Why Mike and Dave Really Want to Go to Lourdes

An apparition of Mary is a big deal no matter what, but are you aware of the particular significance tied to Our Lady of Lourdes? Mike Gormley and Dave VanVickle go through the details of this apparition and the life of St. Bernadette. They also discuss why this apparition was so significant for the time and place in which it occurred.

Snippet from the Show
“I do not promise you happiness in this world, but in the next.”
-Our Lady of Lourdes


Shownotes

About St. Bernadette Soubirous

Bernadette was born in Lourdes, France in 1844. She was born into a very impoverished family and struggled with health issues throughout her life.

When Bernadette was fourteen years old, Our Lady began appearing to her just outside the town of Lourdes. The apparitions occurred from February until July totaling in eighteen appearances of Our Lady to Bernadette. In these appearances, Our Lady said many things to Bernadette including instructions to dig up a spring and build a chapel on the spot.

Bernadette went under incredible scrutiny due to these apparitions. Eventually, she left Lourdes to join the SIsters of Notre Dame of Nevers, a cloistered convent. St. Bernadette died at the age of thirty-five and was canonized about fifty-four years after her death.

Quotes from St. Bernadette
  • “Oh my Mother, to you I sacrifice all other attachments so that my heart may belong entirely to you and to my Jesus.”
  • “Why must we suffer? Because here below pure love cannot exist without suffering. O Jesus, Jesus, I no longer feel my cross when I think of yours.”
  • “I shall spend every moment loving. One who loves does not notice her trials; or perhaps more accurately, she is able to love them. I shall do everything for Heaven, my true home. There I shall find my Mother in all the splendour of her glory. I shall delight with her in the joy of Jesus himself in perfect safety.”
  • “If one dream should fall and break into a thousand pieces… never be afraid to pick one of those pieces up and begin again. That’s the beauty of being alive… We can always start all over again. Enjoy God’s amazing opportunities bestowed on us. Have faith in Him always.”
Quotes from Our Lady of Lourdes
  • “I am the Immaculate Conception.”
  • “I do not promise you happiness in this world, but in the next.”

Resources

Meet Your Hosts


 

Michael “Gomer” Gormley

Michael spent 17 years in full-time parish ministry and is now the Mission Evangelist for That Man Is You!, a men’s apostolate for Paradisus Dei. Michael is a frequent speaker at conferences, retreats, and parish missions all over the US and Canada.

He is the founder and creative director of LayEvangelist.com, and hosts three Catholic podcasts: Every Knee Shall Bow, Catching Foxes, and Becoming God.

Michael is married to his college sweetheart, Shannon, and has four beautiful and hilarious children: Kateri, Cecilia, Noah, and Thomas.

 

David “Dave” VanVickle

Dave VanVickle

Dave VanVickle fell in love with the Lord at the age of fourteen and has since dedicated his life to bringing others into a radical relationship with Christ.

He is a speaker and retreat leader who focuses on proclaiming the universal call to holiness, authentic Catholic spirituality, spiritual warfare and deliverance. Additionally, Dave has over ten years of experience assisting priests with their ministries of exorcism and deliverance.

Dave married his late wife Amber in 2010. He now resides in Pittsburgh with his five children: Sam, Max, Judah, Josie and Louisa.

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