Relevance of Lourdes in Today's World

The Bishop of Tarbes and Lourdes, Bishop Jacques Perrier, identified 12 missions of the Church in which Lourdes would play a particular role. These 12 missions also apply to our Church in the United States and throughout the world. He enumerates and identifies them in the light of the Gospel passages.

1) The Sick - Matt 25,36
“I was sick and you visited me.” “Lord, when did we visit you when you were sick?” “The Lord will answer them, ‘I assure you, as often as you did it for the least of my brothers, you did it for me.’”

• What is the place of the sick in society and in the Church?
• What kind of healing can the sick who come to Lourdes hope for?
• Reflection: How can you help the sick and tend to Jesus in His wounds today?

2) The Disabled - John 9,1
“He saw a man who was born blind.” "I am the light of the world.”

• At times, a handicap is even more frightening than illness. What are our fears and our personal experiences about this subject which make us reflect on the question – what is man?

3) Young People - Luke 7,14
“‘Young man, I tell you, get up.’ The dead man sat up and began to speak. Then Jesus gave him back to his mother.”

• The Son of God raised him back to life, because of his compassion to the mother. What role can we play in announcing the gospel to the youth of today?

4) Marian Spirituality - John 19,27
“ ‘Behold your Mother.’ From that hour onward, the disciple took her in his care.”

• What role does Mary have in our life? How well do we know her?

5) The Holy Eucharist - John 6,35
“I am the bread of life. No one who comes to me shall ever be hungry.”

• What is the connection for us between Mary and the Eucharist, and between the Eucharist and serving our neighbor?

6) The Marginalized - Mark 10,46
“He saw a man sitting by the roadside. He called out to Him, Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.”

• When He chose Bernadette, God confirmed the word of the beatitudes: “Blessed are the poor, for theirs is the Kingdom of God. Who are the “Bernadettes” of today in the corner where we live?

7) Ecumenism – John 17,21
“That they may all be one, so that the world may believe.”

• All Christians love and venerate Mary under various titles. Many, not belonging to the Catholic Church, come to Lourdes on pilgrimages, sometimes in private, sometimes in groups, and even at times as participants in a Catholic pilgrimage.
• How could we be listeners to non-Catholics on their thoughts about Mary?

8) Peace – Luke 2,14
“Peace to all men of good will.”

• Our Lady of Lourdes was the confidant and comforter of many soldiers. The laying down of arms and weapons are not the only form of peace. Forgiveness, interior reconciliation, harmony in search of the common good, are other facets of peace invisibly present in Lourdes. So also, a nod, a smile, the shaking of hands – are signs of peace to all men.

9) Reconciliation – Matt 3,2
“Prepare the way of the Penance, Conversion and Lord, make straight His path.”

• The Church has the mission to call for conversion. “We entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” 2Cor 5:20. People say that our time “has lost the sense of sin”. But what is sin? What positive value can we put to penance?

10) Inter-religions - Matt 25,32
“All nations will be gathered before him.”

• The Dalai Lama was the most illustrious Buddhist pilgrim to set foot in Lourdes. The museum keeps the silk veil he offered in homage to the Lady in the Grotto. Satisfy your curiosity and go read in the Koran the passages related to the Virgin Mary.
• Why is an inter-religious meeting so important today?

11) Lourdes: A Cross-roads of the World - Apocalypse 7,9
“People from every race, language and nation.”

• The international dimension of Lourdes goes back to almost the start of the apparitions. Spain is a neighbor, the Italian border is not far, thanks to trains, Belgians and Dutch come. The missionaries brought the message of Lourdes to the United States and throughout the world. These account for the six official languages in Lourdes: French, Italian, Spanish, English, German and Dutch.
• How do we see the role of the Church in the face of globalization?

12) The Volunteer Helpers - Matt 20,28
“Not to be served but to serve.”

• Bernadette entered the convent of the Sisters of Charity to put herself at the service of the sick and the needy.
• People often say that when serving others, more is received than is given. Recall how this had been a reality for you.