“Repent and believe’, is the first call of the Gospel. In our times much of the world rejects this message – to its own peril. To save us from our own self-destruction, Our Lady appears at places like Lourdes and calls us to life with her Son Jesus. Only through Jesus does anyone obtain salvation.”
In this edition of A Minute with Mary, Paul Elarde reflects on the main message Our Lady gave to Bernadette at Lourdes.
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Transcript
At Lourdes, like so many other apparitions, Our Lady calls us to conversion, penance and prayer. Why, because this is essential for our salvation. ‘Repent and believe’, is the first call of the gospel. In our times, much of the world rejects this message – to its own peril. To save us from our own self-destruction, Our Lady appears at places like Lourdes and calls us to life with Her Son Jesus. Only through Jesus does anyone obtain salvation.
Our Lady said to Bernadette, “Penance, penance, penance, pray for sinners”. Our Lady directed Bernadette to scrape the ground, saying to her: “Go to the spring, drink of it and wash yourself there”. And so began the waters of the underground spring, which started as a trickle and now for the last 150 years has produced over 100,000 litres of water every week. These waters represent the washing and renewal of our spiritual life. Sometimes miraculous physical cures also occur. But everyone who comes to Lourdes with a sincere heart can experience some level of healing whether spiritual, emotional or physical – all in accordance with God’s perfect will of love for us.
During the thirteenth apparition, Our Lady said to Bernadette: “Go, tell the priests to come here in procession and build a chapel here.” Today, every night during the summer months, 70,000 people come in procession around the large basilica that has been built to honour Her Son Jesus.
