Udupi/M’Belle: Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes celebrated with devotion and candle light procession

By Fr. Lawrence Cutinha
Bellevision Media Network

Moodubelle, 11 Feb 2017: The feast of Our Lady of Lourdes was celebrated with great devotion and candle light procession at the Grotto in St. Lawrence Church, Moodubelle on Friday, 10 February 2017. Prior to the solemn feast mass, Rosary was recited by the devotees at 6 pm.

 

The solemn feast mass was concelebrated by Fr. Clement Mascarenhas, Parish priest of Moodubelle along with Fr. Lawrence Cutinha, Fr. William Martis and Fr. William D’Souza from Raiganj Diocese, West Bengal.

 

In his homily, Fr. William Martis said that Mother Mary would definitely come to the assistance of those who fervently pray for her intercession.

 

 

Soon after the feast mass, devotees took out candle light procession within the church premises.

 

Members of the Legion of Mary made all the arrangements for organizing the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.

 

Snacks and cold drink was served to all those who were present for the feast.

 

About Our Lady of Lourdes

 

Our Lady of Lourdes is a Roman Catholic title of the Blessed Virgin Mary venerated in honor of the Marian apparitions that reportedly occurred in 1858 in the vicinity of Lourdes in France. The first of these is the apparition of 11 February 1858, when 14-year old Bernadette Soubirous told her mother that a "lady" spoke to her in the cave of Massabielle (a mile from the town) while she was gathering firewood with her sister and a friend. Similar apparitions of the alleged "Lady" were reported on seventeen occasions that year, until the climax revelation of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception took place.

 

Bernandette

 

Our Lady of Lourdes

 

In 1862, Pope Pius IX authorized Bishop Bertrand-Sévère Laurence to permit the veneration of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Lourdes. On 3 July 1876, the same Pontiff officially granted a Canonical Coronation to the image that used to be in the courtyard of what is now part of the Rosary Basilica. The image of Our Lady of Lourdes has been widely copied and reproduced, often displayed in shrines and homes, often in garden landscapes. Bernadette Soubirous was later canonized as a Catholic saint.