Wednesday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time / Our Lady of Lourdes Gospel: Mk 7:14-23 Imitate the Blessed Virgin Mary and Possess a Pure Heart
Today, the Church celebrates the optional memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes. We know that from February 11, 1858, to July 16, 1858, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared 18 times to Bernadette, who was then only 14 years old, in Lourdes. During her last apparition to Bernadette, the Blessed Virgin identified herself as the Immaculate Conception. On January 18, 1862, the local bishop of Lourdes, Bertrand-Sévère Laurence of Tarbes, acknowledged the authenticity of the Marian apparitions in the locality. On February 1, 1876, Pope Pius IX issued a decree crowning the statue of Our Lady of Lourdes. Cardinal Pier Francesco Meglia performed the crowning ceremony for the statue of Our Lady of Lourdes on July 3, 1876, at what is now the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary (Rosary Basilica). In 1933, Pope Pius XI canonized Bernadette.
In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus redefines for us what is clean and unclean. He tells us, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of a person, come forth evil thoughts…” (cf. Mk 7:18, 20-21). This differs from the prevailing thoughts of the Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians, and mainstream Jewish society at that time, as they adhered to the Law of Moses and the Torah (cf. Lev 11-16). Just like them, we often follow the guidance of the flesh and yearn for worldly matters, causing us to remain trapped in the snares set by the devil. Therefore, it is necessary for us to imitate the Blessed Virgin Mary, for she solely pursued the things of God and sought to better assist the Savior in fulfilling His redemptive work.
I would like to say that the Marian apparitions in Lourdes still have a profound impact on us to this day. The 18 apparitions of the Blessed Virgin in Lourdes are the best proof of the Blessed Virgin’s participation in the redemptive mission of our Savior Jesus Christ. Her heart is forever pure. Saint Bernadette, with her simplicity and faithfulness to the Blessed Virgin, under the illumination and guidance of the Holy Spirit, constantly meditated on and discerned the inspirations from the Blessed Virgin, thus setting an example for us. Now, let us join Saint Bernadette and countless brothers and sisters in Christ who have made pilgrimages to Lourdes in prayer:
Grant us, O merciful God, protection in our weakness, that we, who keep the Memorial of the Immaculate Mother of God, may, with the help of her intercession, rise up from our iniquities. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
今天，我們慶祝聖雅加大貞女的紀念日。根據13世紀雅各斯·德·沃拉金（Jacobus de Voragine）所著的《黃金傳說》（Golden Legend）（III.15）記載，聖女西元231年生於卡塔尼亞（Catania）的富裕貴族家庭，她為基督之故立下貞潔誓言，並拒絕了羅馬總督昆蒂安努斯（Quintianus）的示愛。昆蒂安努斯自認為可以迫使她背棄誓言嫁給他。然而，愛葛莎始終拒絕了他的求婚。當時正值德西烏斯（Decius）迫害時期，昆蒂安努斯得知愛葛莎是基督徒後，便向當局告發了她。昆蒂安努斯本人當時正是該地區的總督。昆提安努斯（Quintianus）以為聖雅加大（Agatha）在面對酷刑和可能的死亡時會屈服於他的要求，但愛葛莎只是通過祈禱重申了她對天主的信仰：“耶穌基督，萬有之主，你洞悉我的心，你知道我的渴望。我願成為你的一切。我是你的羊：求你使我配得上戰勝魔鬼。”為了迫使她改變心意，昆提安努斯將愛葛莎送到了妓院老闆阿芙羅狄西亞（Aphrodisia）那裡，並將她囚禁在那裡；然而，這種懲罰失敗了，愛葛莎依然是一名基督徒。昆提安努斯再次召見聖雅加大，與她爭辯並威脅她，最終將她囚禁並施以酷刑。她被綁在刑架上，用鐵鉤撕裂，被火炬灼燒，並被鞭打。她的乳房被鉗子拔掉。傳統上：她被視為貞潔、火災與乳房疾病的主保。
今天，我们庆祝圣雅加大贞女的纪念日。根据13世纪雅各布斯·德·沃拉金（Jacobus de Voragine）所著的《黄金传说》（Golden Legend）（III.15）记载，圣女公元231年生于卡塔尼亚（Catania）的富裕贵族家庭，她为基督之故立下贞洁誓言，并拒绝了罗马总督昆蒂安努斯（Quintianus）的示爱。昆蒂安努斯自认为可以迫使她背弃誓言嫁给他。然而，阿加莎始终拒绝了他的求婚。当时正值德西乌斯（Decius）迫害时期，昆蒂安努斯得知阿加莎是基督徒后，便向当局告发了她。昆蒂安努斯本人当时正是该地区的总督。昆提安努斯（Quintianus）以为圣雅加大（Agatha）在面对酷刑和可能的死亡时会屈服于他的要求，但阿加莎只是通过祈祷重申了她对天主的信仰：“耶稣基督，万有之主，你洞悉我的心，你知道我的渴望。我愿成为你的一切。我是你的羊：求你使我配得上战胜魔鬼。”为了迫使她改变心意，昆提安努斯将阿加莎送到了妓院老板阿芙罗狄西亚（Aphrodisia）那里，并将她囚禁在那里；然而，这种惩罚失败了，阿加莎依然是一名基督徒。昆提安努斯再次召见圣雅加大，与她争辩并威胁她，最终将她囚禁并施以酷刑。她被绑在刑架上，用铁钩撕裂，被火炬灼烧，并被鞭打。她的乳房被钳子拔掉。传统上：她被视为贞洁、火灾与乳房疾病的主保。
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