THE STORY OF GABRIEL GARGAM
The case of Gabriel Gargam is probably one of the best known of all the thousands of
cures at Lourdes, partly because he was so well known at the Shrine for half a
century, partly because it was a twofold healing, spiritual and physical. Born in
1870 of good Catholic parents, he gave early promise of being a clever student and a
fervent Catholic. The promise was not fulfilled in the most important respect for, at
15 years of age, he had already lost his faith. He obtained a position in the postal
service and was carrying out his duties as a sorter in December of 1899, when the
train on which he was traveling from Bordeaux to Paris collided with another train,
running at 50 miles per hour, Gargam was thrown fifty two feet from the train. He lay
in the snow, badly injured and unconscious for seven hours. He was paralyzed from the
waist down. He was barely alive when lifted onto a stretcher. Taken to a hospital,
his existence for some time was a living death. After eight months he had wasted away
to a mere skeleton, weighing but seventy-eight pounds, although normally a big man.
His feet became gangrenous. He could take no solid food and was obliged to take
nourishment by a tube. Only once in twenty-four hours could he be fed even that way.
He brought suit for damages against the railroad. The Appellate Court confirmed the
verdict of the former courts and granted him 6,000 francs annually, and besides, an
indemnity of 60,000 francs.
Gargam's condition was pitiable in the extreme. He could not help himself even in the
most trifling needs. Two trained nurses were needed day and night to assist him. That
was Gabriel Gargam as he was after the accident, and as he would continue to be until
death relieved him. About his desperate condition there could be no doubt. The
railroad fought the case on every point. There was no room for deception or hearsay.
Two courts attested to his condition, and the final payment of the railroad left the
case a matter of record. Doctors testified that the man was a hopeless cripple for
life, and their testimony was not disputed.
Previous to the accident Gargam had not been to Church for fifteen years. His aunt,
who was a nun of the Order of the Sacred Heart, begged him to go to Lourdes. He
refused. She continued her appeals to him to place himself in the hands of Our Lady
of Lourdes. He was deaf to all her prayers. After continuous pleading of his mother
he consented to go to Lourdes. It was now two years since the accident, and not for a
moment had he left his bed all that time. He was carried on a stretcher to the train.
The exertion caused him to faint, and for a full hour he was unconscious. They were
on the point of abandoning the pilgrimage, as it looked as if he would die on the
way, but the mother insisted, and the journey was made.
Arrived at Lourdes, he went to confession and received Holy Communion. There was no
change in his condition. Later he was carried to the miraculous pool and tenderly
placed in its waters -- no effect. Rather a bad effect resulted, for the exertion
threw him into a swoon and he lay apparently dead. After a time, as he did not
revive, they thought him dead. Sorrowfully they wheeled the carriage back to the
hotel. On the way back they saw the procession of the Blessed Sacrament approaching.
They stood aside to let it pass, having placed a cloth over the face of the man whom
they supposed to be dead.
As the priest passed carrying the Sacred Host, he pronounced Benediction over the
sorrowful group around the covered body. Soon there was a movement from under the
covering. To the amazement of the bystanders, the body raised itself to a sitting
posture. While the family was looking on dumbfounded and the spectators gazed in
amazement, Gargam said in a full, strong voice that he wanted to get up. They thought
that it was a delirium before death, and tried to soothe him, but he was not to be
restrained. He got up and stood erect, walked a few paces and said that he was cured.
The multitude looked in wonder, and then fell on their knees and thanked God for this
new sign of His power at the Shrine of His Blessed Mother. As Gargam had on him only
invalid's clothes, he returned to the carriage and was wheeled back to the hotel.
There he was soon dressed, and proceeded to walk about as if nothing had ever ailed
him. For two years hardly any food had passed his lips but now he sat down to the
table and ate a hearty meal.
On August 20th, 1901, sixty prominent doctors examined Gargam. Without stating the
nature of the cure, they pronounced him entirely cured. Gargam, out of gratitude to
God in the Holy Eucharist and His Blessed Mother, consecrated himself to the service
of the invalids at Lourdes.
He set up a small business and married a pious lady who aided him in his apostolate
for the greater knowledge of Mary Immaculate. For over fifty years he returned
annually to Lourdes and worked as a brancardier. The Golden Jubilee of his cure was
the occasion of a remarkable celebration during the French National Pilgrimage in
1951. Mr. Gargam sat in a chair in the Rosary Square, surrounded by 1,500 sick and
50,000 other pilgrims while a description of his twofold healing was given by the
celebrated apologist, Canon Belleney. His last visit to the Shrine was in August
1952: he died the following March, at the age of eighty-three years.
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