Our‘ Lady’ must be supported
Dear Sir,
“O Mary, God has chosen you, and purified you; He has chosen you above all the women of creation.”
Divine grace surrounded Mary from birth, and, as a young woman, she received a message from God through the Archangel Gabriel that God had chosen her, purified her, and had preferred her above all “the women of the worlds.”
Mary asks Gabriel how she will be able to conceive, when no man has touched her. Gabriel’s reply assures Mary that for God all things are easy and that Jesus’s virgin birth will be a sign for mankind. God allowed a life to shape itself in Mary’s womb.
“O Mary! Verily God has chosen you and purified you and chosen you above the women of the worlds” [3:42]
Mary is believed to have been buried at the Tomb of the Virgin Mary in the Kidron Valley, at the foot of the Mount of Olives
Mary is one of the most honoured figures in theology. Viewed as one of the most righteous women to have lived, and a minority view her as an actual female prophet. Tradition honours her memory at Matariyyah near Cairo, and in Jerusalem The Bath of Mary in Jerusalem, where tradition recounts Mary once bathed, visited, at times by women who were seeking a cure for barrenness. Some plants have also been named after Mary, such as Maryammiah which, as tradition recounts, acquired its sweet scent when Mary wiped her forehead with its leaves. Another plant is Kaff Maryam (Anastatica), which was used by some women to help in pregnancy, and the water of this plant was given to women to drink while praying.
Much of the above will be very familiar to readers. however the line about her tomb will sound a wee bit strange. We as Christians were taught about the Assumption of Mary, body and Soul into Heaven. So how could she have a tomb? The above is based upon the Qur’an the Holy Book of Islam. Mary the Mother of Jesus is a very important figure in Islam.
So if Mary is a revered figure in Islam and Christianity, two of the largest religions in the world why is the HSE and the management of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital so determined to change the name of the hospital to some generic secular title. What is it about the name that upsets them. It is hardly offensive to the vast majority of the population of the North East and the people of Drogheda who helped build it with their donations in the past and continue to do so in the present.
Are they adopting some ultra Politically Correct agenda where the greeting Happy Christmas is not allowed, Where the Crib is banned because it may traumatize some snowflake. Where some individual wants the fairy-tale banned or rewritten because Snow White has not given written permission to be kissed. Where Rudolph the Red Nosed is banned on the grounds of bullying because he is different. A world where a radio station bans the comedy song ‘Baby its Cold Outside’ because is encourages non consensual sex, despite a survey showing that 94% of people seeing it as humorous. The 6% minority had their way. Where the song ‘Fairytale of New York’ is offensive because of the word ‘Faggot’ How many readers, females in particular, have been called ‘Cheeky Faggots’ by their mothers and others.
Could the HSE inform the taxpayers how much money it is going to cost to change the name of the hospital. A HUNDRED THOUSAND EURO, A MILLION EURO. Would the money not be put to better use hiring or renting more staff, opening wards, cutting waiting lists.
Our Lady of Lourdes is but another name for Mary, the Mother of Jesus, respected by both Christians and Muslims. Hindus, writing as a outsider, could see Jesus as a manifestation of Brahman. What we appear to have is a small, but vocal Politically Correct perpetually offended minority who demand everyone live their lives on their terms.
We are living in a world where words mean whatever those with the loudest voices want them to mean. A world where a name associated with the curing of ailments, Our Lady of Lourdes, has to be changed to suit the Politically Correct agenda.
Have none of our politicians the courage to stand up and be counted, provide leadership, organise the protests
Without the vision and tenacity of Mother Mary Martin, the Medical Missionaries and the people of Drogheda there would be no Lourdes Hospital.