[Mad Dawg]

Here's a Wikipedia article, about as reliable as any Wikipedia article. The story on the conversion of Alphonse Ratisbonne is interesting.

Even after I became Catholic I had a kind of automatic shudder at things like the Miraculous Medal until Easter Saturday of 2007. I had been on a quite day at the Dominican House of Studies in DC which is right across the street from the Basilica in DC.

After the quiet day (more like a quiet morning) we all went across to the Basilica to see the sites.

Having had foot surgery on both feet a month before (the doc broke 2 bones per foot) I was getting pretty sore. So I sat to rest in the little Miraculous Medal/Catherine Laboure Chapel which has all the aesthetic grace of the old TWA Terminal at Kennedy airport and which sports a statue of our Lady carved by someone who obviously hates women and is suspicious of beauty.

And I had a "religious experience". I don't like to go into it, so I won't but if you ever want a Miraculous Medal, frmail me. I give away at least one a month.

[OLD REGGIE]

Having had foot surgery on both feet a month before (the doc broke 2 bones per foot) I was getting pretty sore. So I sat to rest in the little Miraculous Medal/Catherine Laboure Chapel which has all the aesthetic grace of the old TWA Terminal at Kennedy airport and which sports a statue of our Lady carved by someone who obviously hates women and is suspicious of beauty.

Some years ago I visited the LaSalette Shrine in Ipswitch, Massachusetts when it was famous for it's "miraculous healing" experiences. I had a partial paralysis in my left leg which resulted in atrophy below the knee and a foot drop.

The site was among the most beautiful in the world and I, long removed from the Catholic Church, actually felt an inner peace and religous experience. I felt the power of the hands on prayer for healing and was totally confident of a cure.

Now, some 30-40 years later I am still "crippled" and that beautiful Shrine is now a BioLab. So be it.

BTW I kept my orthotic. :)