Healing ‘gift’ from Lourdes visit frees ALS victim from wheelchair

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Comments: 22

The grotto at Lourdes where the Blessed Mother appeared to St. Bernadette

Turin, Italy, Aug 25, 2009 / 12:03 am (CNA).- A woman who suffered from a severe nerve disease now no longer uses her wheelchair and has even gone for a run, after she visited to Lourdes earlier in August. The woman credits the baths at Lourdes for the ‘gift’ of her improved health.

Antonia Raco, 50, had been in a wheelchair for four years because of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. She made a trip to the shrine at Lourdes on August 5.

''Ever since I came back I have been walking, doing everything normally, and I've even run,'' Raco told ANSA.
Raco, who is from a village near the southern Italian city of Potenza, said she would rather talk about the change as “a gift, an act of mercy, rather than a miracle.”

She reported to ANSA that when she was in the healing bath at Lourdes, “I felt a voice encouraging me and a strong pain in my legs.”

On Tuesday, Raco will be examined by a specialist at the prestigious Molinette Hospital in Turin. The hospital’s specialist, Adriano Chiro, has been treating her since 2006, according to Italian news reports.

Lourdes, France has been the site of pilgrimage and devotion since the 1858 Marian visions of peasant girl St. Bernadette Soubirous at a grotto.

Following the guidance of the Virgin Mary, Bernadette scraped away soil besides the grotto until a spring of water began trickling out.

The spring produces 27,000 gallons of water every day. Many miracles have been attributed to the shrine’s waters and Our Lady of Lourdes.

Comments: 22

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Kelly Thundercloud
Richfield, Wi, USA 11/09/2009 01:58 AM EST

This is amazing, as are all stories dealing with the extraordinary power of God! My uncle was cured of cancer after my grandmother secretly sprinkled some Lourdes water onto him. I believe it with all my heart and soul! If we all can have true faith and trust in God and Jesus Christ, we will all find miracles in our lives!

Published by: John Paul
Mumbai,Maharashtra, India 09/15/2009 04:51 AM EST

Miracles, healings, conversions, change of hearts - all good things are possible at Lourdes, chosen place of Mary, Mother of God. If Mary's "Yes" to God's Word/plan became alive in her womb & God's Son, a Savior/Redeemer is born for our salvation, is anything difficult to happen at Lourdes or any other places of her Apparations? Her "yes" to God's plan is the key to the loving/merciful heart of God!

Published by: Gertie
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India 09/15/2009 04:19 AM EST

Our beloved Mother of sorrows, on this day I pray you to plead your Son Jesus for my family. You are in the presence of Holy Trinity with St Joseph and with all Angels/Saints, on this day of your 7 sorrow" I pray you to pl. intercede for my son's healing-emotional/spiritual/physical with a good job soon. Plead Jesus to reveal to my son His plan for his future. I have been praying for 29 yrs.Help me & my fly. not to lose faith/hope.Obtain graces/blessings for my family.

Published by: Nancy Ferri
North Richland Hills, Texas USA 08/29/2009 12:22 PM EST

We needed this miracle! We must never stop believing that God can do all things and uses Mary, Quean of Heaven. ALS is so very horrible, My husband lost his life to it. I brought him to the waters of Lordes. He was given the gift of peace to accept his soon to be death. PRAISE GOD!!

Published by: frances marievincent
NYC 08/27/2009 03:35 PM EST

I am elated for the woman who can now run. It is wonderful to read about heaven touching earth. Mary can cure our world which has lost the sense of God, and, in turn, has brought us almost to our breaking point.

Published by: athanas kengere
Nairobi Kenya 08/27/2009 04:26 AM EST

thank you Jesus. Thank you Holy Queen of Heaven for caring for your children.thank you for prayers on behalf of needful families like mine -Amen.

Published by: james antony
chennai , Tamil Nadu;, INdia 08/27/2009 04:25 AM EST

Praise God,Hail Holy gueen mother of mercy,Hail mary full of Grace, god be with you Blessed are though among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb

james

Published by: Margaret Larrivee
Trenton, ON Canada 08/27/2009 04:22 AM EST

If only all people could believe and accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
He has so many gifts for all His children who follow His Way, THE ONLY WAY. When we believe, our faith makes everything possible. Thank you Lord for the mercy you have shown to us all.
ML

Published by: shanasfo
WV, USA 08/26/2009 09:23 PM EST

Both my mother and my sister died of ALS. There is no cure and no regeneration of nerves with this dreaded disease, no hope of recovery remission or cure from a medical standpoint. This is such a great miracle that this woman has been given!

Blessed be God in His angels and in His Saints, and most especially in the humility and maternal love of the most Blessed Virgin Mary.

Published by: Julia Amateis
St.George,Utah United States 08/26/2009 02:47 PM EST

All Glory and honor and praise to our God who loves us more than we can imagine.

Published by: Bruce
Illinois 08/26/2009 10:07 AM EST

How prudent to call it a "gift." Doctors can say its unexplained medically. Theologians can judge it as attributeable to God alone, but only the Pope can declare something a miracle - a supernatural intervention, beyond the power of the angels or any other created nature. A loose use of "miracle" destroys its meaning, especially before unbelievers.

Published by: Anthony J. Casper
Ft. Worth, Texas USA 08/26/2009 08:38 AM EST

Blessed be Our Mother Mary. She takes care of us.

Published by: Raoul
Dubai 08/25/2009 11:58 PM EST

Hail queen of heaven,the Ocean star
Guide of the wanderer here below.
Thrown on lifes surge,we claim thy care
Save us from peril and from woe.
Mother of Christ,star ofthe sea
Pray for the wanderer,pray for me.

Published by: Patric
KY USA 08/25/2009 04:28 PM EST

And yet there are atheists...

Published by: Maribel
florida 08/25/2009 01:42 PM EST

I praise and thanks Jesus Christ for his mercy. Blessed be His Precense and Blessed be His Mother, Maria, Mother of God and our Celestial Mother.

Amen

Published by: Roy S. Tenn
Miami, Florida 08/25/2009 12:37 PM EST

This is great news.I remermer the Irish singer David Parks was immediately cured of Crohns disease when he was prayed over by Fr. Rookey an old priest.

Maybe Michael J. Fox the Canadian actor should visit Lourdes for a healing of his Parkinsons disease.

Published by: Regina
Ohio USA 08/25/2009 12:34 PM EST

Thanks be to God!! Why not call it a miracle for that is what is was.

Published by: Sister Margaret Sutton
Omaha NE 68124 -1738 08/25/2009 10:07 AM EST

All praise and glory to God!!!
And thanks through Mary!!!

Published by: Elaine
Iselin, NJ USA 08/25/2009 08:50 AM EST

Praise be GOD the Father, GOD the Son and GOD the Holy Spirit. A friend of mine ---- also in a wheelchair --- was able to walk after the pouring of Lourdes Water over his body.

Published by: Jo Daigle
Plaquemine,La. USA 08/25/2009 08:43 AM EST

I was blesed to go to Lourdes in 1999. What a beautiful and very peaceful shrine it is. When I went into the baths I experienced a spiritual cleansing and went immediately in search of a priest. I encourage everyone that can to please visit this beautiful place. Another gift from God.

Published by: Joseph Wagner
Sarasota f.l. 34238 usa 08/25/2009 07:53 AM EST

I believe it happened

Joe Wagner

Published by: Stella
Sabah Malaysia 08/25/2009 07:03 AM EST

TRULY GOD IS WONDERFUL. AMEN

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