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

Watching Lourdes from the Apple Tree

 
Dear Diary,

This morning after Holy Mass, our Reading Club met again beneath the apple tree behind St. Mary’s. The shade was cool, the leaves were rustling, and Mini took her usual place beside me as if she had been appointed guardian of the meeting.

Robert surprised everyone by coming with a box of fresh doughnuts with chocolate frosting.

“These are to make up for the day-olds,” he said.

Father LeRoy laughed and said, “A penance well performed, Robert.”

After we settled down, Father asked me to read my little chapter introduction.

Today’s chapter began with a change in the weather at Lourdes. For many days the Apparitions had been favored with beautiful sunshine, but on March fifth, snow came and fewer people could go to the Grotto. Yet the miracles did not stop. In fact, the cures increased.

I told about Benoîte Cazeaux, who had been sick in bed for three years and was considered incurable. After drinking the water from the Grotto and using it with faith, she was suddenly well. I also told about Blaisette Soupenne, whose eyes had suffered terribly for years. Doctors and remedies had failed her, but after she turned to Our Lady and used the water, she was cured.

When I finished, Sister Mary Claire said softly, “The snow slowed the footsteps of the people, but it could not stop the mercy of God.”

Father LeRoy nodded. “That is the lesson. God’s grace does not depend on sunshine. Sometimes His greatest works appear when everything outwardly looks cold and discouraging.”

Robert said he kept thinking about how the doctors had done all they could. “But what men could not do,” he said, “God did.”

Father answered, “True miracles do not insult reason. They remind reason that God is greater than nature, because He made nature.”

We were all quiet after that. Even Mini seemed thoughtful, though she may have been thinking about the doughnuts.

Before we finished, Father asked me to read the prayer I had written yesterday. So I unfolded my paper and read:

Afterward, Father made the Sign of the Cross and said, “That is a good prayer,  it will be our official Readers Club Prayer.  

I tucked the paper back inside my book. Beneath the apple tree, with the pages of Our Lady of Lourdes open before us, it felt as if the Grotto had come a little nearer.

Love,
Kathy

Truth Beneath the Apple Tree

Dear Diary

This morning after Holy Mass, our Reading Club met in its regular place beneath the big apple tree behind St. Mary’s Church. The morning air was fresh, and the leaves made little moving shadows on the grass. Mini settled beside me as if she had been appointed official club watchdog.

Father LeRoy smiled and said, “Kathy, would you read your chapter summary for us?”

So I stood with my notes and read.

This chapter was about how some of the unbelievers at Lourdes did not want to face the real miracles. The cures were being talked about everywhere, and people kept coming to the Grotto. But instead of honestly looking into what had happened, certain newspaper writers began making up strange stories that nobody at Lourdes had ever claimed.

They ignored the real cures and the real people who had been healed. Instead, they printed silly and frightening tales so they could laugh at them later and pretend they had disproved everything.

When I finished, Robert shook his head. “If the facts were on their side,” he said, “they would not have needed to invent anything.”

Sister Mary Claire said softly, “Truth does not need tricks. But pride often does.”

Father LeRoy nodded. “And the Church is careful with miracles,” he told us. “God performs them. The Church does not make them true. She only investigates and judges carefully.”

That made the chapter easier for me to understand.

After our discussion, Father LeRoy went into the parish hall and came back rolling out his old White Mountain ice cream maker. Everyone smiled because we knew something good was coming.

Then Father brought out several boxes of doughnuts and told us what had happened.

“I stopped by the bakery last night just before closing,” he said. “The doughnuts were marked half price, so I thought I would buy some for the Reading Club.”

Then he grinned.

“But when Sasha heard they were for our Reading Club, he would not let me pay. He said they were on the house.”

Everyone thought that was so kind of him.

The doughnuts had been made the old-fashioned way with beef tallow, and they were wonderful. The outside was lightly crisp and golden, while the inside stayed soft and fluffy. They tasted rich and warm in the way old-fashioned food always seems to taste better.

Soon we were eating Sasha’s doughnuts with homemade vanilla ice cream under the apple tree. Mini sat very still beside me, watching every bite and hoping someone might drop a crumb from breakfast.

Before we left, Father LeRoy handed me a prayer that he wrote and asked me to read it.

Then we gathered our books, said goodbye until tomorrow, and headed home.

It was a lovely morning.

Love,

Kathy

When The Truth Stood

Dear Diary,

Today our Reading Club met again outdoors under the Apple Tree behind St. Mary’s. The branches made a green roof over us, and the little shadows moved all over the grass whenever the breeze came through. Father LeRoy brought Krispy Kreme doughnuts, coffee for the grown-ups, and hot chocolate for the rest of us. Mini sat close by, looking very hopeful every time someone picked up a doughnut.

Before we began, Father LeRoy asked me to read my overview of the chapter. I felt a little shy, but I had written it carefully, so I stood up with my paper and began.

This chapter was about the miracles at Lourdes after the spring began to heal people. At first, the government men and prosecutors had tried very hard to stop people from believing in the Apparition. They did not want anyone saying that Heaven had come so near to earth. But now the matter was different. The miracles were not hidden inside Bernadette’s heart, where only she could see them. They were happening in public, in sick people who were suddenly made well.

Some had been blind and could see again. Some had been lame and could walk. Some had been very near death and were restored. These were not little rumors whispered in corners. Everyone could look at them, ask questions, and investigate.

That is what struck me most. If the officials really believed the miracles were false, then this was their chance. They could have examined everything. They could have questioned the healed people, their families, the doctors, and the witnesses. They could have tried to prove that it was all a mistake.

But they did not.

The chapter says they did nothing because unbelief can be very cautious. It may speak loudly when the truth seems far away, but when the truth stands right in front of it, it becomes afraid. The officials had been bold against Bernadette, a poor little girl. But when the cures became plain and public, they stepped back.

I thought about that for a long time.

It made me think that sometimes people do not disbelieve because there is not enough light. Sometimes they disbelieve because they do not want to open their eyes. The chapter says that even the sun cannot make a person see if he shuts his eyes on purpose. That made me feel quiet inside.

I do not want to be like that. I do not want to turn away from the truth just because it asks something of me. If God gives light, I want to receive it. If He shows His mercy, I want to be grateful. And if He does something wonderful, I do not want to shrug my shoulders and pretend I did not see.

After I finished reading, no one spoke for a moment. Even Mini was still.

Then Father LeRoy said, “That is a very important lesson, Kathy. Faith is not only about seeing. It is also about being willing to see.”

Sister Mary Claire nodded and said that a proud heart can hide from God even in broad daylight, but a humble heart can find Him in a quiet place, even under an apple tree.

Robert said he thought the chapter was almost like a courtroom scene, except that the people who wanted to accuse Lourdes were afraid to bring the case to trial. Father smiled at that and said, “Sometimes silence tells the truth better than an argument.”

Then we had our doughnuts and hot chocolate. The doughnuts were soft and sweet, and I got a little powdered sugar on my paper, but I did not mind. It looked like a tiny white snowflake had fallen right on Lourdes.

When the meeting was over, Father LeRoy stood beneath the Apple Tree and took off his hat. We all grew quiet. The leaves moved softly above us, and the afternoon seemed very still.

Then Father prayed:

“Dear Lord Jesus,
You are the Truth and the Light of the world.
Keep our hearts humble before Your works.
Do not let us close our eyes when You are near.
Teach us to welcome Your grace with faith,
to recognize Your mercy with gratitude,
and to follow You with courage.
Bless our little Reading Club,
bless all who suffer,
and bring every soul closer to Your Sacred Heart.
Amen.”

The Miracle Witnessed

Dear Diary,

Today after Holy Mass, our Reading Club met again under the apple tree behind St. Mary’s Church.

It was such a pretty place to gather. The leaves made a green roof over our heads, and the little apples were beginning to show among the blossoms. Mini settled herself in the grass beside me, looking very serious, as if she planned to listen to every word.

Sister Mary Claire brought a special treat today. She had baked an apple pie and brought heavy cream to spoon over the top. There was just enough for a thin slice for everyone, but that made it feel even more special. Robert said a small slice of Sister’s apple pie was better than a big slice of almost anything else.

After everyone had found a place to sit, Father LeRoy asked me to introduce Part 9 of Our Lady of Lourdes. I felt a little shy, but I stood up with my paper and read the little essay I had written.

“Today we learned that more and more people were being healed at Lourdes. There were so many cures that the author could not tell about every one of them. He said he only wanted to write about the ones that had been carefully checked.

“These healings were not secret stories. They happened to real people from Lourdes. Their neighbors knew them, and anyone who wanted to ask questions could do so. A man’s lump on his wrist disappeared. A woman who had been deaf for many years could hear again. A man who had been lame was able to walk properly.

“To me, this chapter says that truth does not need to hide. If something is really from God, it can stand in the light.”

When I finished, the apple tree was quiet except for the breeze moving through the leaves.

Robert said, “That is what makes it so strong. The people could be questioned. Their neighbors could say whether it was true.”

Sister Mary Claire nodded and said, “Faith is not afraid of honest questions. But sometimes people are afraid of the answers.”

Father LeRoy looked at us kindly.

“That is a very important lesson,” he said. “God gives light, but He does not force anyone to open their eyes. We must ask for humble hearts, so that when truth is placed before us, we will receive it.”

Mini gave one little bark just then, and everyone laughed.

Robert said, “I think Mini has voted.”

Then Sister served the apple pie with a spoonful of heavy cream on each slice. My piece was thin, but it tasted wonderful. We ate slowly, and I think everyone was trying to make it last.

Before everyone headed home for lunch, Father LeRoy folded his hands and prayed.

“Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of truth and for every sign of Your love. Help us not to be afraid of the light You send. Give us humble hearts, honest minds, and faith that listens. Bless our Reading Club, our parish, and all who are learning about Our Lady of Lourdes. May Mary lead us always closer to her Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.”

We all answered, “Amen.”

Then we gathered our books and papers. Mini trotted ahead as if she knew the way home better than anyone.

Love,

Kathy

The Child Who Walked

 

Dear Diary,


This morning after Holy Mass, Father LeRoy invited everyone to gather beneath the big apple tree behind St. Mary’s Church for our Reading Club meeting. The weather was beautiful, with a gentle breeze moving through the branches overhead. Sister Mary Claire spread out a blanket, and several folding chairs were placed in the shade. Mini found a comfortable spot beside me and seemed perfectly happy to spend the morning outdoors.

When everyone was settled, Father LeRoy offered a prayer, and then Sister Mary Claire asked if I was ready to read my summary of Part Eight.

I stood up with my paper in hand and told everyone about a little boy named Justin who lived in Lourdes. Justin was only about two years old, but he had been sick nearly his whole life. He was very weak and thin. He had never been able to walk, and his poor parents had watched him grow weaker month after month.

One day Justin became so ill that everyone believed he was dying. His breathing was barely noticeable, and his little body lay completely still. Even his father thought the end had come. A neighbor had already begun preparing a burial cloth for him.

But Justin’s mother, Croisine, refused to give up hope.

She had heard about the Grotto where Our Lady had appeared to Bernadette and about the spring that had begun flowing there. Taking her child into her arms, she hurried to Massabielle, determined to place him under the care of the Blessed Virgin.

When she arrived, she prayed with all her heart. Then she carried Justin to the spring. The water was icy cold. The people gathered there were horrified when they saw her lower her child into it.

Some shouted for her to stop.

Others thought grief had made her lose her senses.

But Croisine kept praying. She believed that God and Our Lady would care for her little boy.

After a long time, she carried Justin home. His body felt cold, and everyone around her believed he was gone. Yet Croisine never stopped trusting.

Then, a short while later, she bent over the cradle and suddenly cried out, “He’s breathing!”

Justin slept peacefully through the night. By morning there was color in his cheeks. Soon afterward, he wanted to leave his cradle and walk.

The next day, when his mother returned home, she found the cradle empty.

Little Justin, who had never walked in his life, was standing and moving around the room.

As I finished reading, the shade beneath the apple tree seemed especially quiet.

Father LeRoy folded his hands and said, “That is a reminder that hope should never be abandoned. God can do what we cannot imagine.”

Sister Mary Claire nodded and said, “What touches me most is the faith of Justin’s mother. She trusted God even when everything seemed lost.”

Robert leaned back in his chair and looked up through the apple branches.

“I suppose,” he said, “that must have been the happiest walk any mother ever saw.”

That made everyone smile.

I said that what stayed with me was how Croisine kept believing when nobody else did. Sometimes faith means holding on when all the evidence says to let go.

Father LeRoy said that many of the miracles at Lourdes begin with simple trust in God’s mercy.

After our discussion ended, Robert surprised everyone by bringing out lunch. Then he carried over a vanilla cake and several cartons of ice cream he had brought along in a cooler.

The cake was soft and delicious, and the ice cream tasted wonderful on a warm day beneath the apple tree. Mini sat politely nearby, watching every plate with great interest and hoping someone might remember her.

Before we went home, Father LeRoy asked if I would close our meeting with a prayer.

Dear Blessed Mother,

Thank You for the story of little Justin and for the faith of his mother.

Help us to trust God when life seems difficult and when answers do not come quickly.

Teach us to pray with confidence, to hope with courage, and to remember that nothing is impossible for God.

Please watch over our families, our parish, and all who are sick or discouraged today.

And may we always walk with Jesus, just as little Justin learned to walk again.

Amen.
Goodnight, Diary.

— Kathy

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