Dear Diary,
Our Reading Club met today in the old garage that Robert fixed up for me as a quiet little prayer room. It used to be plain and dusty, but now it has a warm stove, a lantern on the table, a curtain by the bed, and the sign over everything that says All for Jesus.
Sister Mary Claire brought cookies and a jar of Golden Rule Milk for our lunch. Robert said cookies and milk are about the best reading food there is. Father LeRoy smiled and said he could not find fault with that.
When it was my turn, I stood near the stove and read my chapter summary.
I said that today’s chapter was about the chief government officer beginning to see that arresting Bernadette would not be easy. He did not seem very afraid of God’s signs, but he was troubled by the courage of Father Peyramale, the parish priest, who was ready to protect Bernadette.
The mayor did not want to help with such a harsh thing, and even offered to resign. The people were upset because the holy things had been taken away from the Grotto. Even the police and soldiers respected Bernadette, so the chief government officer could not be sure they would obey orders against her.
He had hoped the doctors would say Bernadette was crazy or confused, but they could not honestly say that. Everyone could see that she was sensible, truthful, and acting in good faith. So he had to stop his plan to have her locked away.
But he did not really give up. He only changed his plan. He still wanted to stop people from believing in the Apparition and from praying at Lourdes. Since he could not prove Bernadette was not right in her mind, he would look for another way to fight against what God was doing.
When I finished, Robert said, “So he lost that battle, but he still would not surrender.”
Father LeRoy said, “That is pride. It may change roads, but it does not easily change direction.”
Sister Mary Claire said the part that touched her most was how Bernadette remained free, probably saying her morning and evening prayers, without even knowing how much danger had passed over her head. Sister said, “God sometimes protects His little ones so quietly that they do not even know the whole battle.”
I liked that very much.
Then Father asked us what protected Bernadette in this chapter. I said, “The truth.” Robert said, “The priest.” Sister said, “God’s care.” Father smiled and said all three answers belonged together.
Before everyone left, we knelt in the little garage room and said a prayer together.
Dear Jesus, please protect the innocent and give courage to those who defend the truth. Keep me from being proud when I am wrong. Help me to follow You simply and faithfully, like Bernadette. Please bless our Reading Club, the little prayer room, and everyone who comes here. Let it all be for You. Amen.
Now the cookies are gone, the milk jar is empty, and the garage is quiet again.
But it does not feel empty.
It feels prayed in.
All for Jesus.
Dear Diary,
It was so good to be back at Littlemore Farm today. After getting home yesterday, Shaggycoat ran straight down the path toward the creek and his lodge, as if he had been gone a whole year instead of just a little while. So after Holy Mass this morning, the Reading Club decided to join Shaggycoat at creekside for the meetup.
Father LeRoy had picked up Krispy Kremes and a half gallon of cold milk, which made everything feel like a feast. We sat near the creek with our books open, the water moving quietly below the bluff, and the cave cool behind us.
When everyone was settled, Father nodded to me, and I read my chapter summary.
I told the club that this was a very sad day at Lourdes. The Prefect had ordered the Grotto to be stripped of the candles, statues, flowers, and little gifts people had placed there for Our Lady. M. Jacomet tried to get horses and a cart, but nearly everyone refused to help him. They did not want any part in what felt like disrespect toward the Blessed Virgin.
At last he found someone who would lend him a cart, and a great crowd followed him to Massabielle. The people were angry and sorrowful, but the priests had warned them to remain peaceful. They told them that if Our Lady wished, she could turn everything to her own glory without anyone needing to fight.
When the police removed the offerings and even broke the railing with an axe, the crowd nearly lost control. But some voices called out for calm, and no violence happened. That evening, the people returned to the Grotto with flowers and candles in their own hands, so the police could not seize them again.
When I finished, Father said that was a beautiful kind of protest—quiet, faithful, and full of trust. Sister Mary Claire said the people of Lourdes showed that love for Our Lady can be strong without becoming bitter. Robert said even the poorest people refused the money because their consciences were worth more than thirty francs.
I looked at the creek while he said that, and I thought how hard it must have been to watch holy things taken away and still not fight back. Maybe faith is sometimes strongest when it keeps its hands folded and lets God act.
After the meeting, we finished the last doughnuts, and Mini lay in the grass with milk on her whiskers. Shaggycoat stayed near the creek, looking very pleased to be home.
Evening Prayer
Dear Jesus, thank You for bringing us back to Littlemore Farm and for the quiet beauty of the creek and cave. Help me to love holy things, to trust Our Lady, and to stay peaceful even when something feels unfair. Bless Father LeRoy, Sister Mary Claire, Robert, Mini, Shaggycoat, and all our Reading Club.
Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.
Amen.
Dear Diary,
Father LeRoy woke us while it was still dark this morning for the long thirty-mile drive back to Littlemore. Bishop Mueller, being very organized, already had breakfast planned. When the housekeeper rang the bell, we came downstairs to bacon, eggs, and toast, which tasted wonderful so early in the morning.
Father said we were ahead of schedule, so we held our Reading Club meeting right there in the Bishop’s residence before leaving. My chapter was about the Curé of Lourdes, Abbé Peyramale, and how firmly he stood against the plan to arrest Bernadette. The Mayor realized the Curé would not give way, and that trying to take Bernadette might stir up the whole town. He finally said he would rather resign than help carry out such a terrible order.
Father said real courage is not loud, but faithful. Sister Mary Claire said the Curé protected Bernadette because she was small, poor, and obedient. Robert liked how one brave priest could stop a plan that seemed already settled.
Soon we thanked Bishop Mueller and started home. The sky grew pale as we drove through the quiet countryside. The corn looked beautiful—some waist high, and some nearly shoulder high. Father said the rain had done its work.
By the time we reached Littlemore, I was glad to be home near St. Mary’s, our fields, and our own little road.
Evening Prayer
Dear Jesus, thank You for bringing us safely home. Help me to be brave like the Curé of Lourdes and gentle like Bernadette. Bless Father LeRoy, Sister Mary Claire, Robert, Bishop Mueller, and our Reading Club.
Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.
Amen.
Dear Diary,
We spent our second night in Sioux City at the Bishop’s house, and tomorrow we will head home early so we can be back for Holy Mass at St. Mary’s on Sunday morning. It has been such a happy little stay, especially with our Reading Club meeting at the old Dairy Queen on Nebraska Street, with the old Central High standing proudly behind. Everyone enjoyed vanilla ice cream, and even Mini had her own little dish.
I read today’s chapter summary from Our Lady of Lourdes, about how the officials wanted to arrest poor Bernadette, but Father Peyramale stood firm and said they would have to pass over him before touching one hair of her head. Father LeRoy reminded us that this is what a true shepherd does—he protects the weak, even when the powerful stand against him. As evening settled in and fireworks blossomed across the Sioux City sky, I thanked God for faithful priests, for the freedom to practice our faith, and for another wonderful day with our Reading Club.
Evening Prayer
Dear Jesus, thank You for another peaceful night and for the kindness we have received during our stay. Give us the courage to stand for what is right, just as Father Peyramale did. Watch over us as we travel home tomorrow, bless our families, our country, and our little Reading Club, and bring us safely back to St. Mary’s for Holy Mass.
Amen.
Dear Diary,
We woke up in Sioux City this morning, which still feels strange to write.
Father LeRoy’s car needed something fixed, and since there was no reason to hurry home, Bishop Mueller kindly let us stay at his big house near Grandview Park. Father said it was a blessing disguised as a broken automobile, and I think he may be right.
After Holy Mass, we carried our books to Grandview Park. It was the most beautiful place our Reading Club has ever met. The bandshell stood white and grand beyond the flowers, and there were blossoms everywhere, bright as Sunday dresses. Mini settled in the grass like she owned the park, and Shaggycoat found the pond right away. He splashed so happily that Father said even beavers must sometimes give thanks in their own way.
We sat at our table with our books open, and Father asked me to read my chapter summary.
Today’s chapter was about the Prefect, Baron Massy, who came to Lourdes during the Council of Revision. Instead of seeing the faith of the people as something holy and consoling, he treated it like a public nuisance. He gave a speech to the mayors, saying that the Grotto had become an illegal oratory because people had left candles, religious objects, and offerings there.
The Prefect claimed to respect religion, but then ordered the police to remove everything from the Grotto. He also commanded that anyone claiming to see visions should be arrested and taken away for medical treatment. He wanted Bernadette stopped, the Grotto stripped bare, and the people frightened into silence.
The chapter says this happened on May 4, right at the beginning of Mary’s month. That made me sad. It seemed as if the Prefect was trying to begin the Month of Mary by taking away candles from Our Lady’s Grotto.
When I finished, nobody spoke for a moment. The flowers were moving in the breeze, and we could hear Shaggycoat splashing in the pond.
Then Robert said, “It sounds like he was afraid of candles.”
Father smiled a little and said, “Sometimes, Robert, men in power are not afraid of candles. They are afraid of what the candles mean.”
Sister Mary Claire said the poor people at Lourdes were not trying to rebel. They were only praying, leaving little signs of love, and drawing water from a place where God had given them hope.
Father said that faith gives poor people courage, especially when the world gives them very little else. He said that taking away someone’s place of prayer can wound the heart more deeply than people realize.
I looked toward the white bandshell and all the flowers, and I thought about the Grotto at Lourdes. It was not grand like Grandview Park, but Our Lady chose it. That made it beautiful in a way no one could take away.
Before we left, I read our prayer.
Dear Blessed Mother,
help us never to be ashamed of prayer.
Keep our hearts gentle, brave, and faithful,
even when others do not understand.
Teach us to love the little candles,
the quiet places,
and every sign that points us to God.
Amen.
Father made the Sign of the Cross and blessed us.
Then Bishop Mueller came by and said there was nothing pressing back home, and since Father’s car might take another day, we were welcome to stay a little longer. Father looked pleased, Robert looked very pleased, and Shaggycoat looked as if he had already decided the pond was his new parish.
So perhaps we will have another Reading Club meeting in Sioux City tomorrow.
I hope so.
Love,
Kathy
Dear Diary,
This morning after Holy Mass, Father LeRoy surprised us with wonderful news.
“I have to drive into Sioux City on an errand,” he said with a smile, “and I thought the Reading Club might enjoy coming along. My treat is lunch at the Normandy Restaurant.”
Everyone’s eyes grew wide. Even Mini tilted her head as if she understood every word.
Before long we were riding through the bright green countryside in Father’s old car. The rain had washed the fields clean, and everything looked fresh and sparkling.
When we reached the Normandy Restaurant, I could hardly believe how pretty it was. It looked almost like a little French castle, with its round stone tower, climbing ivy, and flowers blooming all around the entrance.
Father looked up at the blue sky and smiled.
“What a beautiful day,” he said. “Would you mind setting a table for us outside beneath the shade? I think our Reading Club belongs outdoors today.”
The hostess smiled warmly. “It would be our pleasure, Father.”
Soon we were seated at a round table under a great shade tree, with the Normandy gardens all around us. It felt like a very grand picnic.
Before lunch arrived, Father said, “Kathy, would you read today’s chapter summary?”
So I stood beside the table and read.
“Today’s chapter tells how two physicians were sent to examine Bernadette after Our Lady revealed her name. They expected to find something wrong with her, but instead they found a sensible, calm, healthy little girl.
Even though they could find no illness, they still suggested she might be imagining the visions, simply because they did not believe such things could happen.
Their report was then used by the Prefect as an excuse to plan Bernadette’s arrest and confinement. He also wanted the Grotto stripped of its offerings, and soldiers kept ready in case the people resisted.
It shows how dangerous it is when people refuse the truth because it does not fit what they already believe.”
Father LeRoy folded his hands quietly.
“The doctors admitted what they saw,” he said, “but they could not accept what it meant. Bernadette had nothing to defend except the truth.”
Robert nodded. “She was the only one who wasn’t trying to prove something.”
That made everyone smile, because it was true.
Then our lunch came—ham and cheese sandwiches, crisp potato chips, and cold milk. We ate slowly beneath the shade tree, with the flowers nearby and the warm city sounds drifting past us.
Before we left, Father asked me to read our prayer.
“Dear Jesus, give us humble hearts that love truth more than pride. Help us never to reject Your works simply because they are beyond our understanding. Teach us to trust You with simple faith, as Bernadette did. Amen.”
Father made the Sign of the Cross over us.
“In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
The ride home felt long and peaceful. The afternoon sun shone over the wet fields, and everyone was quiet for a while. I think we were all still thinking about Bernadette.
Sometimes the journey home is part of the lesson too.
Dear Diary,
This morning the grass behind St. Mary’s was wet and shining after more than an inch of rain fell in the night. But the sky was clearing, the air was cool, and everything smelled fresh and clean.
After Mass, we met under the apple tree for Reading Club. Since the ground was too wet, Robert helped Father LeRoy set up the little table for lunch. Father had brought egg salad sandwiches and cold milk, and Sister Mary Claire arranged everything neatly while Mini watched.
Then Father asked me to read my chapter summary.
“Today’s chapter tells how Baron Massy still refused to believe the events at Lourdes could be supernatural. Since the police and magistrates could not prove Bernadette was lying, he began to think of using the law about insanity against her.
The chapter explains how dangerous such a law could be. A person might be taken away and shut up if one or two doctors declared him insane, without a public hearing, without defense, and without appeal. The author says doctors are usually honorable, but even learned men can be mistaken when they have already decided that heavenly things are impossible.
This made me sad, because Bernadette was only a simple, truthful girl. She had harmed no one, yet powerful people were looking for ways to silence her.”
When I finished, Father LeRoy said that the world often fears holiness because holiness cannot be controlled. Sister Mary Claire said Bernadette’s strength was her simple truth. Robert said it was strange that grown men were so afraid of one little girl.
Then we gathered around the little table for Father’s sandwiches and cold milk. The lunch tasted extra good in the cool air, with raindrops still falling from the apple leaves.
Before we left, Father asked me to read the club prayer:
“Dear Jesus, help us love the truth, even when it is difficult. Help us be gentle and brave like Bernadette, and keep our hearts close to Our Lady. Amen.”
Then Father LeRoy made the Sign of the Cross over us and gave his blessing.
“In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.”
As the clouds moved away, I thought of Bernadette standing quietly before people who wanted to frighten her. I hope I can always tell the truth as simply as she did.
Love,
Kathy
