FEAST OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES.

FEAST OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES.

"When the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus, they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands. (For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews, do not eat without carefully washing their hands, keeping the tradition of the elders.

And on coming from the marketplace they do not eat without purifying themselves. And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed, the purification of cups and jugs and kettles and beds.) 

"So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him, “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?” 

"He responded, “Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written:

"This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts.

"You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.” He went on to say, “How well you have set aside the commandment of God in order to uphold your tradition! For Moses said, Honor your father and your mother, and Whoever curses father or mother shall die. 

"Yet you say, ‘If someone says to father or mother, “Any support you might have had from me is qorban”’ (meaning, dedicated to God), you allow him to do nothing more for his father or mother. You nullify the word of God in favor of your tradition that you have handed on. And you do many such things.” (Mark 7: 1 - 13).

Tuesday February 11th 2025 in the 5th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. It is also a Day of Prayer for the Sick.

In 1858, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to 14 year-old Marie Bernarde Soubirous  in Lourdes, France. She was to become St Bernadette Soubirous. The first apparition was followed by seventeen others. Many healing miracles happens in Lourdes. Lourdes has become a major pilgrimage center in the world. Six million pilgrims visit Lourdes yearly. 

The Church prays for the Sick today. 

Do you need spiritual, physical or emotional healing? Ask Jesus at once with faith. Ask with expectant and persistent prayer.

It is Ok to go to Jesus through Mary. That is the way of Lourdes, Fatima and Guadalupe, etc. Believe that Jesus is still making the deaf hear and the dumb speak and cancer disappear and so forth. 

"Let My adorers take their place before Me. Their faith, their hope, and their surrender to My merciful love will cause a great tide of healing love to pour forth from My sacred side and radiate from My Face. Thus will My adorers, without leaving My sanctuary, become also My apostles: messengers and instruments of My merciful love and of My burning desire to gather in the lost, to bind up the bruised, to tend the wounded, and to heal the broken-hearted." (IN SINU JESU page 231).

For Devotional prayer and prayer intentions to the Holy Family, click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2024/01/the-holy-family-devotion.html 

THE MEMORIAL OF ST SCHOLASTICA, VIRGIN AND FOUNDRESS.

THE MEMORIAL OF ST SCHOLASTICA. VIRGIN AND FOUNDRESS. 

"After making the crossing to the other side of the sea, Jesus and his disciples came to land at Gennesaret and tied up there.

As they were leaving the boat, people immediately recognized him. They scurried about the surrounding country and began to bring in the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was.

Whatever villages or towns or countryside he entered, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak; and as many as touched it were healed." (Mark 6: 53 - 56).

Monday February 10, 2025 in the 5th Week of Ordinary Time is the feast of St Scholastica, Virgin and Foundress.

St Scholastica, Italian is a Religious and Foundress of the Benedictine Nuns. She was the twin brother of St Benedict, the Abbot and founder of the Benedictines.  She lived between . (480 - 547).   The Benedictine Nuns  continue to serve the Church for over 1500 years. 

St Scholastica is the patron saint of education, convulsive children and  Benedictine Nuns.

Our illnesses, trials and crosses are blessings in disguise. God our Father uses these to draw us closer to Him. We search desperately for cures, healings and remedies. Ultimately, the search lands us at the Door of God. We recognize that only God can bring us true help. 

In our Gospel today, Jesus and His disciples landed at Gennesaret. Mark the Evangelist informs us that the sick recognized Jesus and begged Him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak; "and as many as touched it were healed." 

Those who touched Jesus and were healed were those who recognized Jesus. 

 

What type of recognition are we talking about? Is it the recognition of the physical attributes of Jesus? For example: 5 feet and nine inches, small beard and mustache, white robe with red cape with no hat?

I don't think so. We think it is those who recognized Jesus as a Prophet from God who has the power to heal and have the faith that Jesus would heal them. 

Do you recognize the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and in the Blessed Sacrament? Eucharistic miracles are part of the Catholic tradition. Those who have faith in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, the Blessed Sacrament, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, the Anointing of the Sick have been healed. 

If you do not recognize the special Presence of Jesus Christ in these Sacramental manifestations, it is time you examine your faith. 

You may need to read and reread the Gospel of today prayerfully many times.  As you meditate on the words of the Scripture, ask Jesus for the gift of faith. 

"To hand onto your children. the faith you received from your parents, is your first duty and your greatest privilege as parents.

The home should be the first school of religion, as it must be the first school of prayer.” (St Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop and Doctor of the Church). 

For Devotional prayer and prayer intentions to the Holy Family, click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2024/01/the-holy-family-devotion.html