Forty years ago, we came to Lourdes for the first time. We were living in England and Mark was flying for the U.S. Air Force serving at RAF Upper Heyford. We had lost our first child to miscarriage three years prior while living in South Korea. Adding heartbreak to that loss, we continued to struggle with infertility. There seemed to be no solution that could be uncovered through medical intervention and so it was that we found ourselves stuck with no solutions. We had been praying with intensity for years and giving it all over to Mother Mary through many rosaries. It was through her intercession, after all, that Mark and I met in the first place. We knew that she would again intercede for us.

My parents had written asking if they could visit us in England but with the purpose of also going to France to the Shrine at Lourdes. My father was paralyzed while I was a child. He never walked again. My parents possessed a great love and devotion to our Lady and it was this deep love and practice of their Catholic faith which helped them both through the unexpected crisis. We readily agreed to accompany them to Lourdes as we too, were hoping for a miracle.

We spent three days in Lourdes in prayer, taking the baths, and walking the treacherous Stations of the Cross with a wheelchair to maneuver on the steep declines.

Lourdes is a beautiful, peaceful and joyful place of prayer. We departed and then toured Europe spending a few days each in the various neighboring countries before they departed back home to the states.

Nine months later our oldest son, Christopher Michael was born in England. Our prayers were answered once again! Four more children followed in short order. So grateful and blessed we are!

That little miracle, Christopher and his wife Trisha, just delivered our fifteenth grandchild and their second son. All these blessings began here in Lourdes and Mary’s loving intercession.

It is here we return to say thank you to Our Lady in person, at the place where it all began.

Recently we saw an Irish movie titled, The Miracle Club, about 4 women’s journey to Lourdes and the back stories which brought them there. The Irish priest who accompanied them said this impactful statement, “Sometimes the miracle at Lourdes is receiving the grace to go on when there is no miracle.” God works in mysterious ways. His ways are not our own. We must trust and rely on God to fulfill our prayers in the way He thinks best and to trust He always operates for our good. We cannot judge results only by our human eyes when we do not see our desired results.

Why did we get a miracle, and my father who had suffered much more, didn’t? Perhaps we did not recognize the miracle because it happened within, or God had a different plan.

May we continue to pray and long for miracles knowing we are heard, and that our Heavenly Father who knows what is best for us, at the perfect time, is taking care of everything. After all, we believe in the God of impossibilities.

SCRIPTURE REFLECTION :”Jesus said to him, “‘If you can!’ Everything is possible to one who has faith.” Then the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe, help my unbelief!”

Have you ever prayed really hard for something and didn’t get the answer you were hoping for? We all have. I believe the problem isn’t God not listening. I’ve heard it said that God always answers our prayers; sometimes he says yes, sometimes not now, or sometimes He says no, because I have something better for you. Let us learn to trust the infinite wisdom and love of our Father.