February Brightness with Our Lady of Lourdes

Tiffany Walsh explains how devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes goes beyond the February 11 feast day to guide us through the whole wintry month.

The feast of Our Lady of Lourdes was just a few days ago on February 11, but I tend to think of her as a patroness that guides this entire wintry month. Our Lady under this designation has special meaning to me as a parent, and each year I am grateful for this beacon of hope in these winter days.

Our Lady of Lourdes brings with her a companion: St. Bernadette Soubirous, whose visions drew so much attention in her small French village. When my daughter was younger, she loved reading about St. Bernadette, and asked for a doll with her likeness. I think it was the fact that St. Bernadette was a child herself when these exciting and suspenseful events took place that drew my daughter to her. Now that my Anne is nearly a teenager, and not so eager to sit down and read saint stories with me, these memories really make me smile.

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I also treasure Our Lady’s sweet countenance in her role in Lourdes with St. Bernadette, using gentle smiles and encouragement in praying the Rosary, and in guiding St. Bernadette in precisely where to look for the spring of healing water. After reading her story together, I could hear Anne’s little voice through her bedroom door praying the Rosary as she fell asleep that night, and for the next few afterwards. Even though, to my knowledge, she did not stick with the habit, I know that stories that impact our hearts like this always continue to bear fruit.

When I think of Our Lady of Lourdes, I envision her protecting and guiding my own children, wrapping them in her mantle, and it gives me such comfort, especially as my children grow and start to spread their wings of independence. Our Lady always provides us with a role model in motherhood, but her imagery in Lourdes truly touches me in a special way.

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When I think of Our Lady of Lourdes, I envision her protecting and guiding my own children, wrapping them in her mantle, and it gives me such comfort. #CatholicMom

In this post-holiday time of the winter, my mind is always awhirl with thoughts of managing the second half of the school year and navigating everyone’s evening activities and hobbies. It’s easy to get caught up in the daily hustle and bustle, and to let anxieties take hold. Having my our Lady of Lourdes-themed rosary at the ready always helps me to re-focus on the larger picture. I pray a novena to Our Lady of Lourdes each year, sometimes leading up to her feast, and sometimes afterwards, so there’s plenty of time to ask for her intercession if you would like to!

Do you have a devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes, or have you ever been to Lourdes? I would love to hear about it in the comments!

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