January-February 2015 Vol. 77 No. 3

A P UBLICATION OF THE CENTER • T HE MARIST FATHERS & B ROTHERS Some of the cures at Lourdes recognized as miraculous MISS VIRGINIE HAUDEBOURG MISS YVONNE FOURNIER OF LONS-LE SAULNIER OF LIMOGES Illness: Tuberculosis Nephritis and Cystitis Illness: Leriche’s Syndrome (traumatic) Age at, and date of cure: 22 / May 17, 1908 Age at, and date of cure: 22 / August 19, 1945

MRS. MARIE BIRE (Nee LUCAS) MRS. ROSE MARTIN (nee PERONA) OF STE-GEMME-LA-PLAINE OF NICE Illness: Blindness of Cerebral Origin, Bilateral Optic Atrophy Illness: Carcinoma of the Cervix Age at, and date of cure: 41 / August 5, 1908 Age at, and date of cure: 45 / July 3, 1947

MISS AIMEE ALLOPE MRS. JEANNE GESTAS OF VERN OF BEGLES Illness: Chronic Abdominal Fistulous Tuberculosis Illness: Adhesive Peritonitis Age at, and date of cure: 37 / May 28, 1909 Age at, and date of cure: 50 / August 22, 1947

MISS JULIETTE ORION MISS MARIE-THERESE CANIN OF ST-HILAIRE-DE-VOUST OF MARSEILLE Illness: Pulmonary and Laryngeal TB, suppurating L. Illness: Pott’s Disease of the Spine, TB Peritonitis Mastoidityis w/Fistulae Age at, and date of cure: 24 / July 22, 1910 Age at, and date of cure: 37 / October 9, 1947

MRS. MARIE FABRE MISS MADDALENA CARINI OF MONTREDON OF SAN REMO, ITALY Illness: Chronic Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Uterine Illness: Peritoncal/Pleuro-Pulmonary/Bone TB, Coronary Prolapse Disease Age at, and date of cure: 32 / September 26, 1911 Age at, and date of cure: 31 / August 15, 1948 Pilgrims Waiting to Enter Baths at Lourdes MISS HENRIETTE BRESSOLLES MISS JEANNE FRETEL OF NICE OF RENNES MISS LOUISE JAMAIN (MRS. MAITRE) Illness: Pott’s Disease with Paraplegia Illness: Tuberculous Peritonitis OF PARIS Age at, and date of cure: 30 / July 3, 1924 Age at, and date of cure: 34 / October 8, 1948 Illness: Pulmonary, Intestinal, and Peritoncal Tuberculosis Age at, and date of cure: 22 / April 1, 1937 MISS LYDIA BROSSE MISS THEA ANGELE (SR. MARIE-MERCEDES) OF ST-RAPHAEL OF TETTNANG, GERMANY MR. FRANCIS PASCAL Illness: Chronic TB abscesses with fistulae in buttocks, per - Illness: Multiple Sclerosis OF BEAUCAIRE ineum, bones Age at, and date of cure: 29 / May 20, 1950 Illness: Blindness and Paralysis of the Lower Limbs Age at, and date of cure: 41 / October 10, 1930 Age at, and date of cure: 3 years 10 months / August 28, 1938 MR. EVASIO GANORA SR. MARIE-MARGUERITE (FRANCOISE CAPITAINE) OF CASALE MISS GABRIELLE CLAUZEL OF RENNES Illness: Hodgkin’s Disease OF ORAN Illness: Chronic L. Renal Abscess with Cardiac Crises Age at, and date of cure: 37 / June 2, 1950 Illness: Rheumatic Spondylosis Age at, and date of cure: 64 / January 22, 1937 Age at, and date of cure: 49 / August 15, 1943 Continued on page 5 THE DIRECTOR ’S CORNER

faith. are real and they hap - My own little is that the pen. Blessed Mother answered our prayers Rev . A ndRew AlbeRt , S.M. to have her wall fixed. You, our gener - But to me one of the biggest mira - ous readers and supporters sent in Dear Friends of the Lourdes Center, cles is the reality of the of $51,050.00, enough to fix Mary’s wall. Lourdes itself! Think of it. On a cold A local Catholic company has been I am sure you have heard people say, February day in 1858 a 14 year old girl secured to do the work. It will be done “Oh I don’t believe in miracles.” I have from the little town of Lourdes in the in May, the month dedicated to Mary. I heard many people say that. I can’t southern part of went out with thank all of you who gave small or big understand how any believing Catholic two friends to get firewood for her donations, and all of you who prayed could say that. The gospels are full of father. At one point she sat down on a to the Blessed Mother so that this miracles. Jesus healing the paralyzed log to remove her shoes so she could would happen. man. Curing the ten lepers. Giving wade across a small brook. At that sight to the blind. And the miracle that point she heard a rustling sound at the So many of you write to me to say gives meaning to all miracles, Jesus’ base of a grotto not far from her. She how Mary has helped you in your life. own resurrection from the dead. Jesus looked up and saw a beautiful lady in How she provided cures for you. How who was seen dying on a cross – buried the grotto. The lady was dressed in fortunate we Catholics are to have such in a tomb and then came back to see white with a blue sash, and a loving mother. Mary Magdalen and the apostles. beads in her hands. Bernadette was naturally frightened but she did not run May you do everything you can to On the cover page is a partial list of away. She was totally focused on the share the GOOD NEWS of such a lov - miracles that occurred at the shrine of lady. This happened 18 times. ing mother. Do something special on Lourdes or as the result of people using Eventually Bernadette was told by the February 11th, the feast of water with faith or people lady to go tell the priest, “I want a Lourdes. praying to Our Lady of Lourdes. These church built here and you are to pray cures went through a rigorous examina - for the conversion of sinners.” And God bless you all, tion by doctors, , and those who what do we have today? The beautiful are charged with proving beyond any Holy , the giant under - doubt that these cures were indeed ground church of St. Pius X, housing Fr. Albert miraculous. These cures are only a few for the sick who come to Lourdes of the officially declared miraculous every year from all over the world. cures. The people involved run from There are over 6 million people that go the age of 3 to 64. The list gives you the to Lourdes every year. And that all city or town where the pilgrims were happened because a little girl of 14 did from and the disease that they were what the beautiful lady in white asked Our email address is: cured of. her to do. It almost sounds like a fairy [email protected] tale. But it wasn’t a fairy tale. It all [email protected] We all know that there are also many happened. That in itself is a miracle in “cures of conversion”, of restoration of my book. Our website is: www.lourdescenter.org

2 MARIST FATHERS & BROTHERS OF THE UNITED STATES ECHOES FROM LOURDES Who’s Number One in Our Lives? By Rev. Roland Lacasse, s.m.

When St. call your bluff. that You are the Messiah.” It took Bernadette One day when I was preaching at them a while, but eventually they was alive, it a weekend Mass in our Lourdes got there. was obvious Center Chapel, I asked the congre - When I was a pastor in various to anyone gation “How many of you, when cities, I used to publish in my bul - who observed you got up this morning, asked God letin a “Thought for the Week.” her that she ‘What can I do for you today?’” I One of them read: “Be patient with was not the was quick to confess, “I didn’t.” me. God isn’t finished with me ev olAnd AcASSe R . R l , S.M. most impor - No preacher lives what he preaches yet.” Anyone of us could say the tant person in her life. Psychologists 100%. We preach what we aspire same thing. And just as we would are quick to point out that true great - to be. In doing so, we are preach - like others to be patient with us, we ness lies in living for something ing to ourselves, as well as to the must try to be patient with them. greater than oneself. St. Bernadette congregation. Sometimes we are tempted to say grew to live for God and doing St. Bernadette was not canonized to others, “Why can’t you be more like God’s will, not her own. because the Blessed Virgin me?” Maybe, in time, they will be, but Some time ago, I had an interest - appeared to her, but because she only in God’s good time, not ours. As ing experience. I love history, and lived to do God’s will, not her own. Pope Francis once said, “Who am I to the History Channel on television She wasn’t born with a halo. She judge oth ers?” had a “Special” on at a time when I learned to live, not for herself, but The Saints have so much to was being called to prayer with my for God. It didn’t take her long to teach us. Yet, we refuse to turn to Community. I was tempted to pass do so, because she died at the them for inspiration. Our young up this call to prayer when I recalled young age of 35. Most of us will people have been sold “a bill of to mind a prayer I often repeat while need much longer than that. I sup - goods” as to whom they should saying a private Mass – “Lord, you pose that’s why they say that only look up to as heroes. They need to have always been #1 in my life, and the good die young. The Apostles learn the difference between a hero I pray that You will always be #1.” also needed time to become the and a celebrity. Hopefully, in So I decided to follow my own kind of people they eventually God’s good time, they will. advice, leave the program and join became. At one point in their lives, my confrères at prayer. Be careful the Bible quotes them as saying to what you pray for, because God may Jesus, “We have come to believe

ECHOES FROM LOURDES MARIST FATHERS & BROTHERS OF THE UNITED STATES 3 By Fr. Frank Grispino, S.M. THE THIRD GLORIOUS MYSTERY Holy Spirit Descends on the Apostles Acts 2, 1-4

hen Jesus was about to depart by the Holy Spirit who has been The power to do what he did inau - from this world to be with his given to us.” Romans 5, 5. gurated the priesthood of the New WFather in Heaven he promised to Testament. The old form of wor - send us the Holy Spirit: “...you will Eucharist ship, animal sacrifice, is rendered receive power when the Holy Spirit This sacrament was instituted by obsolete. The new has come. See comes upon you.” Acts 1,8 This prom - Christ at the last supper – the sacri - Luke 22, 19. An essential part of ise was fulfilled on Pentecost fice of his Body and Blood that the ceremony of ordination is the Sunday. perpetuates the one sacrifice of the imposition of hands and prayer of cross for us and our salvation. the invoking the Holy Spirit Continued from last issue Holy Communion is part of the for the gifts proper to the ministry sacrifice because it unites us with of priesthood. Matrimony the sacrifice of Christ. By sharing Jesus repeated the command in the Body and Blood we form one Conclusion given at the dawn of human creation Body with him. The Holy Spirit is We thank God that the life of to Adam and Eve when he said, the Sanctifier. He is invoked over Jesus lived in the flesh continues “…God made them male and the bread and wine at Mass, “Make his ministry in the Church through female. For this reason a man shall holy, therefore, these gifts, by send - the power of his Holy Spirit espe - leave his father and mother and the ing down your Spirit upon them cially through the celebration of two shall become one flesh. like the dewfall so that they may the seven sacraments. On a more Therefore what God has joined become for us the Body and Blood personal note, St. Paul gives us a together, no human being must sepa - of our Lord Jesus Christ.” The sure sign that we possess the Holy rate.” Mark 10, 6-9. Moreover, priest says these words while hands Spirit when he states that, “No one Jesus blessed the marriage at the are extended over the offerings, can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except by feast of Cana by his divine presence. demonstrating the immediate the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12,3. Marriage today is sanctified by the source of the Spirit. The same Spirit is active in the Spirit of Christ in the Sacrament of members of the Body of Christ in Matrimony. The grace of this sacra - Holy Orders/Priesthood various gifts of service. See 1 ment is the fostering of union When Christ instituted the Corinthians 12, 4-8; Romans 12, through love. Love is directly asso - Eucharist at the Last Supper he 4-8. Ask yourself what gift do I ciated with the Spirit, “The love of commanded it be done as a memo - God has been poured into our hearts rial of his death and resurrection. Continued on page 5

4 MARIST FATHERS & BROTHERS OF THE UNITED STATES ECHOES FROM LOURDES Fr. Grispino Miracles Continued from page 1 MISS MARIE BIGOT Continued from page 4 OF LA RICHARDAIS MISS EDELTRAUT FULDA (MRS. HAIDINGER) Illness: Arachnoiditis of Posterior Foss (Blind, Deaf, Hemiplegic) OF VIENNA, AUSTRIA Age at, and date of cure: 31 / October 8, 1953 and October 10, 1954 have that is meant to benefit others? Illness: Addison’s Disease Think again, you may have more Age at, and date of cure: 34 / August 12, 1950 MISS GINETTE NOUVEL (nee FABRE) than one! Oh, by the way, there are OF CARMAUX MR. PAUL PELLEGRIN Illness: Budd-Chiari Disease (hepatic Vein Thrombosis) nine fruits of the Holy Spirit: OF TOULON Age at, and date of cure: 26 / September 21, 1954 “Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Illness: Post-Operative Fistulae Following a Liver Abscess Kindness, Generosity, Faithfulness, Age at, and date of cure: 52 / October 3, 1950 Continued on page 7 Gentleness, and Self-control.” BROTHER LEO SCHWAGER Galatians 5, 22-23. Do you see OF FRIBOURG, SWITZERLAND Illness: Multiple Sclerosis Purgatorials yourself reflected in any of these? Age at, and date of cure: 28 / April 30, 1952

God bless you: MRS. ALICE COUTEAULT (nee GOURDON) for OF BOUILLE-LORETZ The Father, Son and the Illness: Multiple Sclerosis Holy Spirit. Age at, and date of cure: 34/ May 15, 1952 the Deceased

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each year your enrolled deceased and loved ones are remembered during the 365 daily Masses celebrated by the Marist Fathers. An attractive certificate framed in a blue fold - er with a colorful picture of our lady is sent to the donor or recipient.

ECHOES FROM LOURDES MARIST FATHERS & BROTHERS OF THE UNITED STATES 5 We have been notified that the following friends of the Lourdes Center have M.E. I am writing to request passed away. Please join us in remembering them in your prayers. prayer for my daughter who has a JOSEPH BERNING, MN MARGARET WOHLRAB, NJ stubborn infection on one of her GENEVIEVE BERNING, MN FLORENCE WALDHOFF, IL EILEEN HEIMANN, NE MOLLY DAVIS, CA feet. She was diagnosed with SR. CONNIE SONNEN, ID SR. MARIE BERNADETTE, WI CARMELLA COGGIANO, LA LOUIS MUNTIMURI, RI Diabetes Type II last year and this DENNIS ROGERS EDWARD WALSH, NH makes it difficult for her body to STUART DUNN, AL LORRAINE PARADISE, IL CHARLOTTE NUGENT, MO MISS ANN SUM, NY fight off infection. She was wearing JOSEPHINE FILL, FL SR. MARY EYMARD CAMPEGGIO, IN RUTHANN AUGUSTINE, WI IRENE SPILKA, CT sandals that did not fit properly so CECILA VALDEZ, HI GLENN ADAMS, CA SOPHIE, M. PASCHAL, IL ROSALEEN MCBRIDE, IL they were slapping against the bot - JOSEFA RANGEL, AZ WILLIE MAY HOLECEK, TX tom of her foot, where there was a CATHERINE M. O’KONEK, MN MARIE PEAK, VA ROBERT PINKELMAN, OH DOROTHY KARUNTZOS, CA deep callous. One day she was KELLY FAURIES, LA KATHY COPPOLA, MA HAZEL JONES, LA MR. & MRS. LOWELL MILLER, PA doing a lot more walking than MARY JO CADIGAN, PA MRS. FRANCIS TADDONIO, PA MARCELLA MONTGOMERY WILKES, TX MARY M. BURNS, NJ usual and she didn’t notice that the REV. EDWARD BLEE, S.M., CA MARGARET DUNPHY, NJ KELLEY FAVRIES, LA JANE MCCORMACK, NY bottom of her foot had cracked RAYMOND HONURA, MA ROZETTA CLARKE, IL open and was bleeding. She hadn’t MORRIS E. MARTIN, ND PAUL SHIPMAN, OH BERNADINE LAWLOR, TX REV. LOUIS VOORHIES, LA kept up with the creme her derma - HARRY MATTHEWS, PA MARY ANN MADDEN, OH HELEN HURLEY, OH MARIETTA THOMAS, ME tologist told her to use so the feet, ELIZABETH OVITT, CT NINA DESIMONE, NY including the callous, were dry and KATHLEEN LUSHBAUGH, OH LILLIAN POITRA, ND susceptible to cracking. She is very discouraged and I am worried that on top of all of this, she will lose Do you know someone who would faith in Christ’s healing. Please like to receive Echoes from Lourdes? pray that she will allow us to pour Give them a FRee SUbScRIPtIon! the Lourdes Water on her injured Send their names and addresses. Use a separate sheet if necessary. foot. IL

R.O. I want to thank Our Lady for her intervention in my life and also acknowledge the work you do at the Lourdes Center in helping people receive blessings from the E-mail the information to: [email protected] MAIL it to: Lourdes Water and from realizing Lourdes Center the powerful intercession of Our P.O. Box 15575 698 Beacon Street, , MA 02215-2594 Mother in Heaven and her help with all of our problems. TX 6 MARIST FATHERS & BROTHERS OF THE UNITED STATES ECHOES FROM LOURDES Miracles Continued from page 5 MISS ELISA ALOI (nee VARACALLI) OF PATTI, ITALY Illness: TB, Arthritis with Multiple Fistulae Right Lower Limb Age at, and date of cure: 27 / June 5, 1958

MISS JULIETTE TAMBURINI OF MARSEILLES Illness: Femoral Osteomyelitis with Fistulae and Epistaxes Age at, and date of cure: 22 / July 17, 1959

MR. VITTORIO MICHELI OF SCURELLE, ITALY Illness: Sarcoma of Pelvis Age at, and date of cure: 23 / June 1, 1963

MR. SERGE PERRIN OF LION D’ANGERS Illness: Multiple Stroke Syndrome Age at, and date of cure: 41 / May 1, 1970

MISS DELIZIA CIROLLI OF PATERNO, ITALY Illness: Ewing’s Sarcoma of Right Knee Age at, and date of cure: 12 / December 24, 1976

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...is an expression Please send ______bottles of the Remembrance in 50 Masses of my faith... water from the Shrine at lourdes yearly and at our my trust in God’s weekly Perpetual novena mercy. Name (PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY) Offering to cover shipping & (Please Print Clearly) Requested by: handling $ ______Address N.B. A donation of $3.00 per City Phone No: bottle is suggested to cover our expenses. When the offer - State Zip Offering: 1 year $2.00, ing permits, we use Priority 3 years $5.00 Lifetime $10.00 Mail. We will accept orders of Does this person receive Lourdes Echoes? 1-3-5-6-and 10 bottles. For __ Yes __ No Name multiples thereof and for Address unusual numbers requested, If not, should we send Lourdes Echoes to them? __ Yes __ No City we reserve the right to send what is both just and feasible. PLEASE ALLOW 3-6 WEEKS FOR DELIVERY State Zip

ECHOES FROM LOURDES MARIST FATHERS & BROTHERS OF THE UNITED STATES 7 lourdes center Marist Fathers Lourdes Bureau P.O. Box 15575 698 Beacon Street Boston, MA 02215-2594 617-536-2761 Address Service www.lourdescenter.org Requested [email protected]

lourdes echoes Published bi-monthly to promote devotion of Our Lady and interest in her shrine at Lourdes.

Director: Rev. Andrew Albert, S.M. Asst. Director: Rev. Roland Lacasse, S.M. Printed with Ecclesiastical Approval