Restoration
Posted October 11, 2006:
Our Lady of Combermere
by Fr. Emile-Marie Brière.
This was written in July 1960 on the occasion of the official blessing of the statue of Our Lady of Combermere.
Our Lady of Combermere has come. On May 17, 1960, the thirteenth anniversary of the founding of Madonna House, her statue was firmly set by the men’s department upon a concrete base. On Pentecost Sunday, June 8th, it was blessed by Bishop Smith in a simple, moving, unforgettable ceremony.
Our Lady of Combermere is here. The gentle, tender, loving, strong and wise Lady has come to Combermere and to the world.
With arms extended to embrace and protect all, her cape flying, she rushes to her children’s assistance.
She comes quietly, unobtrusively. She stands now on the grounds of Madonna House ready to console and strengthen all who visit her and all who pray to her, ready to fill with love the many young men and women who will train here for missionary and apostolic work all over the world.
The power of her love radiates unmistakably from this blessed statue, bringing peace, healing, and love to all.
She has come to reassure us, to tell us that all is well, that God is love, that we should forget our fears and revive our hope.
Her message is clear and simple: "God is love. Love him by doing the ordinary duties of your state in life with great love, by loving your neighbor. Your love is valuable, redemptive."
She appeals to all, not only to a few "chosen souls." Her message goes to the root of our troubles. It attacks selfishness, hatred, prejudice. "Let there be love," she says, "and solutions will be found for all our problems, and peace will be restored."
Our Lady of Combermere, pray for us. Obtain for us a great love.
— Excerpted from Restoration, July 1960
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