Where Do You Need a Miracle?

"I am the Immaculate Conception."

This is the response given to St. Bernadette when she asked the beautiful lady her name. On February 11, 1858, the Blessed Mother began appearing to 14-year-old Bernadette Soubirous. Bernadette was a poor peasant girl with little education. She labored alongside her family to make ends meet and to put food on the table. One day as Bernadette collected firewood she was greeted by a woman wearing a long white veil and white robe with a blue sash. Bernadette was startled and frightened so she pulled out her rosary beads and began to pray. 

Bernadette encountered the beautiful lady 17 different times. She instructed Bernadette to drink in the spring and to bathe in the waters. There was no spring in sight, but as Bernadette began to dig in the mud, clear waters burst forth. These waters immediately began to bring healing to villagers and soon crowds began to flock to the grotto where Bernadette’s visions took place. One common message of the Blessed Mother was for penance. She told Bernadette, “Penance! Penance! Penance! Pray to God for sinners.” In another vision she requested that a chapel be built at the location of her appearances. Miraculous healings and cures began to occur at Lourdes. People seeking healing began to visit Lourdes in the hopes that they would receive a miracle. 

Recently, I watched a movie called the "Miracle Club". It is a movie about several women who traveled from Ireland to Lourdes in search of miracles in their lives. They each arrived in Lourdes with a brokenness in need of healing. As they prayed in the spot where the Blessed Mother appeared many years ago and as they approached the healing baths, they each had expectations of what their miracle would look like. The women needed physical healings, reconciliations from past conflicts, self-forgiveness from past mistakes and relief from life’s disappointments. Their hopeful expectations turned into doubt and disbelief as the outcome of their pilgrimage turned out differently than expected. Instead of receiving the miracle they went in search of, God surprised them by healing what they most needed in their lives.

In an angry outburst one woman claimed that miracles don’t occur and it is all a gimmick. The priest, seeing her inner turmoil shared “you don’t go to Lourdes for a miracle, but the strength to go on when there is no miracle.” I thought this was such a profound statement. So many times, I have pleaded with God for a miracle or an answer to a prayer only to feel that my request has fallen on deaf ears. You and I both know that God hears our prayers and He answers them in the way that is best for our needs. God’s ways are so much better than we can ever imagine. He sees beyond the pain and suffering to what truly needs healing and that is where the miracles occur. 

I believe that there are tiny miracles that happen in our lives each and every day. Sometimes we are looking for the BIG miracles and miss the tiny ones.

• Waking up each morning in good health and with the opportunity to experience a new day. 

• Finding inner strength to navigate difficult situations

• Random acts of kindness from family, friends and strangers

• Encountering moments of clarity or inspiration during times of confusion or uncertainty

• Protection from harm

• Divine timing where things fall into place at just the right moment

• Personal transformation and healing from physical and emotional wounds

• A fresh start after forgiveness

The feast day of St. Bernadette is on April 16th. Let it be a reminder that God seeks to bring healing and restoration to everyone. If you are praying for a miracle, approach your prayer with a hopeful expectation believing that God will answer you with the miracle you most need in your life. Like St. Bernadette, He often works through people and in ways that are least expected. 

• "What a happiness for me to be yours, O my Jesus! You have given me hope; you have promised that everything will end well." 

-St. Bernadette

Jennie Guinn is a Catholic Life Coach, Podcaster, Weekly Radio Show Host on Nashville Catholic Radio and Radio Maria USA, and the founder of Catholic Moms in the Middle. “Catholic Moms in the Middle" is your weekly companion, offering faith-based guidance, practical tips, and inspiring conversations to help you navigate midlife with purpose, joy, and a renewed sense of connection with Christ, yourself and your spouse.