Our Blessed Mother has a lot of names, and I am starting to believe that we will not know all of them until we are in heaven one day. I just learned a new one: Our Lady of Sunday.
Mary appeared to hundreds of people in the twentieth century alone. We don’t have any idea how many Marian apparitions there has been overall, but a lesser-known and important one tells of Mary’s appearance in France to Auguste Arnaud on June 8 and July 8, 1873. Arnaud was a married father of two and a winemaker who regularly skipped Sunday Mass to work his vineyards. Our Lady appeared to him in the vineyard on June 8th and reminded him, “You must not work on Sundays.” In honor of this blessing, Arnaud placed a cross and a statue of Mary at the site in his field. On July 8th, Our Lady appeared again, this time to both Auguste and his neighbors who had gathered there, and told them, “You must never work on Sunday! Blessed are those who believe.”
Wouldn’t it be nice if Mary appeared to you so you could remind folks in Brewster and Patterson of the sanctity of Sunday? Imagine how life-changing that experience would be for you – as it was for Arnaud one hundred fifty-two years ago. You may be shy, but you would be anxious to tell your story. Father Gill would allow you to give a firsthand account of the apparition at the pulpit and write an article for the bulletin. Sally could send it out in an email Flocknote and post a video on Instagram and Facebook. Do you think your experience would inspire your family, friends, and community to change their ways, stop working on Sunday, and honor God by attending Mass?
Perhaps. It is hard to say, but we can’t wait for that to happen. In Jesus’ parable of Lazarus and the rich man, he tells us that we need to learn from God’s chosen prophets and follow their wisdom and instruction – not to expect Him to advise and remind us of all his teachings personally. Auguste Arnaud received an important message from Our Blessed Mother. He shared it with us. Now it is our responsibility to heed the message and share it with others.
Scripture: Read Luke 16:27-31. What stands out?
Call to Action: God commands us to keep Sunday holy all year round, at home and wherever we travel. You know people who need reminders. Share Our Lady of Sunday’s instructions.
