A Plea to St. Bernadette of Lourdes

Ave Maria Meditations

SAINT BERNADETTE – TEACH US TO SERVE AND TO PRAY

In Lourdes You experienced the joys and trials of family life.
You saw Mary eighteen times at the rock.
You called the sinners to penance;
The priests to edify the Church of God.
The pilgrims to come in procession;
You reported the name of Mary, the Immaculate Conception.
You desired ardently to receive the Body of the Lord, and to live of it.
You knew shame and suspicion, mockery and humiliation.
You bore witness to what you saw and believed with such determination;
You answered the call of the Lord.

With you Bernadette, We go to the Grotto, to contemplate Mary, full of grace, to hear her say ‘Do whatever He tells you’.
With you Bernadette, We reply: I promise, I will. Saint Bernadette teach us to receive the good news.
With you Bernadette, We wish to hear the call of penance, to walk in the path of conversion, to live in humility.
With you Bernadette, We take up our Cross, we say ‘Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners’.
With you Bernadette, We go and wash at the springs of mercy.
With you Bernadette, We say Yes to the will of God, by becoming servants of the little ones, the poor and the sick.
With you Bernadette, We look on the other as a person, Saint Bernadette, teach us to love and to serve.
With you Bernadette, We go to meet the Lord in the Eucharist. We go to drink at the Spring of the Living Water of the Word of God. We go in procession, together as a Church in the footsteps of Christ.
With you Bernadette, We shall go and repeat the Name of the Lady to the World, ‘I am the Immaculate Conception’.

Saint Bernadette, teach us to pray to Mary each day, Mother of God and our Mother: ‘Hail Mary, full of Grace’.

O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you;
Our Lady of Lourdes, Pray for us. Saint Bernadette Pray for us.

Amen

(pictured above is the incorrupt body of St. Bernadette whose Feast Day is April 16th)