|
|
 |
| 150th
Anniversary of the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception |
| Comment
from the Shrine of Lourdes |
| Lourdes |
 “In
this year 2004 which marks the 150th anniversary of the
dogma of the Immaculate Conception, the Shrines in Lourdes
are aware that this is a major event for the Church. It
was in Lourdes in fact that Our Lady revealed her true
identity, when on March 25 1858 she said to Bernadette
“I am the Immaculate Conception”.
That date, the feast of the Annunciation, highlights the
connection between Mary’s reply to the Angel Gabriel
and her revelation to Bernadette. In fact Mary’s
“yes” on that day derives from her Immaculate
Conception.
Very often I think of that precise hour in history when
the destiny of the world was in the hands of a young girl
named Mary. This is why I am particular fond of the statue
which shows Mary holding the globe of the world, each
and everyone of us. This is how she is depicted in the
statue at Rue du Bac in Paris
How would Mary of Nazareth, totally free, reply to the
Angel Gabriel? Simply and precisely: Fiat! Yes, I accept.
From that moment the destiny of the world changed and
humanity was showered with a deluge of grace.
Thanks to Mary’s “yes” the Saviour of
mankind is born.
Thanks to Mary’s “yes” the Good News
will be announced to the whole world.
Thanks to Mary’s “yes” death is conquered
for ever.
Thanks to Mary’s “yes” hope will be
restored to the world.
We need not search for any other reasons
for our immense gratitude to Mary. Truly the feast of
the Annunciation was an announcement of a new springtime
for the world. The Church understood this and reminds
us of it every morning, midday and evening with the
prayer of the Angelus, which recapitulates and achieves
this grace of Salvation. The Angelus tells us once again
that God has entered our times, he has united himself
with our human condition under every aspect except sin,
thanks to Mary’s “yes”. This show
us that God only enters our life if we ask him to, if
we say “yes” when he knocks on the door
of our heart and announces himself in our life and he
did with Mary.
Here we find the key to the holiness of Mary and, following
her, all the saints and baptised Christians. Baptism
gives us the grace to say “yes”. The Sacrament
of Reconciliation restores this grace when it is impaired.
The Eucharist is the source of this grace.
We have all that is necessary to offer God our daily
life, our response of faith and love like the Blessed
Virgin Mary. We understand then why Mary presented herself
in Lourdes on 25 March 1858 as the Immaculate Conception
and called us to conversion, that is to live our baptismal
vocation with a life ever more in keeping with the Gospel,
represented by the rosary she held in her hands. Bernadette
understood and lived accordingly and this is why she
is a Saint. This is the heart of the message of Lourdes,
the message of Immaculate Mary”.
P. Raymond
Zambelli,
Rector of the Marian Shrines at Lourdes.
|
|
| Comments
from the Shrine of: |
| Lourdes |
Fatima |
Guadalupe |
Czestochowa |
| Loreto |
Vailankanni, India |
Yamoussoukro, Ivory
Coast |
Pompei |
|
|
|
|
