|  THE
STORY OF THE PEARL
By Marilynn Lomangino
Through the everyday events of our lives, God reveals simple lessons
to us. One day, when our family was on vacation at the seashore,
we decided to take a walk. We came upon a little open-air stand
called “The Oyster Shop.” Inside, a lady stood with a
big bucket of oysters. She said that each oyster had a pearl and,
for five dollars, the children could choose one. She would open
it for them, and whatever was inside would be theirs. Next, she
began a slide presentation and explained the story of how a pearl
develops.
The woman told us that, at some time in the course of the oyster’s
development, a foreign substance such as a grain of sand gets into
the little muscle and irritates the oyster. In response, the oyster
covers that irritant with a secretion. The longer the irritation
is there, the more the oyster coats it. Pearl oysters vary in size
and can be quite rough and ugly. Yet what is happening inside is
a combination of rainbows, moonlight, and bits of flame. Once the
oyster accepts the irritation as part of itself, the pearl begins
to develop. The worst storms, gales, even hurricanes will not dislodge
it. As time goes by and this oyster is finally pulled up from the
bed where it has been for many years, it is opened only to reveal
a beautiful pearl.
Later, when I had time to think, I meditated on the story of how
a pearl forms. I realized it is just like the story of Garabandal.
Something comes into our spiritual life; it comes because the Blessed
Mother has chosen us to do something special for her. It is not
natural to ourselves because the Message of Garabandal involves
penance, prayer, sacrifice, and acts of love—things that are
not always easy for our human nature to accomplish. The longer the
substance is there, the more it can irritate. Sometimes we are asked
to do things that we really don’t want to do. For example,
maybe we’ve taken long trips under very, very difficult circumstances.
But we offer that sacrifice up so that finally, when we get to the
end of our Garabandal life, we will be able to open up our little
spiritual oyster and give the Blessed Mother our special pearl.
The longer we stay committed and the more we do, the more beautiful
will be the pearl that each one of us can give.
So I pass this story of the pearl on to you. You are working on
a little pearl for the Blessed Mother. The pearl’s name is
GARABANDAL, and you are living and spreading the message. The Blessed
Mother has picked you to carry it. And your finished pearl will
be a unique gift to the Blessed Mother—one that no one else
has.
To develop the theme of the pearl, use the letters—P-E-A-R-L—as
a guide:
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“P” is for Prayer, particularly
for Priests. The Blessed Mother said, “Many cardinals,
bishops and priests are on the road to perdition and they’re
taking many souls with them.” In the early 1960s, no one
could anticipate the tremendous crisis that the Church was facing.
But now we see it. So I caution you: don’t criticize priests,
pray for them. The devil is attacking them. They are God’s
consecrated souls and the only instruments for bringing the
Eucharist into this poor world of ours. Give them all the encouragement,
love, and prayers that you can. |
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“E” is for Eucharist. At Garabandal,
the Blessed Mother said, “Less and less importance is being
given to the Eucharist.” She also said to Conchita, “My
Son waits for you in the tabernacle night and day.” Decades
ago, men tipped their hats in front of a Catholic church to
acknowledge the Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. People
used to make visits to the church on their way home from work.
Mothers would take their children into the church, just as you
would take the children to visit someone whom you love dearly.
We should continue these traditions today.
Take the children, even just for a minute, into the church.
Tell them that Jesus is there in the tabernacle and that Jesus
loves them. We need this, especially today when we have fewer
and fewer priests and good sisters to teach as they did so marvelously
for many years. Remember, Jesus said, “Suffer the little
children to come unto Me, for such is the kingdom of heaven.” |
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“A” is for Acts of Love. How many
songs and poems have been written about love? One example is
a song called “Perhaps Love,” recorded by Placido
Domingo and John Denver. Maybe you have heard it; it goes, “Perhaps
love is like a dream; perhaps love is like the ocean; perhaps
love is like a memory.” But in the Bible, Saint Paul tells
us exactly what love is. He says, “Love is patient, love
is kind, love is not jealous, it’s not pompous, it’s
not rude. Love does not seek it’s own interest, love is
not quick tempered, love does not brood over injuries. Love
bears all things, love believes all things, love hopes in all
things, and love endures all things.”
We know there are three great virtues—faith, hope, and
love—and the greatest of these is love. When the Blessed
Mother came to Garabandal, she said, “You must lead good
lives.” That means that you must love. Every day, you can
fit so many acts of love into the normal things you do for your
family, your coworkers, the disabled, and those who perhaps
don’t know Jesus and Mary at all. You must seek out these
opportunities and practice acts of love because that is what
the Blessed Mother expects of you. |
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“R” is for the Rosary. And I always
think of the rosary and the scapular as being inseparable. The
rosary is most important in your prayer life—I have a set
of rosary beads from almost every significant event in my life--and
the scapular is the sign of consecration. Learn about the scapular
and its promise. You must wear it. Get your children and loved
ones enrolled in the scapular, too. Tell them about the protection
that the scapular offers; it is your duty. You don’t have
to make them believe it, but you have to tell them. With the
protection of the Blessed Mother around them, they belong to
her. She will put her special shield around them and keep her
promise so that when they die, she will be there to take them
to heaven. Our Lady brought the rosary and the scapular to Garabandal
to show their importance in our times. |
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Finally, “L” is to promote Love
of Our Lady. Get to know the Blessed Mother; read about her;
say your rosary; think about her virtue. She is not an ordinary
Lady. She is the Immaculate Conception, special and particular.
She is God’s chosen vessel. She has all the virtues, the
beauties, and the graces of the Church. Our Lady is the most
beautiful Lady. Those who have seen her cannot describe the
beauty of her face and voice. At Garabandal, Our Blessed Mother
appeared as a young girl with delicate, olive-colored skin.
She had soft, light-brown hair and a crown of twelve golden
stars encircling her head. She wore a white dress with a very
faint flowered print on it, and she was draped in a beautiful
blue mantle. That mantle, I tell my sons, enshrouds and protects
all of us. Even though we may be separated--I’m at home
and they’re in school—we’re all under that same
mantle of Our Blessed Mother. She is the beautiful Lady in blue. |
 You
will receive marvelous favors through the Blessed Mother’s
intercession. If you work for the Blessed Mother, she is a wonderful,
loving employer. But you cannot work for someone whom you don’t
love, and you cannot love someone whom you don’t know. So find
out about Mary. Read about her at Garabandal; learn about the Padre
Pio connection; hear what the Blessed Mother has to say. Every little
thought has a message for you. Before you begin reading, say a prayer
to Mary, who is the spouse of the Holy Spirit. Ask her, “What
would you have me know today? What would you have me do today so
that I can bring Jesus with me through the world, wherever I go,
whomever I am with, today.” And she will answer you.
God Bless You.
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