Dear friends of Fr. Benedict,

From Trinity Retreat

Thursday August 12, 2004

If you have had the opportunity to follow these little messages for the past few days, you will recall that I have been talking about Healing Fire of Christ by Father Paul Glynn. Various people have written books against the miracles at Lourdes and against miracles in general. Often the most sympathetic say that cures occurred but they were the result of psychological hysteria. The people were not ill in the first place.
The medical bureau at Lourdes has been very careful to avoid the publication of any miracles without tangible and clear physical evidence. Nonetheless, some writers who have never visited Lourdes or even interviewed a person related to a miracle continue to impugn the honesty of the doctors in the medical bureau.
In Glynn’s book there is an extremely interesting chapter, “The Healing of Small Children.” Anyone knows that a small child or an infant cannot respond psychologically to the news that they are being taken to a shrine or to the excitement surrounding a shrine. There would be no possibility of a child under two years of age having any understanding where they were. In chapter 8 of Glynn’s book several cases are discussed. One is the case of Guy Leydet, who at the age of five was stricken with meningo-encephalitis, a disease that ruins the nervous system and which left him brain-damaged, paralyzed in arms and legs. He could not recognize his mother or feed himself. He could only make guttural sounds. His family spent a small fortune on various therapies, which turned out to be useless. On October 6, 1946, his mother brought him to the baths at Lourdes, and his father knelt outside in prayer. When the boy was taken from the bath, which contains very cold water from the underground spring, he opened eyes and looked around. As he did, he began to relate to his mother. When he was taken home several days later, the doctors who had treated him were dumbfounded. Later he was brought for a complete examination at the Lourdes Medical Bureau.
Some children cured at Lourdes, such as Yvonne Aumaitre, are actually the children of physicians. You would do well to read these marvelous accounts. As Ruth Cranston, the Protestant authority on Lourdes has pointed out, and as Franz Werfel, the Jewish popularizer of Lourdes made evident, in a world filled with darkness and pain everyone should be interested when God lifts the mantle of sorrow and intervenes directly in a person’s life. It doesn’t happen all the time. It doesn’t even happen frequently, but in particular cases God in His divine providence may choose to call a person back from certain death and from lethal physical symptoms in order that His divine power and mercy may be known. All of the people cured at Lourdes who lived long enough eventually died, as we all must. Our Savior Jesus Christ died because this world is not our final destination. It is important to remember that as we journey through this world, God may use some of us to show His divine power and benevolence.

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To be honest this is the first time, I am actually writing to you via email. I usually come to this website often. I just moved to Tennessee from NYC. I had gone on several retreats with the friars. I had heard about Youth 2000 but I had no idea about the CFRs. A friend at WYD Toronto told me that I should find out about Youth 2000NY and I am glad I did. I have to be honest I never saw the videos on the webpages until today. I just got a computer and downloaded the software to be able to see it. I loved seeing the final vows of the friars!! (I bawled like a baby!) It was great to see and I was also able to hear the music! Made me realize how much I miss the friars and I hope that they would consider coming to the University of Tennessee in Knoxville...(retreat??? any takers??) I would say definitely keep the internet page up. It has provided a sort of comfort zone. A place where I can go to read some inspiring messages...we need places like this on the web. There is plenty of "bad" stuff online we need more of the "good" stuff. Perhaps, one day of the week could be like Q&A type forum where people can ask questions about the Catholic faith, traditions, or to discuss the latest issues in the Catholic community. I for one, grew up in a Catholic household, went to CCD but did not understand my Catholic faith until I met the Little Sisters of the Poor. They taught me to say the rosary, the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. I was 15 when I met them. Before that church was just something I did. It was a routine...I did not know any better but I am guessing that I might not be the only one. There is still alot I have to learn.....Okay well I hope this helps. Thank you for EVERYTHING!!! - Ciao, Tennesse

You are the first person I have heard to speak of Saint Bernadette and Our Lady's Appearance at Lourdes in many, many years. I think that few priest ever share this story of our Lady, or others, from the pulpit. It's a shame that so many young people are deprived of this appearance. I have always found it so encouraging. Thank you for telling us about the new book by Father Glynn. God bless you as you continue to do His work. - Bill, New Jersey

Send your greetings to Fr. Benedict