Aspects of the pastoral theme for Lourdes 2020,
‘I am the Immaculate Conception’ The following thoughts are taken from the presentation of the pastoral theme prepared by the Rector and chaplains of the Lourdes Sanctuary for pilgrims in 2020.
t was at the third apparition, 18th February 1858, that Bernadette, egged on by the adults accompanying her, respectfully asked the Lady, “Madam, would you be so kind as to put your name in writing?” The Lady smiled saying, “That will not be necessary”, but continued in a similarly respectful tone, “Would you do me the honour of coming here each day for a fortnight?”
I
Through this exchange the Lady declined to give her name as though it were a label but offered Bernadette instead the opportunity of getting to know her as a person. “We spoke as one person talks to another”, Bernadette would explain. Over the next few weeks Bernadette faced many difficulties as she tried to fulfil her promise to come to the Grotto. On some occasions she was disappointed because the Lady did not come. But, on fourteen days she did appear, sometimes silent, sometimes giving her messages for the priests and the public – “Penance! penance! penance!” “Go and tell the priests to build a chapel here. I want people to come in procession.” – but also engaging in intimate private conversation with Bernadette. The crowds saw expressions of joy and sadness pass across 4
Bernadette’s face, reflecting those she alone could see on the Lady. The fourteenth day came and went; the spring had been unearthed and begun to flow; yet still the Lady had not disclosed her name. Then, early in the morning of 25th March, Bernadette felt a great urge to return to the Grotto, which she had not visited for three weeks. The Lady came and Bernadette repeated her question, which had become urgent because the parish priest refused to act on the Lady’s request until she provided her name. At the fourth request the Lady opened her arms towards the ground and in a single movement raised them again joining her hands at her breast, she raised her eyes towards heaven and said in Bernadette’s local dialect, “I am the Immaculate Conception”. Bernadette had no idea what the title meant but repeated the words to herself parrot fashion as she ran to blurt them out to the parish priest. He was so overcome that he did not enlighten her but merely challenged the verbal construction and sent her away brusquely saying they would discuss the matter later. It was not till that evening that a sympathetic layman, who had been following her story
