Entrance Hymn: Hail, Queen of Heaven

Our Lady of Lourdes. Tuesday, 11^th February

In the year 1858 Our Lady appeared to Bernadette Soubirous, a 14 year old girl. This is St Bernadette’s account of the first apparition on 11^th February:

One day, when I had gone with two other girls to collect wood by the bank of the river Gave, I heard a sound. I turned toward the meadow and saw that the trees were not moving at all. I looked up and saw a grotto. And I saw a Lady wearing a white dress with a blue sash. On each foot she had a yellow rose; her rosary was the same colour. When I saw her, I rubbed my eyes, I thought I must be mistaken. I put my hands in my pocket, where I kept my rosary. I wanted to make the sign of the cross, but I could not lift my hand to my forehead; it fell back. Then the Lady crossed herself. I again tried, and although my hand was trembling, I was eventually able to make the sign of the cross. I began to say my rosary. The Lady slipped the beads of her rosary through her fingers, but she did not move her lips. When I finished the rosary, she immediately disappeared.

This was the first of 18 apparitions to Bernadette at Lourdes. The Lady identified herself as the Immaculate Conception. Of course the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception had been promulgated only four years earlier, in 1854. The messages Bernadette received can be summarised as threefold: prayer, penance, and the Eucharist. Our Lady told the young girl to go to the parish priest and ask that a church be built in that place. Bernadette wasn’t kindly received and she simply replied to the aggressive PP: I was asked to tell you, not to make you believe it! Her wisdom confirmed her authenticity.

Parish Assembly meets tomorrow, Monday, at 8.00 pm

Sacrament of Anointing will be offered on Tuesday at the 10.00 am Mass.

Dates for our family of parishes:

The meetings of the Parish Assemblies and Finance Committees of Christ the King, Douglas and Frankfield parishes will take place on three consecutive  Mondays:  17^th February; 24^th February; 3^rd March, at 7.00 pm in the parish centre in St Columba’s, Douglas.

Book Launch: Pulmonary Fibrosis book launch–Saturday 15th February 7pm Douglas ICA Hall 

Senior Citizens Dinner at Nemo: TODAY, Sunday, 9^th February, at 3.00 pm. All welcome; no charge. Ring 021 4291038 or 086 3014461

Recent Deaths The deaths have occurred of Michael (Mikey) O’Neill, Blackrock; Margaret Harrington, Capwell Rd. May they rest in peace. We sympathise with their families.

With heart and hands and voices,

Who wondrous things has done,

In whom his world rejoices;

Who from our mothers’ arms

Has blessed us on our way

With countless gifts of love,

And still is ours today

Through all our life be near us,

With ever joyful hearts

And blessed peace to cheer us,

To keep us in his grace,

And guide us when perplexed,

And free us from all ills

Of this world and the next.