Mary's choice

Photograph taken by Lumiere Volunteer Britain
and used with kind permission

Luky
Mary's choice
Bernadette of Lourdes was chosen by the Mother of God as Her special messenger to tell the world of the need of prayer and sacrifice.
As a token of Bernadette's credibility, Our Lady showed her a spring which continues flowing to this day and whose waters have cured many from illness and disease.

Keener vision
Yet I doubt whether those of you who have been to Lourdes will dispute the fact that whereas it is generally illness which brings us there, it is our religious belief which becomes the chief beneficiary of our sojourn.
Francois Mauriac says: "I cannot walk a few steps in Lourdes without asking myself what I believe and what I don't."

Little heaven
The magnificent background of Pyrenees succeeds in providing beauty and the devotion of the people leads one to believe that Bernadette spoke for many besides herself when she said in uncharacteristic outburst: "The Grotto was my heaven."
When in Lourdes again, I was delighted and proud to be recognised by the Grotto chaplain.
I knew him, of course, but was hesitant to approach.
They meet so many people.
He hastened forward with outstretched hand, exclaiming: "Ah! So you came back!"
Ah, so I did.
How could I fail to, having once known this beautiful place!

Catherine Nicolette;
The Power of Lourdes
I have been to Lourdes twice. 
Once with Mom on a pilgrimage when I had just turned seventeen.
And once, many years later.
The first time I went, I was youthful and strong, full of hopes and prayers for the future.
My purpose was pilgrimage, to find out what God wanted me to do with my life.
I received great blessing during my pilgrimage to Lourdes.

The Second Time
The second time I went, I was in my forties, in severe pain and struggling to walk.
My purpose was to ask for physical healing.
When I got to the Piscines later in the day, there were too many pilgrims to be assisted, so I was requested to come back the next morning.
I was there at Dawn the next day, two hours before the Piscines opened.
When the Bath Attendants came out, the tears began flowing from my eyes.
The other pilgrims who were waiting helped me to walk to the front of the queue and gave up their places for me.
No instant miracle happened that day.
When I left the Piscines, I still walked as slowly.
My left arm and hand still would not move.
The pain was still there.
Yet the cloud over me had lifted. I somehow knew I would get through the illness.

After leaving Lourdes, I found the diagnosis I sought from a dedicated doctor in South Africa and received amazing Ayurvedic treatment in India which restored my almost paralyzed left arm and slow legs to full mobility.

Gifts
That day in Lourdes, I received the gifts of courage and strength to face all my illness would challenge me with.

And, it would seem, a new gift of healing hands . . .


Lourdes apparitions
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lourdes_apparitions

With thanks to Wikipedia