February 11, 2021

Our Lady of Lourdes

Mk 7: 24-30

From there he set out and went away to the region of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know he was there. Yet he could not escape notice, but a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately heard about him, and she came and bowed down at his feet. 

Now the woman was a Gentile, of Syrophoenician origin. She begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. He said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” But she answered him, “Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” 

Then he said to her, “For saying that, you may go—the demon has left your daughter.” So she went home, found the child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.

New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.

Entrusting our prayers to Mary

There are few things more powerful than a mother’s prayer. At a time in my life when I was failing to pray, my own mother tirelessly prayed, obtaining for me countless graces that later restored my health and faith. Jesus, who shared his own heart with Mary, understands the intimate relationship between a mother and child.

Be assured that Mary is constantly interceding for us; especially when we are in greatest need of God’s mercy and love. Saint Louis de Montfort in True Devotion to Mary writes, “It is by her that he applies his merits to his members, and that he communicates his virtues, and distributes his graces. She is his mysterious canal; she is his aqueduct, through which he makes his mercies flow gently and abundantly.” Therefore, let us entrust Mary with our prayers so that she may intercede and obtain for us an abundance of graces.

How can we allow Mary to accompany us in prayer? What did Mary feel at the crucifixion? 

—Emmanuel Arenas, SJ, is a Jesuit scholastic of the Midwest Province studying philosophy at Saint Louis University.

Prayer

Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, hail, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve: to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears. Turn then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus, O merciful, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. 

—Salve Regina traditional prayer

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