Today in the book In Caelo et in Terra, we read about St Bernadette. She's known as St Bernadette Soubirous, but many people just call her St Bernadette. She's the namesake of the movie Bernadette's Song, which you can watch here for free. You can read more about her here.
Her story is pretty amazing. Mary appeared to her in a little grotto and told her to wash in the water, even though there wasn't any. So Bernadette started digging, and at first she only found mud. But then she persisted and she found a spring, and people from all over the world now travel to wash in those waters, which have produced hundreds of documented healings. This is, of course, at Lourdes.
Mary also told St Bernadette that she was the immaculate conception. Bernadette didn't know what this meant, she just repeated to the Bishop what Mary had said. This was revolutionary, because it was one of the most powerful witnesses to the fact that Mary was born without sin.
One thing we should learn from Bernadette's life is that this life is not meant for us to enjoy. Don't get me wrong... if you've read my other blogs, you know I firmly believe that God made this world, and the stuff in it, good. And He DOES want us to enjoy it. But that's not the POINT. The point of this life is not epicureanism. We're not meant to get as much pleasure and satisfaction as we can. In this life, we will suffer. Mary told St Bernadette that she did not promise that she would be happy in this life, but she WOULD be in the next. That's a good reminder for us. Yes, we will find joy and satisfaction in doing His will. But just remember, the point of this life is not to have fun. It's to share His love, and help people to find Him.
God, thanks for St Bernadette's wonderful example. St Bernadette Soubirous, pray for us.
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