Mary always responds
So Father Peter decided to sit in a corner of the room and pray his Rosary. He thought about the words of Saint Clement Hafbauer, the Apostle of Vienna: "When I visit a dying person, I say my Rosary, and it's never in vain. None of them end up dying without receiving the last sacraments."
Again the priest approached the dying man who was nearing the end, but gathering his last strength he lifted himself up and shouted: "In the triple name of Satan, the answer is no!"
Without losing patience, Father Peter took his rosary and told the Mother of God in a tone of supplication: "In our church we have many ex-votos with the inscription of ‘Mary has answered our prayer.’ If you let this poor sin-ner go to eternity without the last sacraments, I will set up a plaque with the inscription ‘Mary did not answer me’!"
Then he approached the dying man one last time by presenting him with a crucifix and saying: "Do you know the one who gave his life for men?" First a silence, then this reply: "Our Lord Jesus Christ!" And miraculously, the man kissed the crucifix several times with great fervor and asked for the Holy Viaticum, before peacefully passing away. In gratitude, Father Peter placed an ex-voto in his church with this inscription: ‘Mary always responds.’
Karl Maria Harrer (1926-2013), German priest and writer . From Die schönsten Mariengeschichten (Collection of the most beautiful Marian stories)
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Pray for healing with this novena to Our Lady of Lourdes
Our Lady of Lourdes is known to intercede for both spiritual and physical healing. Jesus is known as the "Divine Physician," and while on earth he healed numerous people. God desires to heal our wounds and has left us various ways to be brought to full health. Over the past century God has intervened on countless occasions through the intercession of Our Lady of Lourdes. Besides going on pilgrimage to the shrine in France, many have been healed from afar, simply by praying to the Virgin Mary. No one is ever guaranteed a cure, but for someone who has a strong faith and trust in God, no matter what the end result might be, anything is possible.
Below is a novena prayer to Our Lady of Lourdes that can be prayed for nine consecutive days for the healing of a friend or family member, or maybe your own personal healing.
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Be blessed, O most pure Virgin, for having vouchsafed to manifest your shining with life, sweetness and beauty, in the Grotto of Lourdes, saying to the child, St. Bernadette: "I am the Immaculate Conception." A thousand times we congratulate you upon your Immaculate Conception. And now, O ever Immaculate Virgin, Mother of mercy, Health of the sick, Refuge of sinners, Comforter of the afflicted, you know our wants, our troubles, our sufferings; deign to cast upon us a look of mercy.
By appearing in the Grotto of Lourdes, you were pleased to make it a privileged sanctuary, whence you dispense your favours, and already many have obtained the cure of their infirmities, both spiritual and physical. We come, therefore, with the most unbounded confidence to implore your maternal intercession. Obtain for us, O loving Mother, the granting of our request. (state your request)
Through gratitude for your favours, we will endeavour to imitate your virtues, that we may one day share your glory. Our Lady of Lourdes, Mother of Christ, you had influence with your divine son while upon earth. You have the same influence now in Heaven. Pray for us; obtain for us from your Divine Son our special requests if it be the Divine Will. Amen.
Philip Kosloski, Aleteia, Jul 17, 2019
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