The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1944-08-01

Lourdes then Is a confirmation Of
the teachings Of Christianity. what
evidence OF fact has the story that
testlflcs to It's truth.
Mr.. Woodlock continues:
NO ore but Bernadette saw the
Lady. but the miracles were seen
By thousands. and they began AZ
once starting with the Spring itself.
II Is these which give Lourdes Il
unique and dramatic Importance for
our time. They constituted a chai-
lenge OF the sharpest kind TO the
world Of 1858. and constitute the
same challenge 10 the world today.
As shall endeavor 10 show the
world has never yet accepted or met
the challenge.
I'm the meantime Massabielle
0rotto was deliberately handicapped.
the majestic Basilica had crowned
its heights. and pilgrims annually
flocked In thousands from all parts
Of the world. 1870 Father
McSorley's Outline OF Church His.
tory notes that in the frs. fifty
years following 1858 some 1000
medically authenticated cures we're
recorded at Lourdes.
what constitutes a miraculous
cure? The simplest way TO state
the answer Is TO say that cure Is
miraculous" when 1t Is accom-
plished. either as to kind or manner.
contrary TO the observed laws Of
medical science. Such would be the
instantaneous recovery of sight by
the victim OF completely detached
retina or an atrophied optical nerve.
the virtually instantaneous healing
Of large rodent ulcer or cancer, or
the virtually instantaneous knitting
of fractured bones. Instances Of
such are recorded at Lourdes. i.
The medical record Of Lourdes -
the integrity Of which and the med.
ical competence of those who COM
piled the records have not TO my
knowledge been seriously impugned
contains an abundance OF such
cases, and has always been open to
inspection by any doctor who cared
to look at it. and many thousands
II Individual physicians have awaited
themselves of this opportunity
through the years"
The Verdict Of Science
These then are the facts. These
are the claims. What is the ver-
dict Of those millions who have read
the story or seen the picture OF the
story2 What do you think you have
read? What do you think you have
seen? II must be one thing or
another-either a tremendous Illus
ion or a still more tremendous fact.
Which? It Is a challenge Of first
importance
And what has science In general
said Of Lourdes? Mr.. Woodlock
says rightly that science In general
has simply ignored Lourdes. And
he concludes his discussion thus:
Gentlemen OF the medical pro-
fession, we should be interested TO
have your opinion on what has hap
pened and Is happening here at
LOurdes In your own special held.
All Of the facts are at your disposal
conveniently arranged according TO
your own methods. All that we ask
Is wheter or not YOU can explain
them according TO the light Of your
experience and knowledge. We are
as anxious for the truth as you are.
II you can so explain them. well
and good; II you cannot there Is no
reason why you should be ashamed
to say so. II Is important that we
should know. and, In all courtesy we
say II, we think 1t is your duty To tell
us, for most tremendous conse'
quenees depend upon your answer.
Won't you give us your answer or
II you prefer not to do so. won't you
tell us why? Are We unreasonable
In this request?"