This weekend we celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. The exact day is Saturday, February 11. It’s our patronal feast. Our foundress, St. Katharine Drexel, was given the honor of naming the parish and she chose Our Lady of Lourdes because she was the patron of her beloved spiritual director, Bishop Ryan.
Our Blessed Mother has appeared to children and youth usually over the years as a reminder to pray to her Son, Jesus and to urge us to lead lives of prayer 24/7, 365. Of course the rosary grew as a devotional way of praying and reflecting on the life of Jesus. In our day and time when there is so much rancor and dehumanizing behavior, we use this occasion of our patronal feast to recommit ourselves to do everything we can to increase our lives of prayer; and to focus our care and concern for those of Jesus’ mandate — our sisters and brothers: the immigrant, the refugee, the stranger (the other).
As we celebrate Black History Month, we recommit ourselves to pray and work for the development of African American people, especially the many men and women who are incarcerated; the many children who are trapped in poor educational systems and poverty-stricken neighborhoods and communities.
Saint Katharine Drexel, pray for us.
Saint Martin de Porres, pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.
Note this originally appeared in the Lourdes in the Know e-newsletter.