She made a pact with Mary to heal her husband from a deep depression

In 1978, the birth of our fourth child, a girl, after three boys and seven years of waiting, was a great joy. But for no apparent reason, my husband Jo sank into a deep depression. Despite the comfort of the prayers of friends and the Charismatic Renewal prayer group, the years went by with no improvement in his condition: he had no taste for anything. Faced with his numerous suicide attempts, the psychiatrist came to ask me to prepare the children for the possibility of a tragic end, because for him, recovery was inconceivable. I didn't do it.

Then, one day in March 1983, a friend invited me to take part in the Polio Pilgrimage to Lourdes, as there was a shortage of nurses. What could I do? Stay at home and look after my husband and our children, or leave, feeling like I was abandoning my family? After praying, I proposed a pact to the Virgin Mary: “I need a break, I'll look after your sick children, while you look after Jo and our children.”

At the end of September, in Lourdes, all was well. I had confidence in Mary, but every night on the phone I got the usual sad hello from home! On Friday, however, Jo's voice had changed. I thought, “He's fed up with the kids, he's glad to see me back.” On Saturday morning, I returned home to find my husband smiling! A first in five years! He told me: “On Friday afternoon, I felt like a veil was being torn in my head, a great light swept away all thoughts of sadness and death and enveloped me in peace. I felt alive. I felt like praising the Lord!” And what had I done that Friday afternoon? Overcoming my aversion to cold water, I went to the pools, taking Jo and the children with me in my thoughts. The pact with Mary came back to mind.

But would this improvement last? We remained discreet, while Jo returned to a living faith. A little later, Father Christian, a monk from Bellefontaine, confirmed our experience: “You received a healing-conversion. It was to help others." Afterwards, he sent us many people who felt badly about themselves. What else could we do for them, if not listen?

Finally, on Ascension Day 2006, Jo was ordained a permanent deacon.

Danièle, 79, retired nurse. Testimonial published in : www.lepelerin.com