Day Three of Art Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes

Day 3 of Novena:

 Finding the Little Spring

Mary Shard by Hettienne

A few people remained in prayer after even Bernadette had left and these noticed that a tiny thread of water, scarcely visible, had de­tached itself from the point where Bernadette had scratched and was trying to make a way for itself toward the Gave. Later in that same afternoon others returned to the grotto and found a ribbon of water coming down the slope. It was already hollowing out a little channel in the soil. 

The next day, Feb. 26th, it was flowing freely toward the river, spreading wider yet. It was the beginning of the source that flows there yet today and to which the sick are brought from all over the world for healing. The crowds heard about it and came back, stronger than ever. (A professional hydro-geologist was later to examine the spring and he said that the spring had always been there, underground, but had just never been known.) This was accepted as the truth. The spring was not miraculous in origin, but was made known in a miraculous way and has documented miraculous healing effects on multitudes ever since. 

The Story of Esther:

Anyone who has read the story of Esther in the Bible cannot help but be reminded of the “little fountain” that was discovered at Lourdes and quickly grew into a wider channel that never ceases. Esther had a devout uncle named Mordecai who was given a sacred dream. The dream came to him before the great events when the Jewish people were threatened with annihilation. Esther was the instrument of salvation for her people. In Mordechai’s dream, "the whole race of the just (the Jewish exiles living in Babylon) were dismayed with fear of the evils to come upon them, and were at the point of destruction. Then they cried out to God and, as they cried, there appeared to come forth a great river, a flood of water from a little spring..." Here is the wording:

“This was his dream. There was noise and tumult, thunder and earthquake – confusion upon the earth. Two great dragons came on, both poised for combat. They uttered a mighty cry and at their cry every nation prepared for war, to fight against the race of the just. It was a dark and gloomy day. Tribulation and distress, evil and great confusion lay upon the earth. The whole race of the just were dismayed with fear of the evils to come upon them, and were at the point of destruction. Then they cried out to God, and as they cried, there appeared to come forth a great river, a flood of water from a little spring. The light of the sun broke forth; the lowly were exalted and they devoured the nobles.” (Esther A: 4-10 N.A.B.)

After all the events of the book are fulfilled, in which the Jewess Esther has used her influence and her beauty to save her people from destruction by the Persian King, Mordecai recalls his dream and says, "This is the work of God... not a single detail has been left unfulfilled. The tiny spring that grew into a river, the light of the sun, the many waters. The river is Esther, whom the king married and made queen..." (Esther F: 1-3, N.A.B.)

Shrine to Isis-Maria by Hettienne

The tale is an allegory of a feminine majesty who once stood as equal to her spouse the king and was the instrument through which her own blood relatives and all the nation were saved. This echoes the place of Sophia who was present to God at the creation itself and helped it all come into being through her assent to the plan. This story of Esther may be a “fossil” that remains in the Bible and allows us to see how Israel first regarded the feminine, before the patriarchal powers purged the nation of all forms of the ancient Goddess known as the Shekina, partner to the masculine manifestation of God. “Esther” is another form of the Babylonian goddess Ishtar, (Star) who was also called “Queen of Heaven” as was the Egyptian Mother Goddess, Isis and as Mary is yet called today. 

Words received from Our Lady for today :

My loved ones, you are my brothers and sisters, as well as my children. I will help you to learn to stand in your full stature as adult children of mine and take responsibility, with me, for the continued creation. I will also teach you, in the coming days, how to be “small” and yet powerful. Remember, for now, that the little spring at Lourdes was “always there” but not available for healing and refreshment until it was opened. The Waters of Life that can never run dry are like that in you. You must first believe the wellspring is in you. Then find it! For me, for yourself, for all the planet and its creatures! Do not be ashamed to do as Bernadette did, no matter who believes or does not!

blessings
Hettienne and Mary