February 11

Today is the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.  The Catholic church only recognizes ten of the more than 500 apparitions reported over the centuries.  Bernadette Soubirous experienced the Marian apparition at Lourdes in 1858 when she was just 14.  I find it interesting that these apparitions appear to poor shepherd children, an unemployed miller's daughter, an indigenous Mexican, not to popes, cardinals, or theologians. 

The blue enameled medal is from Lourdes.  There is a plastic well on the back of the medal that originally contained holy water from the shrine.  It has long since dried out.  These two medals are on my rosary.  The rosary is often described as the Catholic mantra.  Having been raised Catholic and attended Catholic school, saying the rosary is second nature.  Of course now I use gender neutral language in the prayers....  Mary