The Ghost Or Spirit Of St Bernadette And Her Incorrupt Body

While looking through some photos, I came across the picture above, purported to be Saint Bernadette - after she had died. There are five images said to show her as spirit, gradually fading into a wall.

It's not known who the photographer was but is generally referred to as The Ghost of Bernadette Soubirous and was taken in 1890, eleven years following her death. And, yes, I realise there were many fake ghost and spirit photos in that era.

Bernadette Soubirous is the French farm girl from rural Lourdes who was canonised as a saint on December 13th 1933. Lourdes has since become a centre of healing for believers, mostly of the Catholic faith. Her full story can be found on Wikipedia, where it is says:

"In the 150 years since Bernadette dug up the spring (at Lourdes), 67 cures have been verified by the Lourdes Medical Bureau as 'inexplicable', but only after what the Church claims are 'extremely rigorous scientific and medical examinations' that failed to find any other explanation."

No doubt most people have probably heard of the Lourdes story but I didn't realise that Bernadette's body had been exhumed three times with bizarre results:

On the first occasion, in September 1909, witnesses claimed that, though a crucifix in her hand had oxidised, her body was declared 'incorrupt.' In other words there was no sign of decomposition.

On the second exhumation in April 1919 the doctor, who examined the body stated: "The body is practically mummified, covered with patches of mildew and quite a notable layer of salts, which appear to be calcium salts. The skin has disappeared in some places, but it is still present on most parts of the body."

Following a third exhumation in 1925 Doctor Comte published a report in the Bulletin de I'Association medicale de Notre-Dame de Lourdes:

"What struck me during this examination, of course, was the state of perfect preservation of the skeleton, the fibrous tissues of the muscles (still supple and firm), of the ligaments, and of the skin, and above all the totally unexpected state of the liver after 46 years. One would have thought that this organ, which is basically soft and inclined to crumble, would have decomposed very rapidly or would have hardened to a chalky consistency. Yet, when it was cut it was soft and almost normal in consistency. I pointed this out to those present, remarking that this did not seem to be a natural phenomenon."

As to whether Lourdes has supernatural powers of healing is a matter of opinion. What can be said is that belief can do many wondrous things - including returning people to health. Belief is at the centre of most miracles.

Other Random Posts:
Was This The Sixth Sense Or A Coincidence?
Impossible Pie: A Way Of Life And Death
10 Coincidence And Synchronicity Stories

A Mother's Instinct Found Her Son's Heart

This is a remarkable story of a mother's instinct.

When John Carter died of a brain tumour his parents were understandably distraught but found comfort in the knowledge that his heart and organs would help save other lives.

John's mother always wanted to trace the person who was the recipient of her son's heart, but this was against hospital rules.

Five years after the transplant Mr and Mrs Carter attended a memorial service for organ donors at St George’s Church in Newcastle. It was then that something almost magical happened.

A Scott Rutherford was giving a reading and Freda Carter explained what happened to the Daily Mail:

"I sat down and turned the page of the order of service ... and a strange feeling came over me. I knew he was the recipient of John's heart. It was irrational as he could have been anywhere in the country. But I was completely hysterical. I couldn't breathe and started making a massive scene. I think it must have been maternal instinct."

There were nurses at the service and they helped Mrs Carter to the back of the church. They listened to what she had to say.

After checking with Freeman hospital, where the heart transplant was carried out, it was verified that the young man, Scott Rutherford, had received John Carter's heart.

Scott met up with Mr and Mrs Carter.

Mrs Carter said, "Scott came up to me and opened his arms and gave me a huge hug, He said he would be eternally grateful for what we had done for him. I asked if I could feel John's heart beat and he let me. It was all I wanted."

Mr Carter added, "John lives on through him. He isn't dead really."

Scott Rutherford was just hours from death when he received John Carter's heart. He explained:

"When I was growing up, I had barely any life. I was miserable and when the heart problems got worse I just wanted to die. I am unbelievably thankful to John and his family for everything they have done for me, The difference to my health is amazing."

Mr and Mrs Carter and Scott Rutherford were destined to meet.

Other Similar Posts:
Amazing Heart Coincidence: Their Hearts Matched
Heart Saving Coincidences
We All Need Love And Kindness Not Bullying And Hate

A Deaf Woman Hears For The Very First Time At 40

Joanne Milne, age 40, from Gateshead, England, was born deaf, and during her 20s also began to lose her sight because of the rare medical condition Usher Syndrome. Last month she was fitted with cochlear implants and after 40 years of silence the procedure has meant that she is now able to hear.

Her mother captured the incredible moment on video when Joanne hears a nurse going through the days of the week - the first words or sound she has ever heard.

It really struck home to me about how we take so much for granted, like sound and sight. Just think how wonderful it is to hear the birds singing, the sea rushing to the shore, the wind and, for me, moments like my little grandson saying, "Hello Granddad," and seeing his huge sparkling smile.

Gosh, most of us are so very lucky but never give it a second thought. We have so much to be grateful for.

A Miracle Witnessed By A Doctor

It's not easy to decide if something is really a miracle but here's a possibility with this story from a doctor.

Dr Martin Scurr, a top GP here in the UK, was raised by Jesuits so may have some 'inside' information on such matters. This is his story:

"This week I have witnessed a miracle myself for the first time - well, if not a miracle, something very like it (if you define 'miracle' as an event that cannot be due to human power or the laws of Nature and is therefore caused by a divine intervention.

"One of my patients, known to me closely for more than thirty years, died last week after a long illness. The mother of three was an admirable woman, forthright, highly intelligent and an inspiration to all.

"Spending some time after the funeral with one of her daughters, also on our practice list since childhood, I learnt that the day after the bereavement the daughter suddenly regained her hearing in an ear that had been deaf since it was ravaged by infection in her early years, despite several operations and all attempts to conserve some function and prevent a lifelong disability.

"At the funeral the priest had said that he had never met anyone who had gone straight to Heaven  - but implied that maybe this lady had done so - and the immediate return of her daughter's hearing makes me feel that perhaps he was right.

"I am going to write to Rome - we now have a Jesuit Pope and with my upbringing I hope I will catch his ear. Maybe we have a saint in the making?"

Other Healing Stories:
Woman Walks After 23 Years Through Spiritual Healing
The Flesh Eating Bug Overcome By Prayer
Healing And Visualisation Without Will Power