IMPELMAN: Miracle stories

Candles are seen around a statue of Mary in the grotto at the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in France in this file photo. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)May is quickly drawing to a close; a month in the life of the Church dedicated to the Virgin Mary. This month has brought back memories of an opportunity I had last summer when I made a pilgrimage to Lourdes, France. In 1858, Mary appeared there to St. Bernadette over a period of six months. Lourdes is now one of the most popular Marian pilgrimage sites and is visited by over 3 million people annually.

Why are so many people drawn to Lourdes every year? During her ninth vision, St. Bernadette was instructed to “go and drink at the spring and wash yourself there…” She was confused as there was no flow of water where Mary indicated, but miraculously, within days, a trickle of water appeared at the site and turned into a flowing spring. Since that day, Lourdes has become known for the number of physical and spiritual healings that take place there, mostly related to this water. 

While at Lourdes, I had the opportunity to personally meet Antonia Raco. A working-class Italian woman now in her 60s, 20 years earlier, she began to experience symptoms that were eventually diagnosed as Primary Lateral Sclerosis, a disease like Lou Gehrig’s (ALS). In 2009, she was brought by volunteers from an Italian pilgrimage organization to Lourdes.

At that time, she was no longer able to walk and was confined to a wheelchair. After bathing in the spring waters at Lourdes, she experienced incredible pain in her legs, even though previously she no longer had any feeling left in them. Antonia heard a voice telling her, “Do not be afraid!” 

Accompanied by volunteers from the pilgrimage organization, she made the train ride back to her home in Italy. When she returned to her apartment to be reunited with her husband, she got out of the wheelchair and walked! In surprise and shock, her husband actually fainted at the sight. 

The same week I happened to be in Lourdes, the medical doctor who heads the Office of Medical Observations of the Sanctuary of Lourdes was holding a press conference about Antonia Raco. Her healing was being declared the 72nd official miracle of Lourdes; it had been determined that her cure was unexpected, complete, lasting and medically unexplained according to current medical knowledge. 

I will never forget hearing Antonia testify about her experience! When asked why she thought God had specifically chosen to cure her among the thousands who come to Lourdes seeking physical healing, she said she had no idea, but with great humility, she witnessed to the power of God’s love. She described how she seeks out every opportunity to share her story to bring others closer to God. She now journeys annually to Lourdes as a volunteer to serve others with joy and deep gratitude. 

Since returning from Lourdes, I have told many people about Antonia and have shared how touched I was by her miracle. She has inspired me to share more openly about my own miracles in my life following Christ. Although I have not experienced a physical healing in the same way that Antonia did, I can recall many moments in my life where I had a profound sense of God’s love and felt reassured to “not be afraid.” 

These experiences were not as dramatic as Antonia’s experience, but they were still moments of true grace. Antonia has inspired me to share about the power of God’s healing in my own life. By openly testifying about our experiences, we can encourage others to see how God is also working in their lives. ​

Mary Impelman serves as a campus minister at the Rice Catholic Student Center.