What Mary said at Beauraing is still relevant today

At Beauraing, the Blessed Virgin said: "Pray, pray very much, pray always." She didn’t say it only once, instead she stressed the words two more times, repeating: "Pray very much, pray always." Therefore pray also in difficult times, when crossing deserts. At Beauraing she also said: "I will convert sinners," meaning that she would get us back on a path of hope and light if we are in darkness, or trials, or sin.

Perhaps the period we are going through is an opportunity to put some light back into our lives, and Mary can guide us. She also presented herself at Beauraing as the Immaculate Virgin, the Mother of God and the Queen of Heaven. Perhaps through these titles she invites us to rediscover a somewhat hidden dimension of our lives?

We are from this earth of course, and we are aware of all its fragility and weakness, but we are also from Heaven. Above all, Beauraing's message ends on the last day of the apparitions, January 3, 1933, with a beautiful dialogue between the little children and Our Lady: "Do you love my Son? Do you love me? Then sacrifice yourselves." Her message is about love, a love to be deepened, a love for Christ, and for the Blessed Virgin. A love that ends in sacrifice.

Sacrifice is a difficult word, but when she said to sacrifice yourself she surely meant to say give yourself, give your life. Perhaps in this very difficult moment that we are experiencing, we should think about different ways to give ourselves. Many give themselves by devoting themselves to others. You can do admirable things in the service of others. But we can also give ourselves in difficult moments, offering our life and our suffering, offering our pain out of love.

At Beauraing Mary showed her Heart of gold: she appeared in a school courtyard, the Institute of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, a school dedicated to the Heart of Jesus, and there she also showed us her Heart. Finally, the Heart of Jesus and the Heart of Mary are in the loving Heart of the Father. In these difficult moments we are invited to return to what is essential, to the heart of our faith, and to put ourselves back into the Heart of God.

Father Joël Rochette, Vicar General of the Diocese of Namur and Rector of the Beauraing Shrine

Excerpt from an interview for Vatican Radio / Vatican News