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Spontaneous cure of “cauda equina syndrome” was experienced by Sister Bernardette Moriau
Paulo Nuno Martins*
CTEC-Fernando Pessoa University of Porto, CIUHCT-Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal.
Received Date: 02/02/2021; Published Date: 23/03/2021
*Corresponding author: Paulo Nuno Martins, CTEC-Fernando Pessoa University of Porto, CIUHCT-Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal. E-mail: paulonunom@gmail.com
Abstract
This case report describes a case of “spontaneous cure” experienced by Sister Bernardette Moriau, after going on a pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of Lourdes. In this regard, Prof. Dr. Alessandro de Franciscis (current president of BCM) declares that this “cure” is “unexplained according to the current scientific knowledge”.
Keywords: Cauda equina syndrome; “Spontaneous cure” of Bernardette Moriau, Sanctuary of Lourdes; BCM (Bureau des Constatations Médicales); CMIL (Comité Medical Internacional de Lourdes)
Methods
The main reference for the description of this case report on the “spontaneous cure” of Sister Bernardette Moriau is “Ma vie est un miracle” [1].
Case Presentation
The description of this “spontaneous cure” was made by Sister Bernardette Moriau herself in the book previously indicated:
I am sixty-nine years old and since I was twenty-seven years old, I have been followed up by Dr. Christophe Fumery because I started experiencing back pain which led to the diagnosis of “cauda equine syndrome” (a type of spinal stenosis), resulting in quasi paralysis. In fact, my left foot was practically turned, and I had to use prosthesis to keep it straight. I also had four surgical operations: The first was followed by the second surgical operation, in 1968, since my back, my spine and the pelvic areas were hurt because they rest on a rigid cervical-lumbar corset. In 1973, I had the third surgical operation due to a permanent inflammation of the nerve roots, as my legs suffered chronic sciatica pain. I started taking morphine to minimize the pain. In this regard, I often went to the Anti-Pain Center, in Nantes. In 1975, I had the fourth surgical operation and a neuro-stimulator was implanted on the lumbar region, which regularly sent small electrical discharges over some areas of my legs…
Perhaps due to these treatments, in the 90s, I had a type of “remission” of my illness. Even so, I have been very cautious about my “spontaneous cure” in 2008, having been advised to keep “silence” by the Head of the religious congregation I belong to, who questioned whether this “spontaneous cure” is not a transitory phenomenon, such as my “remission”. In fact, in 2002, my clinical situation deteriorated very quickly, having been declared invalid…
Meanwhile, my general physician, Dr. Christophe Fumery suggested that I go to the Sanctuary of Lourdes, which happened on the 4th of July 2008, as part of pilgrimage in my diocese. In Lourdes, something happened in me that was very profound and although invisible it was very real. It is a little difficult to express because it is very personal and intimate. When Bishop Jean-Paul James blessed me with the Blessed Sacrament, I felt in my heart that the Lord Jesus visited me, as never before. Then Lord Jesus spoke to me and here is what He said to me “I see your suffering and that of your sick brothers and sisters, give me everything”. In no time, I asked for my cure…Then in the pools, I was washed of everything bad. So, with the fire of Blessed Sacrament and the water of the pools, I felt that a new live was beginning, even thought I was not already healed…
Then, after 3 days, on Thursday, 11th July 2008, I left my room at the convent when I was resting and I went to Sister Marie-Albertine, in our modest chapel across the hall for worship and prayer. At exactly 5:00 p.m., we were celebrating Eucharistic communion, spiritually united with the sick of Lourdes. At precisely 5:45 p.m. (local time), we were praying during the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and suddenly I felt a relaxation in my body together with a warmth that came out of the heart and spread throughout the body. I had no idea what was going on. Other miraculously- healed people from Lourdes have described exactly the same phenomenon of inner “heat”. It is the Self and the Being that is the origin of Love and Life. After the end of “Vespers”, I returned to my room. Then, I heard an inner voice that said to me “Take off your devices” and thinking about the Gospel in which Jesus said to the paralytics “Get up from your bed and walk!”. I took everything off, that is, the vest and the devices of the legs and feet (the left foot was already in place). I interrupted the morphine and the neuro-stimulator. Then, I called Sister Marie-Albertine who asked me “What happened to you?”. almost forty years of fighting the disease and in a few minutes I stopped being sick. It is incredible.
Discussion and Conclusion
This section discusses the main medical procedures performed by BCM (Bureau des Constatations Médicales) and CMIL (Comité Médical Internacional de Lourdes) regarding the case of “spontaneous cure” of Sister Moriau. In the first stage, the BCM verified through the seven criteria defined by Cardinal Prospero Lambertini [2] if Sister Bernardette Moriau had poor prognosis regarding her disease, designated as “cauda equine syndrome”, and if she was cured in a spontaneous and complete way (without convalescence). In this regard, it should be noted that a dossier on the reports of Sister Bernardette Moriau was written by Dr. Christophe Fumery (generalist), Dr. Christophe Alliaume (reumatologist) and Dr. Frank Becigneul (painkillers) [3]. In these reports, after having followed up Sister Bernardette Moriau clinically over several years and verifying the deterioration of her health, Dr. Fumery, Dr. Alliaume and Dr. Allary testified that after the pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of Lourdes, she experienced an exceptional recovery for which they have no medical explanation.
In the second stage, the preliminary clinical procedures were deepened by CMIL, which is composed of 27 international professors of medicine. They appointed specialists in the medical area of the disease suffered by Sister Moriau, namely, Dr. Claude Kenesi and Dr. Claude Labrousse. Both of them studied in depth the dossier referred to earlier. Thus, this report is complemented by more detailed medical exams (follow-up, X-rays, scans, laboratory data, etc) from CMIL to fully evaluate Sister Bernardette Moriau´s health. The procedures were deepened by other specialists, such psychiatrists, including Dr. Marie-Christine Mouren and Dr. Jean-Philippe Boulenger, as well as, a neurologist, Dr. Jean Pouget, who requested an "electromyogram" to complement the previous data examinations. It was only after the examinations by several medical experts that CMIL decided to vote the clinical occurrence a “spontaneous cure” of Sister Bernardette Moriau - in this case, 26 in favor and 1 against – which led Prof. Dr. Alessandro de Franciscis (the first non-French physician president of BCM) to write a "Clinical Report" validating this "spontaneous cure" as "unexplained from the current medical knowledge", in 2018. In fact, Sister Bernardette Moriau was cured from “cauda equine syndrome”, although she did not undergo any specific medical treatment after been declared invalid by all physicians. Thus, if the “spontaneous cure” is unexplained from a clinical point of view, the case report is closed.
In this regard, some studies have been performed to find innovative explanations different from the religious and medical perspectives. Thus, the study of the intersection of quantum non-locality, transpersonal psychology and Indian philosophies suggested some “mechanisms” for the occurrence of this “spontaneous cure”, namely, the quantum non-local intricacy between the patient and the Divine, as well as, the positive mind-body relationship of the patient [4].
On the other hand, Prof. Dr. Alessandro de Franciscis (the current president of BCM) said that there are around 7400 cases of alleged cures that have been reported by the BCM, which was created in 1883. However, there are only 70 cases of “spontaneous cures” validated at different times and by different medical procedures, particularly related with neurological and oncological diseases [5] and referred to in Annex 1.
After these procedures, the ecclesiastic investigation conducted another kind of evaluation in order to verify if the “spontaneous cure” of Sister Bernardette Moriau was due to Divine intervention, so that the occurrence would be declared a “miracle”. This was performed by a Bishop of the Catholic Church, Mons. Benoit-Gonin, on 11th February, 2018 [6].
It should be noted that this kind of “spontaneous cures” is also interpreted by Indian philosophies as the “awakening of kundalini with pranayama exercises” leading to the occurrence of transpersonal experiences in an “instantaneous time”, and so complements the previous perspective described by quantum non-locality [7].
Conflict of Interest
None
Acknowledgments
The author of this case report thanks Prof. Dr. Alessandro de Franciscis (current president of BCM) for clarifying the case of the “spontaneous cure” experienced by Sister Bernardette Moriau.
The author also thanks Sophie Starkman, from Jean-Claude Lattès publisher, for giving authorization the citation of some excerpts of the book entitled “Ma vie est un miracle”, mentioned to in the references of this case report.
The author also thanks Jenny Tillé-Martinez, from diocese of Beauvais, for giving authorization the citation of some excerpts of the video entitled “Souer Bernardette, déclarée ce jour 70è miraculée de Lourdes!”, accessed through the website :https://oise.catholique.fr/eveque-et-ses-collaborateurs/notre-eveque-et-ses-conseillers/soeur-bernadette-declaree-ce-jour-miraculee-de-lourdes that complements the book mentioned above.
Annex Description:
Annex 1 – The 70 cases of “spontaneous cures” occurred in the Sanctuary of Lourdes
References
- Moriau Sister B. Ma vie est un miracle. Paris: Éditeur Jean-Claude Lattès. 2018. [It could be complemented by the video entitled “Souer Bernardette, déclarée ce jour 70è miraculée de Lourdes!”, where she answered the following questions: a) “Qui êtes-vous?”, b) “En 2008, vous allez à Lourdes…”, c) “Quel syndrome aviez-vous?”, d) “Parlez-nous de votre guérison”, e) “Comment se fait le reconnaisance d´une guérison?”, f)”Vous êtes la 70éme miraculée de Lourdes, comment vivez-vous celà?” accessed through the website : https://oise.catholique.fr/eveque-et-ses-collaborateurs/notre-eveque-et-ses-conseillers/soeur-bernadette-declaree-ce-jour-miraculee-de-lourdes.]
- Holland T. Os 7 critérios científicos de uma cura milagrosa. Porto Alegre, RS: Aletheia Brasil. 2016.
- Fumery C and Alliaume C and Allary B. Lettre du docteur Fumery du 20 août 2008; Lettre du docteur Alliaume du 10 septembre 2008; Lettre du docteur Allary du 5 novembre 2008. In: Ma vie est un miracle (Ed. Jean-Claude Lattès). 2018; 266-268.
- Martins P. A perspective on the “spontaneous” cures associated with the Sacred. International Journal of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education. 2020; 7(5): 35-40.
- de Franciscis A. Personal Communication. 15th President of BCM. 2020.
- Scicluna Msgr Charles. Some reflections on the criteria of Lambertini for the ecclesial discernment of miraculous healings. International Scientific Seminar, Lourdes – June 2012. 2012.
- Martins P. As filosofias da Índia e as “curas” espontâneas associadas ao Sagrado: Um ensaio. Revista Consciências 7, Universidade Fernando Pessoa. 2021. (accepted for publication)
