From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   A Gradual Knowledge   
      
       "Since the flame that was to burn us up entirely had not yet   
   flared up, my friends and I thought that the glow emanating from   
   Philosophy and our way of life that warmed us slowly was the greatest   
   there could be. Suddenly some substantial books appeared and started   
   up an incredible blaze in me. It was more powerful than I can bring   
   myself to believe.   
       After this, how could honor, human pomp, desire for empty fame, or   
   the consolations of this dying life move me! Swiftly, I turned   
   completely in upon myself."   
   --St. Augustine--Against the Academics 2, 2   
      
   Prayer: You, who always are, both before we were and before the world   
   existed, have become for us a refuge in which we have turned to you.   
   --St. Augustine--Commentary on Psalm 89, 3   
      
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   February 28: -Our Lady of Lourdes, The 11th Apparition   
      
   We continue our re-publishing of previous posts chronicling the   
   miraculous unfolding of events that took place at Lourdes in 1858. Our   
   Lady of Lourdes, pray for us!   
      
   On Sunday, February 28, 1858, Our Lady of Lourdes appeared to Saint   
   Bernadette Soubirous at the grotto in Lourdes for the 11th time.   
   Beginning on February 11, The Blessed Virgin had been appearing to   
   Bernadette Soubirous, each time bringing a message of prayer, penance,   
   poverty, and participation. Through these posts, we continue our   
   journey with Saint Bernadette as we encounter Our Blessed Mother   
   through her eyes, memories, and words. During the previous nine   
   visitations (February 11, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, and 27) the   
   Blessed Virgin, Our Lady of Lourdes, communicated the message of   
   Lourdes to all mankind, through Saint Bernadette. She implored us,   
   saying, “Penance, Penance, Penance. Pray to God for sinners.” Our   
   Blessed Mother further invited Bernadette to drink and bathe in the   
   muddy water of the grotto, after which a clear flowing spring came   
   forth where none had existed before. Our Lady of Lourdes commanded,   
   “Go drink in the spring and wash yourself there,”something that   
   faithful pilgrims continue to do each day. (For personal reflections   
   on my experience at Lourdes, see here and here).   
      
   During the tenth visitation, the Blessed Mother appeared again to   
   Bernadette, but remained quiet. Bernadette was relieved, as Our Lady   
   of Lourdes had not appeared the day before, and she had been afraid   
   that somehow she had offended the beautiful lady. While Bernadette had   
   been graced with a visitation, aquero had remained silent, smiled at   
   Bernadette’s acts of penance, and prayed the Rosary with her.   
      
   During the 11th visitation, Our Blessed Mother repeated her   
   instructions to pray for sinners, and to offer acts of penance to God   
   for their salvation. As typical, Bernadette carried a lighted blessed   
   candle with her, knelt in prayer before a crowd nearing 1,000 curious   
   onlookers, and repeated her seemingly bizarre (to those observing)   
   acts of penance. The spring, which had only appeared days before,   
   continued to flow strong and pure and clear.   
      
   Our Blessed Mother would appear to Bernadette seven more times at the   
   grotto at Massabielle, each time more and more people accompanying   
   Bernadette, hoping to catch a glimpse of the beautiful lady she   
   referred to. Given the crowds, the local priests and religious would   
   soon be forced to get involved, whereas previously they had observed   
   hoping to have the apparitions discredited. Our Lady would also soon   
   make a request of the community, one which would ensure continued   
   devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes, and continued propagation of the   
   message of Lourdes.   
   by Jacob   
      
      
   Reflection.   
   A soul without discipline is like a ship without a helm: it must   
   inevitably strike unawares upon the rocks, founder on the shoals, or   
   float unawares into the harbor of the enemy.   
      
      
   Bible Quote:   
    ... "Then Jesus said to them: Amen, amen, I say to you; Moses gave   
   you not bread from heaven, but my Father giveth you the true bread   
   from heaven. For the bread of God is that which cometh down from   
   heaven and giveth life to the world. They said therefore unto him:   
   Lord, give us always this bread. And Jesus said to them: I am the   
   bread of life. He that cometh to me shall not hunger: and he that   
   believeth in me shall never thirst. But I said unto you that you also   
   have seen me, and you believe not."  [John 6:32-36]  DRB   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   Saint Bernadette, you always enjoyed serving others.   
   In February 1858, the Blessed Virgin appeared to you when you were   
   gathering wood.   
   Among your sisters, you have learned to treat the sick and those in need.   
   Later, in Nevers, you were an excellent nurse, offering an attentive   
   and intelligent charity.   
      
   Saint Bernadette, Like Mary, who saw the family’s needs in Cana,   
   inspire in me the same generosity and the same faith that you see in   
   Christ.   
      
   Lord, you have given us brothers and sisters to love. We pray that our   
   eyes, our hands, and our hearts are open to all those that you put in   
   our way. Amen.    
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)