In 1858 a young girl in Lourdes, France, had a vision of a beautiful lady, dressed in white, with a blue sash and yellow roses at her feet, in a grotto near her home.  The girl’s  name was Bernadette and she was to see the lady eighteen times in all.   The lady told Bernadette to ask the parish  priest to build a chapel there but the priest said Bernadette needed to ask the lady’s name.   The lady’s reply?  I AM THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION!!!!

An awesome reply.   A stroke of genius!  Bernadette had no idea what it meant.  But it was a clincher.

The lady was thereby identified as Mary, the mother of Jesus, daughter of Anne and Joachim, who was conceived without stain of original sin  so that she might be  a holy tabernacle for the coming  Christ child.  The immaculate conception had been  defined as a dogma by the Catholic church (Pius IX) in 1854.

The lady told Bernadette she could not promise her happiness in this world, but in the next.

Is this whole story the stuff of delusion and mythology and poppycock?

There is now a beautiful chapel where there was none before.  There is a spring of water where there was none before.  Pilgrims continue to come by the thousands.  Physical healings are well documented.

Poppycock?  Investigate.  Let me know what you think.

~~~

My spirit rejoices in God my Savior,  for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed.  —  Luke 1:47-48

Hail, Mary, full of grace.  —  Luke 1:28