I hope everyone who reads this column would agree that the greatest and most significant miracle that has come to humanity is the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead, as this, in part, has led to our belief in our own Resurrection and future life with Jesus after we breathe our last breath of our earthly existence.  I would argue that the second greatest miracle from God was his coming down to share in our humanity through his conception (by the power of the Holy Spirit) and his birth through the Blessed Virgin Mary whom we celebrate this weekend as the "Mother of God."  The "reality" of these miracles, is of course in large part, a matter of faith (with the Resurrection backed with the testimony unto martyrdom of all of the apostles but one).  The other evening, after a Sunday afternoon football game that was watched by my mother, the show 60 Minutes came on and highlighted the stories for that hour that included one from Lourdes, France.  In that story, they reported on the countless people who flock from all over the world to the shrine in which "Our Lady" (of Lourdes) appeared to Bernadette so long ago.  Obviously, many of them are seeking a cure from physical and/or mental ailments and even deformities of their limbs.  In the story they focused on a nun named Bernadette who had several medical issues including something that caused her left foot to not be as functional as most people and which caused her more and more pain as time passed.  After going to the shrine and asking for the intercession of St. Bernadette, she experienced a cure and an ability to walk without a special brace on her foot and be free of pain.  She then submitted herself to an ongoing process there in Lourdes in which a team of doctors did all kinds of tests to determine if this "miracle" could be explained from a medical perspective.  By the end of the story, it was shared that it took almost 10 years and much ongoing effort for the conclusion that this "cure" was beyond medical explanation.  It was therefore added to only 70 other cases that ended with the same declaration being made.  I found myself wondering why such a process continues to be employed at Lourdes (and in other instances like with Padre Pio and the miracle of the wounds of Christ that stayed and afflicted him for 50 years).  I say such instances have shown (and will continue to show) the existence of God, who acts beyond human expectations and explanations, and, in and through his Son, Jesus Christ, and the intercession of the saints gives us "reasons" to believe and to live our lives in accordance to his example and teachings.  Personally, I don't see the need for people like Sister Bernadette to go through what she did, but instead just give thanks and praise to God for the greatest of miracles through Jesus Christ and the little miracles that we hear about or experience ourselves!