She's still there ...

It's been over 150 years since Our Lady graced Lourdes, France, with her now-famous 18 apparitions ... yet her presence apparently continues to remain at that hallowed site.  I strongly sensed her there when I visited the Lourdes Sanctuary in October 2024 ... and even came home with a special souvenir photo!

Oh, how I miss that place!  But thankfully, there's the Lourdes Sanctuary live webcam, which never fails to take me back to the Holy Grotto - search for it in YouTube because you never know what you'll witness when you tune in!

Just this morning, as this blogger was praying my daily Rosary, I felt an urge to bring up the webcam on my TV screen so I jumped on and joined pilgrims praying the Rosary in Italian.  Not long after, I noticed a strange light formation in the center of the grotto - it was so striking, I had to take pics of my screen.  Each viewer can decide what he/she sees ... but for me it affirms what I already know - our Blessed Mother's maternal presence is still at Lourdes.

     

Closer views of the unusual light formation

in the Grotto of Massabielle.

Lourdes is that HOLY - the Grotto in particular is a special place where Heaven and earth unite!  If one ever has the opportunity to visit Lourdes, go!  Until then, view the webcam and pray with the pilgrims from all over the world.  Grace somehow seems to transmit even through that live digital portal ... and you never know what you'll see!  The pics above are just a recent set out of several other remarkable things I've witnessed on the webcam in the past four years.  See other pics by following this link or by viewing the "Little Signs" Photo Albums.

Allow the light of Lourdes to touch and heal your spirit ... and to bless you.

Our Lady of Lourdes,

pray for us!

REMINDER: The annual "Hour of Grace" is on December 8th

Our Blessed Mother, during the Church-approved Rosa Mystica apparitions in Montichiari, Italy, made a specific request through her seer, Pierina Gilli.  It concerned the "Hour of Grace" to be observed annually on December 8th, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.  Our Lady referred to it at least twice during separate apparitions to the visionary.  During an appearance to Pierina on November 22, 1947, the Holy Virgin allegedly said to her:

  "… On the 8th December, at noon, I shall appear again here in the Basilica (of Montichiari).  It will be the Hour of Grace.  This Hour of Grace will produce great and numerous conversions.  Hardened and cold hearts resembling this marble (the church floor) will be touched by Divine Grace, and they will become faithful to our Lord in loyal love."

... and during the pre-announced apparition on December 8, 1947, these words were given:

  "I am the Immaculate Conception.  It is my wish that every year, on 8th December, at Noon, the Hour of Grace for the world be celebrated.  Many divine and bodily graces will be received through this devotion.  Our Lord, my Divine Son Jesus, will send His overflowing mercy if good people will pray continuously for their sinful brothers.

  One should very soon notify the Holy Father of the Church, Pope Pius XII, that it is my wish that the Hour of Grace for the world be made known and spread throughout the world.  If anyone is unable to visit a church, yet will pray at noon at home, they will also receive graces through me."

Consider observing the Hour of Grace at noon on December 8th.  The recommended prayers to be offered during the hour are the Rosary and the Miserere (Psalm 51), as well as general prayers for the conversion of sinners.

Maria Rosa Mystica, Mater Ecclesiae,

ora pro nobis!

Annual Novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe: December 4th - 12th

Am I not here, who

is your Mother?

~ Words of Our Lady of Guadalupe

to St. Juan Diego, 1531

It's that time of the year again!  Readers are cordially invited to join this ministry in making its annual novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe.  The 9-day prayer will begin on December 4th and will end on December 12th - the Feast of the Virgin of Guadalupe - on which day, this author recommends for participants to attend Mass as a way of honoring our Holy Mother, as well as, to close-out this novena. +

Memorare to Our Lady of Guadalupe

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary of Guadalupe, that in thy celestial apparitions on the mount of Tepeyac, thou didst promise to show thy compassion and pity towards all who, loving and trusting thee, seek thy help and call upon thee in their necessities and afflictions.

Thou didst promise to hearken to our supplications, to dry our tears and to give us consolation and relief.  Never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession, either for the common welfare, or in personal anxieties, was left unaided.

Inspired with this confidence, we fly unto thee, O Mary, ever Virgin Mother of the True God!  Though grieving under the weight of our sins, we come to prostrate ourselves in thy august presence, certain that thou wilt deign to fulfill thy merciful promises.  We are full of hope that, standing beneath thy shadow and protection, nothing will trouble or afflict us, nor need we fear illness, or misfortune, or any other sorrow.

Thou hast decided to remain with us through thy admirable image, thou who art our Mother, our health and our life.  Placing ourselves beneath thy maternal gaze and having recourse to thee in all our necessities we need do nothing more.  O Holy Mother of God, despise not our petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer us.  Amen.

[Mention your prayer petition(s) here]

(Offer an Our Father, a Hail Mary & Glory Be

in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe)

+ IMPORTANT:  For this novena - any prayer - to be successful, there must be a measure of faith; a belief that God, in his infinite goodness, can answer our prayer.  Without faith, prayer has no power.

To learn more about the incredible

apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe

& her miraculous image, click here.