Fun Ways to Celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes

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Growing up I was fascinated with different saints and went through a phase where I played dress up as Mother Teresa and the Blessed Mother.

I had a blue baby blanket I pretended was my sari and threw around my naked baby dolls around the playroom, then I would lovingly scoop them up and “rescue” them. I had a costume I called my “Kateri outfit” named after Saint Kateri Tekawitha. These holy women and others seemed very real and alive to me and made impressions on my young faith.

I felt the same way about Mary our Mother, particularly certain titles of Our Lady.

I remember reading the story of Our Lady of Lourdes when I was little and being completely enamored by what I learned. When I was choosing a saint name for Confirmation, I chose Saint Bernadette recalling the fond memories I had of reading her story. While I have never traveled there, I have always wanted to go on a pilgrimage to Lourdes, France.

So while the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes is on February 11 and a week away, I thought I would leave you with some fun, special ideas to help you celebrate Mary with a bit of a French twist (and give you time to start a novena to her)!

5 ways to celebrate her feast

1. Pray a novena to Our Lady of Lourdes – The feast of Our Lady of Lourdes is also known as World Day of the Sick. It was started by Pope John Paul II as a way for believers to offer prayers and sacrifices for those suffering from illness. It is most fitting this day falls on a Marian apparition where many people have experienced physical and emotional healing from Our Lady’s intercession.

Here are two great options to give you some ideas from Pray More Novenas and EWTN.

2. Eat a French pastry – Yes, you can use tasty treats or favorite desserts as a way to celebrate feast days throughout the year!  Because Mary appeared to St. Bernadette in a small village in France, why not eat a French sweet treat today?

Maybe you pick up a little dessert from a local bakery. Or perhaps you could get a chocolate croissant at your favorite drive through coffee shop. Or maybe you have a copy of Julia Child's cookbook Mastering the Art of French Cooking and want to try to make something adventurous for dinner?

3. Brew some French Press coffee – Related to my love of sweet treats, second place goes to my love of coffee. Find your favorite mug in the cabinet. Brew yourself a good cup of coffee. Maybe if you have a French Press at home, take the time to brew some today or share with a friend or coworker.

And if you have a French sweet treat and cup of coffee at the same time, that is a great way to start the day!

4. Watch the movie The Song of Bernadette – Made in 1943, it was the debut film for a young actress named Jennifer Jones who portrayed Bernadette Soubirous, the young visionary from Lourdes, France. The film is based on a novel by Franz Werfel (1941). Werfel was a Jewish refugee who escaped Nazi occupied Europe by route of Lourdes. While there, he learned of the story of Bernadette and resolved to write a book once he had reached safety.

While the movie does take some creative license, it overall stays very accurate to the story of the Lourdes apparitions. One of the great strengths of the film lies in Bernadette’s visions and the subsequent interrogations by various local officials. Regardless of the difficulties she faced, Bernadette responded with calm, confidence and real strength in her conviction of what she saw and heard.

If you do not own the movie, see if your local library carries the film. This is one of the best ways to honor and remember Mary’s apparitions at Lourdes.

5. Read about the story behind the Lourdes apparitions – One of the things I find most striking about Marian apparitions is the back-story behind it all. There are some fascinating articles online where you can learn more about the history of Lourdes and St. Bernadette herself.

 Two great places to learn more are Word on Fire and Catholic Exchange.

Celebrating and living the liturgical calendar can be woven into our daily lives in simple ways, even as small as getting a certain dessert or watching a movie. Will you be celebrating the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes this February 11? Would you add any other ideas?

Our Lady of Lourdes pray for us, and for the sick of the world!

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