Happy Mothers' Day from Lourdes

      Statue of Our Lady in the Grotto of the Apparition.

As I woke up this morning I must admit that I am a little "Incarnation Sick."  Mothers' Day is one of those days that I especially love being a priest.  I love being pastor at Incarnation.  Maybe because my own mother died way too soon.  Maybe because I just hold the vocation of a mother so high in esteem, but it has just been a day of grace through the years.

An added grace since I have been at Incarnation is the annual Blessing of Mothers at each of the weekend Masses and the gift of a flower to each of our mothers by the Family Life Committee.  We are never the best at acknowledging those who are closest to us, and very few if any are closer to us than our mothers.

Incarnation also welcomes this weekend the Little Sisters of the Poor.   Perhaps like our own mothers they give of themselves to love and serve those in need.  This time, not children but, the elderly so that they may receive the best care in the twilight of their lives.  I hope that generosity of the faithful of Incarnation will show our dedication to the wonderful work of the sisters on the other side of Queens village.

While I am very much "Incarnation Sick" I could not think of a better place to be and in fact worked it into my sabbatical schedule that I be in Lourdes this day.  If I can't be with the mothers of Incarnation then I want to be with the Mother of God; our Mother, My Mother.  My time in the Sanctuary this day has been precious from the sun rising over the mountains to the celebrations of the Sacraments.

Candlelight Procession when the Order of Malta was at the Sanctuary.

Remember the words of Jesus to Mary and John from the Cross:   "Woman, behold your son.  . . .   Behold your mother." Few word have been more powerful in the Christian Tradition.  That's why Lourdes is packed this weekend.  Or better yet, that's why Mary through the teenaged Bernadette spoke to all of us in 1858.

Statue of the Crowned Virgin on the Esplanade of the Sanctuary.

REMEMBER, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly to thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee do I come; before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.



Happy Mothers' Day!