Last night in bed as I was praying I though of two saints at once and began to compare them; St Bernadette Subirous and Saint Margaret Mary Alocoque. It is amazing really how much they had in common. Both nuns. Both visionaries. Both born into very poor families. Both persecuted by their own fellow religious. Both enduring lives of great pain and suffering. Both got to see, before they died the Triumph of the Truth of their Devotions. Perhaps more important than anything though, both deeply, deeply, deeply humble but strong. Perhaps this is why the finger of God rested so powerfully upon them. May God Bless them both in heaven with an increase in Glory for they did so much for Our Holy Mother the Church. 'If one dream should fall and break into a thousand pieces… never be afraid to pick one of those pieces up and begin again. That’s the beauty of being alive… We can always start all over again. Enjoy God’s amazing opportunities bestowed on us. Have faith in Him always.' St Bernadette Look upon yourself as a tree planted beside the water, which bears its fruit in due season; the more it is shaken by the wind, the deeper it strikes its roots into the ground. Margaret Mary Alacoque
Oh, yes! Both French of course! Mais qui. La fille aînée de l'Église We hail you, Oh Our LadyMary, Holy Virgin clothed with the sun Crowned with stars, the moon is under your feet In you we are given The dawn of salvation 1 - Mary New Eve and joy of your Lord, You have given birth to Jesus the savior. Through you the doors of the garden are opened to us Guide us on the way, morning star. 2 - You stayed faithful, mother at the foot of the cross, Sustain our hope and guard our faith. From the side of your son, you have drawn for us, The water and the blood that saves us from sin. 3 - Such was the joy of Eve when you were lifted, Higher than all the angles, higher than the clouds, And such is our joy, sweet Virgin Mary To contemplate in you the promise of life. 4 - Oh Immaculate Virgin, preserved from sin, With your soul and your body, you entered the heavens. Brought in glory, holy queen of the heavens, You will welcome us, one day in front of God.
Saint Bernadette has an authenticity a direct wisdom that appears very modern. She would have been a wonderful person to be in the company of. Endlessly entertaining.
