Our Lady of Lourdes!

On this Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, I want to take the opportunity to congratulate Archbishop Paul Coakley on his installation as the Archbishop of Oklahoma City. Archbishop Coakley was the bishop in the Salina Diocese for six years. Our thoughts and prayers are with him as he begins his new pastoral assignment. Besides celebrating Our Lady of Lourdes on this day, it is also the World Day of Prayer for the Sick. We remember those who are sick and suffering and pray that our Blessed Mother will intercede for them and that God will grant them healing and strength. Our Lady made her appearance to Saint Bernadette in 1858 close to Lourdes, France. "Through this humble girl, Mary called sinners to conversion and enkindled within the Church a great zeal for prayer and charity, especially service to the sick and poor" (Magnificat, 150). Many pilgrims travel to the shrine in Lourdes to experience this message firsthand and receive the healing that comes from the Lourdes water. Again, we ask our Blessed Mother, as Our Lady of Lourdes to intercede for us, help us to carry the crosses that we receive, and lead us to her son, Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World. Have a blessed day!!!