From our Bruin friend:
Song of Bernadette — 1943 movie faithfully presenting the traditional account of Bernadette Soubirous, the young visionary of Lourdes. This a solid movie built on a wonderful performance by a winsome Jennifer Jones as Bernadette. She won an Oscar for Best Actress. The screenplay was based on a novel written by a Jew, Franz Werfel, who never quite converted to Christianity. I saw it on TV as a young boy and still remember how sorry I felt for Bernadette when she rooted around in the mud as everyone made fun of her. I remember imagining that if I were there, I’d set them all straight! It sounds silly now, but we should not underestimate those early feelings of children. Mine, I would now call a childish chivalry. But what better sentiment for a boy to learn and to have? I wonder what we’re teaching young boys and girls in today’s entertainment?
Werfel had received a Catholic education and throughout his life was friendly to the Faith. A refugee from Nazi Germany, he wrote Song of Bernadette out of gratitude for the assistance his family received while staying at the shrine at Lourdes. The film made in 1943 is a magnificent salute by old Hollywood to the Faith and the fact that this sounds so odd today helps explain how off the track our country is currently.
Go here to watch this moving film on Youtube.
It is wisdom to never confuse the Catholic Church with the mistakes and errors of the poor sinners temporarily at her helm. When Our Lady appears it is to humble believers and there is a great truth contained in that fact.
“It is wisdom to never confuse the Catholic Church with the mistakes and errors of the poor sinners temporarily at her helm. When Our Lady appears it is to humble believers and there is a great truth contained in that fact.” DM
Amen.
The little heart of a ten year old Raymond Kolbe..praying an hour on his knees in the corner of his family’s Dacha. A small kneeler, a crucifix on the wall and a picture of Our Lady. He prayed to find out what his mother just asked an hour before.
In her anger she asked her son; “What will ever become of you?”
He prayed for an hour asking the Blessed Virgin what would become of him. Little did he know that She would reveal herself to him just hours from his petition. She, holding two crowns, appeared to him at the communion rail on Sunday morning as he received Jesus on his tongue.
That beautiful faith of the little boy directed his life in such a way as to imitate our Savior right to the very end…to die for another. No greater love…
The love from pure innocent hearts moves mountains.
How many souls have had their faith restored at Lourdes? Or how many from hearing about a Polish priest who laid his life down for a stranger in the hell of a death camp run by the Nazi’s? How many hearts have been moved to conversion because of these little ones with pure hearts?
Millions of souls?
Millions upon millions.
St. Bernadette.
Pray for us.
St. Maximilian Kolbe…hear our prayers and beg God to heal our hearts and our nation so that we too can lay down our lives for our neighbors.
Blessings!
Yesterday, TCM aired the “Song of Bernadette” movie.
It is always worth watching.
“O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee” Our Mother gave St. Catherine Laboure the design for the Miraculous Medal. Get one. Wear it around your neck. Abundant graces. I gave one to my son to wear in Afghanistan. He came home safe.
’
T. Shaw.
Yes.
Promote the sacramental’s.
When I’m asked to pray for someone I use that opportunity to spread the graces, the Medal of the Immaculate Conception, aka Miraculous medal.
St. Maximilian Kolbe was a huge promoter of the medal. He called it the Silver Bullet. Penetrating the coldest most indifferent hearts and warming them up for reconciliation and conversion.
Peace.