Interview: On Lourdes and St. Bernadette

9/9/2008

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individual's personal physician at home and, even more importantly, his or her bishop. Often times, doctors and bishops do not wish to or are unable to get involved in such matters. According to Dr. Theillier, there are more than 7,000 reports of scientifically inexplicable cures on file with the medical bureau that lack some requirement to allow them to advance to the final stage of being deemed miraculous.

In order for Lourdes to be able to present to the world a more balanced picture of what actually is happening at the shrine, the bishop and medical director have appealed to Rome. Their intent is not to change the way the Church authenticates miracles. Rather, they seek to create a new category of "authenticated healings."

The new category would by no means reduce the stringent evaluation process. The person's condition would still need to be medically verified as serious and its reversal as scientifically inexplicable. It would, however, for the first time feature the added dimension of assessing the spiritual benefits of the healing as well. And it would enable a person to testify to their healing and spiritual conversion in their parishes and on retreat, which they do not have Church approval to do currently.

Another important step is that Lourdes, through its International Medical Committee that meets annually in Paris, is also seriously reflecting on the pertinence of healing in cases involving psychological and mental diseases, and how these can be evaluated and presented.

Q: As the Holy Father prepares to visit Lourdes during the Jubilee Year marking the 150th anniversary of the Marian apparitions, what aspects of the apparitions would you like to see him underline?

Ficocelli: Benedict XVI has already made it abundantly clear that he echoes the importance of Lourdes and its Gospel message of prayer, penance and conversion for the world today that his predecessor, Pope John Paul II established during his pontificate.

For starters, Benedict XVI continues the tradition of World Day of the Sick that Pope John Paul II initiated to bring awareness to the dignity of those with illness and disability. He also instituted a plenary indulgence for those able to visit Lourdes during this special Jubilee Year to walk and pray in the footsteps of St. Bernadette. For those unable to travel to France, many dioceses have responded by offering pilgrimage opportunities at local shrines and parishes dedicated to St. Bernadette and Our Lady of Lourdes.

Finally, Benedict XVI, who has traveled far less than his predecessor, announced his own papal pilgrimage to Lourdes in September, placing a great deal of importance on these particular apparitions for a world so desperately in need of faith, hope and charity.

I am sure the Holy Father will continue to underscore the importance for all Christians to demonstrate care and respect for people with illness and disability, a fundamental Gospel value.I would expect him to draw attention to the relevance and power of the Eucharist and confession, two central areas of focus at Lourdes, and to the Blessed Mother who graces us throughout history with messages or encouragement and correction, as any loving mother would do for her children.

Lastly, I would like to see Benedict XVI emphasize the example of St. Bernadette, who willingly made countless acts of penance for the sins of others, and who committed her life to growing in personal holiness. Our current world, absorbed in pleasure and matters of self, could learn much from St. Bernadette's humble, simple and others-directed spirituality.

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1 - 9 of 9 Comments

Lou & Rose Guardino
2 years ago
Please pray for our daughter who is paralized, that she may walk again.
Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary
Oh most beautiful flower of Mt.Carmel,fruitful vine,splendor of Heaven, Blessed
Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity. Oh Star
of the Sea, help me and show me here you are my Mother, Oh Holy Mary,Mother
of God. Queen of Heavenand Earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my
heart to succor me in my necessities (make request). There are none that can withstand your power Oh Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee (three times) Holy Mary, I place this prayer in your hands ( three times). Say this prayer fro three consecutive days and then you must publish and it
will be granted to you.
Grateful thanks,

L.G. & R.G.
PetDelini
3 years ago
What if today was your last day??
dvanwiltenburg@gmail.com
3 years ago
O Mary concieved without sin,
Pray for us who have recource
to Thee.
May the Faithful Departed (Mom),
Through the mercy of God,
Rest in Peace. Amen
Doris Vanwiltenburg
3 years ago
Our Lady of Lourdes, performed a miracle.
When I was 16years old, I contracted Encephalitis from
a Mosquito Bite. It paralyzed
my Right Arm and Leg. I could
not control my bowel and bladder.
I was not able to speak.
The doctor told my parents that
I either remain in the state I was in, and never be able to be normal again, or I would DIE.
MOM (GOD REST HER SOUL), had a
very strong FAITH IN GOD.
HER FRIEND FROM WORK, WENT OM A PILGRAMAGE TO LOURDES. SHE HAD
FAITH THAT I WOULD BE CURED.
HER FRIEND HAD BROUGHT HOLY WATER FROM THE GROTTO AT LOURDES.
MANY PEOPLE PRAYED FOR ME, AND
THE WATER WAS PLACED UNDER MY
PILLOW. I WAS ABLE TO WALK AGAIN, AND SPEAK AGAIN, AND FEED
MYSELF, AND MY BOWEL AND BLADDER CONTROL...WELL, I GAINED THAT BACK TOO. PRAISE TO MY LORD AND
GOD! And I HAVE A SPECIAL DEVOTION TO MY BLESSED MOTHER.
I GOT MARRIED AND HAD 2 BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN (WHO ARE BOTH
ADULTS NOW). MY SON AND DAUGHTER-IN-LAW HAVE GIVEN ME THREE LITTLE ANGELIC GRANDCHILDREN.
ANGELA MARIE, HAS HER 5TH BIRTH-
DAY,TODAY! HER SIBLINGS ARE FRATERNAL TWINS, MICHAEL THE III,
AND HIS SISTER, MICHELLE. I ALWAYS THANK MY GOD FOR MY PRECIOUS FAMILY. MY DAUGHTER,
HAS ALSO MADE ME VERY PROUD OF HER,TOO. SHE IS A SUPERVISOR,
AT AN INTERIOR DECORATING COMPANY. SHE ALSO OWNS HER HOME,
AND A NEW CAR. BLESSED BE GOD
FOREVER!
Chantell
3 years ago
LOVE Our Lady of Lourdes!!!!
jay ess
4 years ago
reply to evita p arvisu:
www.lourdes-france.org
(surprising that one couldn�t find it, just enter word �Lourdes� in websearch)
Incidentally, I was at Lourdes 5 years ago � as part of pilgrimage (Fatima, Lourdes, Rome) � a very spiritual place, very pretty town with a lot of greenery (& a thousand shops for souvenir hunters!) � a memorable experience
evita p arvisu
4 years ago
which website for our lady of lourdes where you can write your petitions through e-mail
Mike
4 years ago
TheMiracleofStJoseph.org website has fascinating information about St.Bernadette.
Santo
4 years ago
Your insight to Lourdes is very interesting. I know there have been more than 67 miracles. I have had cancer since 2001 and I,m still around to pray to Jesus, Mary and Bernadette. For some reason I can relate to Bernadette and I think she is so0 popular is because so many ordinary people do the same. I just cant,t get her out of my mind, and I don,t want to either.

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