A person who is dying doesn’t waste words on frivolous things. They don’t have the time and often not the strength, either. There are many things Jacinta could have said at that moment, but she chose what was most critical for others to know. The apparitions had made Jacinta wise beyond her years and she understood that her parting words to Lucia must bear fruit long after her death.
For most of my life, I’ve understood St. Joseph only in relation to Mary and Jesus. He’s Mary’s husband, our Lord’s foster father. I honored him but didn’t directly relate to him. I didn’t necessarily look to him as a model for my own behavior. That’s changing.
She didn’t flinch. She didn’t get angry. She didn’t scold her for being disrespectful. She smiled because Bernadette was her child. She knew her child’s heart and so she also knew that Bernadette’s holy water antic was the product of fear and not mischief.
If Mary had doubted even so much as the “how” of God’s plan, she would have been deeply grieved, so much so, that her grief could be likened to a sword piercing her heart. I often doubt both the “how” and the “why” of God’s plan! And yet, I seldom am deeply grieved over it.
The Crucifix bears our Lord’s torn and tattered Body, reminding us of his great suffering and the extreme price he paid for our salvation.
Repeat Mary’s name often with love and devotion – not just today, but everyday and especially during moments of temptation and spiritual distress. Her holy name – Mary – will chase the demons away and draw her near to you.
She’s my go-to saint when I have any kind of long-suffering woes, especially if they’re related to my family. I can relate to her, and I know she can relate to me because she has been through so much herself. The same will be true for you.