The Catholic Church has declared the 71st official miracle at Lourdes, marking a monumental moment of faith and hope. This latest recognition highlights the miraculous healing of John Traynor, a British World War I soldier, at the Marian shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in France.
Archbishop Malcolm McMahon of Liverpool announced the miracle on Dec. 8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception and the 81st anniversary of Traynor’s death. The Church had not officially recognised a miracle at Lourdes since 2018, making this a particularly significant proclamation.
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The Lourdes Phenomenon
Lourdes, a small town in southwestern France, has been a global beacon of spiritual renewal since 1858, when the Virgin Mary appeared 18 times to St. Bernadette Soubirous. The spring revealed by the Blessed Mother has drawn millions of pilgrims seeking spiritual solace and physical healing. Over 7,000 cures have been documented by the Lourdes Medical Bureau, with only 71 officially recognized as miracles by the Church.
The Story of John Traynor
John Traynor’s miraculous healing is a testament to perseverance and faith. Born in Liverpool in 1883, Traynor’s early life was marked by his mother’s deep devotion to the Blessed Mother, a faith that stayed with him throughout his life. A member of the British Royal Navy, Traynor served during World War I and suffered life-threatening injuries during the Gallipoli campaign in 1915. Shot in the head, chest, and arm, he was left paralyzed in his right arm, prone to epileptic seizures, and declared incurably incapacitated.
Against medical advice, Traynor joined a pilgrimage to Lourdes in July 1923. Despite his dire condition, he insisted on being bathed in the grotto’s spring. On the second day of his pilgrimage, he experienced a severe epileptic fit but persisted in his faith. After being immersed in the baths, he never experienced another seizure. Over the next few days, he regained movement in his legs and arm. By the end of his pilgrimage, Traynor was able to walk unaided and even made the sign of the cross with his once-paralyzed arm.
Traynor’s recovery stunned the medical professionals of the time. An opening in his skull from prior surgeries had diminished significantly, and he was declared fully healed by the Lourdes Medical Bureau in 1926. His healing was recently revisited by Dr. Alessandro de Franciscis, president of the Lourdes Office of Medical Observations, and Dr. Kieran Moriarty, an English physician who uncovered additional documentation supporting the miraculous nature of Traynor’s cure.
The Church’s Declaration
After a thorough review, Archbishop McMahon declared Traynor’s cure a miracle, emphasizing the role of Traynor’s faith and devotion to the Blessed Mother. “Given the weight of medical evidence, the testimony to the faith of John Traynor, and his devotion to Our Blessed Lady, it is with great joy that I declare this cure to be recognized as a miracle wrought by the power of God through the intercession of Our Lady of Lourdes,” McMahon stated.
The archbishop also announced plans to commemorate this significant event during the jubilee year in February 2025 with a celebration at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Liverpool.
A Legacy of Faith
Traynor’s healing underscores the enduring legacy of Lourdes as a sanctuary of hope and divine intervention. His journey from battlefield suffering to miraculous recovery serves as a powerful reminder of the transformative power of faith and the intercession of the Blessed Mother. Traynor’s story continues to inspire countless pilgrims to visit Lourdes, seeking both physical and spiritual healing.
The recognition of the 71st miracle at Lourdes is a profound affirmation of God’s mercy and the power of intercessory prayer. John Traynor’s remarkable story stands as a testament to resilience, faith, and the enduring presence of divine love in the world. For Catholics and all people of goodwill, this latest miracle is an invitation to reflect on the mysteries of faith and to trust in the boundless grace of God, made manifest through Our Lady of Lourdes.
For more similar articles, visit our Miracles section.