Testing Faith

"Some people - although I told them not to go in the water, don't touch the water, don't drink the water, don't bring it home, some people, they walk in faith.  Just like we use water for baptism - it's dangerous, you can drown.  Yet it's a symbol of new life."  Father Garry LaBoucane

For over a century, each July the province's Catholic faithful make the pilgrimage to Lac Ste. Anne in Alberta in the name of spiritual renewal and in search of its healing properties.  The body of water named by Reverend Jean-Baptiste Thibault - the original Catholic priest to initiate a mission on the site in the 1840s - continues to attract the faithful.

The lakeside is considered sacred ground, and now represents the site of the largest annual Catholic gathering in Western Canada.  It is considered by the thousands who make the pilgrimage that the waters of Lac Ste. Anne represent holy, healing powers.  An estimated 45,000 of the faithful arrived at the Edmonton-area lakeside only to be informed by the province's public health officials not to drink the water.

Not to wade in it, or to touch it, much less drink it.  A blue-green algae found to be hovering on the surface of the lake has been identified as toxic, capable of causing symptoms ranging from skin irritation to vomiting and diarrhea if ingested.  It has been held responsible for killing dogs that have imbibed it.

As a result, the point and purpose of the Blessing of the Lake had to be constrained, to the annoyance of Fr. LaBoucane who felt that an alert should have gone out much earlier to inform the pilgrims before thousands of Catholics headed out to the lake. 

"It's a very serious concern, and [Alberta Health Services] did not contact us", said Fr. LaBoucane whose informational source was the news media.

When he was informed about the health advisory promulgated by Alberta Health Services, Fr. LaBoucane used a loudspeaker to advise people to avoid the water, and to remove themselves from the lake; to get out of the water and to remain out of it. 

Not everyone responded.  Traditions die hard.  The annual event saw some alteration, when filtered tap water was used for the blessing.

No illnesses were reported.  And just as happens every other year, there were canes and braces left beyond on the beach by pilgrims who had arrived at the lake to experience its healing properties. 

Faith and belief obviously are capable of producing unbelievable miracles.