The Flame That Did Not Burn

Dear Diary,

This morning after Holy Mass, our Reading Club met under the apple tree.

Father LeRoy asked me to read my summary. I am getting more comfortable doing that now, and I do not mind standing up in front of everyone anymore.

The chapter told how Lourdes was changing people. Many returned to the Sacraments, old sins were confessed, stolen things were returned, and people were growing closer to God.

Then came the remarkable story of Bernadette and the candle.

While she was in ecstasy before Our Lady, the flame burned between her fingers for many minutes. Everyone could see it, but her hand was not harmed. When someone later touched the flame to her hand after the vision ended, she quickly pulled away and said it was burning her.

Father LeRoy said this was one of the most striking events at Lourdes because so many people witnessed it.

Robert said that ten thousand people gathering without being invited showed how interested everyone had become.

Sister Mary Claire said the greatest miracle was not the candle, but the conversions taking place in people's hearts.

I thought she was probably right.

After our discussion, Father served lunch. He brought a pitcher of Kool-Aid and a bag of Chips Ahoy cookies. Mini sat beside us hoping a cookie might accidentally fall to the grass and one did from Robert.

Before we left, Father asked me to read the closing prayer.

"Dear Jesus, thank You for bringing us together today. Help us to grow in faith, hope, and love. Bless Father LeRoy, Sister Mary Claire, Robert, Mini, and all our friends. May Our Lady of Lourdes always lead us closer to You. Amen."

Everyone answered, "Amen."

Father gave us his blessing and dismissed the club until next time.

Then we gathered our books and headed home.

Love,

Kathy

Waiting Wisely

 
Dear Diary,

This morning after Holy Mass, our Reading Club met under the apple tree.

Father LeRoy asked me to read my summary, and I did not feel as nervous as before. I think I am getting more comfortable reading in front of everyone.

My summary was about Bishop Laurence. He was not ready to decide too quickly about Lourdes because he had not seen the miracles himself. He wanted to wait and be careful.

He also did not want to forbid Bernadette from going to the Grotto if Heaven was truly calling her there. I thought that was very wise.

Afterward, Father LeRoy brought tapioca pudding with whipped cream for lunch. We had more cold Jersey milk from Golden Rule Dairy too. It comes right from the bulk tank at the dairy barn, and it is very rich.

Before we left, Father asked me to read the prayer.

Dear Jesus, help us to be patient, truthful, and wise. Bless Father LeRoy, Sister Mary Claire, Robert, Mini, and our Reading Club. Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us. Amen.

It was a peaceful morning under the apple tree.

Love,
Kathy

Wisdom Under the Apple Tree

Dear Diary,

This morning after Holy Mass, our Reading Club met in the apple orchard for another discussion of Our Lady of Lourdes. The sun was shining through the branches, and little patches of light danced across the grass while we gathered beneath the trees. Mini settled down beside me, ready for the meeting as usual.

Father LeRoy opened with a prayer and then smiled in my direction.

"Kathy," he said, "would you read your summary for us?"

I stood up with my paper and read what I had prepared.

"Today we learned about Bishop Laurence and how carefully he handled the events at Lourdes. Government officials wanted him to condemn the Apparitions without a proper investigation, while others wanted him to declare a miracle immediately. But the Bishop chose neither extreme. He patiently gathered facts, resisted pressure from powerful officials, and refused to make a judgment until he knew the truth. He showed prudence, courage, and fairness."

When I finished, Father LeRoy thanked me, and a lively discussion followed.

Robert said he admired how the Bishop would not allow himself to be pushed around by either side.

Sister Mary Claire agreed and said that wisdom often means waiting patiently for the truth rather than rushing to conclusions.

Father LeRoy nodded. "The Bishop understood that both faith and reason come from God," he said. "He wanted to know the facts before making a judgment."

Everyone seemed to have something to add, and before long the conversation was moving back and forth all around our little circle.

Then Robert reached for a tin he had brought along and opened the lid. Inside were beautiful chocolate chip cookies.

Sister Mary Claire looked at them and smiled.

"Robert, those may be the best-looking chocolate chip cookies I have ever seen. How did you make them?"

Robert laughed.

"I cannot claim any special secret. I just followed the directions on the Nestlé package."

Everyone chuckled.

"Although," he added, "I have learned one thing. Do not overbake them. Nine minutes makes a perfect cookie."

That started another discussion, this time about baking instead of Lourdes.

Then Robert set a half gallon of milk on the picnic table.

"Father," he said, "be sure to shake that before you pour it. It is about half cream on the top."

Father LeRoy picked up the jar and laughed.

"Now that sounds like real milk."

The milk came from the Jersey cows at the dairy down the road, and after Father gave the jar a good shake, he poured glasses for everyone. The cold milk and warm cookies were a wonderful combination.

Mini sat nearby watching very closely, hoping a cookie crumb might find its way into the grass. 

Before we left, Father LeRoy asked me to read our closing prayer.

So I stood and prayed:

"Dear Jesus, thank You for this beautiful morning, for Holy Mass, for good friends, and for the lessons we learn together. Help us to be patient and wise like Bishop Laurence. Give us the courage to seek the truth and the humility to wait for it when we must. Bless Father LeRoy, Sister Mary Claire, Robert, everyone in our Reading Club, and our faithful little dog Mini. May Our Lady of Lourdes pray for us and keep us close to Your Sacred Heart. Amen."

Everyone answered, "Amen."

Soon afterward we gathered our books and started for home.

As I walked away through the orchard, I thought about how Bishop Laurence stayed calm while everyone around him seemed to be pulling in different directions. It must have taken great wisdom to wait patiently for the truth.

I also thought that Robert might be right about the cookies.

Nine minutes really does seem to make a perfect one.

Love,

Kathy

The Sign of The Cross

This morning at Mass, Father LeRoy talked about making the Sign of the Cross.

I have made the Sign of the Cross ever since I was little, so I guess I never thought much about it. But Father reminded us that it is actually something very important.

When we make the Sign of the Cross, we are telling the world that we belong to Jesus Christ. We are not trying to show off. We are simply not hiding our faith.

Later on, I was reading about the Mystery of the Cross, and it fit right in with Father's homily.

The chapter said that when Jesus died on the Cross, many people thought He had been defeated. To them, it looked like everything was over. But God turned the Cross into a sign of victory.

Today the Cross is known all over the world. Saints loved it. Martyrs held onto it, even when it cost them their lives. And regular people, like us, still find comfort and hope in it every day.

Father LeRoy said it is important for people to know that we are believers. That does not mean we have to make a big show of it. Sometimes it can be something as simple as making the Sign of the Cross before lunch at a restaurant. Or wearing a crucifix around our neck. Or speaking kindly when everyone else is grumbling and complaining.

Little things can tell people a lot about what is in our hearts.

I think that is what Father was trying to teach us. The Cross should not just hang on a wall. It should be part of the way we live.

Sometimes it is easy to be a Catholic when you are sitting in church with everyone else. But it can be a little harder when you are out in public.

Still, Jesus was not ashamed to carry His Cross for me. So I do not want to be ashamed to show that I belong to Him.

Mini is never embarrassed to stay close to the people she loves. Maybe I should be more like that too.

So today I want to remember this:

Make the Sign of the Cross slowly.

Mean it.

Jesus carried the Cross for me.

So I will make the Sign of the Cross for Him.

Books, Blueberries, and Good Friends

Dear Diary,

This morning after Holy Mass, our Reading Club met beneath the old apple tree behind St. Mary’s Church. The branches were full of green leaves, and little patches of sunshine danced across the grass. Mini came along too and settled herself near my chair, keeping watch over everyone as if she were assistant librarian for the club.

Father LeRoy opened the meeting with a smile.

“Well, Kathy,” he said, “would you read your introduction to today’s chapter for us?”

I stood up with my notes, feeling a little nervous, and read my summary of the chapter from Our Lady of Lourdes. It told about how the events at Lourdes were beginning to attract the attention of important officials far away from the grotto. Some people believed, while others doubted, but the story showed how the truth could not be ignored forever.

When I finished, Father LeRoy nodded thoughtfully.

“That was very well done,” he said. “You helped us understand the chapter clearly.”

Then we talked about it together.

Robert said he was surprised at how much effort some government officials made to explain away the happenings at Lourdes.

“It seems,” he said, “that the more they investigated, the more people became interested.”

Sister Mary Claire agreed.

“Sometimes,” she said, “when people are certain something cannot be true, they stop looking at the evidence with an open mind.”

Father LeRoy added that faith and reason should work together.

“God is not afraid of honest questions,” he said. “The Church has always encouraged careful investigation before declaring a miracle.”

I thought that was one reason the Lourdes story is so interesting. The more the authorities examined it, the more witnesses and facts seemed to appear.

Mini listened quietly through the discussion. At least I think she was listening. She looked very serious, although she may have been hoping someone would drop a snack.

After the chapter discussion, Sister Mary Claire brought out a simple little lunch. She served bowls of creamy yogurt topped with fresh blueberries. Everyone enjoyed them while we sat under the tree talking about books, faith, and the beautiful summer morning.

Before we parted, Father LeRoy stood and folded his hands.

“Kathy,” he said, “would you read our closing prayer?”

So I opened my prayer book and read slowly:

“Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for this happy morning beneath the apple tree. Thank You for good books, faithful friends, and the gift of learning more about Our Lady of Lourdes. Bless Father LeRoy, Sister Mary Claire, Robert, and little Mini. Help us always love the truth, seek You with sincere hearts, and grow closer to You each day. Through the prayers of Our Blessed Mother, keep us faithful and joyful. Amen.”

Everyone answered, “Amen.”

Then we gathered our books, gave Mini a few pats, and headed home, already looking forward to our next meeting beneath the apple tree.

Love,

Kathy

Immaculate Conception

Dear Diary,

This morning after Holy Mass, the Readers Club met again under the apple tree behind the Church.  We settled ourselves in the grass and Mini curled up beside me, looking very serious, as if she knew this was an important chapter.

Father LeRoy had me open our Reading Club discussion with my chapter summery.

So I stood with my paper and read.

“Today’s chapter is about the wonderful words Our Lady said to Bernadette: I am the Immaculate Conception.

The book says that Our Lady did not say, ‘I am Mary, the Immaculate.’ She said something even deeper. She said, ‘I am the Immaculate Conception,’ as if purity was not only something she had, but something she was.

The chapter explains it in a way I liked very much. Something white can stop being white, but whiteness itself is always white. In the same way, Mary is not only pure. She is like purity itself, because God made her without any stain of original sin.

Then the chapter tells something very dear about Bernadette. She did not even know what the words Immaculate Conception meant. But because Our Lady had said them, Bernadette wanted to remember them exactly. So all the way back to Lourdes, step after step, she kept repeating, ‘Immaculate Conception, Immaculate Conception,’ so she would not forget before she reached the priest.”

When I finished, the group was quiet for a moment.

Sister Mary Claire folded her hands and said, “That part about Bernadette repeating the words is so dear. She did not understand them, but she was faithful to them. Sometimes obedience begins before understanding.”

Robert nodded. “She didn’t try to improve the message or explain it in her own way. She just carried the words exactly as Our Lady gave them.”

Father LeRoy smiled. “That is a very important point. Bernadette was poor, young, and uneducated, but she became a faithful messenger. The words themselves were far beyond her learning.”

I looked down at my paper and said, “I think Bernadette must have been afraid of forgetting. I can just see her walking quickly and whispering the words over and over.”

Sister Mary Claire said, “And perhaps each step became like a little prayer.”

That made me happy, because I had been thinking almost the same thing.

Then Father explained that the Church had solemnly taught the dogma of the Immaculate Conception only a few years before the apparitions at Lourdes. “So when Our Lady used those very words,” he said, “it was like Heaven itself was confirming what the Church had proclaimed.”

After the discussion, Sister Mary Claire brought out Baked Just Right chocolate chip cookies and served them with cold milk. The cookies were soft and sweet, and the milk was so cold that the glasses had little beads of water on them. Mini watched carefully, but Sister told her that cookies were not for Corgis, even very faithful ones and then slipped her a puppy treat.

Before we ended, Father LeRoy asked me to read the Club prayer. So I unfolded my paper and read:

 

 
Father made the Sign of the Cross, gave the dismissal, and we all gathered our books.

As I walked away from the apple tree, I kept thinking of Bernadette hurrying along the road, repeating the words at every step.

Immaculate Conception. Immaculate Conception.

I hope I can remember holy things that carefully too.

Love,
Kathy

 

She Tells Us Her Name

Dear Diary,

This morning after Holy Mass, our Reading Club met again under the apple tree behind St. Mary’s. It was a beautiful place to read about Lourdes, because the leaves made a soft roof over us, and the light came through in little patches on the grass. Mini settled beside my chair as usual, watching everything as if she were the official club guard.

Father LeRoy asked me to begin with the little introduction I had written for today’s chapter.

So I stood up with my paper and read:

“Today’s chapter tells about March 25th, the Feast of the Annunciation. Since the last day of the Quinzaine, Bernadette had gone back to the Grotto several times, but not in the same way as before. She had not felt that strong inward call that had drawn her there during the Apparitions.

“But on this morning, she heard the call again. She went at once to Massabielle, full of hope, because she felt she was going to see the beautiful Lady once more.

“By this time, everyone in Lourdes watched Bernadette closely. When people saw her walking toward the Grotto, they said, ‘Bernadette is going to the Grotto,’ and soon a crowd hurried after her.

“The snow had melted in the valley, though it still rested on the mountain peaks. The sky was clear, and the morning was bright. It was the Feast of the Annunciation, when the Church remembers the Angel Gabriel coming to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

“At the Grotto, Bernadette saw the Apparition again. She asked several times, ‘O Lady, would you have the kindness to tell me who you are and what is your name?’ At first the Lady only smiled and grew more radiant. Then at last she joined her hands, raised her eyes toward Heaven, and said, ‘I am the Immaculate Conception.’

“This was the answer everyone had been waiting for. The beautiful Lady of the Grotto was the Blessed Virgin Mary.”

When I finished, no one spoke right away. It seemed as if the words were still resting under the apple tree with us.

Then Sister Mary Claire said, “What a beautiful thing, that Our Lady gave her name on the Feast of the Annunciation. On that day, Mary first said yes to God. And at Lourdes, she came again to lead souls back to Him.”

Father LeRoy nodded. “And we must remember,” he said, “that Bernadette was only a poor, simple child. She did not invent those words. ‘I am the Immaculate Conception’ was far beyond what she would have understood on her own. That is one reason the words were so powerful.”

Robert said, “It makes me think of how Heaven speaks simply, but deeply. The Lady did not give a long speech. She only said who she was, and that was enough.”

Father smiled. “Yes, Robert. Sometimes the greatest truths come in the fewest words.”

Sister added, “And Bernadette kept asking humbly. She did not demand. She said, ‘Would you have the kindness?’ That is a good lesson for prayer too.”

I liked that very much. Bernadette was brave, but she was never proud. She was little before Heaven, and maybe that is why Heaven could use her.

After the discussion, Father LeRoy suddenly said, “One moment,” and hurried into the rectory. We all looked at one another, wondering what he was doing. A few minutes later he came back carrying a tray with twelve banana splits he had made beforehand.

There were bananas, ice cream, chocolate syrup, whipped cream, and cherries on top. Mini sat up very straight when she saw them, but Sister Mary Claire told her that banana splits were not part of a Corgi’s vocation.

Father said, “A feast day deserves a feast.”

Everyone laughed, and we ate slowly under the apple tree. I thought it was one of the happiest Reading Club days we have had.

When we were finished, Father asked me to read the Reading Club prayer before he dismissed us. So I unfolded the paper and read:
 

Father made the Sign of the Cross and gave the dismissal. Everyone began gathering books and spoons and empty dishes, but I stayed still for a moment under the apple tree.

Today we had read the words: “I am the Immaculate Conception.”

And somehow, even in our little churchyard in Iowa, it felt as if Lourdes had come very near.

Love, 

Kathy