"The Immaculate Virgin, whom sin has never touched, manifests herself to an innocent child. With a mother’s compassion she looks upon this world redeemed by her Son’s blood, where sin accomplishes so much ruin daily, and three times makes her urgent appeal: “Penance, penance, penance!” She even appeals for outward expressions: “Go kiss the earth in penance for sinners.” And to this gesture must be added a prayer: “Pray to God for sinners” - As in the days of John the Baptist, as at the start of Jesus’ ministry, this command, strong and rigorous, shows men the way which leads back to God: “Repent!”. Who would dare to say that this appeal for the conversion of hearts is untimely today?
But the Mother of God could come to her children only as a messenger of forgiveness and hope. Already the water flows at her feet: “Omnes sitientes, venite ad aquas, et haurietis salutem a Domino“. At this spring where gentle Bernadette was the first to go to drink and wash, all miseries of soul and body will flow away. “And I went and washed and I see”, the grateful pilgrim will be able to reply, in the words of the blind man of the Gospel. But as was true for the crowds which pressed around Jesus, the healing of bodily ills is still a gesture of mercy and a sign of that power which the Son of Man has to forgive sins. The Virgin invites us to the blessed grotto in her Divine Son’s Name for the conversion of our hearts and in the hope of forgiveness. Will we heed her?
If in her solicitude Mary looks upon some of her children with a special predilection, is it not, Beloved Sons and Venerable Brothers, upon the lowly, the poor, and the afflicted whom Jesus loved so much? “Come to me, all you who labour and are burdened, and I will give you rest”, she seems to say along with her Divine Son.
Go to her, you who are crushed by material misery, defenceless against the hardships of life and the indifference of men. Go to her, you who are assailed by sorrows and moral trials. Go to her, beloved invalids and infirm, you who are sincerely welcomed and honoured at Lourdes as the suffering members of our Lord. Go to her and receive peace of heart, strength for your daily duties, joy for the sacrifice you offer.
The Immaculate Virgin, who knows the secret ways by which grace operates in souls and the silent work of this supernatural leaven in this world, knows also the great price which God attaches to your sufferings united to those of the Saviour. They can greatly contribute, We have no doubt, to this Christian renewal of society which We implore of God through the powerful intercession of His Mother." [1]
- Pope Pius XII
[1] Texts of Pope Pius XII. The Virgin invites us to the blessed grotto. Will we heed her? From Le Pèlerinage de Lourdes, encyclical of Pope Pius XII warning against materialism, on the centenary of the apparitions at Lourdes (July 2, 1957)
https://www.papapioxii.it/english/texts/
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Image courtesy of vintage holy card, source unknown. With thanks to the card artist
