The apparitions of Our Lady of Lourdes began on February 11, 1858, when the young lady Bernadette, now a saint, admitted to have seen a “lady” in a cave, popularly known as the Grotto.

As per told by our older members of the Lourdes congregation, the young lady Bernadette passed by the Grotto on her way to collect firewood and saw an image of a lady dressed all in white with a blue belt fastened around her waist and the golden yellow roses, one on each foot, the same color as the rosary hanging around her hands. From then on, she returned to the Grotto over a period of two weeks and was asked to drink from the water. This water was given to medical patients, which miraculously cured diseases.

Yes, I became a member of the Lourdes congregation on our hometown when I was 16. My mother encouraged me to become a devotee because I was born on the same month of the feast. I used to pray the novena every year, but then I got too busy from school then and now work that I seem to have forgotten to pursue my devotion. As I have been quite exposed to the wordly technology as my lifestyle entails, it is shameful that I am not able to look back to my roots and attend to the most important things.

Well, this morning I managed to go to church and offer flowers to the sculpture of the Lady of Lourdes in the Sto. Rosario Church here in Cebu. It was such a relieving visit. I had the chance to repent as I have been so much pre-occupied with my anxieties of having committed sinful acts lately. I do not wish to elaborate…

Many devotees in the country (mostly in Cebu) have already witnessed the miracles of the Divine Virgin Mary in Simala. I had been a witness to this miracle, too. My friend, Angie and I went to Simala last November 13. It is a 2-hour bus ride from the main City in Cebu. We went there right after our night shift at work. Though, our faces already seemed tired and weary, we still managed to stand on our feet while waiting hours in line with other pilgrims to kiss the image of the miraculous Mama Mary. The miracle? Seeing an enormous pile of believers waiting on what seemed to be an unending line ignoring the heat and change of weather. About 9:30 am, the sun’s heat was still at the peak of the mountain and was almost burning our skin. After a couple of hours, it started to rain. Instead of being alarmed, the people were even more grateful as they believed that the rainfall was a sign of blessing. So then, Angie and I stood our ground and soaked in the rain. At 1:00 pm, we were finally inside the Church. I was overwhelming with excitement as we were getting close to the miraculous image. A few minutes after, I have finally kissed the beautiful image of Mama Mary (see the picture above). I felt the divine power of Mama Mary surrounding the place that seemed to be washing up of all the negative energies within my soul. *whew*. It was a very rewarding feeling. I am very much thankful that we survived.

The feast of the Miraculous Mary is celebrated on every 13th day of the month. This was based on the dates when Mama Mary miraculously appeared on the mountain of Simala. The first appearance happened on May 13 and the second was on October 13. From then on, the miracles lived on. Many people were coming to visit Mama Mary and offer their petitions. Most of them became answered prayers.