December 18, 2024

Miracles

I met a miracle : the story of John Traynor, miraculously cured at Lourdes

Mother & Refuge09 mins

The Astonishing Miracle of John Traynor: From Broken Veteran to Lourdes Pilgrim On September 10, 1937, Reverend Patrick O’Connor, a missionary of St. Columban, found himself face-to-face with a miracle in the bustling railway station of a French town. That miracle had a name—John Traynor. Towering at five feet ten, with a strong ruddy face and a burly frame, Traynor’s presence stood out. Yet, his mere ability to stand and move, let alone his robust health, was nothing short of miraculous. Years earlier, medical science had written him off as an incurable wreck, destined to remain paralyzed, epileptic, and riddled with unhealing wounds. But by God’s grace, through the intercession of Our Lady of Lourdes, John Traynor defied the laws of nature. His story, painstakingly verified by newspaper accounts, official medical reports, and eyewitness testimonies, is a testament to faith, perseverance, and the miraculous power of Lourdes. John Traynor’s Early Life and Military Service Born in Liverpool to Irish parents, John Traynor grew up in a home steeped in Catholic faith. His mother, a devout daily communicant, left him a legacy of deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. When World War I erupted in 1914, Traynor was mobilized with the Royal Naval Reserve. During the ill-fated Antwerp expedition, he was severely injured, suffering a head wound from shrapnel. Although he miraculously recovered and returned to duty, his service took him to Gallipoli in 1915, where his life would change forever. At Gallipoli, Traynor faced one of the deadliest battles of the war. Leading men through relentless gunfire, he was struck by machine-gun bullets that wounded his chest, head, and right arm. Despite the bravery that earned him the respect of his comrades, these injuries left him permanently disabled. His right arm was paralyzed, his legs partly immobile, and his skull bore a gaping hole where shrapnel had damaged his brain. Frequent epileptic fits compounded his suffering. By 1923, eight years after Gallipoli, he was declared incurably incapacitated by no less than ten doctors. A Pilgrimage of Faith In July 1923, news of a diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes reached Traynor. Despite his critical condition, he resolved to make the journey, trusting in the Blessed Virgin’s intercession. His decision faced stiff resistance. Doctors warned he would likely die en route, and even the priest organizing the pilgrimage begged him to reconsider. Traynor, however, remained steadfast. “If I die, I’ll die in a good cause,” he said. With the help of neighbors, Traynor scraped together the funds for the trip, even pawning his wife’s few pieces of jewelry. Against all odds, and amid protests from family, friends, and doctors, he embarked on the arduous journey to Lourdes. The pilgrimage itself was grueling. Traynor, severely weakened, suffered multiple epileptic fits and hemorrhages along the way. At several points, attendants feared he wouldn’t survive the journey. Upon arrival in Lourdes, his condition remained critical. Yet, despite the odds, Traynor insisted on participating in all devotions, including being bathed in the waters of the Grotto spring. The Miracle at Lourdes On July 25, 1923, Traynor was wheeled to the baths for what seemed to be his final attempt at healing. His legs, long paralyzed, suddenly began to move violently. Those attending him feared another epileptic seizure. When he was placed in the bath, Traynor experienced a surge of strength. Later that day, during the Blessed Sacrament procession, Archbishop of Rheims blessed him with the monstrance. At that moment, Traynor realized something extraordinary. His right arm, paralyzed since 1915, began to move. The atrophied muscles regained life, and he was able to make the sign of the cross for the first time in years. He stood up, walked unaided, and felt his body restored. His wounds healed, his strength returned, and the epileptic fits ceased completely. The paralytic, the man declared incurable by doctors, was whole again. Medical Verification and the Testimony of Faith Traynor’s healing wasn’t just a matter of personal testimony. His case was thoroughly examined by six doctors, including specialists from England, France, and Belgium. Their official report confirmed the permanence of his cure. The Catholic Medical Bureau in Lourdes declared it a genuine miracle, attributing his recovery to divine intervention through the intercession of Our Lady. What makes Traynor’s story even more compelling is his character. Far from seeking fame, he remained humble, deeply devoted to his faith, and committed to living as a fearless Catholic. His miraculous healing inspired countless others, becoming a beacon of hope for those who suffer and a testament to the power of prayer. Legacy of a Miracle John Traynor’s journey from a broken veteran to a living miracle is a story of unwavering faith and God’s boundless mercy. It reminds us of the Blessed Virgin Mary’s loving intercession and the grace available through the sacraments and devotions of the Church. Today, Traynor’s story continues to inspire Catholics worldwide, a powerful reminder that no matter how dire our circumstances, God’s healing hand can work wonders when we trust in Him. As the Reverend Patrick O’Connor, who documented Traynor’s story, aptly said: “It was a grace to hear and a duty to recall.” Indeed, the miracle of John Traynor remains a profound testament to the enduring power of faith.  

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Why Sr. Lucia did not see the Miracle of the Sun at Fatima

Mother & Refuge02 mins

While a large group of people witnessed the sun “dance” on October 13, 1917 near Fatima, Portugal, the three shepherd children did not see the miracle. Sr. Lucia explains in her memoirs that the visionaries saw a different apparition. After our Lady had disappeared into the immense distance of the firmament, we beheld St. Joseph with the Child Jesus and Our Lady robed in white with a blue mantle, beside the sun. St. Joseph and the Child Jesus seemed to bless the world, for they traced the Sign of the Cross with their hands. When, a little later, this apparition disappeared, I saw Our Lord and Our Lady; it seemed to me to that it was Our Lady of Sorrows (Dolors). Our Lord appeared to bless the world in the same manner as St. Joseph had done. This apparition also vanished, and I saw Our Lady once more, this time resembling Our Lady of Carmel.   This vision was only seen by the children, while the crowd was witnessing the sun “dance.” It is believed that the “dancing sun” was meant to inspire belief in the unbelieving crowd, while Our Lady had a different message for the visionaries. Read more…  

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Michael H. Brown on the Vatican’s Historic Medjugorje Approval!

Mother & Refuge01 mins

Join Michael Brown live to breakdown the latest on the momentous Medjugorje approval. ‘The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, with the assent of Pope Francis, grants approval for devotion linked to Medjugorje, recognizing the abundant spiritual fruits received at the Sanctuary of the Queen of Peace without making a declaration on the alleged supernatural’

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St. Maximilian Kolbe’s weapon for evangelization: the Miraculous Medal

Mother & Refuge04 mins

As World War II raged around him in Poland, St. Maximilian Kolbe fought for souls using a printing press and another “weapon” — the Miraculous Medal. “Even though a person be the worst sort, if only he agrees to wear the medal, give it to him … and then pray for him, and at the proper moment strive to bring him closer to his Immaculate Mother, so that he have recourse to her in all difficulties and temptations,” Kolbe said of the Miraculous Medal. “This is truly our heavenly weapon,” the saint said, describing the medal as “a bullet with which a faithful soldier hits the enemy, i.e. evil, and thus rescues souls.” The Miraculous Medal is a sacramental inspired by the Marian apparition to St. Catherine Labouré in Paris in 1830. The Virgin Mary appeared to Labouré as the Immaculate Conception standing on a globe with light streaming from her hands and crushing a serpent under her foot. “A voice said to me, ‘Have a medal struck after this model. All who wear it will receive great graces, especially if they wear it around the neck,’” Labouré said. As a Franciscan seminarian studying in Rome in 1917, Kolbe was moved by the story of the role the Miraculous Medal played in the conversion of Alphonse Ratisbonne. Ratisbonne was a French Freemason and an atheist of Jewish descent who received the grace of conversion while wearing a Miraculous Medal given to him by one of his Catholic friends in Rome. The Virgin Mary appeared to Ratisbonne on Jan. 20, 1842, in a side chapel in the Church of Sant’Andrea delle Fratte in Rome. St. Maximilian Kolbe chose to celebrate his first Mass on April 29, 1918, in the side chapel in Sant’Andrea delle Fratte, where the Virgin Mary appeared to Ratisbonne. Ratisbonne went on to be ordained a Jesuit priest and eventually left the order to move to Jerusalem in 1855 to found a convent for sisters in the Congregation of Our Lady of Sion, a congregation founded to “to witness in the Church and in the world that God continues to be faithful in his love for the Jewish people.” Read more…

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Miracles in Malta: Grace Through Mary’s Intercession!

Mother & Refuge021 mins

he Maltese Archipelago is renowned for its picturesque coastline, exceptional diving spots, and vibrant festas. It also holds a deep and ancient devotion to the Virgin Mary, manifested in several Marian shrines popularly and officially recognized as being miraculous. The rich history and significance of these shrines, and the numerous Marian miraculous events and icons found in this small island nation ceaselessly draw pilgrims and devotees from around the world.   The role of Mary in Christianity Myriam of Nazareth holds a central place in Christian theology as the Theotokos – literally, the God-bearer. Since the very early days of Christianity, Mary has been venerated for her virtue, obedience, and intercessory power. Indeed, the first Marian apparition (a bilocation, in fact) is traditionally believed to have occurred to the Apostle James in Spain around the year 40, while Mary was still alive. Tradition claims that when the apostle St. James the Greater was facing immense challenges while preaching in the Iberian Peninsula, he went to look for some solace in prayer by the banks of the Ebro river. During his supplications, the Virgin Mary appeared to him, standing on a jasper pillar carried by angels. This extraordinary event marked the first recorded apparition of the Blessed Mother – an event commemorated as Our Lady of the Pillar. Tradition claims that St. James the Greater prayed by the banks of the Ebro river. During his supplications, the Virgin Mary appeared to him, standing on a jasper pillar carried by angels.-archizaragoza Since then, different traditions understand Mary’s intercessory role as a fundamental principle of Christian life. Numerous apparitions and miraculous events reported worldwide, including those of Fatima, Lourdes, and Guadalupe (just to name three of the most famous ones) have reinforced, spread, and confirmed this belief. Malta, with its deep Marian devotion, has its own share of miraculous sites that underscore the island’s rich Christian heritage. Malta’s Marian devotion Malta’s Christian community dates back to the apostolic age, with the providential arrival of St. Paul in AD 60. This early establishment has resulted in an enduring and fervent Marian devotion among the Maltese people. Malta boasts a remarkable number of churches and chapels, many of which are dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Among these, several stand out for the miraculous graces attributed to them. One of these significant Marian sites is the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Mellieħa. Local tradition holds that St. Luke the Evangelist himself, Paul’s companion during his trips, painted an image of the Virgin Mary during their stay on the island. However, further research has shown that the image dates back to the 13th century, possibly the 12th century. The original church of the Malta National Marian Shrine of the Hodegetria is a cave church. This site has been a focal point for Marian devotion for centuries, with numerous pilgrims visiting to seek graces and offer thanks for miracles received.Courtesy of the Archdiocese of Malta. Photo by Ian Noel Pace © The icon, reflecting Byzantine traditions, depicts Mary in all her majesty, holding the Child Jesus and symbolizing her role as the Theotokos. Restoration work has revealed fascinating details about the icon, including inscriptions and symbols emphasizing Mary’s eternal virginity and royal status. This site has thus been a focal point for Marian devotion for centuries, with numerous pilgrims visiting to seek graces and offer thanks for miracles received. The sanctuary’s walls are covered with ex-votos, which range from handwritten notes to baby clothes (and even a motorcycle helmet!), all testifying to the Virgin’s intercessory power. The underground grotto at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Mellieħa is associated with multiple miraculous occurrences. The chapel in the grotto was hewn out of the hard limestone, thanks to a Sicilian devotee of Our Lady who was a regular visitor to the Sanctuary. He is also responsible for commissioning a white statue of Our Lady holding the Holy Infant on her left arm, at the far end of the chapel. Over the years, thousands of pilgrims have visited the underground chapel, and prayed before the Madonna, attributing to her many miraculous interventions and healings, both spiritual and temporal. The Archbishop of Malta H.E. Mgr. Charles J. Scicluna celebrating Holy Mass at the Mellieha National Shrine of the Hodegetria | Courtesy of the Archdiocese of Malta. Photo by Ian Noel Pace © Events recorded in 1887, 1888, and 1948 are particularly famous. Various groups of people on different dates and time were gathered to pray and beheld the white statue of Our Lady repeatedly moving her right hand, making the Sign of the Cross. In the Sanctuary Archives there are 13 separate documents that record these happenings. All give a very detailed description of each event, and are signed under oath by all those present. The last time such a happening took place was reported after World War II, in 1948. A group of 10 people declared under oath that they witnessed the White Lady of the Chapel moving her right hand. Various groups of people on different dates and time were gathered to pray and beheld the white statue of Our Lady repeatedly moving her right hand, making the Sign of the Cross.Marinella Bandini | ALETEIA The icon of Our Lady of Mellieħa, and the white statue of Our Lady in the underground grotto are not alone. The Maltese archipelago is home to several miraculous images of the Virgin Mary. These images, revered by thousands of believers, are central to the island’s religious and cultural life.   Take, for example, the miraculous image kept at the Ta’ Pinu Basilica on the island of Gozo. The beginnings of the devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary of Ta’ Pinu are rather ancient. It is known that the original local church was a small chapel, known as Ta’ Ġentile, dedicated to the Assumption. The name Ta’ Ġentile was eventually dropped and the church became known as Ta’ Pinu (“Of Pinu,” Philip), named after Pinu Gauci, who had become the procurator of the church in 1598. Eventually, the modest unknown chapel in the countryside became a revered Marian shrine, visited by droves of Gozitans, Maltese and people beyond the sea. But why? In 1883, Karmni Grima, from Għarb,…

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Faith Beyond Facts: 5 Catholic Miracles That Science Can’t Explain

Mother & Refuge02 mins

1. The Miracle of the Sun at FatimaIn 1917, over 100,000 people witnessed the sun dancing in the sky of Fatima, Portugal. “The sun started spinning like a pinwheel, casting multi-colored lights all over the place.” Skeptics and faithful were left stunned, says Scheel. It is one of the most documented and extraordinary miracles in Church history. 2. Our Lady of LourdesLourdes, France, has been a site of healing since St. Bernadette’s vision of Our Lady in 1858. Scheel says “there’s been over 7,000 scientifically attested miraculous recoveries from her intercession.” These cures are each scrutinized and confirmed by the Lourdes Medical Bureau. 3. The Miracle of LancianoIn the 8th century, a doubting priest witnessed the Eucharist turn into actual flesh and blood. Scheel explains scientific investigation of “the flesh was found to be a human striated muscular tissue of the myocardium, the heart wall.” Even though it’s 1250 years old, this relic shows no signs of decay today! 4. The Blood of St. JanuariusA vial of St. Januarius’ dried blood in Naples, Italy, liquefies every year on his feast days. “This happens on TV, like you can see it,” says Scheel. This public miracle has been observed and recorded for centuries without any explanation. 5. The Universal Blood Type of Eucharistic MiraclesScheel explains that “all major blood miracles or Eucharistic miracles of our Lord have the same blood type, AB.” This incredibly rare type, the universal recipient, is a remarkable consistency with profound symbolism of Christ’s blood being able to save all.

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Did You know the Oldest Marian Apparition?

Mother & Refuge25 mins

Our Lady of the Pillar (officially in Spanish, Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Zaragoza,) is recognized as the first Marian apparition in the history of Christianity and is the only one that happened while the Virgin Mary was still alive. Although it was technically a bilocation of Our Lady, because she was living with John the Apostle in Jerusalem, it is still regarded as an apparition by the tradition of the Church. According to tradition, James the Greater, brother of Saint John the Evangelist, traveled with great effort to Roman Hispania (modern-day Spain) to evangelize the local tribes.   He not only confronted great difficulties but he also saw very little apostolic fruits of conversion. Tradition says that when he was at his lowest point of discouragement, in A.D. 40, while he was sitting by the banks of the Ebro river in Zaragoza (back then known as Caesaraugusta) Mary appeared to him accompanied by thousands of angels, to console and encourage him. The Virgin Mary, with the Child Jesus in her arms and standing on a pillar, asked Saint James and his eight disciples to build a church on the site, promising that “it will stand from that moment until the end of time in order that God may work miracles and wonders through my intercession for all those who place themselves under my patronage.” The church of Our Lady of the Pillar in Zaragoza, is the first church dedicated to Mary in history and it remains standing to this day, having survived invasions and wars.  During the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) the Communists dropped three bombs on the church from an airplane, the bombs tore through the roof and hit the floor, but none of them exploded. The three now deactivated bombs are currently on display in one of the Basilica’s walls.  Our Lady is also said to have given the small wooden statue of the apparition to Saint James, which now stands on the pillar she arrived on. The wooden statue is a relatively simple image 15 inches high, standing on a jasper pillar 5.9 feet tall. But the crown adorning her head is a masterpiece. It was made in 44 days by 33 workmen. The sun-like crown is made of 2,836 diamonds cut triangularly, 2725 roses, 145 pearls, 74 emeralds, 62 rubies and 46 sapphires. The crown of the baby Jesus is identical in shape although not in size. The Basilica was redesigned and expanded several times during its history. The current structure was completed in the 17th century, includes 11 brightly colored tiled domes, and is the second biggest church in Spain. Nuestra Señora del Pilar is not only the patroness of Spain, but also of all Hispanic peoples since it was on Oct. 12, 1492, the feast of Our Lady of the Pillar, that Christopher Columbus arrived at American land and the first Mass in the Americas was celebrated. Read more…

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Photos | Incorrupt hand of St Theresa of Avila

Mother & Refuge02 mins

Catholic tradition has long venerated the remains of saints. Don’t confuse veneration, which is honoring a saint; with worship, which is given to God alone. After the death of a particularly saintly person, the physical remains and personal effects are preserved (relics). The vessel which holds such relics is called a reliquary. The ornate metal encasement which contains the hand (relic) of St. Teresa of Avila is a reliquary. When this particular reliquary is rotated, palm side towards the viewer, it is possible to see her actual hand through some of the transparent areas. In the palm you see the mark of the wounds of Christ, referred to as stigmata. When St. Teresa of Avila died the sisters in her convent buried her, hoping to preserve her within their order. Nine months later, when her coffin was opened, her body was found to be incorruptible (intact and undecayed). Before it was re-interred, her hand was removed. That is the source of the relic referred to in this story. Relatively recently, 1939-1976, following the end of the Spanish Civil War, this relic of St Teresa was removed from the convent by General Franco, a devout Catholic. Rumor is he kept it in his sleeping quarters while he was ruler of Spain. It is said, that at the time of his death, he had it beside him on his pillow. After his death in 1976, the Discalced Carmelites of Ronda requested and were granted the return of the relic.

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The Blessed Ulma family Bible had 3 verses underlined

Mother & Refuge04 mins

By Aleteia While the universal Church is just now getting to know the Ulma family — and finding ourselves in awe at their testimony and what this family means for the Church everywhere — in their hometown of Markowa, they’ve been well known for decades. They were known and loved by their neighbors even before their tragic deaths, and have since become known further. Locals call them the Good Samaritans of Markowa. In an extensive interview at Our Sunday Visitor with the postulator of their beatification cause, we learn that the family Bible of the Ulmas had just a few verses underlined. Father Witold Burda explained to OSV: There are two [two sections; technically three verses, editor’s note] underlined verses in the Bible found in their home, and they’re under the title of the parable of the Good Samaritan. It is necessary to speak out about it and even more so about the fact that there is the word “yes” added in pencil next to it. We want to live this way. “Yes”   What are those verses, underlined by either the father, Jozef, or the mother, Wiktoria, of the family?   [Update: Aleteia has been made aware of some slight variance in the reports about what is underlined in the family Bible. In the preface to the book Martyred and Blessed Together: The Extraordinary Story of the Ulma Family, the postulator reports: First, “For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have?” from chapter 5 of Matthew’s Gospel, the famous Sermon on the Mount, which states the duties of a Christian. Second, the title of chapter 10 of the Gospel of Luke is underlined in red:“The Good Samaritan.” And next to it is a note with a single word: “Yes.”  A previous report was that the following verses are underlined:] “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself” (Lk 10:27, quoting Deuteronomy 6) and “A Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion when he saw him: He went up to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them. He then lifted him onto his own mount and took him to an inn and looked after him” (Lk 10:33-34). Read more…

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