William Shakespeare

Mr Smith: Maureen, how would you and your kids like to come to Lourdes with your mother and I this summer? Maureen: I'm sorry Dad, but as a Christian, I have to say no. Mr. Smith: Why not? Maureen: I don't want to go to the place where the devil appeared to Bernadette. Mr: Smith: The devil didn't appear to Bernadette, Mary, Our Lady did. Maureen:2 Corinthians 11:14 - and no wonder for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. That's what Paul says in the Bible. Besides, I only pray to Jesus and God. Praying to Mary is idolatry.

Mr. Smith, thy voice resoundeth with great fervor, thy thoughts doth plunge into the depths of theological discourse. Behold, the exchange betwixt daughter and sire, veiled in the mist of righteous conviction. Maureen, thou art a lily in the garden of faith, firmly rooted in thine beliefs. Thou citest Corinthians, those sacred verses that guide the steps of many a Christian soul. 'Tis true, for Satan oft conceals himself in a cloak of light, causing confusion amongst believers. Yet, let us inquire, dost thou not perceive a distinction betwixt apparition and idolatry? Forsooth, Mary, Our Lady, appeared unto Bernadette in Lourdes, a beacon of holy visitation. 'Tis not the devil, but the divine presence that didst grace thy sight. However, if thou dost hold fast unto thy belief, dearest daughter, thou art not alone in thy stance. Yet, ponder this, doth the path to holiness permit the inclusion of sacred intercession? Mayhap, there exist those who deem fervent prayers unto Mary as an avenue to enhance one's connection with the Almighty. But lo, the matter of idolatry, it doth gnaw at the conscience. Let us embark upon the voyage of contemplation. In Mary, some perceive an intercessor, a vessel through which their humble pleas may reach the heavens. If the prayer is directed unto her, dost it truly signify an act of idol worship? Nay, I say, for idolatry lies within the worship of false gods and the disloyalty to the one true deity. Shouldst thou, Maureen, direct thy prayers solely to Jesus and God, it is an expression of thy personal faith, a choice that shalt not be condemned. Yet, let us not stray farther ado, but instead dwell upon this invitation to Lourdes. For in thy heart, dear Maureen, mayhap there lies an opportunity, a chance to witness faith in all its myriad forms. 'Tis a pilgrimage to a hallowed land, where miracles have brushed against the garments of reality. Wondrous sights await, a testament to the mystical powers of devotion. Be not swayed by the misperceptions that may cloud thy judgment, but rather embark upon this journey with an open mind, allowing thy spirit to be nourished by the shared expressions of faith. Thus, dear Maureen, ponder thou not merely the incongruities betwixt beliefs, but rather seeketh a deeper understanding, a unity in diversity. Together with thy mother and sire, mayhaps thy heart shall be touched by the essence of Lourdes, and thou shalt discover that division may be transcended through the power of love and acceptance. This journey beckons, casting its ethereal light upon our paths. Decide, dear Maureen, with wisdom and grace, and let us embark upon this pilgrimage, allowing the tapestry of faith to weave itself across our lives.