Ep. 4: The Power of Marian Devotion, Pilgrimage, and Lourdes (Sr. Maria Rose Metzger, O.P.)

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Dominican Sisters Open Mic

Ep. 4: The Power of Marian Devotion, Pilgrimage, and Lourdes

Host: Sr. Miriam, O.P.
Guest: Sr. Maria Rose Metzger, O.P.
Release Date: February 18, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode dives into the transformative power of Marian devotion, the rich tradition of Catholic pilgrimage (with a special focus on Lourdes), and the personal spiritual journeys of Dominican Sisters. Sr. Miriam hosts Sr. Maria Rose Metzger, who shares candidly about her experiences—including childhood encounters with God, profound moments at eucharistic adoration, her healing at Lourdes, and inspiring stories of Our Lady’s intercession.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Early Encounters with God (03:00–06:05)

• Childhood Wonder: Sr. Maria Rose recounts, at age 5, setting up her family's nativity scene and being struck by the presence of Jesus—“You became little and like, you're here with me."
• Faith in Action: “I just related. I, I gosh, you became, you came so close to me." (05:00)

2. Discovering Religious Vocation (06:19–09:11)

• The Call at 16: A retreat centered on eucharistic adoration breaks open her heart.
• Eucharistic Encounter: “At one moment, in like, the darkness of that adoration with the candlelight, it was just me and him, and I was so overwhelmed. Like, you love me and you are here right now in this...in the form of bread.” (08:00)
• Vocation Clarified: Meeting joyful sisters in full habit sparks curiosity and openness: "If you're inviting me to this, like, I say yes." (09:00)

3. Dominican Life: Eucharistic and Marian Devotion (10:05–11:05)

• Daily Practices: The sisters’ life integrates:
  • Daily Eucharistic adoration
  • Consecration and devotion to the Blessed Mother
  • Communal and personal praying of the Rosary

4. The Spirituality of Pilgrimage (11:05–15:44)

• Theology and History: Pilgrimage as a universal (even pre-Christian) practice.
• Pilgrimage vs. Vacation: “It's a pilgrimage. It's not a vacation. But what's fun is, like, you can actually flip it so that those moments of, like, sacrifice and difficulty, they actually become treasure.” (00:52 / 15:07)
• Sacrifice and Community: The journey includes offering up discomfort, supporting others, and turning hardships into opportunities for prayer.

5. Marian Pilgrimages: Fatima and Lourdes Experiences (15:54–19:00)

• Pilgrimage Sites:
  • Fatima (2003, as a novice)
  • Lourdes (four times, through Order of Malta)
• Lourdes Graces: Each visit brings special spiritual gifts. "I had an experience of just Our Lady's closeness and tenderness—she wanted to be mom for me." (17:15)

6. The Miracle of Lourdes: Physical and Spiritual Healing (26:49–32:10)

• Sr. Maria Rose’s Story: For 30 years she suffered from an autoimmune condition, managed by powerful medication for 16 years.
• Pilgrimage as a Malade: Accepting an invitation to Lourdes, she stops her medication in faith, believing in healing.
• Medical Results: Post-pilgrimage, X-rays showed complete healing—"Unremarkable, which means normal." (31:45)
• Deeper Healing: Sr. Maria Rose emphasizes the breadth of healing: “There is so much that Our Lady wants to do in our hearts.” (32:30)
• Candlelight Procession Moment: During one Lourdes trip, at the time her father was ill, she is unexpectedly chosen to present intentions at the candlelight procession. “Out of, like, the hundreds, thousands of people that were there. And I'm like, are you kidding?” (19:00)

7. Lourdes: History and Message (20:02–25:08)

• St. Bernadette’s Humility: The story of the Lourdes apparitions is recounted in detail, highlighting St. Bernadette’s poverty, health struggles, and humility.
• The Broom Spirituality: “I’m the Lord’s broom. For a time he used me… but then… you put it back in the corner.” (25:08)
• Miracle Spring: Bernadette uncovers a miraculous spring as directed by Our Lady—leading to countless physical and spiritual healings.

8. Power of Marian Solidarity: Lourdes Baths (32:35–34:33)

• Pilgrims’ Experience: Sr. Miriam describes the moving scenes at the Lourdes baths—people from around the world, uniting in prayer, entrusting their deepest needs to Mary.
• Quote: "Feeling that solidarity with my brother, my, my sister in Christ who's coming to her mother was so beautiful, so unifying, and I was so touched to see that.” (34:17)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Pilgrimage:
  “You can actually flip it so that those moments of, like, sacrifice and difficulty, they actually become treasure.” — Sr. Maria Rose (00:52 / 15:07)
• On Marian Favors:
  “Are you kidding? Our lady, you did that for me too... when I start stacking the evidence, like, you are here, you’re with me, and you want to be mother.” — Sr. Maria Rose (19:00)
• On Inner Healing:
  “There is so much that Our Lady wants to do in our hearts”—Sr. Maria Rose (32:30)
• On Reading Scripture:
  “Scripture has been a beautiful gift in my life...it comes up when you most need it.” — Sr. Maria Rose (34:59)
• On the Unity in Lourdes:
  “We have a mother together and feeling that solidarity...was so beautiful, so unifying.” — Sr. Miriam (34:17)

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Important Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment/Topic | |-----------|----------------------------------------------------------------| | 03:00 | Childhood encounter with Jesus at nativity | | 08:00 | Eucharistic adoration; initial call to religious life | | 11:05 | Explanation of pilgrimage and its relevance | | 15:07 | Sacrifice as treasure during pilgrimage | | 15:54 | Marian pilgrimages (Fatima, Lourdes) | | 17:15 | Our Lady’s maternal tenderness at Lourdes | | 19:00 | Presenting intentions at Lourdes procession | | 20:02 | Story of St. Bernadette and Lourdes apparition | | 25:08 | “The Lord’s broom”—St. Bernadette’s humility | | 26:49 | Sr. Maria Rose’s chronic illness and Lourdes healing | | 31:45 | Medical confirmation of healing | | 34:17 | Solidarity of faith at the Lourdes baths | | 34:59 | Final words on the power of Sacred Scripture | | 35:51–39:41 | "Speed round"—personal favorites, hobbies, book recommendations |

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Speed Round Highlights (35:39–39:41)

Favorite Liturgical Season:
"Lent/Easter—slows down distractions, prepares for the Paschal Mystery."

Hobbies:
“Hiking, gardening, and art—especially watercolor.”

Book Recommendation:
Sheltered Within Her Heart by Joshua Elsner – “33 days to deeper Entrustment...preparation for consecration to Our Lady...the spirituality, the simplicity.”

Favorite Title of Mary:
"Our Lady of Tenderness. My grandmother loved that icon. She would say to me, look, they're cheek to cheek. That's why I call them the Kisser." (37:13)

Saint She’d Dine With:
“Saint Thérèse of Lisieux—to ask about her deep confidence in the Father through difficulties.” (38:09)

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Final Encouragement

Sr. Maria Rose urges listeners to root their lives in Sacred Scripture:
“What I've seen is the fruits of someone who delves deeply and stays really connected with Scripture... it comes up when you most need it." (34:59)

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Episode Tone

The conversation is warm, accessible, and sprinkled with gentle humor, personal anecdotes, and profound faith. Both sisters foster a sense of intimacy and encouragement, demystifying traditions like pilgrimage and Marian devotion for listeners of all backgrounds.

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For more about Dominican life or to connect, see Openlight Media’s platforms, linked in the episode description.

Transcript

[Sister Maria Rose]

Cause I kind of came in with a chip on my shoulder, like a little bit of a hardened heart. Um, but the Lord just broke through, and I was just kneeling there, and this was. Like, hundreds of people were on this retreat. Um, and at one moment, in, like, the darkness of that. That adoration with the candlelight, it was just me and him, and I was so overwhelmed. Like, you love me, and you're here right now in. In this. In this in. Of bread. And I. I was just so overwhelmed knowing his love in a. In a personal way that I was like, whatever you ask.

[Sister Miriam]

Don't you love being like. We're on a. We're on a pilgrim pilgrimage right now. It's. It's going to be okay, everyone.

[Sister Maria Rose]

It's a pilgrimage, and it's a pilgrimage. It's not a vacation.

[Sister Miriam]

It's not a vacation.

[Sister Maria Rose]

But. But what's fun is, like, you can actually flip it so that those moments of, like, sacrifice and difficulty, they actually become treasure.

[Sister Miriam]

Hi, and welcome to Dominican Sisters open Mic. My name is Sister Miriam, and I'm one of the sisters of the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist. And we're based out of an Arbor, Michigan. We're going to be talking all things Dominican each week, sitting down with a sister. And today we have Sister Maria Rose with us. Sister, thank you so much for coming.

[Sister Maria Rose]

You're welcome.

[Sister Miriam]

We're going to be talking about Marian devotion, pilgrimage, and particularly Lourdes. So lots to look forward to in today's conversation. A little bit about you, Sister Maria Rose. So you entered the convent. What year was it?

[Sister Maria Rose]

2002.

[Sister Miriam]

2002. And you're from Pennsylvania? I am certified to teach K through 12.

[Sister Maria Rose]

Absolutely.

[Sister Miriam]

And why don't you tell us what you're doing right now this year?

[Sister Maria Rose]

Sure. This year I'm stationed at our Ave Maria University Mission in Florida and a student there.

[Sister Miriam]

Okay. That's a beautiful place to be. So, Sister, I wanted to start. We're going to get to the Marian devotion part. But I like to give the sisters a chance to share how God has worked in their lives and brought them to the place of living and being a sister. And it's. It's always a unique story for each one of our sisters. How did God reveal himself to you in your life?

[Sister Maria Rose]

Gosh, that's a great question.

[Sister Miriam]

Probably in lots of. In lots of ways.

[Sister Maria Rose]

Lots.

[Sister Miriam]

It's hard to sum that up.

[Sister Maria Rose]

It is.

[Sister Miriam]

But do you have any particular moments that.

[Sister Maria Rose]

Do you know what's funny? What comes to mind is an experience very original. Experience. I was like 5 years old and it was Christmas time.

[Sister Miriam]

Okay.

[Sister Maria Rose]

And this is an experience, I think, where I encountered wonder and just, just knowing God is with me. So my, my mom, we were decorating for, for Christmas and we had like two different nativity scene sets. One was like the fancy inherited, you know, down from the family, like painted by grandma. And the other was probably delicate, very delicate. I wasn't supposed to touch that one, but the one that I could touch was, you know, it was beautiful too, but a very simple plastic figures, smaller scale. And that one we put downstairs in the family room where it could be like it's okay if it gets bumped or whatever.

[Sister Miriam]

Yeah.

[Sister Maria Rose]

But every year my mom would say, okay, it's your, your job. I was the young, the youngest in the family. Okay, it's your job to, to go downstairs and set up that nativity scene while she was set up like the, the main one upstairs. And, and I just remember going down and just like laying out on my belly like and having the, the, the manger scene in front of me and placing each figurine slowly into the scene and, and to the point where I put Jesus in last in the manger. And I just like sat there like my five year old self. I just sat there and wow, Jesus, you did this like I'm little and you became little and like you're here with me and I just like, I don't know how long that moment that, that like kind of like basic simple prayer of my heart, but it's like just like the wonder and just like knowing like he is here.

[Sister Miriam]

So you, you were looking at Jesus in the manger, but you also had an understanding of him as God. Not just a little baby.

[Sister Maria Rose]

No, he's. Yeah. And he's not this like cartoon kind of figure, but like he is all almighty but almighty who came small for me. Like. And I just, I just related. I, I gosh, you became, you came so close to me.

[Sister Miriam]

Do you remember saying anything about that or sharing? I mean, how can you really explain.

[Sister Maria Rose]

I think the thing that, something like that I, it's really hard.

[Sister Miriam]

Yeah. As I'm trying a little person to, to have the words to, to be able to explain an experience of God, you know. And it's not like you were getting knocked over.

[Sister Maria Rose]

No, but my, my whole being, like I was just filled with joy and just like, just like gratitude and just like, and, and just feeling like his presence. And that's why like even though it's like five years old, there's not many memories that we have of being five.

[Sister Miriam]

Right, Right.

[Sister Maria Rose]

But, like, that is so poignant for me that, like, I can visualize it, like, right. Right now, like, thinking about.

[Sister Miriam]

It stuck with you.

[Sister Maria Rose]

It stuck with me. It did.

[Sister Miriam]

So did you also have a sense as a young little girl that you wanted to be a sister as well? Was that something you were thinking?

[Sister Maria Rose]

I. That. That didn't strike me when I was little.

[Sister Miriam]

Okay.

[Sister Maria Rose]

Though loving to, like, pray for. For, like, other people. Like, I would have my list, like, when mom and dad or dad would come and pray with me before I went to bed. Like, we always had, like, the list, like, who do we want to pray for? And so, like, I understood, like, intercessory prayer. And I loved that. Okay. And my mom would note, like, I. I held on to and remembered the people especially. She said, oh, we. Like, even people I didn't ever meet. Like, I had like, a great great aunt. She said once it was like, sick and. And. And then had died. And I kept on praying for that great great aunt for the longest time, you know, just because, like, so I. I had that sense. And then at 16, is, like, the first time that I. That I really felt called to, like, religious life.

[Sister Miriam]

Did you have an incident that happened a particular moment?

[Sister Maria Rose]

Actually, yeah. It was pretty. Pretty profound. Even though I was enrolled, I was Catholic School K. K12. I somehow had never experienced, like, eucharistic adoration. So when they take the Blessed Sacrament and put in the monstrance outside of Mass for adoration. And I was going on a retreat, a weekend retreat in high school, and this whole retreat was centered around that. Like, in fact, they. They started the retreat with exposition and. And they went the two and a half days.

[Sister Miriam]

Oh, wow.

[Sister Maria Rose]

There was, like, perpetual adoration while talks were going on and things like that. I had never experienced that before. And at some point during that retreat, with a chip on my shoulder, like a little bit of a hardened heart, um, but the Lord just broke through and I was just kneeling there. And this was, like, hundreds of people were on this retreat. And at one moment, in, like, the darkness of that. That adoration with the candlelight, it was just me and him. And I was so overwhelmed. Like, you love me and you are here right now in. In this. In this. In the form of bread. And I. I was just so overwhelmed knowing his love. And in a personal way then I was like, whatever you ask, like, you know, anything. So, like, my heart was just, like, open to religious life. And on that retreat, I had met young, joyful, like, sisters and, like, in full habit. And I was like, what is. What is that all about? And that. And so, like, the two things were kind of going on together. Like, if. If. If you're inviting me to this, Like, I say, yes, you would.

[Sister Miriam]

Oh, wow.

[Sister Maria Rose]

But maybe not yet.

[Sister Miriam]

That spirit of just generous gift like you, you were experiencing God's love for you.

[Sister Maria Rose]

Yes.

[Sister Miriam]

And you wanted to love him back and give yourself to him. Completely.

[Sister Maria Rose]

Absolutely. Like, it was. It was so. It made so much sense. And it was like. It was such an experience that, like, I couldn't have doubted it afterwards.

[Sister Miriam]

So did you go home and tell your family about that? No,

[Sister Maria Rose]

we kind of worked up to that. You worked up to it? I probably came home and said that was a great retreat.

[Sister Miriam]

Oh, yeah. So you were probably on fire. And I bet your parents were thrilled

[Sister Maria Rose]

that you had a great experience. Yes. Because mom kind of like, pushed me to go. She signed me up and. And then at the end, I was like, all right, thanks, Mom. Like that. Actually, that was really good.

[Sister Miriam]

And here you are now a Dominican sister.

[Sister Maria Rose]

Praise God.

[Sister Miriam]

We have the Eucharistic devotion in our community. I love that in our name.

[Sister Maria Rose]

Yes.

[Sister Miriam]

Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist. We have both the Eucharist component, where we have adoration every day, but we also have the Marian devotion. And I wanted to move a little bit into that. I know you have such a love for the Blessed Mother, and Dominicans have a love for the Blessed Mother. We get to do consecration to Our lady every year as part of our Dominican life in our community. And our sisters, of course, love that. But also praying the rosary together every day in common. And many of our sisters do additional rosaries during the day. So we have a love for our Blessed Mother, and you have a special love for her. I know that you've been on pilgrimages and Marian pilgrimages, and I wondered if you could explain a bit the idea of pilgrimage.

[Sister Maria Rose]

Sure.

[Sister Miriam]

And it's a really Catholic thing.

[Sister Maria Rose]

Yes.

[Sister Miriam]

To go on a pilgrimage. And I've actually found that people who don't have a Catholic background find it. It's a more foreign concept.

[Sister Maria Rose]

Sure.

[Sister Miriam]

So.

[Sister Maria Rose]

Yes.

[Sister Miriam]

To go on a pilgrimage. But tell us why. Why do we have this devotion of pilgrimage?

[Sister Maria Rose]

Sure. You know, it's such a. It kind of. First of all, it dates back, you know, even like, pre. Like our. Our Jewish brethren, you know, they. They would go on pilgrimage up to Jerusalem to the holy site. And that. That was. That. That was like. Like a holy obligation that they would have. And, you know, since we are like, Body and soul. This idea of like, going. Going on pilgrimage, actually, it reminds us that here on Earth we are. We are actually. This is like, not our homeland. Like, our homeland is in heaven. And like, this action of going on pilgrimage, traveling puts us more in link with that reality that like, we're actually. We are pilgrims on the way in this like, life journey to heaven. And so, and when you think about pilgrimage, there's. There's. There's things that go along with that. Like, there's. There's that time. There's sacrifice because, like, you have to pay money to go to travel, to like, whatever transportation. So there could be like, financial sacrifice. But then there's like, time sacrifice. You're stopping your regular life on pause so that you can go and experience almost this like, experience of like, kairos outside of time, this special time for the Lord. Like, you're giving that to him. And then as you. And like this. What's beautiful about a pilgrimage is that every moment is. Is like. Is prayer, like every moment. Because every moment you have set aside for God, you're doing this for God. And so like, the encounters that. The conversations that you have with the people that you meet, that's all Him. Like, you. You had this sense that like, like, well, he ordained that, like, for you to meet these people and to. To be traveling maybe with these people and have these conversations during this, this time. So like, the sense of like, like God's over. Like, God's like really present with us and with our group. Um, and that there's usually intentions of why you're going on pilgrimage. Like you maybe are carrying some big things, like maybe family intentions or friends, community, health, what, whatever it is, you. You're kind of taking the sacrifices of that time away for another or for. For these intentions. And then, and then there's just kind of like a opening your eyes and waiting and seeing what. What he has for you in that.

[Sister Miriam]

Another thing about it is there's usually difficulties along the way. Right? And when you're leading a pilgrimage with a group, group of students, as, as we both had the blessing of being able to do. Yes, it's really nice. It's a good opportunity to help them, to just offer those things up. And we're gonna have a joyful spirit even when things get hard. And this isn't supposed to be a luxury trip right now. Let's keep in mind that the people that we're praying for on this trip, and maybe that's not the best place to sleep or the food's not the best or whatever other difficulty. Maybe some of the people you're with are harder to be with. And those are just normal things that we encounter but can give to our Lord as part of the pilgrimage experience.

[Sister Maria Rose]

Right. That's so. That's so true.

[Sister Miriam]

Don't you love being like, we're on a. We're on a pilgrim pilgrimage right now. It's gonna. It's gonna be okay, everyone.

[Sister Maria Rose]

It's a pilgrimage, and it's a pilgrimage. It's not a vacation. But. But what's fun is, like, you can actually flip it so that those moments of, like, sacrifice and difficulty, they actually become treasure. And then, like, the kids are like, you know, like, it's contagious. Like, if you look at it that way and you express it that way, the students often, like, they come, you know, along with you and, like, oh, yeah. And actually, they do better than you. That is true in the end.

[Sister Miriam]

And then it always makes. That's the part they want to share.

[Sister Maria Rose]

Yes.

[Sister Miriam]

Later when it's over, it's like, this is what we overcame, and we gave this to our Lord, and we were so joyful.

[Sister Maria Rose]

It was. Yeah, there was a real. There's a real joy that comes with that.

[Sister Miriam]

So how many Marian pilgrimages have you been on and where have you gone?

[Sister Maria Rose]

I've been on, actually five.

[Sister Miriam]

Oh, wow.

[Sister Maria Rose]

So I.

[Sister Miriam]

Sister. That's awesome.

[Sister Maria Rose]

It is. I feel. I feel incredibly blessed. So I went to Fatima, actually. Yeah. Fatima in 2003, and then.

[Sister Miriam]

Okay. Was that. Those. Was the first one you went on? Yes, as a sister. You were as a sister at that time?

[Sister Maria Rose]

Yes. Okay. It was like, all the novices at that time went. So it's a big group. It was fun. Um, and then I have four times been to Lourdes through the Order of Malta.

[Sister Miriam]

Okay. But what a blessing.

[Sister Maria Rose]

Yes.

[Sister Miriam]

So Lord's. And I had the opportunity to go with you on one of those Lord's trips. It was beautiful.

[Sister Maria Rose]

Absolutely.

[Sister Miriam]

How. How has the Lord touched you through Lourdes? I know you love being there, but how. How have you encountered God and Our Lady?

[Sister Maria Rose]

Sure. I. I would say there's so. There's so much to share, but I think. I would say this with each pilgrimage, and I think you'll find that when you start going on pilgrimage, there's, like. There's special gifts in a sense that the Lord or messages that the Lord wants to give you on each pilgrimage. And they're unique. And so even though I've been to Lord's four times, like, they're. The experience was Different. You know, the gifts were different. And I. I think what. I really. I love Our lady, but going to Lourdes, I had an experience of just Our Lady's closeness and tenderness. Like, she wanted to be mom for me, and that. That was just like just a holy. Just a beautiful experience that I couldn't have, like, created on my own. But just like, the sense of, like, being in her grotto in. In Lourdes and. And just like, taking that time of prayer and like, looking over that story of. Of, you know, Bernadette and I. I was just so much more convinced. I've already been convinced of Our lady, like, being an interceder for me, but, like, just how close that she. And. And I would say the way that I saw that was like, how. How she was favoring. Like, she wanted to provide favors for

[Sister Miriam]

her daughter, like, special graces and blessings that you could see.

[Sister Maria Rose]

Yes.

[Sister Miriam]

Unfolding on the trip.

[Sister Maria Rose]

So things that you're like, oh, it be really amazing if this could happen, you know, on this pilgrimage. And like, she made it happen. It would be really amazing if. I don't know, like, you know, like, at one point, I wanted to. To be able to, like, bring up the intentions at the very, like, so in the evenings where they have the candlelight procession with hundreds and hundreds of people present, I wanted to bring the. Carry the intentions. Like these.

[Sister Miriam]

The pieces of paper that people have written there and prayers on and put in the box.

[Sister Maria Rose]

Yes. And they take those from the day and they put them in these two large gold bowls that are like, like ceremonially presented in the midst of this, the rosary and the candlelight procession at night. And I had just heard word that. That. That day that my father was in the hospital. And so, like, I had just added his name. His. His name, you know, for that was like the last one. And I. I mean, I've never seen religious do the presentation of the. The intentions, but, like, somehow I got chosen, you know, me. Out of, like, the hundreds, thousands of people that were there. And I'm like, are you kidding? So. But it was like little things like that. That time and time again, and I'm like, our lady, you did that for me too. And so, like, when I. It's like when I start stacking the evidence, like, you are here, you're with me, and you want to be mother.

[Sister Miriam]

Right. Maybe for the listeners who aren't familiar with the story of Lourdes and why this is a pilgrimage place, we should go in a little background on our dear friend Saint Bernadette.

[Sister Maria Rose]

Yes.

[Sister Miriam]

So.

[Sister Maria Rose]

So Bernadette. So this is in southern France, in Lourdes, France. And Bernadette was a simple, poor, uneducated girl of.

[Sister Miriam]

And sickly. She wasn't very healthy.

[Sister Maria Rose]

Yes.

[Sister Miriam]

She had asthma and other troubles. Yeah.

[Sister Maria Rose]

And she was going to get firewood and she was moving along the river and picking up firewood and that in that moment, you know, she was with her sister and a friend. And in that moment, Our lady appears. She's the only one who actually sees Our lady, and Our lady does appear to her more times over that year. But, you know, like, Our lady has a rosary in her hand. And so Bernadette, like, will. Will pray the rosary, like with Our Lady. And at the beginning, she has no idea who the beautiful woman is, but she just, she. The woman asked for, will you come and return to my grotto? Now, this grotto in Massabiel at this time was actually like, like the dump of the village was placed in that grotto. So it was, it was not a beautiful place like it is now. And, and so, but she, she said yes, she said, I'll, I'll return. And as, as she returns, like, she hears more of the message where she's, you know, go tell the priest that I, I wanted a church to be built here, a shrine. And I. And then eventually she's gonna ask Bernadette to, To get. Grab water from that grotto, which there was none. There was a river over beside, you know, a couple feet away. But, but she's like, no, the water in the grotto. And so she has Bernadette, like, digging and so scratching in the mud. She's scratching in the mud and, and, and people are laughing at her.

[Sister Miriam]

It's very humiliating. I think her family was embarrassed.

[Sister Maria Rose]

She was. They were, because there was hundreds of

[Sister Miriam]

people coming to watch her.

[Sister Maria Rose]

As, as, as word got out, each time she was going back for to, to see Our lady, more and more people were showing up. It was just really increasing, which is causing tensions with, like, the local authorities. And, and when she would see Our

[Sister Miriam]

lady, she would seem to be kind of oblivious to what was going on around her.

[Sister Maria Rose]

Yes.

[Sister Miriam]

Typically, she'd be praying the rosary.

[Sister Maria Rose]

Yes.

[Sister Miriam]

But just kind of in this rapture of prayer.

[Sister Maria Rose]

Yes.

[Sister Miriam]

I think at one point a doctor, someone tried to kind of poke her, like, see if she would react and she wouldn't. She was with Our Lady.

[Sister Maria Rose]

Yes.

[Sister Miriam]

In those moments.

[Sister Maria Rose]

Yes.

[Sister Miriam]

And I'm praying with Our Lady. And then she would ask, what's your name? She asked the lady, what's your name, cuz?

[Sister Maria Rose]

And then Cuz a priest wanted to know, like, is this Our Lady? Who, like, who are you talking to? Um, and she, that's where she receives the name. I am the Immaculate Conception. But for Bernardet, those words meant nothing. Uh, she was uneducated. So she just like, kept on. She said, I had to say it over and over in her, in her head as she's walking back, back to the priest's house to, to tell him, this is Our Lady's name. This is the name. And she didn't even know.

[Sister Miriam]

She repeated it back.

[Sister Maria Rose]

Yeah.

[Sister Miriam]

And the, the official proclamation of the dogma of Mary as Immaculate Conception was only issued about, I think four years prior to that. And she would not have been in a position to have heard it or learn about it.

[Sister Maria Rose]

Right, right.

[Sister Miriam]

So that priest hearing her say that, I think he must, that must have been for him really, the confirmation that he was looking for.

[Sister Maria Rose]

Yeah, I think it assured him that this is of God, because there's no way she could have came up with that title on her own.

[Sister Miriam]

But the, I think the other confirmation for him was just Saint Bernadette's. Her own being. How, how virtuous she was. And I, I remember hearing how people would, would come to her and they would want to, to be with her and bestow gifts on her. And their family was so poor, even food was, was hard for them to afford. Just getting bread. They did not accept any gifts.

[Sister Maria Rose]

They never did.

[Sister Miriam]

Saint Bernadette.

[Sister Maria Rose]

Right.

[Sister Miriam]

She didn't. And she wasn't falling into like, fanfare.

[Sister Maria Rose]

No.

[Sister Miriam]

At all. And, and I've, I've heard you talk about St. Bernadette is, is the broom.

[Sister Maria Rose]

Yes. There's a spirituality. And you'll see in Lord. So see, like people have like a little pin of a broom. And what it is, is she had said, you know, someone had commented to her when she, you know, she grows up and she enters a convent and she moves away and, and she never returns to Lourdes. And someone said, is it hard that you, that you're never going to go back to the grotto, to, to Lourdes? And, and she kind of saw herself like, well, I'm the Lord's broom. And for, for a time he used me to, to, to sweep up the room, if you will. But then what do you do with the broom? You put it back in the corner of the room and it's not really seen when you don't need it. Um, and so she had that spirituality of like, simplicity, hiddenness, just, just so humble. And I love that, I love that about her.

[Sister Miriam]

So she back to the scratching in the, in the mud.

[Sister Maria Rose]

Okay.

[Sister Miriam]

Finding the water. So she, she finds this spring that no. No one knew was there because Mary told her exactly where to scratch in the mud.

[Sister Maria Rose]

Yes.

[Sister Miriam]

And as it turns out, when people would drink this water, there would be miraculous healings that would occur at Lourdes. And in the past people would leave their crutches there and things like that. And that's not the case anymore. I think those items have been kind of taken out of the grotto area. There's still miracles that happen all the time there.

[Sister Maria Rose]

Yes.

[Sister Miriam]

Physical healing, spiritual healing, emotional healing.

[Sister Maria Rose]

Yes.

[Sister Miriam]

When you went to Lord's, did you ask for healing?

[Sister Maria Rose]

Actually, I, I did. So that first, first time going to Lord's, I had heard about the group, the Order of Malta that brings those who are sick to, to Lourdes and they help sponsor them. And someone said you, you should actually, you should apply to, to go to Lourdes with, with them.

[Sister Miriam]

So were you sick at that time?

[Sister Maria Rose]

So like to see me visibly you wouldn't see any, any illness. But for, but for 30 years I had an autoimmune inflammatory disease. And half of that time I actually was either not diagnosed or misdiagnosed.

[Sister Miriam]

But so probably difficult finding good treatment.

[Sister Maria Rose]

Yes, treatment. And then just the chronic, you know, pain and just difficulties of that and, and then, and then the unknowns of like what is this? And but for the last half. So like for about 16 years at that time I was. The way that I kept the symptoms at bay was basically a cancer like drug injection that suppress the immune system. Okay. And so if I did that then I wouldn't have so many like, like the arthritis or inflammatory symptoms. But it had been, that's a. Over those years that have been just hard to. You know, anyone who experiences chronic illness, they know that it's, it's like a day to day kind of burden. And I Covid had, you know, when the pandemic hit and I realized that I was one of the immunocompromised persons more at risk. I really took that more to prayer and I think I was asking for healing. I was like, Lord, I don't think you want me to be in this place for the rest of my life. And so a year later someone has said, why don't you apply to be a malad? And, and I, I took that to prayer and I was like, I think I'm supposed to do this. So I filled out the application and when it's, it's a while it was like Months before you find out if you're accepted to. To go on the pilgrimage. And. But when I got the news, I only can say it was a grace. But I. I knew from the moment I heard that I was going in January and I wasn't going to go until like, end of April, May of that year. But I said to our. To. To God and Our Lady, I said, okay, in an act of faith, I know that. That I'm going to be healed in Lord's. So I just. I stopped the injections.

[Sister Miriam]

Your treatment that you're doing?

[Sister Maria Rose]

Yes.

[Sister Miriam]

Oh, wow.

[Sister Maria Rose]

And, you know, and after you'd been

[Sister Miriam]

doing it for 16.

[Sister Maria Rose]

16 years and something that. Yeah, they. So my. My doctor said, like, no one comes off of these drugs. They're usually on these drugs for the rest of your life. So she's like, I can't advise you to do this. Like, I understand, I understand. I know. I know what I'm doing, though. And I. Yeah, I just. I just. I just proceed as a grace. So then. Then going to. To Lord's, I. I, again, it was even stronger. Like, I know Our lady, you're. You're gonna heal this. I know that this isn't going to be like a forever thing that I carry. And yeah, it was just. And. But at that point, I'm actually still having symptoms.

[Sister Miriam]

Oh, okay.

[Sister Maria Rose]

But I still was. I was actually, like, convinced of the healing.

[Sister Miriam]

And.

[Sister Maria Rose]

And I was also convinced that, like, in time, these symptoms will catch up and they'll realize that I'm healed.

[Sister Miriam]

Really? Okay.

[Sister Maria Rose]

So I know it sounds crazy. Then six months from the pilgrimage, I thought, well, I should probably be smart and probably have, like, full X rays done just to make sure. Like. Like what. What if I'm doing something really?

[Sister Miriam]

Yeah, you ought to be prudent, you know?

[Sister Maria Rose]

And so, so I did. And like, the, The X ray. So it's like hands, feet, these are all the places I had the arthritis. The knees, sacroiliac joints, lower back. So all those areas. And for. Yeah, for years and years and years, those X rays always showed the. The erosion due to arthritis. These X rays, they actually say unremarkable, which means normal.

[Sister Miriam]

Oh, wow.

[Sister Maria Rose]

So like the previous erosions.

[Sister Miriam]

Yes.

[Sister Maria Rose]

Have been healed. Which that's. That's kind of already a miracle. But then no new erosions now that I'm, like, not doing treatments.

[Sister Miriam]

Okay, so how did your doctor respond to that?

[Sister Maria Rose]

We didn't have a long conversation about that because she couldn't explain it.

[Sister Miriam]

Oh, wow.

[Sister Maria Rose]

But I could.

[Sister Miriam]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Sister Maria Rose]

And so, so, yeah, so you asked about the miracle and I, I, I believe, yeah, that's a miracle that I received in Lord's, but I think even more so, even though that, that's like amazing. And I, I don't discredit that at all, at all. But I think there's so much that Our lady wants to do in our hearts.

[Sister Miriam]

Oh yes.

[Sister Maria Rose]

And that's another piece of that, that healing.

[Sister Miriam]

When, when we were at Lourdes, I think one thing that struck me, I, I got to help in the bass.

[Sister Maria Rose]

Oh yes.

[Sister Miriam]

And when the people come and they wait for hours to, to go and immerse, be immersed in the water or they do the, the gestures. The gestures. They splash the water on their face, drink the water, wash their hands with the water. So it's guiding them through. And you have people all different languages, all parts of the world, and they wait in line to finally be able to, to come to have this prayer time and to, to or receive the immersion. And before they do that, they, they get a couple minutes of silent prayer and there's a image of our Our lady there and they've come all this way and this is their moment of silence before Our Lady. And a lot of time people would be moved to tears and they don't, you don't know what's going on in their heart, but seeing people just lay themselves before Our lady and entrusting their burdens and sufferings into, into their hands, her hands. I would be standing there and I would be tearing up and maybe can't communicate with this person in language, but we have a mother together and feeling that solidarity with my brother, my, my sister in Christ who's coming to, to her mother was so beautiful, so unifying, and I was so touched to see that. I didn't know that Our Lord was, was bringing people peace in their hearts and healing in ways that are often unseen in.

[Sister Maria Rose]

So true. That's so true. There is like, there's definitely that, that experience of solidarity with all those who are on pilgrimage at the same time.

[Sister Miriam]

Sister, thank you. Are there any, any final thoughts? I wondered if you, you have any words of encouragement for our listeners today that you would want to give to them as we wrap up here. Yeah.

[Sister Maria Rose]

And you know, when I think about that, I think I've been in religious life for, for a little while now and I, I think my, my words of advice is just reading scripture, reading sacred scripture and this persevering with that. Cuz I have seen like the fruits of someone who, it delves deeply and say is really connected with Scripture, how it just. It comes up when you most need it later in other situations or in prayer and. Yeah. So Scripture has been a beautiful gift in my life.

[Sister Miriam]

Thank you. Sister, are you ready for the speed round?

[Sister Maria Rose]

Okay.

[Sister Miriam]

You're ready for the speed round? Okay, good. Let me see. Sister. Let me see. Speed round. Here we go. What's your favorite liturgical season and why?

[Sister Maria Rose]

Okay, favorite season is Lent slash Easter. I know it's too. But. But Lent because, like, you slow down and it's all distractions are really, like, fade away. And it's such a prayerful time of entering and getting ready for the Paschal mystery that you then experience doubly so in the triduum and then the Easter season. And I think that's. That's what I love.

[Sister Miriam]

Thank you. Do you have a hobby?

[Sister Maria Rose]

Yes, I. I like hiking, I like gardening, and I like art.

[Sister Miriam]

Oh, okay. Do you have a favorite game at the moment? I put at the moment. Because these things change over time.

[Sister Maria Rose]

Yeah. At the moment, I would say Liverpool Rummy.

[Sister Miriam]

Okay. Really? Okay. What is a book that has impacted your spiritual life that you would recommend, besides the Bible?

[Sister Maria Rose]

Okay. Um, One that I recently read was Sheltered Within Her Heart by Joshua Elsner. And it's. It's actually like 33 days to deeper Entrustment. It's a preparation for consecration to Our lady, to Jesus through Our Lady. But just the spirituality of that, the simplicity, the beautifulness.

[Sister Miriam]

Speaking of Our lady, what is your favorite title for Our lady and why?

[Sister Maria Rose]

Okay, this is a funny one. So Our lady of Tenderness.

[Sister Miriam]

Oh, okay.

[Sister Maria Rose]

Because this is like a family thing. So my. My grandmother loved Our lady of Tenderness at Icon, and she always had it. And she would say to me, look, they're cheek to cheek. And she's like. That's why I call them the Kisser. And so I think a grandma who's now. God rest her soul, who's a deceased when I see it.

[Sister Miriam]

What age group do you enjoy teaching the most and why?

[Sister Maria Rose]

I. I've really. I've enjoyed all ages, but high school was my most recent experience, and I. I love the. The discussions, the depth of discussions that you can have and the way that you can really accompany them.

[Sister Miriam]

Who is a saint that you would want to have dinner with and what would you talk about?

[Sister Maria Rose]

Okay, I. I think I. Right now, I would say Saint Tres of Lisu.

[Sister Miriam]

Okay.

[Sister Maria Rose]

And I just want to ask her that question.

[Sister Miriam]

How do you.

[Sister Maria Rose]

How did she maintain that. That deep confidence in the Father in the midst of, like, that night of the dark night of the faith that she experienced. I'm just amazed at her audacious confidence in the Father.

[Sister Miriam]

Okay, now, you might have already said this when you were talking about the hobby, but what is an activity, an activity that refreshes you and brings you

[Sister Maria Rose]

peace Right now, doing watercolor.

[Sister Miriam]

I have seen you working on your watercolor, and yes, it looks like a very peaceful experience.

[Sister Maria Rose]

I lose all track of time, which can be dangerous. Like, where's Sister Mary Rose? But. But it's. Yeah, it's very prayerful for me.

[Sister Miriam]

I think it's kind of funny to note for. Maybe our listeners would appreciate this. When we were on our way to the studio, you were looking at a tree and you made the comment, do you ever wonder. Do you ever look at a tree and wonder how you would paint it? Is that what you said?

[Sister Maria Rose]

How you would I look at things outside? I'm like, don't you just want to sketch that?

[Sister Miriam]

I was like, no. I'm like, oh, I wasn't thinking of sketching. Sketching that tree. But it's a beautiful way to reflect on the beauty of nature and see things in a different way when you're trying to watercolor them.

[Sister Maria Rose]

Yes.

[Sister Miriam]

But you're doing a great job, so keep it up on your.

[Sister Maria Rose]

Thank you artwork.

[Sister Miriam]

Sister, thank you so much for coming in and sharing your thoughts and reflections with us. We really appreciate it and we want to thank our viewers for listening watching today. We want to encourage you. If you know anyone that might benefit from listening to this podcast, perhaps you have a friend or family member, please pass it along and maybe it'll help them to grow in their Marian devotion and desire for pilgrimage and to grow in the spiritual life. So thank you so much and know that the Dominican sisters are praying for you and your loved ones. God bless and have a great day. Sam.