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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.

and hoped that, through it, God would work a miracle.

*scratching my head in confusion*

Ok, if that is what you say, then why did you say that I was wrong in post 11 when I said the same thing. Strange logic you have.

btw - if the law was that they had to throw away a picture of my mother (living) or my long deceased beloved father, then I would have no problem resting in the sovereignty of God knowing that He alone is my peace and joy, and not a picture or a relic of someone or an inert bottle of something or other. For in Him we live and have our being. In Christ alone.

One of my parish priests favorite story he has told several times involved Lourdes.

A little boy who was extremely ill went to Lourdes. As he was being Blessed, he was heard to say this out loud.

"Lord if you do not make me better, I am going to tell your Mother."

BTW, the boy did recover.