North West Branch report
Posted by esbvm on July 31st, 2007
On Sat. 24 March members gathered at St Winefride’s Church in Lymm for a talk on shrines to our Lady, followed by refreshments and the Office. We looked at the major shrines in this country, continental Europe and America. We saw that there were three important facets to the apparitions of Mary.
Their meaning in the life of Mary. They are part of the great things that God has done for her. She who has been raised high by our Lord wishes all her children to be raised high. Where there is a need, where there is a cry for light and guidance and for faith and healing, where there are receptive souls, there it seems Mary appears. She comes to encourage , to correct and to share her blessings with her children.
Their meaning in the life of the Church. Initially, the church authorities stand back and wait, not through scepticism, but through an awareness that error never bears good fruit. The Church having made a positive judgement, the shrines take their place within the life of the Church as part of the unfolding of God’s bounty and grace to us.
Their meaning in the life of the Christian. Mary’s message is always the same. Come, renew your faith, do penance, reaffirm your dedication to God and pray. At all these holy places it is not possible to draw near to Mary without also drawing close to her Son, our Lord. If we come with that childlike faith that we see in the visionaries, if we come with hearts that are both vulnerable and trusting, then Mary can show us her Son, the risen, ascended and glorified Lord, in whose glory she now shares.