The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-07-02
Concluded !
WHAT THE HEAVENLY APPAR1T1oN OF THE aRor-

TO TEACHES OUR PIETY.
Taken in q pious point of view, we can and
should draw practical conclusions of the high
set Importance from the contemplation Of Our
Lady of Lourdes.
Every time that she appeared to little Berna.
dette, the Immaculate Virgin ives under the
came form, with the same garments, and in the
same light in q word, with the same collection
of mysterious details which are so many Silent
lessons for us.
In the first place, she always appeared sur
rounded with light; and this light was so pure,
so splendid, sweet, that the earth knew
nothing like it. This is an blem of the di-
vine light of faith. in which We are plunged,
so to say, by our baptism, which is nourished
by the Holy Eucharist, and with which q true
Christian should be ever penetrated and en-
veloped. Faith is the truth-light-" the light
of life "-wherewith we ought TO shine before
the world. Yes, onr faith should shine out in
the holiness of our life, and that, repeat, in
all things and every where. Faith is the heav
emily air of the Christian. We should never go
forth from it. The light CT the apparition was
calm aud deep: sach also is the Catholic faith,
in which we find rest for QUE souls.
In her miraculous operations the Virgin of
Lourdes was beautiful-so beautiful that Ber-
nsdette's eyes could never find anything to be
compared with her. The Blessed Virgin, our
Mother, thereby teaches us that we should Ia
heaven may regard us with pleasure. True
beauty is not that which strikes the eyes of
men, as true riches is not that which is shut up
in strong coffers true beauty is the beauty of
the soul it is the beauty which God sees,
oh Nh~s, Oh, 81,
regard of bis Mother and of his angels. To be
beautiful in the eyes of men does not depend
on ourselves; but it depends on us, by uniting
ourselves most intimately with Jesus by grace,
to participate in what he is. Now, Jesps is in
finite beauty and the beauty of the Blessed
Virgin, of the angels and of the blessed is only
a reflection OF his divine splendor. The more
we resemble Jesus Christ, the more we eholl
clothe ourselves with him by holiness, the more
we shall be beautiful with his beauty, the only
one which passes not away. The beautiful
Virgin of Lourdes is, for our eyee, the perfect
model of that celestial beauty wherewith she
would see the interior Of all her children re-
splendent.
The robe OF the spparition was white, but Q
white so pure, so delicate, go splendid, that no
precious stuff could ever approach it in bril-
liAncy. The most pure Virgin thereby showed
Bernadette and Us all, in her person, with
what perfect and delicate purity our baptized
souls should be clad before God. Sin coils our
beautiful white robe the slightest veniAl sin,
the least voluntary imperfectiOn, furnishes its
lustre. Let Ms, then, AVOID sin, and keep our.
ourselves pure and immaculate, to resemble
our heavenly Mother. Above all, let us keep
with jealous care, with ScrupulOuS vigilance,
purity in les proper sense, mOst beautiful and
most holy chastity. Chaste in body, chaste in
heart, chaste in lOOks in words, thoughts, in
his whole bsing-suoh should be the true SER
want Of Jesus and of Mary
A long, white veil, % pure, as dAzsllug a.
the robe, entirely covered the SpparitioD; from
the head, it fell from the shoulders TO the feet.
Was not this the image of that which en-
shrouds and preserves ipnOcence-mOdesty 7
MOdssty 10 that array Of PrscautiOn, vigilance,
modification, which, 80 to say, envelOPs and
preserves purity. II We would remain Ohsste,
let Ms be modest; and let I" the mOdesty Of
Christ" 40 says St Paul, be the model and
rule Of our most trivial aotiOnS.D
TIE white robe Of the aPPsritiOn Of the grOt-
to was a. II fastened ct the waist by girdIo Of
celestial blH9 BSEnadStts sAid that The aSaCs