Speaking Words of Wisdom

Image by Dshalock the Libertarian Emperor of America via Flickr

"When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me.
Speaking words of wisdom. Let it be."

-- The Beatles

In the hills near Sierra Vista, just south of Tucson some believe miracles are happening. A woman, Pat Chouinard claims to be speaking to the Virgin Mary and allowing Mother Mary to speak through her.

Pilgrims flock to the chapel she and her husband build near Hereford to receive messages and healing. Her husband, Jerry has explained that many of the pilgrims are from neighboring Sonora Mexico.

In 1997 Pat was suffering from a high fever associated with a kidney infection when she mysteriously began singing songs in Spanish. Later she would go on to speak in a strange language. Coming from a Pentacostal background originally "speaking in tongues" is very common and a sign that the "Holy Spirit" is present. However, they developed into messages from Mother Mary.

From 1997 to 2004 the messages or "locutions" were private in nature and they were collected into a book by the Chouinards. Most of the messages predict imminent apocalypse and urge repentance and a return to the church. Indeed, for many who visit the shrine who are not practicing Roman Catholics this appears to be Mother Mary's main concern - returning to confession and the mass.

Today, there are scores of stories of healings that have taken place at the shrine at Mary's Knoll with Pat laying on hands in what seems to be a combination of Pentacostal healing ministry and Roman Catholic rite. The couple are advised by one of the priests from St. David as well as their parish priest although the church plans no intensive investigation into the claims.

Soria Salazar says Pat did collapse on the night his prostate cancer was cured.

"I was scared. I said please call 911, something is wrong." He and his wife watched as members of the prayer team surrounded her.

"This lady suddenly talks to us. 'Is there anybody here whose name is Horacio?'

"'Please come here close to Pat,' " she said and then she said the Virgin said you must not worry. Everything is going to be OK, again. The Virgin said those bochornos (hot flashes) you are suffering right now is because the Holy Spirit is going inside of you. In this moment, you are beginning to get well."

Soria Salazar has not stopped his medical treatments nor has his grandson. He does not know the doctors' opinions of what he regards as miracles. "I haven't told them," he said.

Of course, to those of us who think of these things rationally we can't help but wonder since Soria Salazar continued his treatments whether his healing is due to Pat and Mother Mary or medical science.

Mary has said that she will have a very important message for everyone on the night of December 19th. I checked the papers for a follow-up on this important message, but there has been nothing reported so I don't know if that means Mary didn't keep the appointment or whether the revelation turned out to be a dud.

Full story from Arizona Star.

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