REFLECTIONS ON THE IMMACULATA

February 11 marks an important date on our calendars. Today we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and this is also the World Day of the Sick. On this occasion I would like to share with you my reflections on two important persons whose simplicity and humility has become an icon of God's goodness.

First we remember St. Bernadette Soubirous (1844-1879). A simple child from the town of Lourdes, France. In a vision, the Lady appeared to her, it was on her 17th vision of Our Lady that she identified herself as the "Immaculate Conception". Like any other visionary Bernadette suffered persecution. It was a controversial time for the church as she was on the process of defining the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. When the Lady told Bernadette that "I am the Immaculate Conception"... the term was incomprehensible to her. Only the clergy and theologians of the time were concerned about the dabate on the Immaculate Conception. The term "Immaculate Conception" was still unknown among the laity. Bernadette lived the ordinary life. She spent her days in a convent performing simple works of Charity. Our Lady promised Bernadette that she will give her lasting happiness. Not in this world but in the hereafter. Today the Marian Legacy as revealed to this simple saint is a lasting testimony of God to his people.

Second, this feast leads us to reflect on the Blessed Virgin Mary and her role in the history of salvation. Our Lady is referred to as Co-Redemptrix. Many times this term is misinterpreted as to mean that we Catholics consider Mary as savior. But this is not the case. When we say that Our Lady is Co-Redemptrix, we mean that she cooperated in the will of the Father, most willingly and full of obdience. Some of our friends may contend that it is always possible for God to choose anyone to be the mother of His Son. Let us remember however that the greatest gift God has given Humans is our free will. God does not impose anything on us but He teaches us to follow him Him willingly. Our true worship of God is a will that is fully surrendered to Him. In relation to our Redemption, Our Lady surrendered her will to the Father when she replied to the message of the Angel. "Let it be done to me according to thy word." In this humble obdience to the Father, Mary became the greatest woman in the world. When a women shouted and proclaim to our Lord, "Great is the pups of the woman who nursed you!" the Lord replied, "Rather, greatest is he who listen to the words of God and do it!". Mary is the greatest of all humans, not only because she nursed the Son of God, but it was she who first listened to and obeyed the Word of God." In this she fulfilled her role to be the Mother of the Son of God who shall crushed the head of the serpent. Not only a mother to the Son of God, a Mother to all, the New Eve. For if through the disobedience of Adam and Eve, humans fell from the grace of God, it is through the obedience of Jesus that Humans will be and is restored to the grace of God. Jesus by dying on the cross fulfilled the task of redemption. He offered his life as a propitiation for sin ang brought humankind their salvation. Mary, through her journey and union with the passion of her Son became the co-redemptrix. For as Simeon has prophesied, Christ shall be the cause for the falling and rising of many in Israel, and a sword shall pierced the Heart of the Virgin Mother. The intimacy betwen the hearts of Jesus and Mary is a sign of God's love for us. For God made His dwelling among men and women, through His incarnated Son and made us share in His glory.

St. Bernadette, pray for us.
Mary, Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.