The Miracle of the Marne, 1914...and Today

As we enter a new phase in the Great Culture War we might reflect on certain historical incidents of the past and relate them to the present difficulties.  In view of the onslaughts against the Faith that are growing to fever pitch, particularly those directed by a satanically-inspired sodomy movement, we might re-read this story not only for our own edification, but possibly as a sensible battle plan.

It is true that the Church has not officially endorsed the story herein but, after all, it took Rome 400 years to canonize Joan of Arc.

[with thanks to the Universal Living Rosary Association]

OUR LADY OF LOURDES AND THE MIRACLE OF THE MARNE

When we think of Our Lady of Lourdes, whose feast day we celebrate on February 11, we think first of the many miracles from the miraculous spring of water that Our Lady gave as a gift for healing the sick, both of body and heart. Many of these miracles have been studied by the Church and declared miraculous, that is, of heavenly origin. But, still, there are many other happenings that have not been pronounced as miracles but which still remain unexplained. The Battle of the Marne is one of these happenings.

Even the history books refer to this battle as a great MIRACLE of World War I: The Miracle of the Marne. But because there is no official decision from the Church concerning the authenticity of this event, we are left to draw our own conclusions.

The "MIRACLE" 

In September of 1914, the German Army was making its way towards Paris. They were advancing so quickly down the valley of the Marne River that they were convinced already of their victory over the French, and chanted among themselves, "ln Paris, in two days' time!"

Paris itself was in total chaos. The French government had already left the capital for Bordeaux and the panicking civilians were fleeing the city on foot, horseback, train or any other means possible. Though the British had sent reinforcements to help their French allies, the Germans still far-outnumbered them. To make matters worse, the French Seventh Division, coming in from the frontier to join the Sixth Army in defending Paris, was unable to move because of the rail system, which was "choked" with fleeing civilians.

The desperate situation prompted Gen. Joseph Gallieni, military governor of the French Army, to dispatch the emergency troop reinforcements by using a fleet of Parisian taxi cabs. In one night, some 600 taxis ferried approximately 6,000 French reserve infantry troops to the front.

This was on the 8th of September, feast day of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. At the same time in the Diocese of Paris, the Bishop of Meaux, Cardinal Marbeau, made the promise to Our Lady that, should She spare their city, he would build a monument in her honor when the war was over. And, all across France, people were on their knees, with Rosary in hand, humbly beseeching the Virgin to protect them in their great hour of need. We can believe, therefore, that, for this reason, on that very same day, the inexplicable happened: the entire German army suddenly retreated, turning back from Paris. It was later reported that some 100,000 German soldiers saw the Virgin Mary "pushing back" the German Army.

Most of these men kept silent because they had been ordered "under pain of death" not to speak of the apparition to anyone. But a letter addressed to the Carmel of Pontoise recounts that: "On 3rd January 1915, a German priest, wounded and taken prisoner during the Battle of the Marne, died in a French ambulance where he was cared for by some nuns. He had told them: "As a soldier, I should keep silent, but

"We saw the Virgin Mary, dressed all in white, with a blue belt, leaning Her head toward Paris."

As a priest, I must say what I have seen. During the Battle of the Marne, we were surprised to be pushed into retreat, because our numbers were legion compared to the French, and we expected very soon to arrive in Paris. But we saw the Virgin Mary, dressed all in white, with a blue belt, leaning her head toward Paris. She turned her back to us, and with her right hand seemed to push us away ... I saw her myself and a good number of my companions also." (This description of Our Lady, "... dressed all in white, with a blue belt ..." is the same description given by St. Bernadette at Lourdes, France in 1858.) About the same time, two German officers, also wounded and prisoners of war, were admitted into a French hospital run by the Red Cross. When they saw there a statue of Our Lady of Lourdes, a nurse (who could speak German) heard them exclaim: "Die Frau von der Marne!" "Oh, the Virgin of the Marne!" She asked them to speak about this, but they refused. (http://thewandererpress.com/featured-today/september-1914-the-miracle-of-the-marne/)

The MIRACLE at the Battle of the Marne was reported in the newspapers all across France in January 1915, just one hundred years ago. When we recall that World War I continued through November 1918 and resulted in 16 million deaths, leaving 20 million wounded, we catch a glimpse of the sorrow Our Blessed Mother must have had on our behalf. War is humanity's great failure. Today, with wars and conflicts continuing throughout the world, we need to remind ourselves that Mary intercedes for both her faithful and her unfaithful children. What hope of mercy must have been given to both those spared in France as well as the soldiers who saw the vision and went on to suffer terrible battles for three more years!

The heart of the message of Our Lady given to St. Bernadette at Lourdes, stated simply, is a call to the sick of body and soul, that God loves us as we are, and is always calling us to conversion. Let us turn back to the Father, through Our Lady's invitation, and as the Bishop of Meaux once pleaded with Our Lady to spare Paris, let us also plead with her to spare our countries from another World War, and to help us to find healing, not only of body but also of soul.

Monument of Our Lady of the Marne, erected by Cardinal Marbeau after the War.
The inscription beneath the statue reads: "You will go no further."
God works miracles now and again to give the Faithful confidence that it is He Who is speaking; and if He is graciously pleased to do so at Lourdes, it is because He wants us to listen to Our Lady's words to Bernadette, calling us all to Repentance and Prayer.

OUR LADY OF LOURDES, PRAY FOR US!
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