September-October, 2020 Vol. 12 No. 1

FROM echoes A PUBLICATION OF THE LOURDES CENTER MARIST FATHERS AND BROTHERS

“We fly to your protection, O Holy Mother of God...”

Echoes September-October 2020.indd 1 8/6/2020 4:48:49 PM THE DIRECTOR’S LETTER FR. GEORGE SZAL, S.M. MARY HELP OF CHRISTIANS “The Almighty has done great things for me…He has mercy on those who fear Him in every generation” The story of Lourdes is inti- sworn an oath to Mohammed that Marian Option: God’s Answer to mately connected with the con- he and his men would die before a Civilization in Crisis” by Carrie version of radical Islamicists in surrendering to any mortal man. Gress, PhD, TAN Books, 2017, the 8th century, and even further pp. 64-65) back to a miraculous appearance Knowing that the Muslims were of the Blessed Virgin at Le Puy, starving, Roracius from At this point we ought to know in the 4th century. Mary that in the 4th century the Blessed has been the help of Christians Virgin Mary had appeared several ever since she and St. Joseph times to a sick Christian woman escaped the wicked King Herod in the town of Le Puy. The wom- from the beginning of Jesus’ an suffered from an incurable dis- birth. She was protecting and ease and the Blessed Virgin told supporting the Church then and her in a to go to the top of is protecting us now. Mt. Corneille in Le Puy. She in- structed the woman to sit down In the time of St. Bernadette on an old stone altar that pagans (1844-1879) the grotto of the had placed there in ancient times. apparitions, Massabielle (“Old The woman did as she was told Rock”), was considered to be and was healed. Then Mary told a real dump, a place for swine- the woman to tell the bishop of Le herds to keep their pigs in bad Puy to build a there in her weather. However, one thou- honor. Climbing the mountain, sand years earlier it was the the bishop discovered that the name of the impregnable for- ground was covered in deep snow, tress that still stands about 3,000 the nearby diocese of Le Puy asked even though it was the middle of feet above the town of Lourdes for a meeting with Mirat. When July. In 430 AD a shrine was built in southernmost France. In the they met, the bishop offered Mirat there and a statue of the Blessed year 778 AD it had already been an honorable way out of his oath. Virgin Mary was placed on top occupied for 40 years by the “Brave prince,” he said, “you have of the old pagan altar. It became Saracens when the Holy Roman sworn never to yield to any mortal known as the “Throne of Mary, Emperor, Charlemagne, laid man. Could you not with honor Queen of Heaven” and a popu- siege to it intending to starve make your surrender to an immortal lar pilgrimage site and source of them out. However, their leader Lady? Mary, Queen of Heaven, has healing. at that time, Mirat, a ferocious her throne in Le Puy and I am her

Muslim ruler and his men had humble servant there.” (from “The Continued on next page

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Echoes September-October 2020.indd 2 8/6/2020 4:48:50 PM Director’s Letter Continued from previous page Getting back to our story, Mirat believing in the love of God for us Mother, and never says, “No”. She and his men surrendered to Mary, and giving ourselves in love to Him may say, “Wait,” or “I have some- Queen of Heaven, and were bap- and His service. thing better for you,” but she will tized. At his baptism Mirat was never deny the help that her suffer- given the name “Lorus” which over Our life on earth is very temporary. ing children need. Count on it! the centuries became transformed Although the world was made incred- into “Lourdes”, the name of the ibly beautiful, it is full of a lot of suf- At present the Sanctuary of place where Mary had won another fering and many difficulties, most of Lourdes is still mostly closed to victory without a drop of blood be- which are due to sin. Jesus came to pilgrims. However, with those who ing shed. This leads me to think bring everyone to a world so beauti- have access to a computer, a virtual that since Muslims have great re- ful that “eye has not seen and ear has pilgrimage is possible (Google up spect for Mary in the Koran, it will not heard, nor has it entered into the “Virtual pilgrimage to Lourdes”). be through the intercession of the mind of man what God has prepared However, even without going to Blessed Virgin Mary that peace be- for those who love Him,” (I Corin- Lourdes we can still go to Mary, tween Christians and Muslims will thians 2:9). Mary’s mission is to help go to confession and communion, be achieved and many conversions bring us there. At the wedding feast pray the and even ask for to Christianity accomplished. of Cana in Galilee she admonished some water from Lourdes (see the us to “Do whatever He tells you,” for enclosed order form in this maga- Over one thousand years later, in Pope John Paul II said, “Man is inca- zine). Meanwhile may the power- 1858, when France and most of Eu- pable of understanding himself fully ful protection of the Blessed Virgin rope had been thrown into turmoil without Christ. He cannot understand Mary surround, guard and guide by the French Revolution, and the who he is, nor what his true dignity is, you and yours through the trials of Church was being persecuted, the nor what his vocation is, not what his this life and all the way to heaven. Blessed Mother appeared to a poor, final end is.” (June 2, 1979) Peace and Blessings! sickly teenage girl named Ber- nadette. The Blessed Virgin told In all our necessities and difficulties Fr. George Szal, S.M. her to dig for a stream of water in we should go to Mary. She is our Director which pilgrims could wash them- selves. Mary also wanted a shrine to be built there in her honor where people could come in pilgrimage, Sub Tuum Praesidium Prayer wash in the water of the spring that St. Bernadette had discovered, do This prayer, first found in a Greek papyrus, c. 300 A.D., is the penance and pray the rosary. Im- oldest known prayer to the Virgin Mary. mediately, there were miraculous healings. For instance, after apply- ing the water of Lourdes to his in- We fly to your protection, jured eye, a stone mason blinded by O Holy Mother of God. a flying splinter of rock, received back his sight. A woman with a Listen to our prayers crippled arm had it instantaneously and help us in our needs. healed. Since then, millions have come every year. Some have re- Save us from every danger, ceived miraculous healings, but glorious and blessed Virgin. millions more have had their faith restored. After all, isn’t the most important healing that of the soul,

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Echoes September-October 2020.indd 3 8/6/2020 4:48:50 PM Readers Write

My cousin has cancer of the these injections, my vision was gained something special from bladder and kidneys. He is 20-60. The doctor told me what he wrote. He was so full truly suffering, and I ask for it is now 20-30. He told me of faith, wisdom and love for your prayers. You had sent 10 something wonderful has hap- his vocation, the Church and St. bottles of Lourdes water to pened. I say a . I have Bernadette. May our dear Lord my niece. On her last visit to kept the faith to reach 20-20 comfort each of you in your the doctor, they indicated that vision, still using the Lourdes grief. Fr. Roland Lacasse could she need not come back for a water. I thank you for getting light up a room and our spirits. couple of months. They could Lourdes water to those who He will always be looking over not detect any cancer and she ask and pray. God’s blessing each one of you and you now is now eating. MP always be with you. I would have a new Saint in Heaven. like to order two more bottles A final and sudden thought – Enclosed is my $200 dona- for friends who are having eye maybe from the Holy Spirit. It tion for 30 bottles of your problems. SD would be wonderful to publish Lourdes water. Please ac- his talks in book or booklet cept the extra money to fur- I remember very well Fr. form. Maybe you would con- ther your wonderful works Roland Lacasse, SM. I loved sider that…a precious keepsake. of our Blessed Mother. I do the many articles he wrote for SR. MGT pass out many bottles of my “Echoes from Lourdes,” and Lourdes water to friends, the have saved many of them. I just learned of Fr. Roland elderly in nursing facilities, Through the years, when I Lacasse’s death. We had be- etc. These 93 years old plus wrote to him, he graciously come friends over the years appreciate having this Lourdes answered me, and we even when I sent donations in mem- Water. The Blessed Mother is exchanged Christmas cards. ory of my Mom. He was a dear very good to me, so I want to Father was such a good man friend. Enclosed is a donation continue my “giving to those and, indeed, a Holy priest. I to Our Lady in Fr. Lacasse’s in need.” God bless you and knew he had not been well memory. Could a candle be your staff for making this pos- and was in a nursing home. I lit at Lourdes in France in his sible. MR am so sorry that he is gone – a memory? My sympathy on real loss to all of us who were your Order’s loss. May he Rest I feel I need to let you know so fond of him. But you and in Peace. CG about a miracle I have re- I both know that he is enjoy- ceived from using the Lourdes ing his beautiful and rich Enclosed find two checks: water and the intercessions reward in Heaven. I would one for Lourdes water and the of and so much appreciate it if you second in memory of Fr. Lac- Saint Bernadette. I have been could re-reprint in the Echoes asse. He was a wonderful hu- having an eye injection in my the many beautiful, useful and man being and priest. He will right eye for several years much needed articles he wrote. be truly missed! CV with different problems be- I am professed 55 years at hind my eye. When I started Visitation Monastery. I always

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Echoes September-October 2020.indd 4 8/6/2020 4:48:51 PM MARIST GUIDANCE

By Fr. Francis A. Grispino, S.M.

The article that follows was His name is Mr. Dementia…. memory. Day by day, he took shared with me by a friend a bit more here, and a bit more and former classmate from A thief came into our home there, until slowly but surely high school seminary days. today. His name is Dementia. her complete memory was It is a testimony of spousal He didn’t ask permission, nor under siege. Now most of love. It cries out for our warned us that he was coming. the day she spends looking at attention because it is a He just came in, made himself TV without comprehension counter weight to our “throw at home, and immediately at- of what she’s looking at. You away” culture. It gives tacked my wife, Geneva Ellen talk to her and she has that needed balance and rectitude Pelletier, in a most terrible way. faraway look which tells you to avoid inconveniences that We tried to stop him with all that she is not grasping what confront us in todays’ world. possible means. But nothing you are saying. She’s on her This personal testimony ex- worked. He was here to stay, way down that lonely corridor presses the fortitude needed and everything we tried was to all by herself, unable to take to embrace one’s spouse with no avail. anyone along with her. an open heart, care and un- dying love. His method of operation was It is very sad and hurtful to most heartless. Slowly but look into your partner’s eyes In your charity, remem- surely, he proceeded to remove of 65 years, your best friend, ber Bob and Ellen in your all vestiges of Geneva Ellen’s your constant companion, your prayers. Continued on next page

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Echoes September-October 2020.indd 5 8/6/2020 4:48:52 PM MARIST GUIDANCE

Continued from previous page lover, and seeing her drift away have any say in the matter. We So, Mr. Dementia, take your day by day. They tell us that, will continue to do everything best shot. You have an adver- eventually, she will have no possible for her in order to meet sary facing you who is deter- recollection of even who I am. her physical needs and comfort. mined to obstruct your every How sad and hurtful. But if This we will do so long as there move. You may win in the there is anything positive in all is a breath left in my body. If long run, but strong impedi- of this it is that there is no pain anyone attempts to place her ments will be placed in your associated with this affliction. elsewhere, they’ll have to take way in the short run. You will No pain that is to her, but in- me first. Whatever funds we never conquer over love. deed pain to all those she leaves have will be used on those behind. things she will need. After we Composed on behalf of all of run out of funds, we will steal, Geneva Ellen’s friends and They tell us that a day will beg or borrow to keep her with loved ones. come when we will have to us. This is our iron-clad com- “place her somewhere,” away mitment to her. This is the very By: Robert “Bob” Pelletier, her from her loved ones and her least we can do since she has loving husband. little dog “Sugar Plum.” Plac- earned and deserves that from ing her in a strange place by us. herself will never happen if I

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Echoes September-October 2020.indd 6 8/6/2020 4:48:52 PM Our Deceased

We have been notified that the CLAIRE MAYNARD, MA J.M. JOHNSON, KY following friends of the Lourdes MARTINA MCDONALD, MA MARY V. ROSE, MA Center have passed away. Please VERONICA SCUDIERI, FL LUCY JOSEPH, AK join us in remembering them in RITA MICHELS, SD REGINA M. MENK, MO your prayers. MARGARET BLACK, VA ROSA PACHECO GRETCHEN STERNFELS, LA MARVIN CAPOUN, NE E. JOSEPH HOFFMAN, PA SR. AGNES T. THORNTON, OH JOAN BARANOWSKI, TX ALICE HOFFMAN, PA WALTER E. SCHARF, OH THEODORE J. CRAUSWAY, DC CARMELA MEROS, OH LORETTA ATKINS, IL ANN C. MILLS, RI LUCILLE MAXWELL, TX WILLIAM J. KIRSTON, MA JOSEPH KOSIBA, OR AGNES FRICKER, CT FRANCES J. STANLEY, MA BARBARA PETERSON, LA STANLEY F. HIMELINSKI, PA JUNE HELASH, MI PATRICIA ANN LINDSAY, MD VIOLA M. GRILLI, RI MARGARET HEALEY, MA STEVEN CLARK, OH TONY LEAHY, NJ PATRICIA SCHWARTZ, CO JUSTINE MUSTRO, MA PATRICIA UZDZICNSKI, PA

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Lourdes Center Marist Fathers Lourdes Bureau P.O. Box 15575 698 Beacon Street , MA 02215-2594

www.lourdescenter.org Address Service Requested [email protected]

Lourdes Echoes Published bi-monthly to promote devotion to Our Lady and interest in her shrine at Lourdes. Director: Rev. George, Szal, S.M. Printed with Ecclesiastical Approval