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

The Reading Club Takes the River Road

Dear Diary,

Father LeRoy surprised our Reading Club today by saying he had an errand to do in Sioux City. He invited Sister Mary Claire, Robert, Mini, and me to ride along, and said we could discuss the chapter in the car.

We followed the Big Sioux River toward the city. Everything was beautiful and green from all the rain. The trees were thick and full, and the river appeared now and then between the branches. As we passed Stone Park, Father slowed down so we could admire the wooded hills.

“Now, Kathy,” Father said, “you may read your chapter summary.”

I opened my notebook.

“Bishop Laurence had waited a long time before speaking officially about Lourdes. After hearing many trustworthy witnesses, he decided the time had come to investigate.

“On July 28, 1858, he appointed a Church commission to study Bernadette’s visions, the spring at the Grotto, and the cures connected with its water. Priests, doctors, and scientists were to examine the evidence carefully and question witnesses.

“The Bishop wanted to know whether the cures and visions could be explained naturally or whether they were truly supernatural. He asked the commission to seek the truth without leaving anything unexamined.”

When I finished, Robert said, “The Bishop was very careful.”

“Yes,” Sister Mary Claire answered. “He did not believe too quickly, but he did not refuse to listen.”

Father said, “Faith has nothing to fear from an honest search for truth.”

Apparently Father had planned more than just an errand. He reached into a little ice chest and brought out granola bars and a quart of cold milk packed carefully in ice. We passed the granola bars around, and Sister poured the milk into paper cups while Father drove.

Mini received a small corner of Robert’s granola bar, although Sister said granola bars were not really made for dogs.

After Father finished his Church errand in Sioux City, he drove us to Riverside Park. He had packed a real picnic without telling us. We sat beneath a shady tree near the river and ate sandwiches, boiled eggs, pickles, apples, and the rest of the cold milk.

The river moved quietly past us, and everything smelled green and clean. Father said it was good for a Reading Club to leave its regular meeting place once in a while, especially when the road itself gave us so much to look at.

Before we left, I read our prayer.

“Dear Blessed Mother, help us to seek the truth patiently and honestly. Keep us from judging too quickly, and teach us to listen with humble hearts. Amen.”

Father blessed us and our journey home. Then we packed the picnic things into the car and followed the Big Sioux River toward Littlemore, with the green trees and fields shining in the afternoon light. 

Love Kathy

The Little Club Kitchen

 

Dear Diary,

Our Readers Club met again in the little clubhouse today. Sister Mary Claire got busy right away at the tiny kitchen counter Robert had put in for us. With the little Frigidaire underneath and the hot plate on top, it is beginning to look almost like a real kitchen.

Sister said that after all the crackers, frosting, and doughnuts we have enjoyed, she was making something healthy today: hot oatmeal with raisins.

She warmed four cups of Jersey milk in a saucepan. Then she stirred in two cups of rolled oats, one-half cup of raisins, and a pinch of salt. She cooked it slowly until it was thick and creamy.

Sister spooned it into our bowls and topped each serving with a pat of butter, brown sugar, and a little more rich, icy-cold Jersey milk from the Frigidaire.

Before she added the raisins and sugar to the last little spoonful, she fixed Mini her own small dish of plain oatmeal with a splash of cold milk. Mini ate every bit and licked the dish so carefully that Robert said she had given Sister’s cooking her highest approval.

Robert said the oatmeal was good enough to make a person forget it was healthy. Sister said that was the mark of good cooking.

Afterward, Father LeRoy opened the Lourdes book.

“Kathy,” he said, “please read your chapter summary.”

I stood with my notebook and began:

“As June came to an end, visitors arrived in the Pyrenees from all over Europe. There were sick people seeking health, travelers enjoying the mountains, learned men studying what had happened, and curious people who simply wanted to see Lourdes.

“Rich and poor, believers and unbelievers, writers, businessmen, priests, and important officials all heard about Bernadette, the Grotto, the miraculous Spring, and the people who had been cured.

“God had first shown His work to the humble people living near Lourdes. Now He was bringing the rich and powerful to see it too. It was like Bethlehem, where the shepherds came before the Wise Men.

“The police still tried to keep people from the Grotto, but the barriers and threats were becoming useless. Some came because of faith and others because of curiosity, but they all saw the people who had been healed.

“One day the police stopped the famous Catholic writer Louis Veuillot. He gave them his name without fear and continued toward the Grotto.

“Another time, a lady was discovered kneeling near the barrier. When the officer demanded her name, she calmly said she was the wife of Admiral Bruat and the governess of the young Prince Imperial. The officer quickly dropped the charge because she was important.

“This showed how unfair the rules had become. Powerful people could disobey, while poor and ordinary people were punished.”

When I finished, Robert shook his head.

“So it depended upon who you were,” he said. “That does not sound like justice.”

“No,” Sister Mary Claire answered. “A law should not be heavy for the weak and light for the powerful.”

Father LeRoy nodded. “The officials could close a path, but they could not close every human heart.”

I said I especially liked the comparison with Bethlehem. Our Lady first appeared to Bernadette, a poor and simple girl, just as the angels first announced the birth of Jesus to humble shepherds.

“That is often God’s way,” Father said. “He does not judge importance as the world does.”

Robert said all the visitors must have carried the story of Lourdes home with them.

“Yes,” Sister said. “Every visitor became another messenger.”

Before we left, Father asked me to lead our prayer.

Dear Blessed Mother,

Thank you for watching over Bernadette and leading so many people to Lourdes. Help us remember that every person is precious to God, whether rich or poor, famous or unknown.

Give us courage to do what is right. Teach us never to favor the powerful over the weak, and give us simple hearts that recognize God’s work.

Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.

Amen.

Father LeRoy blessed us in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

Mini curled up beneath the table afterward, warm and satisfied from her little dish of oatmeal and milk.

Good night, Diary.

Kathy

 

When it Rains it Pours

Dear Diary,

Father LeRoy, Robert, Sister Mary Claire, and I met in the Readers Clubhouse again today. We had only just settled around the table when Father nodded for me to begin my chapter summary.

I had hardly read the first sentence when there came a tremendous clap of thunder. The whole clubhouse seemed to tremble, and then the rain began pouring down so hard that we could scarcely hear one another.

“When it rains, it pours in Iowa,” Robert said, looking toward the windows.

But we were perfectly safe and dry inside. The roof held tight, and the little clubhouse felt especially cozy while the storm beat against it.

I began my summary again.

The people of Lourdes were no longer willing to remain quiet while the authorities kept them away from the Grotto. Some climbed over the barriers and gave their names openly to the guards before kneeling to pray. Even a few of the guards believed in what was happening, although they still had to carry out their orders or risk losing the small wages that fed their families.

Others found hidden paths to the Grotto. One person would remain behind to watch for the police and give a signal if they approached. Some people even swam across the swift Gave River so they could pray near the Spring and drink its water.

The fines frightened many poor families because even a small fine could grow into a ruinous amount. Still, the faithful found other ways to pray. When they could not reach the Grotto, they knelt beside the boundary posts or gathered in the meadows on the opposite bank of the river, facing the place where Our Lady had appeared.

Night after night, the boards closing the Grotto were torn down and thrown into the river. The police tried to discover who had done it, but no one was found. Petitions were also sent to the Emperor, asking that the people’s freedom to pray be restored.

One day, after a higher court overturned a judgment against several women who had spoken about the Grotto, a great crowd surged through the barrier. The police stepped aside rather than struggle against thousands of people. Afterward, the authorities ordered even stricter watching and tried to frighten the faithful with false stories about imprisonment.

The saddest part was about the sick people who came from far away. Some were blind, paralyzed, or suffering from illnesses the doctors could not cure. They begged the mayor to let them go to the Spring, but he refused. Reports were even written against the sick themselves.

Since they could not reach the Grotto, many gathered across the river on privately owned land. The owners welcomed them, believing God would bless the fields where so many suffering people knelt in prayer.

Meanwhile, Bernadette’s asthma became worse. She was exhausted from sickness and from the constant stream of visitors who wanted to question her about the Apparitions. The Bishop quietly encouraged her family to send her away for a time to the baths at Cauterets. Bernadette went there with her aunt and remained for two or three weeks, drinking the waters and seeking silence and rest.

When I finished, the thunder was still rolling, though it had moved farther away.

“It seems the officials created more disorder by trying to prevent peaceful prayer,” Robert said.

Father LeRoy nodded. “People can endure many hardships, but when what they hold sacred is treated with contempt, their patience can be sorely tested.”

Sister Mary Claire said the guards must have been in a painful position. Some of them believed, but they also had families depending upon their wages.

“That does not make an unjust order right,” she said, “but it reminds us that not everyone carrying out an order has a cruel heart.”

Father said the people’s courage was admirable, though anger can quickly lead even good people into actions they may later regret.

“The strongest protest in the chapter,” he said, “may have been the people kneeling quietly beside the boundary posts. They could not enter, but no one could prevent them from turning their hearts toward God.”

By then Sister Mary Claire decided it was time for our refreshments. She said she was especially glad she had brought soda crackers and chocolate frosting before the storm began. She set Robert and me to work spreading frosting between pairs of crackers.

The milk was icy cold from the little refrigerator Robert installed in the clubhouse.

“If Kathy can supply the clubhouse,” Robert said, “I can at least supply the refrigeration.”

Everyone laughed, and Sister said that cold milk and chocolate-frosted crackers were exactly right for a rainy Iowa morning. Mini received a plain cracker and settled beneath the table, listening to the rain.

Before we left, Father asked me to read the prayer.

Dear Blessed Mother,

Please help us remain faithful when doing what is right becomes difficult. Give courage to those who are afraid, comfort to the sick, and wisdom to those who hold authority. Help us to defend what is holy without hatred or violence. Please watch over everyone traveling through today’s storm, and keep Shaggycoat safe in his lodge beside Indian Creek.

Amen.

Father LeRoy raised his hand and blessed us in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. He dismissed the Reading Club, although we waited a little longer for the heaviest rain to pass before leaving our dear Reader's Clubhouse.

Good night, dear Diary.

High Water or The Bishop Who Waited

 

Dear Diary,

Because the rain had soaked the ground, the Reading Club met in the Clubhouse. Sister Mary Claire opened the windows, Robert poured cold milk, and we ate granola while water dripped from the eaves.

Mini had a little dish with boiled chicken, which she loves. Thank you, Sister Mary Claire.

Father LeRoy asked me to read my chapter summary.

“Monseigneur Laurence still hesitated to believe fully in the Apparitions at Lourdes. He was careful, learned, and afraid of being misled by excitement or exaggeration.

“He did not approve of the civil authorities’ harsh measures, but he also did not want the Church to act too quickly. His caution was part of God’s providence. By waiting, he allowed the events at Lourdes to prove themselves without the support of Church authority.

“The people had great faith, while the Bishop had patience. God used both to fulfill His plan.”

Robert said, “So the Bishop’s doubts became part of the proof.”

Father LeRoy nodded. “Yes. When he finally spoke, no one could say he had been carried away by popular enthusiasm.”

Sister Mary Claire added, “The people needed patience, and the Bishop needed light. God gave both in the proper time.”

Before we left, Father asked me to read the closing prayer.

“Dear God, give us the faith of the people and the patience of the Bishop. Help us to trust Your providence and wait for Your truth to become clear.

“Please protect our homes and farms after the heavy rain. Watch over Shaggycoat, too. The water in Indian Creek was running very fast, and I pray that his lodge held together and that he is safe. Amen.”

Father LeRoy blessed everyone, and the Reading Club agreed to meet again tomorrow.

As Mini walked around the puddles, I thought that sometimes God asks us to believe, and sometimes He asks us to wait.

Good night, dear Diary.

Kathy

The Lightning Storm

  

Dear Diary,
 
It began raining during Holy Mass this morning, and by the time Father LeRoy gave the final blessing, the drops were pattering steadily against the church windows. Our meeting beneath the apple tree was plainly impossible, so everyone carried their books downstairs to the church basement.

It was not nearly as pretty as sitting outside, but it was warm and dry, and the sound of the rain above us made the basement feel rather peaceful. Mini settled beneath my chair and rested her chin upon her paws while Father asked me to read my chapter summary.

Today’s chapter told how the people of Lourdes had become deeply troubled by the continued silence of Bishop Laurence. The clergy still kept away from the Grotto and obeyed the Bishop’s orders not to take part in the growing movement.

The people could not understand it.

They had witnessed the spring flowing from the rock, heard of many wonderful cures, and seen the government begin to persecute those who visited Massabielle. Surely, they thought, the Bishop ought to speak. Some wanted him to defend the pilgrims, while others wished him at least to begin an investigation.

When the Prefect even claimed that he was acting in agreement with the Church authorities, Bishop Laurence still made no public reply. The people began to murmur that perhaps the Bishop was timid, indifferent, or unwilling to recognize what God was doing.

When I finished, Robert said, “It must have required great courage for the Bishop to remain silent when nearly everyone was demanding that he act.”

Sister Mary Claire nodded. “Sometimes silence appears to be weakness when it is really patience. A bishop must protect the faithful not only from unbelief, but also from accepting something before it has been properly examined.”

Father LeRoy said that Bishop Laurence was responsible before God for whatever judgment he made. “The people saw many convincing signs,” he explained, “but the Bishop had to determine whether those signs were truly supernatural. He could not allow enthusiasm, fear, or even persecution to make the decision for him.”

I said that I would have found it very difficult not to answer when people were accusing me of cowardice.

Father smiled and said, “That is often the hardest kind of courage, Kathy—to wait quietly while others misunderstand you.”

Then Robert uncovered the morning’s refreshments: fried-egg sandwiches with mayonnaise and pickles. They were still a little warm and smelled delicious. The eggs were folded neatly between thick slices of bread, though the pickles made some of the sandwiches rather slippery.

“An excellent choice, Robert,” Father declared after his first bite.

Everyone agreed. They were easily enough to hold us until lunchtime.

Sister Mary Claire looked at the size of her sandwich and said, “I believe this has already replaced lunch.”

Robert said that had not been his intention, but he did not appear very sorry about it.

Mini watched every bite with great attention. Robert finally gave her a small corner of plain egg and bread, without mayonnaise or pickles, which she accepted as though it were the finest meal ever served in a church basement.

Before we left, Father asked me to read our prayer.

Dear Blessed Mother, help us to trust the wisdom of those whom God has appointed to guide His Church. When we do not understand their silence or their decisions, keep us patient, humble, and charitable. Teach us never to mistake haste for courage, nor careful judgment for weakness. Amen.

Father LeRoy blessed us and reminded us that true prudence is not fear, but the courage to wait for God’s proper time.

When we climbed the basement stairs, the rain was still falling gently. I kept thinking about Bishop Laurence. Everyone wanted him to hurry, yet perhaps God was teaching him to stand still.

Good night, dear Diary.

Kathy

Freedom to Pray

Dear Diary,

After Holy Mass today, we all met beneath the apple tree behind St. Mary’s. The leaves made dancing shadows across our books, and Mini settled beside me as Father asked me to read my chapter summary.

Today’s chapter told how the government continued to block the Grotto, even though the cures from its waters could not be denied. No disorder had taken place, and no one had been harmed. Still, barriers were raised and guards were posted, as though prayer itself were something dangerous.

Robert said, “If Bernadette had only discovered a useful mineral spring, the officials probably would have given her a medal.”

Sister Mary Claire nodded. “But because people knelt and prayed before drinking, the authorities called it superstition.”

Father said that true freedom must include the freedom to believe, to pray, and to ask God for help. He reminded us that the Church had not yet made an official judgment about the Apparitions, but the government had already judged against them without a fair examination.

Then Father closed his book and said, “We should be getting ready to leave Lourdes. We are nearing the end of our book.”

That made us all rather quiet and sad. It seems as though we have truly been traveling with Bernadette these many weeks. But Sister smiled and said, “Another good story will pop up just when we need it.”

For our treat, Sister brought soda crackers again, but this time Robert had a new chocolate-and-hazelnut spread called Nutella. We spread it between two crackers and voted on it immediately.

“Triple A!” Robert announced.

We all agreed—even Father. Mini received a plain cracker and appeared to give that a triple A rating too.

Before we left, I read our closing prayer:

Dear Lord, help us always to defend the freedom to love You, to pray to You, and to follow the truth without fear. Keep us faithful when others misunderstand us, and teach us to trust Your wisdom in all things. Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us. Amen.

Father gave us his blessing and dismissed the Reading Club. As we walked away beneath the apple branches, I felt sad that our journey through Lourdes was nearly finished—but also curious about where our next book might take us.

Good night, dear Diary.

Kathy

When the Grotto was Closed

July 18, 1957

Dear Diary,

After Holy Mass, our Reading Club met again in the clubhouse. Father LeRoy brought a tin of sugar cookies made by his housekeeper, and Robert brought a bottle of cold Jersey milk. Mini settled beneath the little table before we had even opened our books.

Father asked me to read my chapter summary.

I explained that the Prefect ordered Mayor Lacadé to close the Grotto. The Mayor did not seem eager to do it, but he was afraid of losing his position. He agreed to sign the order only after wording was added to show that he was merely obeying his superiors.

Soon barriers were built around the Rocks of Massabielle, and guards watched day and night. Notices warned the people not to enter, yet many still came as near as they could to kneel and pray.

Those who disobeyed were brought before Judge Duprat. He fined them five francs, but then unfairly made each person responsible for the court costs of everyone who had gone to the Grotto that day. A small fine could therefore become a terrible burden for a poor family.

When I finished, Robert said, “They tried to frighten the people away without appearing cruel.”

Sister Mary Claire nodded. “And Mayor Lacadé tried to escape responsibility by saying he was only obeying orders. But we are still responsible for the things we choose to do.”

Father LeRoy said the barriers could keep people from reaching the rocks, but they could not stop their prayers or their faith.

Then Father opened the cookie tin. The sugar cookies were soft in the middle and sprinkled with sugar on top. While everyone was talking, Robert broke off a tiny corner and quietly slipped it beneath the table. Mini took it very gently and then looked up at him as though she had been terribly neglected and might require another.

Before we left, Father asked me to read our prayer.

“Dear Blessed Mother, help us to remain faithful when doing what is right becomes difficult. Give courage to those who are treated unjustly, and teach us never to hide behind excuses when we know what God asks of us. Lead us always closer to Jesus. Amen.”

Father LeRoy blessed us and dismissed the club with the Sign of the Cross.

The officials had placed barriers around the Grotto, but I do not believe any barrier made by men can keep a sincere prayer from reaching Heaven.

Good night, dear Diary.

Love, Kathy

The Barrier at Massabielle

Dear Diary,

After Holy Mass, we met in the Reading Clubhouse, and Father LeRoy asked me to read my chapter summary.

The Prefect, Baron Massy, was determined to stop people from visiting the Grotto. Since drinking from the spring was not against the law, the authorities decided that because the land belonged to the town of Lourdes, the Mayor could forbid anyone from entering it.

On June 8, 1858, an order was issued forbidding people to take water from the spring or cross the land near Massabielle. A barrier was placed at the entrance, and anyone who disobeyed could be prosecuted.

Father said the order made an innocent act appear unlawful. Robert added that because the authorities could not prove the spring was harmful, they tried to keep everyone away. Sister Mary Claire reminded us that unjust actions are sometimes hidden beneath proper-sounding words.

For our treat, Sister served saltine crackers with chocolate frosting between two squares. They were sweet, salty, and very crisp. She also made one special cracker with peanut butter for Mini and asked Robert to give it to her. Mini accepted it very politely, though it disappeared in only two bites.

Sister Mary Claire's Chocolate Frosting

Mix 2 tablespoons softened butter, 2 tablespoons cocoa, 1½ cups powdered sugar, 2 or 3 tablespoons warm milk, and ½ teaspoon vanilla. Beat until smooth and spread between two saltine crackers.

Then I read our closing prayer:

“Dear Blessed Mother, help us remain faithful when the road is made difficult. Teach us to trust God, love the truth, and obey Him with courage. Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us. Amen.”

Father LeRoy gave us his blessing and dismissed the club.

As we left, I thought that men could place a barrier before the Grotto, but they could not stop God’s truth from reaching His people.


All for Jesus,

Kathy

When Truth Stood Firm

Dear Diary,

The Reading Club met again today in our clubhouse, and Father LeRoy asked me to read my chapter summary. Mini settled beneath the table, while Sister Mary Claire, Robert, and Father listened.

The chapter explained how every argument against Lourdes had slowly fallen apart. First, the unbelievers said Bernadette was pretending. When her honesty could not be doubted, they said she only imagined the Lady. Then the spring appeared, and they denied that it was really a spring. When its water began flowing abundantly, they called it an accident.

After the cures became too numerous to deny, they claimed the water contained special minerals. But careful men of science found that it was only ordinary water. Each time the truth became clearer, the unbelievers moved to another excuse rather than humbly admit that God was at work.

Father said the comparison with ripe wheat was especially beautiful. Empty stalks stand stiff and proud, but when they are filled with good grain, they bow their heads. Truly wise people become humble before the truth.

We had a lively discussion about how pride can keep a person from believing even when the evidence is right before him. Sister Mary Claire said that faith does not ask us to close our eyes, but to open them more widely and recognize the hand of God.

Just then, the Breakfast Club arrived with a great pan of biscuits and gravy. Our little table was not quite prepared for such a feast! Sister Mary Claire hurried into the house and returned with a ladle, a stack of napkins, and a tiny gravy dish for Mini. Mini looked very pleased with the arrangements, although Father reminded us that she must wait until her dish had cooled.

The biscuits were warm and soft, and the gravy was so good that nobody talked much for several minutes. Robert said that even the Reading Club could occasionally learn something from the Breakfast Club.

When everything was cleared away, I read our closing prayer, asking God to keep our hearts humble and willing to follow the truth wherever it leads. Father LeRoy made the Sign of the Cross over us and gave us his blessing before dismissing the club.

I thought about the spring at Lourdes, flowing quietly from the rock while arguments rose and fell around it. Truth does not need to shout. It only needs to remain true.

Good night, dear diary.

All for Jesus,
Kathy

A Choice Had to Be Made

Dear Diary,

Our Reading Club met again today at the clubhouse, and Father LeRoy asked me to read my chapter summary.

I explained that the governor was becoming more and more troubled by the crowds at Lourdes. The pilgrims remained so peaceful and prayerful that the police had no excuse to interfere with them. He could either admit that he had been wrong and leave the people alone, or he could use force to close the Grotto. The chapter kept saying that he must either retreat or advance boldly.

There was also growing doubt about the first examination of the spring water. A local chemist said it was only ordinary water and contained nothing that could explain the miraculous cures. Many other scientists agreed, so the town council asked the famous Professor Filhol to make a new and final examination.

“The governor must have been worried about what the professor would discover,” Robert said when I finished that part.

Father nodded. “Yes, because if the water proved to be ordinary, the cures would become even harder to explain away.”

Sister Mary Claire said quietly, “They kept searching for something in the water, when perhaps they should have been looking toward Heaven.”

We all thought that was very true.

Then I read about Bernadette making her First Holy Communion on the feast of Corpus Christi. Even while important men were examining the water of the spring, Our Lord was entering Bernadette’s pure and humble heart.

“That was my favorite part,” I told everyone. “Bernadette did not care about being noticed. She only wanted to love God.”

Robert smiled. “She certainly didn’t want to become rich from any of it.”

That began another lively discussion. Bernadette would not trade her plain rosary for one made of precious stones because her poor rosary suited her better. She also refused money from a priest, even when he suggested that she give it to the poor.

“She wanted to serve God without being paid,” Sister said.

“And that made her honesty even clearer,” Father added. “She and her family sometimes lacked bread, yet she would not profit from the favors God had given her.”

The chapter ended with government officials praising the governor and urging him to take stronger action against the Grotto and the miracles. Still, no one seemed to know what could actually be done against peaceful people who only wished to pray.

After our discussion, Father brought out a box of Krispy Kreme doughnuts and a quart of cold Jersey milk. The milk was rich and creamy, just the way we all like it, and the doughnuts disappeared very quickly.

When everything had been cleared away, Father asked me to read our closing prayer.

“Dear Blessed Mother, help us to be humble and honest like Bernadette. Teach us to love prayer more than praise and to serve God without seeking any reward. Give courage to all who must choose between what is easy and what is right. Keep our hearts pure and peaceful, and lead us always closer to your Divine Son. Amen.”

Father LeRoy then raised his hand and gave us his blessing.

It was a good meeting, and I kept thinking about Bernadette’s poor little rosary. It was not made of precious stones, but I think it must have been very precious to Heaven.

Love, Kathy

The Peaceful Crowds of Lourdes

Dear Diary,

Our Reading Club met again today in the clubhouse. When everyone was settled, Father LeRoy asked me to read my chapter summary.

I explained that newspapers in Paris and other parts of France had begun writing about Lourdes. Some praised the government officials for trying to stop the gatherings, while the Catholic newspapers said the Church should be allowed to examine the Apparitions and decide what was true.

Still, every effort to discourage the pilgrims seemed to bring even more people to the Grotto. Some came because they believed, some hoped to be healed, and others came only out of curiosity. Spring had returned, the roads were easier to travel, and thousands made their way through the hills and valleys to pray and drink from the Spring.

What impressed everyone most was how peaceful the crowds remained. Even when the police removed candles, flowers, money, and other offerings, the people continued praying quietly. One night, someone tore up the pipe from the Spring and covered the water with rocks, dirt, and sand. The people were very upset, but they still did not become violent. The mayor soon ordered the pipe replaced and the Spring cleared.

The stonecutters of Lourdes had planned a large procession for Ascension Day, but they were afraid their anger toward the officials might lead to trouble. Instead, they gave up the procession and even canceled their yearly dance out of respect for Our Lady.

When I finished, Robert said it seemed that the officials could carry away the candles and flowers, but they could not remove the faith from the people’s hearts.

Sister Mary Claire said the patience of the pilgrims was one of the strongest parts of the chapter.

Father LeRoy nodded and said, “True peace is not weakness. It often takes greater courage to remain calm than to strike back.”

Then Sister suddenly asked who had brought lunch.

Everyone looked around the room.

It turned out that each person had thought someone else was bringing it. Thanks to Sister’s quick thinking, we ended up with a pitcher of cool Kool-Aid and a plate of crackers.

Mini sat beneath the table, watching every cracker that passed from hand to hand. Robert glanced around, broke off a small piece, and slipped it to her when he thought no one was looking. I saw him, but I did not say anything. Mini ate it so quickly that she looked innocent again before Father LeRoy even turned his head.

It was not much of a lunch, but we laughed and agreed that Kool-Aid and crackers tasted quite good when shared among friends.

Before we left, I read our prayer:

“Dear Blessed Mother, help us to remain patient and peaceful when we are misunderstood or treated unfairly. Teach us to answer anger with gentleness and to keep our hearts close to Jesus. Please watch over the sick, the troubled, and all those searching for faith. Amen.”

Father LeRoy gave us his blessing, and we gathered our books and went our ways.

Kathy

The Hand Made Whole

 
Dear Diary,

This afternoon our reading club met in the old garage. Father LeRoy came over after dinner, and Sister Mary Claire helped arrange the chairs near the open doors. Mini settled beside me, ready for the meeting.

When everyone was quiet, I presented my chapter summary.

The spring at the Grotto continued to flow clear and plentifully, and many graces were being received there.

One of the most remarkable cures was that of Catharine Latapie-Choust, a poor farm woman whose right hand had been badly injured in a fall. For eighteen months, three of her fingers remained bent and useless. Her doctor finally told her that she would never regain the use of them.

One night, Catharine felt a powerful inward voice telling her, “Go to the Grotto, and you will be cured.”

Although she was near the time for her baby to be born, she set out at three o’clock in the morning with her two children. They traveled by moonlight and reached Lourdes at daybreak.

After praying at the Grotto, Catharine placed her injured hand in the spring water. At once, her fingers straightened and became strong and supple again. For the first time in eighteen months, she was able to join her hands in prayer.

Soon afterward, the pains of childbirth began. Catharine prayed to the Blessed Virgin that she might be allowed to return home first. The pains stopped, and she made the long journey safely. Shortly after arriving home, she gave birth to a healthy son.

When I finished reading, a lively discussion followed.

Robert said Catharine’s courage amazed him almost as much as her cure. Sister Mary Claire pointed out that Catharine did not make a great display when her hand was healed. She simply knelt and thanked God.

Father LeRoy said that was one of the most beautiful parts of the story. True faith, he said, trusts God and remembers to be grateful.

Lunch was cold milk and Nestlé’s Baked Just Right cookies. Robert inadvertently dropped part of his cookie under the table, and Mini found it before anyone else noticed. She looked quite pleased with her unexpected share of lunch.

Before we left, I read the prayer:

“Blessed Mother, teach us to trust God when the road ahead seems dark. Help us to pray with confidence and to give thanks for every grace we receive. Lead the sick and discouraged closer to your Son. Amen.”

Father LeRoy gave us his blessing and dismissed the club.

As the afternoon sun shone through the garage doors, I looked at my own hands and thought of Catharine joining hers together after eighteen long months.

Sometimes the simplest prayer must feel like a miracle.

Good night, dear Diary.

What Chemistry Could Not Explain

Dear Diary,

This evening, Sister Mary Claire and I went to Saturday evening Holy Mass. Father thought it would be easier for everyone if the Reading Club met beforehand, so we gathered beneath the apple tree while the afternoon was still warm and bright.

After everyone had settled down, Father asked me to read my chapter summary.

I explained that the Prefect, Baron Massy, was still searching for some ordinary explanation for the cures taking place at Lourdes. Since he could not have Bernadette arrested as insane, he turned to chemistry. He hoped that an official examination of the spring water would prove that its natural mineral properties were responsible for the healings.

A chemist named M. Latour de Trie examined the water and found that it was clear, without any unusual smell or taste, and very much like ordinary water. It contained several common minerals, but nothing that could truly explain the remarkable cures. Even so, the chemist suggested that medical science might someday discover special healing properties in it.

Father said this was exactly the explanation the Prefect had wanted. If the cures could be blamed upon minerals, there would be no need to admit that anything supernatural was happening.

But there was an embarrassing disagreement. While the Prefect’s chemist praised the water and predicted that it might become one of the mineral treasures of the region, the Prefect’s own newspaper mocked it as dirty water and made jokes about the many cures being reported.

We all smiled a little at that. Sister Mary Claire said it showed how difficult it is to keep an argument straight when people have already decided what they want to believe.

Robert said, “One report says the water is valuable, and the other says it is worthless—but both are being used to deny the miracles.”

Father nodded and said that truth does not become less true merely because people disagree about how to explain it.

The Prefect had acted very quickly. He had ordered the offerings removed from the Grotto, considered arresting Bernadette, abandoned that plan, and obtained the chemist’s report—all within only a few days. Yet after all his activity, he was still waiting anxiously to see what would happen next.

Would the spring dry up in the summer heat? Would the people stop coming? What would Bernadette do? The Prefect watched everything closely, hoping that the whole matter would simply come to an end.

We discussed how people sometimes search for complicated explanations because the simplest truth frightens them. Father reminded us that faith does not oppose true science. Chemistry could tell what was present in the water, but it could not explain why certain people were suddenly healed through it.

Just then, the church bell began to ring across the yard.

Father closed his book and smiled. “That is our signal.”

Everyone stood, and Father gave us his blessing. Then he asked me to lead our Reading Club prayer.

“Dear Lord, help us to love the truth, even when it surprises us. Keep our hearts humble and teach us never to place our own opinions above Your wisdom. Through the prayers of Our Lady of Lourdes, strengthen our faith and lead us always closer to You. Amen.”

We gathered our books and hurried toward the church together as the bell continued ringing.

It seemed like the perfect ending to our meeting—and the perfect beginning to Holy Mass.

All for Jesus,

Kathy

When the Cures Could No Longer Be Denied

Dear Diary,

After Holy Mass this morning, we met at the Reading Club, and Father asked me to read the chapter summary.

Today’s chapter told how the doctors and scientific men of Lourdes could no longer deny that people were really being cured by the water from the Grotto.

At first, they had laughed at Bernadette and called her visions childish nonsense. Then, when the cures began, they tried to say that the sick people had been healed by their own imaginations. But as more cures took place and the evidence became harder to dismiss, that explanation no longer worked.

So they changed their argument.

Now they said that the water must contain some very powerful natural mineral. In that way, they could admit that the cures were real without admitting that God had anything to do with them.

The chapter included a letter written by Doctor Lary about a woman named Galop. Rheumatism had made her left hand almost useless. She could not spin, make her bed, draw water from the well, or safely carry glasses and dishes.

After one visit to Lourdes, where she used the water from the Grotto, she regained nearly all the use of her hand.

Doctor Lary honestly admitted that she had greatly improved, but he believed the water must contain alkali. Other medical men began using the same explanation for almost every cure, even those that happened so suddenly that ordinary mineral water could hardly account for them.

The believers then asked a very sensible question.

Why had this remarkable spring appeared at the exact moment Bernadette, while in ecstasy, heard the Lady tell her to drink and wash? Why had it come forth during the heavenly visions? And why were the sick going to it with prayer and faith rather than upon the advice of their doctors?

The unbelievers answered that it was all chance. They said Bernadette had accidentally uncovered the spring while digging in the earth during a hallucination.

But the faithful thought that explaining everything by chance did more violence to reason than believing that God had acted through Providence.

By the end of the chapter, the men who had first denied the spring, then denied the cures, and finally admitted both, began speaking of government control. They said the water ought to belong to the State or the town and that no one should be allowed to use it without a doctor’s permission.

Some even said that a bathing establishment would be more suitable at the Grotto than a chapel.

That was how matters stood when the Prefect’s measures against the Grotto began, along with the attempt to have Bernadette confined as insane. But Curé Peyramale unexpectedly stepped forward and prevented it.

When I finished reading, everyone was quiet for a moment.

Father said the chapter showed how error often retreats one step at a time. First it laughs at the truth. Then it denies the truth. Finally, when the truth can no longer be denied, it tries to explain it without acknowledging God.

Sister Mary Claire said that the doctors were right to examine the cures carefully. Faith does not ask anyone to be careless or foolish. But she said it was not reasonable to decide beforehand that no explanation involving God could ever be accepted.

Robert said, “They were willing to believe that the water could do almost anything, just so long as Heaven received no credit.”

That began a lively discussion.

Father reminded us that truth does not need to be frightened or hurried. It remains true even when people laugh at it, argue against it, or try to explain it away.

I liked that very much.

Before the meeting ended, Father led us in prayer. We thanked God for the gift of reason and asked Him to protect us from pride. We also prayed for doctors and scientists, that their learning might always be joined with humility and an honest love of truth.

It was another peaceful Reading Club meeting. The story of Lourdes becomes more interesting with every chapter, because the more the truth was resisted, the more clearly it seemed to shine.

Dear Blessed Mother, help me never to turn away from the truth merely because it leads me closer to God. Teach me to be humble, honest, and ready to accept whatever is true. Amen.

Good night, dear Diary.

Kathy

One Small Step at a Time

Dear Diary,

After Holy Mass this morning, everyone gathered once again in our little Readers Clubhouse. It is beginning to feel like a second home. Father LeRoy asked me to read today's chapter summary, and everyone settled into their chairs while Sister Mary Claire poured cold Golden Rule milk into glasses. A plate of chocolate chip cookies was waiting on the little table, but Father smiled and said we should feed our minds before our stomachs.

I stood up and read my summary.

"Today's chapter reminded us that not every miracle happened all at once. Some of the healings at Lourdes came little by little, as if Our Lady was gently leading people toward health one step at a time.

One little boy named Lasbareilles had never been able to walk because his body was badly deformed from birth. His parents lovingly rubbed the water from the Grotto on him again and again. At first nothing seemed to happen, but they never gave up hope. On Holy Thursday he took a few steps by himself, and over the next several weeks he grew stronger until he could walk almost like any other child. Other people who suffered from paralysis and epilepsy were also healed gradually after using the water of Massabielle.

The chapter reminded us that God's miracles are not always sudden. Sometimes they come quietly and patiently, asking us to keep believing even when we cannot yet see the answer."

When I finished, everyone was quiet for a moment. Father LeRoy said that sometimes we expect God to work like lightning, but often He works more like the sunrise. We hardly notice the light growing until suddenly the whole world is bright. Sister Mary Claire said she admired the faith of the little boy's mother because she never stopped hoping. Robert nodded and said that mothers probably understand hope better than anyone.

After our discussion we enjoyed the cookies and the cold milk. We laughed together, but I kept thinking about how many blessings in life seem to arrive one little step at a time. Maybe growing closer to Jesus is like that too.

Before we left, Father asked me to read our Reading Club prayer.

"Dear Jesus, thank You for bringing us together again today. Help us to trust You, whether Your answers come quickly or slowly. Give us patient hearts, strong faith, and thankful spirits. May we always remember that You are working, even when we cannot yet see the whole picture. Bless our families, our parish, and everyone who needs Your healing. Amen."

Father made the Sign of the Cross over us and gave us his blessing. We all said goodbye until next time, and I walked home feeling thankful that God never forgets His children, even when His miracles come one quiet day at a time.

Love,

Kathy

When Truth Can no Longer be Denied

Dear Diary,

This morning after Holy Mass, our Reading Club met in what everyone now calls the Readers Clubhouse. I like that name very much. Robert fixed up the old garage for me, but now it feels like it belongs to all of us.

The windows were open, and the air smelled fresh and clean. Sister Mary Claire set chocolate chip cookies on the little table, and beside them was a cold jar of Golden Rule Dairy Jersey milk.

After Father opened with a prayer, Father asked me to read my chapter summary. I stood up with my notes. I was a little nervous like I always am, but everyone was smiling, so that helped.


“Today’s chapter is called When Truth Could No Longer Be Denied.

The people who opposed Lourdes had tried for weeks to explain everything away. At first they simply denied the spring and the cures. They did not want to investigate because they had already made up their minds.

But the spring kept flowing, and more people kept being cured. Some who had been called incurable were now walking through town in good health, where everyone could see them.

The author says their mistake was denying the facts too soon. Once the truth became plain, they had to invent new explanations instead of admitting they had been wrong.”

When I finished, Father said pride can make a person shut his eyes even when the truth is right in front of him.

Robert said, “The spring was there, and the healed people were there too. They could not hide either one.”

Sister Mary Claire said God gives enough light for people to believe, but He does not force them.

That stayed with me. I hope I never become so proud that I cannot say, “I was wrong.” It seems much better to follow the truth than to protect my own opinion.

After our discussion, we had cookies and cold milk. Mini sat close to the table and behaved very well, except for watching every crumb.

Before everyone left, Father asked me to read our prayer.

“Dear Jesus, give us humble hearts that welcome truth. Keep us from pride and fear. Help us to follow the light You give us, and to trust You even when we do not understand everything. Amen.”

Father made the Sign of the Cross and blessed us.

“In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Go in peace.”

When the meeting was over, the sunlight was still shining through the clubhouse windows. I think every chapter is teaching us the same thing in a new way: truth belongs to God, and we should never be afraid of it.