Sub-zero freeeeezing icy icy in the Lourdes Grotto, and a blooming rose: when hell freezes over. Well… yes.

Today I had the privilege of offering the rosary in the grotto for the pilgrims here in Lourdes, a rosary broadcast live on television and radio (then rebroadcast) and available on the internet. Right afterward I took these pictures right next to the grotto.

I’m not claiming any miracle (though maybe I am), since I know nothing about the hardiness of wild roses being able to throw out super delicate blossoms in day and night constantly below zero freeeeeeezing icy icy temperatures.

 

But still, it does seem amazing to me, as it did to the parish priest here in Lourdes at the time of the apparitions. He wanted the roses of the grotto to blossom, that being a sign since he thought this would be impossible. So, I mean, what is it? Do these roses just spit on the ice and snow and say, move over, I’m going to blossom now because I want to blossom now? I’m impressed. Roses get their way. They have thorns.

Don’t think that offering a Rose-ary to the Immaculate Conception, to our Lady of the Snows, can be given without the price of coming to know the Cross better. But that’s O.K. Then we get to know the Resurrection unto life eternal.

Does anyone have any scientific background in roses? Can you tell us what’s going on?

Icicles in the grotto. This doesn’t mean that everything is melting. This is warmer underground water hitting the freezing air.

When I was a kid, the phrase was: Yeah, that’ll be the day, just when hell freezes over. We’ll, the grotto at the time of the visitations of our Lady was pretty much a hell of pig manure and freezing temperatures and people starving to death… Since then, the grotto in an inspiration for Christian charity. How fitting that the roses come up year round, even when hell freezes over.