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Even sadder that she believes that water can be profaned.

But I would disagree with you about WHY she was bringing the water back. It is obvious there is a reason for purchasing/obtaining "holy" water from one place in regards to other places. Your impression or not does not change the fact that she brought the water back for a special reason. Why that water as compared to any other "holy water"? She expected the water to do something, to be something different than other water. Your argument just does not make sense.

It's clear enough that she was on the Vatican airline returning from a pilgrimage to Lourdes, and possibly other places like Fatima. Being on pilgrimage, she was in Lourdes when she decided to purchase the water, and was en route home when the airport authorities threatened to confiscate the water. Sure, she intended to bring the water back for some reason, and hoped that, through it, God would work a miracle. The water in itself has no power, and other than its miraculous creation as a spring in 1858, it has no special significance in and of itself. But, since we are material, incarnational beings, God is not unknown to use material things to convey His power. Did Jesus have to use His spittle (Mark 8:23) or mud in curing sight? No, he did not. Yet He did, in large measure because His message could be conveyed best to our incarnational, semi-insensate minds via material objects.

Given that the water of Lourdes is a material sign direct from the hand of God (as we Catholics see it, anyway), the woman *should* have shown the respect she had for it. I know you don't look at the provenience of Lourdes water with the same eyes we do, but the sentiment is not too hard to understand. The zeal with which you might guard a picture of *your* mother from being thrown out in the airport trash might be a bit different from how I might go about it, and vice versa. But I can certainly see how you might think it important. You might try to view this situation, if it's even real (and the story is just muddled enough to wonder), from our POV, even if you don't actually agree with it.

Our Lord made good use of His creations in healing. Look at the mud and spittle He used to heal the blindman who was told to wash in the pool of Siloam.

Look to Baptism in the waters of the Jordan.

Baptism is a great healing of our souls.

” Your impression or not does not change the fact that she brought the water back for a special reason. Why that water as compared to any other “holy water”?

Ever hear of a souvenir? A memento? My sister has a rosary blessed by Pope John Paul. Does it mean that the rosary will “do something”, or “be something” different than a rosary I have with the great Benedictine blessing and exorcism by a very holy priest?

No. But I was very happy to be able to pray with her rosary.