Unanswered prayers lead student to make Lourdes bomb threat

Gerry Cowie

Aug 11th 2011, 20:05

Why is it that those humanists and secularists who have no interest in the Church turn out in their numbers to knock the Church? If only they had something constructive to say and not just use the opportunity to poke fun! They know who they are! So let's pray for them all!

Victor Pulis

Aug 11th 2011, 17:55

Albert Ostimani

Today, 17:00

But that always depends on what you ask. Do you think that, for example, you can get rid of your neighbour by praying that he/she dies? Whatever's God's decision, there's always a good reason for it.


And how many people do you know who go to Lourdes and pray for their neighbour's death? Let's not fall into the absurd in order to try and answer questions.
It's better to refrain from answering than to drop the stone on your foot.

Victor Pulis

Aug 11th 2011, 17:51

Albert Ostimani
@Victor Pulis, why isn't a good thing if this relative die? After all, if you lived a good life and then you die, you are going to meet the Holy Father. That is a good thing. Of course, Holy Father or not, in my opinion, after you die you are going to pay for what you did.

Then according to you Why pray in the first place? In fact according to your way of thinking one should actually pray for the relative to die to go near the Heavenly father!
In the case that the relative doesn't die it means he/she have not lived a good life according to your way of thinking. And another thing, If these people have so much faith why go to Lourdes? Why not shut themselves in their room and pray from there like Jesus instructed?

Mr Daniel Xuereb

Aug 11th 2011, 16:31

Yep, about 8,000,000 people visit every year, most to get healed. Lets say 50,000,000 people in total have tried to get healed. That's 0.00013%, also known as a statistical anomaly.

Mr Patrick Zammit

Aug 11th 2011, 14:16

Jesus tells us:

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”

He is very clear. He does no put any conditions or limitations. We only have to ask, seek and knock.

According to Wikipedia, since 1860, there were 200 million visitors and 67 "miracles", that is a success rate of just one in about 4 million.

This is in complete contrast with what Jesus promised us.

Mr Saliba Francis

Aug 11th 2011, 12:43

It should not be beyond the mental capacity of a University student visiting Lourdes to appreciate that praying for a favour from God is not something like calling a genie out of an Alladin lamp obsequously chanting "Your wish is my command, Sir". All devout prayers should end, like Christ's with "Thy will be done". Everything else would be a presumption based on the fallacy that the one who prays is wiser than the God to whom he prays.

Mr renald williams

Aug 11th 2011, 11:58

Read the Gospels... peace and health wishes

Catholic Church Catechism
Paragraph 65 Maltese Version page 36
Araw ghaliex issa, jekk xi hadd irid jistaqsih [lil Alla] jew jixtieq minn ghandu xi dehra jew rivelazzjoni, mhux biss ikun jaghmel xi bluha, imma jkun ukoll joffendi lil Alla, ghax ma jkunx qed jitfa’ harstu biss fuq Kristu, imma jkun ifittex xi hag’ohra, jew xi haga gdida.
Paragraph 66 Maltese Version page 36
M’ghandniex nistennew ebda rivelazzjoni pubblika gdida f’dan iz-zmien qabel id-dehra glorjuza ta’ Sidna Gesu’ Kristu.
Paragraph 133 Maltese Version page 49
Il-Knisja theggeg bil-qawwa kollha u tinsisti ma’ l-insara kollha biex bil-qari ta’ spiss tal-Kotba Mqaddsa jaghrfu lil Kristu Gesu’. Fil-fatt min ma jafx il-Kotba Mqaddsa ma jafx lil Kristu.

Mr Karl Consiglio

Aug 11th 2011, 11:06

I felt the same about Santa and the tooth fairy, but that does not mean you go blowing up the fireplace, or your bed.

Ramon Casha

Aug 11th 2011, 11:00

There are less than 70 officially recognised "miracles" which supposedly took place at Lourdes since the pilgrimages began more than 150 years ago, with between 4 and 6 million visitors every year. On average that's one "miracle" every 8 to 12 million people. You're more likely to win the super 5 lottery several times with 5 numbers than to get one prayer answered, not to mention that there's a chance of actually ending up with some brand new infection from some other hopeful pilgrim. No wonder people come back disappointed.

Lourdes changed from a small, unknown agricultural village to a tourism corporation - 15,000 inhabitants with 270 hotels. Its main export is ordinary water in cheap plastic bottles shaped like a religious figure - all on the strength of one village girl who claimed that Mary appeared to her, which is actually less believable than someone claiming to have spotted Elvis taking a dip in Malta.

It's shameful that there are many who profit by this, organising tours and trips and encouraging people to give their money to this scam, taking advantage of people's distress and faith. If the Lourdes corporation wasn't protected by the mantle of religion, they'd be prosecuted under consumer protection and false advertising laws. Unfortunately religion gets away with just about everything.

Carlos Espinal

Aug 11th 2011, 10:07

And that is what happens when believe in fairy tales.

Albert Ostimani

Aug 11th 2011, 09:40

If every citizen who has unanswered prayers threatens to bomb a place, then probably 3/4 of the world is bombed down. We all get unanswered prayers in our life; that does not mean that God isn't there or doesn't want to help us. Maybe there is another reason, or perhaps you will find a better solution throughout your destiny.