighted, blessed candle and a no wine. A simple, clear statement of need. She wasrosary were a feature of each visitattentive, alert to the needs of others. She was awareto the grotto by Bernadette as those before any of the others that the supply of wine wasaccompanying her to the apparitions running low. Had it run out, the crisis would be public,grew from a few to thousands,including clergy, doctors, localthe embarrassment of the couple huge, and the miracleauthorities, and military. perhaps misunderstood. Remember, Mary was sinless.Bernadette was met by skepticism,The Blessed Mother Appearing to Saint She told Bernadette that she was the Immaculatethough onlookers observed her faceBernadette of Lourdes, Marian Holy Cards Conceptionthe only human being who had beenbecoming radiant during the apparitions,Collection, circa 20th century. conceived, born, and lived a life without sin. Saintand the Diocese of Tardes-et-Lourdes ultimately deemed them authentic. Augustine described sinners as people who are curvedSignificantly, during the ninth apparition, the Blessed Mother directed in upon themselves. They are self-absorbed. MaryBernadette to dig into the ground. Bernadette complied, revealing a previously does not think about herself; instead, she describesunknown spring which is, today, the renowned healing water of Lourdes. Our the problem. She made an accurate diagnosis. ThatLady also asked for a chapel to be built on the site and for the grotto to become is no small achievement. Doctors who make accuratea place of pilgrimage. Lourdes attracts 3 million pilgrims per year, with 25 diagnoses are precious. Mary, the Seat of Wisdom,chapels and three basilicas on the 136-hectares sanctuary grounds. sees the need and alerts her Son. She does not giveThe Blessed Mother also identified herself as the Immaculate Conception, him a prescription. Rather, she involves others, theconfirming the recently accepted Church dogma that she was born without sin to give birth to the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Pope Pius XI canonized Bernadette servants, with her Sons mission.on the feast of the Immaculate Conception, Dec. 8, 1933.Was Jesus unaware? We dont know. Mary does not tell him what to do. Instead, she utters one of the wisest and most precious lines in the Gospel. SheMary certainly suffered a dark night of the soul. Being tells the servants, Do whatever He tells you. Mostsinless is no cakewalk, but it is the way of faithful Protestants would have no difficulty with the Catholiclove. She was there at the foot of the cross with some veneration of the Saints if they realized that theother women and the beloved discipleheartbroken greatness of the Saints is that they reflect Jesus andand in anguish. If you love, you will die.point us to Him. My dear friends, selfless love changes things. The Being sinlesswhatever that meansI certainlyLord changed the water into wine. Let us pray this dont knowdoes not mean that you never getmorning that the Lord will change us, that he will help confused or angry. She and Joseph were angry whenus to change ourthey lost track of the 12-year-old Jesus for three days,Fears into courage. only to find him in the Jerusalem Temple asking theConfusion into confidence. learned Temple leaders questions. When Mary madeViolence into peacemaking. her anger known to Him, what does he say? Did youSelf-absorption into self-giving. know not that I must be about my Fathers business?Criticisms into compliments. At that point, had I been Mary, I would have givenSickness into health. Jesus a piece of my mind! Then again, I am not sinless.Saint Bernadette teach us to learn from Mary! We should also realize that later in the Gospel,Mary, teach us to be faithful to Jesus! Mary stands at the foot of the crossheartbrokenLord Jesus, continue to bless us through the presence and in great anguish. Saint John Paul II wrote thatand wisdom of Mary. Amen! marianist.com/donate5'