Stage 2: From the
“Unexpected” Cure to
the “Confirmed” Cure
The files of the “unexpected
cures” are studies to
complete the authentication
inquiry which consists of a
comparative study of the
medical documents before
and after the cure. This is to
ensure that there was an
indisputable change from a
precise medical diagnosis of
a known illness to a situation
of restored health. They will
also look to see if this cure
shows signs of being
completely out of character
with the development of this
illness. The opinion of a large
number of professional
specialists will be sought by a
member of the CMIL before
the file is presented to a
gathering of the CMIL. In the
end, the CMIL will classify the
cure as no followup or they
will validate this cure which
they feel has been
“thoroughly discussed and
confirmed”
Stage 3: Opinion for
Recognising an
Unexpected Cure
This is the final stage where
the CMIL will affirm the
“exceptional character” of a
cure according to present
scientific knowledge. The file
is then sent by the Bishop of
Tarbes and Lourdes to the
bishop of the diocese where
the person who was cured
lives. The support of the
Lambertini criteria will
assure that the cure has
been found complete and
lasting, from a serious
illness which is incurable or
of an unfavourable
prognosis and that it
happened in a sudden way.
The miraculous healings at
Lourdes (France) began in
3
1858 when the Blessed
Virgin Mary appeared to a
14 year old girl St.
Bernadette Soubirous. Our
Lady later instructed her to
drink from a spring of water
from which miraculous
cures have since been
attributed. Over 7,000 cures
have since been reported
from the waters of Lourdes.
Of this, 70 have been well
authenticated and declared
"medically inexplicable" by
a team of international
experts. The nature of the
illness included paralysis,
blindness, tuberculosis,
heart disease, cancer and
various other types of
diseases.
The latest miracle to have
been authenticated was
that of 79yearold Sister
Bernadette Moriau who was
cured from “cauda equina
syndrome”, a compression
of the spinal nerve roots
that often leads to
permanent leg paralysis.
She suffered this condition
for fifty years and aside
from the pain she
experienced, this also
caused her foot to be
twisted such that she
needed to wear a brace. In
2008, during a pilgrimage to
Lourdes, she was cured.
She heard a voice to take
off her braces and she
discovered that her foot,
which now returned to its
normal position could move
again.