The Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Punta Princesa re-staged the Musical: Song of Bernadette last February 16-19 in celebration of the 160th anniversary of the apparitions and the closing of the Year of Grace of the Parish.
It retold, in song and dance, the inspiring story of the fourteen-year-old Bernadette Soubirous who was chosen to have a spiritual experience of seeing the Blessed Virgin Mary in person.
That experience literally changed the history of her little town of Lourdes, situated in the northern border of France, as well as the entire world.
Through her, Lourdes will have become a symbol of faith and hope for those who seek healing and peace.
After several months of practice, the cast stunned the audience with their powerful and tear-jerking performance at the Centerstage, SM Seaside.
Despite the grueling four-day show, the performers made up mostly of students and parishioners, were even more enthusiastic and expressive in sharing to the audience the simple yet courageous message of Lourdes that God is still among us, through the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The musicale became a modern venue for evangelization and the cast bearers of the good news in proclaiming that the eyes of those who do not see, yet still believe, are much more blest.
The musicale also became a spiritual awakening for several members of the cast. During our Sunday Mass, Robin Cabonita a cast member shared a spiritual experience she had been keeping since last year’s sun of the show.
She revealed that joining the musicale touched her life. It was the love for the stage that lured her in joining the 2017 musical and even pined to given a lead role.
But things did not work out as planned.
Moreover she had major issues in life that made her a lukewarm disciple.
One day, as she was going home towards dusk on a jeepney ride at the front seat, she fell asleep and momentarily had a dream.
She saw a bright light and soon after, there appeared a beautiful lady dressed in white with a blue girdle around her waist, smiling at her.
She was so beautiful and majestic.
Robin claimed she woke up shouting “Mama Mary” that surprised the jeepney driver seated beside her.
That was the start of her spiritual awakening.
Four months after the conclusion of the 2017 SOB run, her mother got a job in the States.
And all her financial woes greatly improved.
Moreover, a greater miracle is in stored for her because by April this year, she will have herself enrolled in the Art School in the USA she had been dreaming.
Seeing the smiling beautiful lady in her dream gave her much faith that eventually changed her life.
On this second Sunday of Lent, the gospel reading presents to us the story of the transfiguration of Jesus.
Jesus invites us to make a spiritual journey just as he invited his disciples towards a high mountain where he prayed and was transfigured.
That scene became heaven on earth as the disciples witnessed with their own eyes the majestic transformation of the person of Jesus.
Through that unforgettable episode, they had a glimpse of the glorious identity of Jesus as the Son of God conversing with the iconic figures of Moses and Elijah.
It also became their spiritual awakening as they saw themselves in the grand scheme of God’s plan.
Bernadette Soubirous had her spiritual awakening by seeing Mary who told her that she was the “Immaculate Conception.”
Thus she became the bearer of her messages and through her hands the miraculous spring of Lourdes came forth.
Robin Cabonita had also a share of her spiritual awakening that brought forth her continued transformation in life.
My prayer is that we also have our own spiritual awakening that will make us more convinced of God’s presence in our life.
May God lead us to those experiences, through ordinary, that will make us feel blest because though we do not see much, still we believe much.