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