SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2019 at 7 p.m.
- The Story of Saint Bernadette of Lourdes
- Blessing with the Sacred Relic of Saint Bernadette
MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2019 at 7 p.m.
- The Placement of the Relic of Saint Bernadette in the Altar of Sacrifice
- Sacred Mass in Honor of our Feast Day: “Immaculate Conception”
- Cake and Ice Cream Reception to follow in Mary’s Plaza
Day One
The Story of Saint Bernadette of Soubirous and the Appearance at Lourdes
Father John will give a presentation on the purpose of relics and the Life of Saint Bernadette and the proclamation of the Doctrine of the Immaculate Conception.
Saint Bernadette Soubirous’ Story
Bernadette Soubirous was born in 1844, the first child of an extremely poor miller in the town of Lourdes in southern France. The family was living in the basement of a dilapidated building when on February 11, 1858, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to Bernadette in a cave above the banks of the Gave River near Lourdes. Bernadette, 14 years old, was known as a virtuous girl though a dull student who had not even made her first Holy Communion. In poor health, she had suffered from asthma from an early age.
According to Bernadette, the Lady of her visions was a girl of 16 or 17 who wore a white robe with a blue sash. Yellow roses covered her feet, a large rosary was on her right arm. In the vision on March 25, she told Bernadette, “I am the Immaculate Conception.” It was only when the words were explained to her that Bernadette came to realize the lady was the Mother of God. The visions help confirm the desire to officially declare Mary’s Immaculate Conception by Pope Pius IX in his Encyclical “Ineffabilis Deus” Bernadette Soubirous was canonized in 1933.
Presentation of the Sacred Relic and Blessing
At the End of the presentation, everyone present will have an opportunity to come forward and reverence the relic and be blessed while seeking a particular intention through Saint Bernadette’s intercession.
Day Two
Celebration of the Feast with Sacred Mass
The Celebration of the Holy Day Mass in honor of the Immaculate Conception A parish Feast day is special to the congregation to celebrate and attend Mass in honor of the patron Saint. For the parish on the corner of Second and Oak, we honor Mary as the sinless virgin who would later conceive by the Holy Spirit the Son of God! Mary, herself, was declared “without sin” from the moment that she was conceived in her mother’s womb (Saint Ann) making her free from the sin of Adam. This gift was given by prevenient grace in preparation for her becoming the Mother of the Savior.
Placement of the Relic in the Altar of Sacrifice
The Sacred Relic of Saint Bernadette will be presented by the Christian Mother’s as a part of the offertory procession and placed in the Altar prior to the offering of the Gifts of Bread and Wine for the Mass. The practice of having a relic of the Saint (martyr) began in the time of the Early Church in the catacombs. Later relics of particular significance were used in the local parish churches. We chose a relic of Saint Bernadette because of her connection to the appearances of the Blessed Mother who, for the first time, announced herself as the “Immaculate Conception.”