December 12, 2008

My Journey to God

Bernadette of Lourdes

Bernadette must have gasped in wonder
At the task the Virgin Mary entrusted to her
To be heralded
By the mother of God
Who represented God’s generosity and love
A task that would reach out to all pilgrims

Did she quail
From accepting such a request from the eternal divinity
To an earthy child’s immortality

Did she hesitate
At the sight of the Virgin Mother before her
Fearing that she would not be able to do as she was asked

Then resolutely
The Virgin Mary’s voice broke upon Bernadette
Resounding deeply within her child-like heart
In the fertile silence of her soul
So that Mary’s request might be planted there
Like a seed in a fertile field

Did she act
Following the Virgin Mary’s dictate
To plant a stick in among the rocks
To bring forth the healing waters’ flow
To see that a Church be built upon the holy site
So that pilgrims might come from afar to process
In honor of the Virgin Mother
To be healed by the waters of Lourdes.

By Thomas J. Rillo

(Thomas J. Rillo is a member of St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Bloomington. He is also a Benedictine oblate of Saint Meinrad Archabbey in St. Meinrad. He was inspired to write this poem during a recent pilgrimage to Fatima, Portugal; Santiago de Compostela, Spain; and Lourdes, France. The pilgrimage was hosted by Benedictine Brother Maurus Zoeller, a monk of Saint Meinrad Archabbey.) †

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