February dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes: day 5
We are sinners. This is a reality. But, if we want it, we are forgiven redeemed! Jesus, with his Death and Resurrection, redeemed us and reopened the gates of Heaven for us. Every forgiven sin disappears into the sea of God's infinite mercy. However, the fact remains that original sin has corrupted our nature and we experience the consequences every day. With the help of Mary we must then empty ourselves of all that is not good in us and fill ourselves with Him, if we want to be happy already here and then for all eternity. Mary chose this task for herself and in each apparition she shows us the way to overcome ourselves. The message of Lourdes is the message of Penance. To appreciate it and to live it to the fullest, let's be convinced that we need it to really renew ourselves!
Ordinarily our best deeds are tainted by our bad inclinations. Pure and clear water placed in a jar that does not taste good or wine put in a dirty barrel spoils and easily takes on a bad smell. This is how it happens when God puts his heavenly graces and favors or the delicious wine of his love into our soul corrupted by original and actual sin. The bad leaven and the rotten bottom left in us by sin deteriorate its gifts. Our actions are affected, even if they are inspired by the most sublime virtues. We must therefore at all costs empty ourselves of the evil that is in us, if we wish to acquire the perfection that is found only in union with Jesus. Otherwise He, who is infinitely pure and hates even the smallest stain of sin, does not can join us. “If the grain of wheat that falls to the ground does not die, it remains alone” says Jesus.
Thus also our devotions will remain useless and everything will be stained by self-love and one's own will. In this way it will be difficult to have in one's heart a spark of that pure love which is communicated only to dead souls to themselves, whose life is hidden with Christ in God (cf. Treatise VD 38 80).
We need her more and more, then, the All Holy, the All Pure, the Immaculate Conception! United with her we too change and this intimate, radical, profound conversion will truly be the greatest miracle that we will be able to experience on our journey of faith!
Commitment: United to Mary, asking her for light to look inside us with courage and sincerity, we say our Act of sorrow for today's sins and for those we have not yet confessed.
Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.
NOVENA TO OUR LADY OF LOURDES
Immaculate Virgin, Mother of Christ and Mother of men, we pray to you. You are blessed because you believed and God's promise was fulfilled: we have been given a Savior. Let us imitate your faith and your charity. Mother of the Church, you accompany your children to the encounter with the Lord. Help them to remain faithful to the joy of their baptism so that after your Son Jesus Christ they are sowers of peace and justice. Our Lady of the Magnificat, the Lord does wonders for you, Teach us to sing her Most Holy Name with you. Keep your protection for us so that, for our whole life, we can praise the Lord and witness his love in the heart of the world. Amen.
10 Hail Mary.
Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us. (3 times) Saint Bernadette, pray for us. (3 times) Holy Mass and Communion, preferably on 11 February.