Thank you for Barry Bearak’s two-part story on the Lubbock visions. I teach Mariology here and it’s not often I read in the non-Catholic and secular press accurate portrayals of Catholic

devotion to Mary and of the scrupulous care with which church officials investigate claims about the miraculous and visionary. That is why Bearak’s statement, “The glory of the Blessed

Mother is purely the glory God gave her. Catholic teaching said she is to be venerated, as a saint, not worshipped,” is heartening to me. Your reporter also showed great sensitivity to all

the people involved and to the range of their experience. PAUL F. FORD, PH.D. Associate Professor St. John’s Seminary Camarillo MORE TO READ