Healing Through Water: Spirit, Science, and the Supernatural
AN ANGEL STIRRED THE WATER
After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water.
For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water;
then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?”
The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.”
Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.
Water is more than a basic necessity—it is a force of renewal, restoration, and healing. From the physical act of swimming to the simple act of gazing into a still lake, water speaks to something ancient in our bodies and souls. Across cultures and throughout Christian tradition, water has played a central role in healing, both scientifically documented and miraculously unexplained.
Swimming as Therapy
Swimming is one of the most effective forms of physical therapy. The buoyancy of water reduces pressure on joints, making movement easier and less painful for those suffering from arthritis, injury, or chronic illness. Studies have shown that water exercise improves cardiovascular health, boosts mood, and even aids in neurological recovery. Warm-water pools are often used in rehabilitation centers, and many people find swimming to be mentally soothing—a moving meditation that calms the nervous system.
Drinking Living Water
Drinking clean, mineral-rich water hydrates the body, flushes out toxins, and supports every cellular function. But beyond physical wellness, water often symbolizes something deeper. In John 4:14, Jesus says, “Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” This living water offers not just hydration, but transformation. Clean water can heal the body; living water heals the soul.
Looking Upon Water
Simply seeing water has measurable effects on the brain. Studies in environmental psychology suggest that being near water—whether ocean, river, or fountain—lowers cortisol, boosts mood, and promotes mindfulness. This may explain why people instinctively go to lakes or beaches in times of grief or change. There is something mysteriously comforting about watching the tide or the trickle of a stream. In Psalm 23, David writes, “He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.” This restoration is felt as much in the silence and presence as in the action.
Christian Sites of Healing Waters
Throughout Christian history, miraculous healings have occurred at water sites. The Pool of Bethesda, mentioned in John 5, is where Jesus healed a man who had been paralyzed for 38 years. The waters of Lourdes in France, where the Virgin Mary appeared to Saint Bernadette in 1858, have become a pilgrimage destination for those seeking healing. Over 70 of these healings have been officially recognized as miraculous by the Catholic Church. Each year, thousands come to bathe in or drink the spring water that flows there.
Science and Mystery
While science confirms much of water’s healing ability—hydration, sensory therapy, muscle relief—some stories remain unexplained. There are cases of tumors disappearing, autoimmune symptoms reversing, or chronic pain vanishing after immersion in sacred waters. Some scientists attribute these to placebo, but others leave room for mystery.
Whether through laps in a pool, a sip from a glass, or a quiet moment by a stream, water invites us to return—to ourselves, to our Creator, and to the hope of wholeness. In both spirit and body, healing flows like a river, sometimes logical, sometimes miraculous, but always essential.
Testimonies from Lourdes
Recovery of Sight After the “Water Gesture” (2024)
In 2024, a pilgrim suffering from severe visual impairment experienced a sudden restoration of sight after performing the traditional “water gesture” at Lourdes. This ritual involves washing the face and drinking water from the spring, emulating St. Bernadette’s actions. The healing was immediately observed by medical professionals and reported to the shrine. However, it has not yet been declared a miracle, as it must undergo a rigorous process to confirm that the healing is immediate, complete, lasting, and medically inexplicable.
The Healing Miracle of Our Lady of Lourdes Received by Gabriel Gargam
The spiritual and physical miracles received by Gabriel Gargam are well-known because Gargam devoted nearly half a century of his life to being a stretcher carrier at the Grotto of Lourdes.
Gargam was born Catholic but left the faith in his early teens. When he left his family, he worked as a traveling mail clerk for the Orleans Railway Company. However, tragedy struck when he was in his thirties—the train he was aboard collided with another, and he was ejected from the train.
As a result of the accident, he was left paralyzed from his waist down. As time passed, Gargam began to waste away and could only receive food (and nourishment) through a feeding tube.
Gargam brought a lawsuit against the railroad company, and he won. He received a total of 6,000 francs annually and an indemnity of 60,000 francs. During the court proceedings, doctors testified that he would be disabled for the rest of his life. There were no medical or scientific means to heal Gargam’s injury.
Despite Gargam’s lack of faith, which led him not to attend church for fifteen years, his Mother remained faithful, and his aunt was a nun of the Order of the Sacred Heart. Both women urged Gabriel to travel to Lourdes, and even though he refused, their persistence finally got him to consent.
Two years after the railroad accident, Gabriel Gargam arrived at Lourdes. He received Communion and then was taken to the Grotto. However, when the water was poured over him, he felt great pain. He was in so much pain that he passed out, and bystanders believed him to be dead.
As his body was being carried back to the hotel, his group saw a procession of the Blessed Sacrament approaching, where they received a blessing from the Priest. Gargam then stirred and yelled that he could walk.
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