The world-renowned Lourdes Grotto in France used to be a pigsty.

Father Joseph Bordes, the rector emeritus of the Lourdes Shrine, wrote in his book that the rocky recess by the river Gave that is now called the Lourdes Grotto was “a place used by Samson, the local swineherd, as a watering hole for pigs” when the Blessed Virgin appeared to Bernadette Soubirous in 1858.

I spent a good part of my evening praying at the Grotto last 19 July. I touched the rocks, drank water from the springs, recited the rosary, paused for a while at the foot of the statue of Our Lady, and offered prayers of thanksgiving. It was my birthday and I was there to thank God.

After praying I lingered for a while at the Grotto. Many people from all walks of life and from different corners of the world were there offering candles, praying and meditating in silence. Recalling that the Grotto used to be a place for swine, I could not help but wonder: why in the world would the Virgin Mary choose to appear in such a filthy place? And of all people, to an illiterate, poor teenage girl?

As I reflected on it, I remembered that God too chose the most unlikely people, the most unlikely circumstances, and the most unlikely places to manifest himself – God opted to disclose himself to poor people in their everyday life. In fact one can say with conviction that God has a special care and predilection for poor people. In the Old Testament, we read that God hears the cry of the poor and shows mercy to the miserable, the weak, orphans, widows and refugees. He protects them, defends them, and cares for them. The God of the Old Testament stands up for poor people as no one else was concerned about them.

In the New Testament we see Jesus in company with those at the bottom of the social pyramid – poor people, women, foreigners, lepers, children, tax collectors, and prostitutes. Jesus promised to these people that they will inherit the kingdom. Jesus showed them how much he cared for them by feeding the hungry, by healing the sick, and by socializing with outcasts. Saint Augustine wrote:

Christ is at once rich and poor: as God, rich; as a human person, poor. Truly, that Man rose to heaven already rich, and now sits at the right hand of the Father, but here, among us, he still suffers hunger, thirst and nakedness: here he is poor and is in the poor. (Sermon 123, 4).

Now back to the question: why did Mary chose to appear in a modest cave to an impoverished girl in Lourdes? By appearing in Lourdes to Bernadette, the Blessed Virgin was only being consistent with how God makes His presence manifest. Just as the Father and the Son decided to be with the poor, the miserable, the weak, orphans, widows and refugees, so it was for Mary. Mary opted to reveal herself to Bernadette to communicate that the most vulnerable people in society are blessed and that she is on their side.

If the Mother of Jesus considered the poor such a priority, we as Christians should follow suit. In fact I truly believe that that is what Mary wants us to do – to emulate God by making our loving and caring presence felt by the most vulnerable people in our society: the poor, the oppressed, widows, children, prisoners, refugees, the sick – those suffering physically, emotionally, and spiritually. In today’s context, we cannot remain indifferent and apathetic, and claim to be true Christians. We must go to our society’s “pigsties” and give, share, love, reconcile, and make peace. That is our mission.

Catholic Curiosity of the Day: Bernadette Soubirous was a very humble woman. More than anything else, she desired not to be praised. Once a nun asked her if she had temptations of pride because she was favored by the Blessed Mother. "How can I?" she answered quickly. "The Blessed Virgin chose me only because I was the most ignorant." What humility!