LOURDES TO HEAL CABLE TV MISERY (It's a miracle!)

NY Post ^ | Nobember 7, 2005

[NYer]

IT'S a miracle!

A four-hour miniseries on Lourdes — the French shrine-town famous for its mysterious ability to cure disease and infirmity— is about to go into production.

A&E, the cable channel, is underwriting the project.

"Lourdes" will follow the true story of a terminally ill surgeon who is healed after taking the waters at Lourdes. The doctor returns later to investigate the miraculous power of the site.

The series' producer, Paul Lussier, who also did ABC's "Blackout," has been granted access to the Lourdes archives.

The archives supposedly contain details of the 68 cases that have been classified as official miracles, in addition to thousands of anecdotal accounts of miraculous healing.

Casting and filming arrangements have not been set yet.

[NYer]

Some Background Information

The pilgrimage of Lourdes is founded on the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin to a poor, fourteen-year-old girl, Bernadette Soubiroux. The first apparition occurred 11 February, 1858. There were eighteen in all; the last took place 16 July, of the same year. Bernadette often fell into an ecstasy. The mysterious vision she saw in the hollow of the rock Massabielle was that of a young and beautiful lady. "Lovelier than I have ever seen" said the child. But the girl was the only one who saw the vision, although sometimes many stood there with her. Now and then the apparition spoke to the seer who also was the only one who heard the voice.

LOURDES

[neodad]

Hope the production company stocked up on Burkahs for the cast. Don't want to offend the natives.

[NYer]

Bernadette Soubirous is the saint of Lourdes, France. Visionary and messenger of the Immaculate Conception, she told us the very words of the Virgin Mary, spoken in the native Basque tongue of Southern France and Northern Spain. She spoke words teaching of the merits of prayer, penance, poverty and church. In the first and most widely recognized Marian apparition of modern times, a personal message was delivered also to Bernadette—She would not find happiness in this world, but only in the next.

She was to die twenty–one years later in 1879 after a prolonged and painful illness. She remained hidden in a convent about 300 miles from home, a refuge from the interrogations and the pilgrims that never ceased seeking her. At thirty–five, her strong–willed manner gave way to her frail body, and she finally entered into her eternal happiness.

While she took with her the knowledge of certain secrets the Virgin gave her, one secret remained hidden in our presence. The most spectacular of all the incorruptibles, Bernadette's miraculously preserved body remained buried in a damp grave for thirty years until the cause for beatification was taken up. To this day, the body of Bernadette is a profound source of inspiration and of mystery surrounding the ways of the Lord. The face of Bernadette is one of surreal beauty, and will remain for us always the face that gazed into the eyes of the Mother of God.

Bernadette in death, as she appeared in April 1879.

St. Bernadette of Lourdes today

Catholic Ping - Please freepmail me if you want on/off this list

[Nihil Obstat]

Every one should read "The Song of Bernadette". The book is better than the movie. Also, "Bernadette in Her Own Words" is a great book too. What a great humble saint.

Saint Bernadette pray for us.

[RoadTest]

Lourdes. That sounds French.

[Malacoda]

I was lucky enough to make pilgrimmage to Lourdes in May of 2000. It was a deeply moving experience.

[Pyro7480]

It's in the Catalan part of extreme southwestern France, near the border with Spain.

[Ohioan from Florida]

If possible, she looks more beautiful now than she did at her death over 120 years ago.

[Aquinasfan]

The archives supposedly contain details of the 68 cases that have been classified as official miracles

Testified to by doctors in each case. The evidence is entirely scientific.

[nickcarraway]

BUMP

[ops33]

Just to clarify since the article didn't mention it, but Saint Bernadette is buried in the chapel of her convent in Nevers, France. I remember visiting both Lourdes and Nevers when I was a young boy.

[Victoria Delsoul]

A&E, the cable channel, is underwriting the project.

Looking forward to watching the series.

[A.A. Cunningham]

Just to clarify, while her remains were at one time buried, they are no longer.

[ops33]

Yes, you are right. Since she is in a glass coffin perhaps buried was not the correct term. Interred would have been more accurate