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" I am not a priest and cannot bless them, but all that the heart of a mother can ask of God for her children, I ask of Him and will never cease to ask Him." ~ Sister Marie

“The grace of our Lord be with us forever.” ~ Sr. Marie

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Sister Marie Series by Dan Murr - Segment 12

Father Jung was amazed at Catherine Emmerich’s book and his conversion to belief of her visions at least has started, but there still is a long way to go. Father Poulin is stuck between belief and disbelief mostly because of a lack of proof.

After Father Jung finished the book, his conversation became completely different. “I don’t know,” he said to his brothers of the Confraternity. “I can declare nothing as to the veracity of Catherine Emmerich’s visions, but what greatly surprises me is that I didn’t hesitate to confirm that nothing in these visions contests the Gospel; also, they fit in perfectly with the Holy Scripture and on many points they complement marvelously the silence of the Gospel.


“I don’t understand,” he continued “how a poor country girl, always ill, naïve and ignorant, could find . . . could have said such beautiful, such wise, such strange things if her visions had not been true.”

Father Jung’s conversion over to Catherine Emmerich had started but was far from complete. Then another incident occurred, more important for everyone involved. It happened in February, 1891, before Father Jung read the book sent by Sister Marie. It concerned the intervention of Father Lobry, who came from Constantinople to Smyrna on a private visit.

Father Poulin told him what preoccupied all of them, about Ephesus and the plan to go there during the long summer holiday. Father Lobry, like Father Jung and Father Poulin, was hostile to visionaries and their visions.

“I saw,” he said one day, “miracles at Lourdes. I am ready to confirm they were miracles, however, I don’t believe.”
Father Poulin knew this was Father Lobry’s way of thinking and his disposition, but he had no idea how Father Lobry became interested in this question of Ephesus. And after twelve years, it remained a mystery to Father Poulin. The important thing is that Father Lobry agreed with Father Poulin’s group and supported the researches they were about to undertake.

Father Lobry looked at Father Poulin and then at Father Jung. “Here, take this,” Father Lobry said. “Here are fifty Francs for your journey,” and he counted out the Francs and handed them to Father Jung.

With great surprise, Father Poulin watched the proceedings. “I could see,” he said. “I could hear, but I could not believe my eyes or my ears.”

So this question arose for Father Poulin when he heard Father Lobry speak in such a way: Did he believe Catherine Emmerich? Despite being an admirer and believer of Catherine Emmerich – although still a skeptic – Father Poulin was overwhelmed by his friend’s actions.

“I am in this troubled condition between belief and disbelief,” Father Poulin reasoned to himself, “but common sense refuses resolutely to accept it because substantial and convincing proof is missing.”

Segment 13:Father Jung swings into action to search for Mary’s home in Ephesus.