May reminds of the time when as children we competed in picking fresh flowers to decorate the statue of the Blessed Mother for the evening devotions at our homes. It was a joy to gather around her following the evening prayers.

Devotion to the Blessed Mother knitted us together and strengthened our family bonds.

Today, years later, as I kneel before her today, rolling rosary beads with my fingers, my mind recalls my visit to Lourdes in France where Mother Mary had appeared to St Bernadette.

Calipers left hanging at the bottom of the rock where a church stands and devotees burn candles, remind visitors numerous miracles the Blessed Virgin continues to perform in people’s lives. She continues to implore her Son as she did at Cana, to work a miracle in the lives of those who approach her.

Nothing spectacular happened in my life as I visited her. May be I was not even aware of the holy ground on which I was walking while I was there in prayerful spirit.

However, my onward journey after the visit was marked by surprises and miracles.

First time I was in Europe. I was to travel alone after the visit to Lourdes. A benefactor kindly helped me board the intercity train from France to Switzerland. What I did not know was that I had to change the train at the border. Being a foreigner I had to verify my visa before I could get on to the next train.

A young man directed me to the counter line, and he took my luggage and quickly climbed the stairs and to the waiting train. He left it at the feet of a gentle man, may be the ticket inspector. When I climbed the stairs I could see them asking me move faster. They threw in my suitcase and made me get inside the train. Hardly had I put my both feet in, the train started moving, and they bid me bye. I blessed those Europeans. How kind they were. May be they were sent by the Lady of Lourdes, since I came from there, I consoled myself.

Tired and hungry I stood at the entrance, a bit shocked, and slowly got into the compartment trying to put on a smiling face. “Are you travelling out of your nation first time?” asked a woman next to me after I settled in a seat. I smiled hearing her speak English.

By then the refreshments came and I tried to look the other way as I could not afford even to buy a bottle of water.

“Take this,” the same woman put a Swiss Franc note in my hand.

“May I have your contact,” I tried being courteous, as if I could return her gift.

She just smiled and told me, “It is okay.” She was from Poland, she told me.

So I had a bottle of water which in fact refreshed me.

It was 8 pm when I reached Fribourg. The few passengers in it alighted, and disappeared from the platform leaving me alone in the winter night.

I could not find anyone who had promised to pick me up. Later on I came to know that they had gone back as the train was delayed. And they would come again.

As I stood there in that cold night I saw a woman and her teenage son. After enquiring where I had to go, they assured me a taxi would safely take me there. I was not sure, I told them and coaxed them not to leave me. But they knew their countrymen well.

As directed by the mother the son picked my suitcase and we walked toward the taxi.

And in fact the taxi man reached me to the door of the hostel where I would be staying for the next eight days.

Another intervention of Mary and her Son!

After our meeting I was to meet my cousin sister who worked in a hospital in Germany.

When I mentioned about this to one Indian priest he pointed out a gentleman who was also with us and told me, “He is going to the railway station. Go with him.” And he introduced me to him.

I reached the station aware that I had no money for the ticket. But did not tell him.

“He bought for me a ticket, and I took it graciously from his hand. I told him that I had to inform my sister that I was boarding this particular train. So he stood with my luggage while I went to make a phone call. He went only after he saw me safely boarding the train.

After a few days with my sister she was eager to take me to meet some of our family friends in a neighboring country. As we were boarding the train she remembered that she had missed to take her passport. What happened was that she changed her handbag where she always kept the passport.

With a prayer in our heart we sat in the train. Both of us were fully aware of the implications of travelling without our Indian passport in Europe. When the officers came in from either sides of the compartment to check the ticket and passport both of us stood up. I reached for my bag to get the ticket and passport, and she stood with folded hands before them in apology. The gentleman looked at her religious habit and asked, “Is it true? OK, I believe you,” and left.

When we reached our destination and narrated the incident all were in utter surprise. How Blessed Mother had walked with us with her Son.

There is this trustful feeling that Mother Mary is always walking with me and guiding me. It gives me confidence and courage. It gives me a kind of inner joy.

Human relationships, however close they are, dwindle at some moments leaving one perplexed and downcast. Mary our Mother will never leave us, forsake us. She will always stand by us as she did standing with her Son at the foot of the Cross.

The love of Mary for her children is something inexplicable. She loves us for our sake that we may grow unto the likeness of her Son.