Last month at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, the faithful received a powerful reminder of divine mercy. In a July 25 press conference, Church officials—including Bishop Jean‑Marc Micas, Rector Father Michel Daubanes, and Dr. Alessandro de Franciscis—presented the 72nd officially recognized Lourdes miracle: the healing of Antonia (Antonietta) Roca, a 67‑year‑old Italian woman suffering from Primary Lateral Sclerosis (PLS), an incurable neuromuscular disease.
After a 16-year investigation, her remarkable cure was affirmed under Church scrutiny, affirming faith’s enduring power.
As Catholics, we look to Lourdes not merely as a historical site but as a living sign of Mary’s maternal intercession and her Son’s compassion. The Catechism teaches that God is the source of authentic healing, even when human medicine is limited (CCC 1503). While science studies, and doctors assist, miracles point us beyond ourselves to divine power.
Antonia’s healing gives us reason to hope and to pray. Faith compels us to believe that God’s providence transcends all boundaries of suffering and sickness (CCC 1500). Blessed John Paul II reminded us that “faith is not opposed to reason,” yet when reason reaches its end, faith begins—and miracles like this show God’s closeness to His people.
Moreover, the miracle underscores the Church’s role as a guardian of truth and hope. As the Catechism affirms, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (CCC 146), and His promise to heal both soul and body endures. Lourdes remains a sanctuary not just of physical cures but spiritual renewal—where hearts are converted and trust in divine love is rekindled.
For the suffering, this miracle stands as a beacon. The Catechism assures: “Healing takes place in the context of suffering, and in a certain sense suffering can be curative” (CCC 1509). Even when cures do not come, Christ is present in our sorrow. But in this instance, divine mercy gifted a healing that defies human explanation—and calls the faithful to deeper worship, prayer, and solidarity with the suffering.
As Catholics, we can respond with awe: to praise God, to entrust ourselves to Mary’s intercession, and to recommit to prayer for those in need of healing—spiritual or physical. Let Antonia Roca’s healing remind us that where human limits end, God’s loving power begins.
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