* September 25 - Mary, Protectress of Orphans   * A bedridden man travels to Lourdes --- An initiative of the Mary of Nazareth Association  September 25 - Mary, Protectress of Orphans   A bedridden man travels to Lourdes The Bély family used to live in a quiet suburb of Angouleme, France. Jean-Pierre was married to Genevieve and had two children. He worked as a male nurse in a hospital until the first symptoms of multiple sclerosis appeared in 1972. Eventually, Jean-Pierre’s condition deteriorated to the point that he was declared "100% permanently disabled” and attributed an allowance for a third person to look after him. In October 1987, when he became bedridden at the age of 51, he went to Lourdes for the pilgrimage of the Rosary. After the anointing the sick on the third day, he felt a deep inner peace. Then, suddenly, he recovered his sense of touch and was able to move his arms. At the time, he did not dare to stand up... The following night, an inner voice told him: "Get up and walk." And he did. As he himself loved to point out, "The Lord healed my heart first, then He healed my body." After twelve years of medical investigations, the bishop of Angouleme declared that Jean-Pierre’s immediate and complete cure was “an effective sign of Christ the Savior through the intercession of Our Lady of Lourdes." Source: fr.lourdes-france.org www.mariedenazareth.com Let’s pray together  Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of death. Amen.