How to send petitions to Lourdes

One time as I was doing a short cut via National Bookstore in Greenbelt 1, I saw a book by Fr. James Reuter on a display table entitled “Mama Mary and Her Children”.  It was an autographed copy.  I ended up getting a copy for my mom. 

After reading it, my mom lent it to me.  It's a compilation of inspiring stories and miracles by Marian devotees including Fr Reuter's. About half of the stories were answered petitions by Our Lady of Lourdes.   All were amazing but I am picking my 3 favorite stories: 

• The Jesuits are known for being Marian devotees. When the atomic bomb was dropped  on August 6, 1945 in Hiroshima, every person within a radius of 1.5 kms from ground zero died immediately – people evaporated and buildings were leveled.  But the Jesuits, who were just 8 blocks away from the epicenter,  remained unscathed (except for some slight cuts) and their house remained standing.   During the Nagasaki bombing, the same thing happened.  People that were thrice farther than the Jesuits from the epicenter instantly died and people that were ten times farther were exposed to fierce radiation and died within days. Some badly burned survivors died within 15 years from some form of cancer. But as for the Jesuits, they were examined by scientists 200 times in the next 30 years but there were no ill effects from the bomb ever found. After 60 years, scientists were still unable to explain it.  The two cases defied the laws of physics.

• There was a patient who had to undergo an angioplasty (a major heart operation).  She sent a letter of petitions to Lourdes days before her operation.  On the day of the angioplasty procedure while strapped on the operating table, the doctors could no longer detect any blocked artery!  The doctors said she no longer needed an operation:) 

• There was a patient who had a really BIG tumor in her chest (a 3.7 kg tumor!).  She sent a letter of petitions to Our Lady of Lourdes 3 weeks before her operation.  She asked for her tumor to be benign and that the organs where the tumor trespassed be kept intact and functional.  All prayers were answered.  A 3.7kg tumor - benign? Amazing!

I've been fortunate to have been able to visit Lourdes exactly 2 years ago (from today). Such a moving place. I had several petitions for my family, friends and myself but when I saw that others had more serious needs (people in hospital beds and stretchers!), I felt ashamed to ask. My petitions seemed petty in comparison.  I ended up praying that may all those with pressing concerns be answered first! Haha... But Mama Mary did answer a lot of the petitions I dropped at the Grotto (no matter how long and disorganized my letter was!).  Among them were 2 friends conceived a couple of months after my trip and another friend responded positively to chemo treatments and was declared on remission.

If you've any petitions, the great news is we can snail mail them to Lourdes, France.  The address was printed in Fr. Reuter's book.  Just address and mail them to:

Monsiuer L' Econome de L'oeuvre de la Grotte

65100 Lourdes Cedes

Lourdes, France

Once received, the letters are placed in the grotto for a full day (don't worry, no one reads them) and then they are burned.

So what are you waiting for?  Mail your petitions soon:)