Catholic Fire

I first saw The Song of Bernadette when I was a child, growing up in the 1950's and I have loved it ever since. It is the true story of St. Bernadette and her apparitions of Our Lady of Lourdes. The Song of Bernadette stars Jennifer Jones, William Eythe, Charles Bickford, Vincent Price, Lee J. Cobb,and Gladys Cooper. The Song of Bernadette opened in late December of 1943 to qualify for the Academy Awards. It was an immediate critical and commercial success and Jennifer Jones was a new star. It was nominated for 12 Academy Awards When the award were announced on March 2, 1944, the film won 4 awards (Actress, Cinematography, Interior Decoration, Scoring). Related Posts: 150th Anniversary of Our Lady of Lourdes The History of Our Lady of Lourdes FEBRUARY 11th HAS A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART

Today is the 150th Anniversary of the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and the 16th World Day of the Sick. In 1858, the Immaculate Virgin Mary appeared to Bernadette Soubirous, near Lourdes in France, in the cavern called “de Massabielle”. Through this poor, fourteen-year-old girl, Mary calls on sinners to change their lives. She has inspired in the Church a great love of prayer and good works, especially in the service of the poor and the sick. The Holy Father spoke yesterday about the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes: “This year the beginning of Lent coincides with the 150th anniversary of the apparition of Lourdes. Four years after the proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception by Blessed Pius IX, Mary appeared for the first time on February 11, 1858 to St. Bernadette Soubirous in the grotto at Massabielle. After successive apparitions accompanied by extraordinary events, the Holy Virgin revealed to the young visionary in the local language, ‘I am the Immaculate Conception,’” t...

Prayer to Our Lady of Lourdes Oh ever immaculate Virgin, Mother of Mercy, Health of the Sick, Refuge of Sinners, Comfortess of the Afflicted, you know my wants, my troubles, my sufferings. Look upon me with mercy. When you appeared in the grotto of Lourdes, you made it a privileged sanctuary where you dispense your favors, and where many sufferers have obtained the cure of their infirmities, both spiritual and corporal. I come, therefore, with unbounded confidence to implore your maternal intercession. My loving Mother, obtain my request. I will try to imitate your virtues so that I may one day share your company and bless you in eternity. Amen.

Today is the feast 0f Our Lady of Lourdes and the 15th World Day of the Sick. To read the Holy Father's Message on this day, go here. Just a reminder that Catholics who, under the usual conditions, participate in prayer services for the World Day of the Sick today, February 11 — ordinarily the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes — can obtain a plenary indulgence . For details, go here. For a a virtual pilgrimage to Lourdes that explores the life of this great saint of poverty and penance – many high quality and unique photos, go here . Official Site of Lourdes Place Your Petition at the Grotto of Lourdes The 150th Anniversary of the Apparitions