I quote:
And Mary said:
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
The 15th August is an important feast day for the faithful throughout the countries of the Mediterranean and beyond. Catholics, and our Orthodox brethren celebrate together. I shall be visiting the Greek island of Aegina where I shall stay with our Orthodox brothers at the monastery of Saint Nektarios.
Occasionally I am asked why most ill pilgrims visiting a variety of shrines dedicated to Mary, mother of Jesus seeking healing return home disappointed. It has been my experience that the healing experience is a gradual process taking some years, rather than an event evidencing a return to a normal life free from a dependency on relatives.
Miracles are predictably recognised by a sudden recovery, and return to normality whereas for most people recovery can be understood within the understanding transformation is a process leading to our deepening relationship with Our Father.
Here in Greece the islands of Tinos, and Syros (with significiant Catholic communities, the result of Venetian settlement over the centuries) also welcome pilgrims in large numbers celebrating the feast of Mary's Assumption with the awareness that a few of the immobilised faithful will return home without their crutches, or free from dependency on a wheelchair. Most will return to their homes happy that they made the journey opening their hearts to the love that Our Saviour has for all who reach out to Him, when their needs become overwhelming and too much to handle alone.
The life of Saint Nektarios provides our Orthodox brethren with good reason to learn from his life of dedication, serving The Father's call to love all who are called into our life, to assist them cope with their many troubles. Our Father works His plans through us, when we make the effort to respond to Our Father's call to become His outreach into the lives of those He introduces to us.
Here's a link to the miracles attributed to the intervention of Saint Nektarios:
https://www.aeginagreece.com/aegina-island/greece/agios-nektarios-church-monastery/
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