Mini’s Eighth Birthday at the Reading Club

 

Dear Diary,
 
This morning after Mass we gathered again under the old apple tree behind St. Mary’s for our Lourdes Reading Club. There was just enough of a cool breeze to remind us that summer won’t last forever. Father LeRoy opened with a prayer, and then he asked me to read today’s chapter.

The chapter told about how the miracles at Lourdes kept happening even while people argued about whether they were real. A little boy named Jean-Marie had suffered terrible pain for months, and no doctor could help him. His mother carried him to the Grotto, where she prayed to Our Blessed Mother. After he was washed in the spring water, he said, “I see God and the Blessed Virgin.” A few moments later he stood up completely healed. He walked home on his own feet, and everyone in his village rejoiced.

Then I read about Jeanne-Marie Massot, whose hands and feet had become almost useless. The moment she dipped her hands into the water at Lourdes, they became strong again. Instead of thinking only about herself, she used her newly healed hands to help a tired young peasant girl lift a heavy bundle of firewood onto her head. Sister Mary Claire smiled and said that was her favorite part of the chapter because real gratitude always becomes charity.

The chapter also told of another woman whose hearing was restored after years of deafness. All these miracles reminded us that God was still working quietly through Our Lady, giving hope to people who had almost given up.

After our discussion, Robert surprised us with a birthday party for Mini, who turned eight today! He brought a pitcher of cold Kool-Aid and what he called a healthy white cake with thick butter frosting. It was delicious. We all sang “Happy Birthday” to Mini, who wagged her little tail-less bottom as if she understood every word. Then Robert cut a small slice of birthday cake just for Mini and set it beside a bowl of cold milk. She happily enjoyed every crumb of her cake, lapped up every drop of milk, and then looked around with frosting on her nose, hoping someone might have another little piece for the birthday girl. We all laughed, and I think Mini knew it was her special day.

Father LeRoy said that today’s chapter teaches us something important. When God blesses us, we should look for someone else to help, just as Jeanne-Marie did. Blessings are meant to be shared.

Closing Prayer

Dear Blessed Mother, thank You for the miracles of Lourdes and for reminding us that God still cares for every suffering soul. Help us to be grateful for every blessing and quick to help others with cheerful hearts. May we always trust in Jesus, even when life is difficult. Amen.

Father LeRoy’s Blessing

“May Almighty God bless us, protect us from all evil, and bring us safely to everlasting life. And may Our Lady of Lourdes watch over each of you until we meet again. Amen.”

When Truth Asked to Be Examined

Dear Diary,

After Holy Mass, our Reading Club met beneath the apple tree behind St. Mary’s. Mini settled beside me while Father LeRoy asked me to read the chapter summary.

It told about the great newspaper battle over Lourdes. The Bishop had appointed a Commission to examine the cures and events at the Grotto. Catholic writers welcomed a fair investigation, while many unbelieving writers had already decided that miracles were impossible.

Robert said it was not fair to decide before looking at the evidence. Sister Mary Claire added, “Truth is never afraid of the light.”

Father explained that the Catholic newspapers defended the Church’s right to investigate but wisely waited for the Bishop’s judgment.

Then Sister served sweet cornbread with butter and maple syrup, along with cold milk. Mini received a small plain piece.

Before leaving, I prayed:

“Dear Lord Jesus, give us honest hearts. Help us seek truth with faith, reason, and courage. Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us. Amen.”

Father blessed us:

“May Almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen.”

Dear Diary, today I learned that truth never fears a fair examination.

Love, Kathy

 

The Cake, the Blanket, and the Trailer

 
Dear Diary,

The Reading Club met again today in the open air. We spread a large blanket beneath the apple tree behind the church, and the breeze made the leaves rustle softly above us. Mini settled at the edge of the blanket as though she belonged to the club as much as anyone.

Robert surprised us by bringing a double chocolate cake that he had made all by himself. He piled each slice with thick, heavy whipped cream. Sister Mary Claire said she never knew Robert had such hidden talents, and Father LeRoy said there was nothing hidden about the enormous slices he cut!

After we were settled, Father asked me to read my chapter summary.

I explained that the officials who opposed Lourdes had nearly lost their battle in the Pyrenees, so the newspapers began a new campaign in Paris and even in foreign countries. Some writers declared that miracles belonged only to ignorant times and refused even to examine the evidence. Others changed the facts, calling Bernadette deceitful and the spring merely a little trickle of water. One newspaper even printed a completely invented story claiming that the whole apparition had been rehearsed beforehand.

Robert said it was strange that men who called themselves enlightened would make up stories instead of searching honestly for the truth. Sister Mary Claire said pride can close a person’s mind before the evidence is ever considered. Father reminded us that refusing to look at the truth does not make the truth disappear.

We ate our wonderful cake afterward. Mini sat beside Robert hoping for a crumb, but chocolate is not good for dogs, so he gave her a little dish of plain whipped cream instead. She seemed perfectly satisfied.

I ended our meeting with a prayer that we might always be humble enough to seek the truth, even when it surprises us. Father LeRoy gave us his blessing, and we folded the blanket and went home very full and happy.

Good night, dear Diary.

Pride Would Not Give Way

 
Dear Diary,

Today was such a pretty summer day that our Reading Club met on the grass near the farmhouse. The willow branches moved softly in the breeze, and everything smelled warm and green after morning Mass. Mini stayed close beside us while we sat on the picnic blanket.

Father LeRoy asked me to read my chapter summary. The Bishop’s inquiry and M. Filhol’s report had taken away every good reason for keeping people from the Grotto. The water was safe, and the Church was carefully studying what had happened.

The officials should have admitted their mistake and removed the barriers, but their pride would not let them.

Sister Mary Claire said pride sometimes makes people hold tightly to what is wrong, even when the truth is plain. Father said it takes humility and courage to say, “I was wrong.”

Afterward, we had chocolate sundaes. Mine had plenty of chocolate syrup and a cherry on top. Mini could not have chocolate, so she had a little dish of vanilla ice cream and seemed perfectly happy with it.

I prayed, “Dear Lord, keep pride out of my heart. Help me to love the truth and humbly admit when I am wrong. Amen.”

Father gave us his blessing, and we stayed beneath the willow a little longer, enjoying the lovely day.

Kathy

Frosted Buns in the Clubhouse

Tuesday, July 28, 1957

Dear Diary,

The Reading Club met inside our clubhouse today. It was warm and cheerful, with the window open and the leaves rustling outside. Father LeRoy, Robert, Sister Mary Claire, and I gathered around the table with our books.

Sister brought the most wonderful frosted buns. The frosting was thick and white, and Robert said they looked almost too pretty to eat. Almost! We had them with cold Jersey milk from the little refrigerator.

Father asked me to read my summary of Chapter Ten. It told how Professor Filhol, a respected chemist from Toulouse, carefully examined the water from the spring at Lourdes. His tests showed that it was ordinary, wholesome drinking water and contained no powerful minerals or medicines that could explain the remarkable cures.

Robert said this made the cures even more difficult for the officials to dismiss. Sister Mary Claire explained that honest science had not opposed the truth. Instead, it had removed the false claim that the water itself was some kind of natural medicine. Father said true faith never needs to fear a careful investigation, because truth cannot contradict truth.

Before we left, I thanked God for our little clubhouse, our books, our friends, and for helping us recognize the truth with both our minds and our hearts.

Father LeRoy gave us his blessing, and our meeting was adjourned.

Good night, dear Diary.

Kathy

Milk and Hershey Bars Beneath the Apple Tree

 
July 27, 1957

Dear Diary,

The Reading Club met beneath the apple tree behind St. Mary’s again today. There was just a little coolness in the air that made it seem as though fall might not be so far away.

Robert brought a quart jar of cold Jersey milk, and Father LeRoy surprised us with big nickel Hershey candy bars. What a treat! Mini watched us from beneath the picnic table until Robert filled a little dish with milk for her. She drank every drop.

Then Father asked me to read my chapter summary.

“The Minister of Public Worship wrote to Bishop Laurence after hearing exaggerated stories about Lourdes. He wanted the Bishop to condemn everything without first examining the facts.

“Bishop Laurence answered calmly. He explained that a few children had behaved foolishly near the Grotto, but the trouble had quickly ended. The priests of Lourdes had acted prudently and had not encouraged the pilgrimage.

“The Bishop would not condemn people merely for praying, especially when no disorder had taken place. Since the crowds and reports of cures continued to grow, he appointed a Commission to investigate carefully. His reply was so clear and reasonable that the Minister had no answer.”

Robert said the Minister wanted a decision before knowing the truth.

“That is how injustice often begins,” Sister Mary Claire said.

Father nodded. “Bishop Laurence had the courage to wait for the facts.”

Before we left, Sister said tomorrow’s meeting would be back in the Readers Clubhouse.

“And lunch will be on me,” she added.

We bowed our heads, and I prayed:

“Dear Lord, help us to be patient, truthful, and slow to judge. Bless Bernadette and our Reading Club. Amen.”

Father gave us his blessing, and Mini came out from beneath the table licking the last drop of milk from her nose.

Good night, dear Diary.

Love,  Kathy

Sunday Dinner Under the Apple Tree

Dear Diary,

After morning Mass, the weather was so beautiful that our Reading Club met beneath the apple tree. Mini rested beside me while the leaves made dancing shadows across our books.

Father LeRoy asked me to read my chapter summary.

I explained that Bishop Laurence had scarcely issued his order when he received a letter from M. Rouland, the Minister of Public Worship.

The officials had sent greatly exaggerated reports about the false visionaries at Lourdes. No one knew for certain who had encouraged the children, so a careful historian could only tell the known facts and leave the rest for the reader to judge.

M. Jacomet and M. Massy tried to use the foolish visions to distract people from Bernadette, the spring, and the cures. But Abbé Peyramale quickly stopped the false visionaries, and the public was not deceived.

M. Rouland, however, trusted the official reports without examining them carefully. He urged Bishop Laurence to condemn what was happening at Lourdes, even though the Bishop was already studying everything patiently and wisely. It was strange to think that this same Minister would later approve the building of a great church at Massabielle.

Robert said, “He believed the reports because they came from important officials.”

Sister Mary Claire nodded. “Important people can still be mistaken.”

Father said it was a lesson about rumors. “The Bishop waited, listened, and examined the facts. That is always wiser than judging too quickly.”

After our discussion, I prayed:

“Dear Blessed Mother, help us to love the truth and never judge others by rumors. Keep our minds clear, our words kind, and our faith strong. Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us. Amen.”

Father gave us his blessing, and we closed our books.

Then Sister Mary Claire and Robert hurried to the church basement and returned with a cart piled with Iowa loose-meat sandwiches, potato chips, baked beans, and vanilla pudding with whipped cream.

Robert grinned and said, “Well, it is Sunday dinner, you know.”

We ate beneath the apple tree while Mini watched every bite. Sister finally gave her a little dish of plain hamburger, which she ate very neatly.

It was a beautiful Sunday, Dear Diary—Holy Mass, a good lesson about truth, and Sunday dinner beneath the apple tree.

Kathy