Saint of the week:

The Blessed Mother holds a special place in the hearts of Catholics. She is venerated as Mother of God and Mother of the Church. This week we honor her apparitions and the miracles at Lourdes.

Our Lady of Lourdes - February 11th

A beautiful Lady appeared to St. Bernadette Soubirous near Lourdes, France, in1858. She appeared 18 times from February 11 to July 16. During the first few apparitions she smiled and bowed to Bernadette, who prayed the Rosary and sprinkled holy water. St. Bernadette was 14 years old and did not know who this was. The Lady told her "I do not promise to make you happy in this world but in the next". Bernadette was instructed to drink the water from the spring but there was no spring. She had to scratch the ground and then it appeared. The waters of the spring have been attributed miraculous healing powers. The first miraculous cure occurred during the 12th apparition on March 1st. She finally identified herself to Bernadette as, "The Immaculate Conception". St. Bernadette did not know what that meant, but it confirmed the dogma established four years earlier by the Pope. The Shrine and miraculous healing waters honor, "The Immaculate Conception of Mary". Lourdes is a popular Marian Shrine and attracts millions of visitors each year.

This week pray a Rosary in honor of the Immaculate Conception of Mary.