Publisher's Note

Publisher’s Note
It was 22 years ago when I arrived in Canada and chose Calgary, Alberta to be my home. Leaving my family and friends behind, it was a new adventure for me to be in a new country without knowing anyone. That was the time I looked for a Filipino community paper and never found any, [...]
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Page added on February 22, 2017

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Miracle in Rome

By Consuelo (Chit) E. Munar

“Miracles happen every day to people from every walks of life,” declared Jack Canfield, best-selling author and co-creator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. His 2014 book, Chicken Soup for the Soul: Miracles Happen, was rated an excellent read for millions of readers. It’s a book of powerful stories about real miracles. It’s a book that relates testimonies about hope, divine intervention, healing and answered prayers that touched me to the core when I completed reading the volume from cover to cover.

I have a miracle story to tell. In April, 2014, my husband and I joined a group of Corpus Christi parishioners and priests in a Pilgrimage to Italy. We participated in a very significant event in Rome. We witnessed the canonization of two most beloved popes in the Catholic Church by Pope Francis – Pope John Paul II and Pope John XXIII. Pope John Paul II reigned as pope of the Catholic Church for 27 long years, considered an advocate for human rights. Pope John XXIII, called the “Good Pope,” on the other hand, was considered to have lived a virtuous, model lifestyle, and for opening the Second Vatican Council.

Our pilgrimage group flew out of Calgary with great faith and anticipation landing in Frankfurt, Germany to catch our connecting flight to Rome. In April 26, 2014, late in the evening, we arrived at the Fiumicino (Leonardo da Vinci) Airport. After all the 36-member tour group had secured their personal belongings, we were transported by a shuttle bus to Hotel Mercure where we were accommodated. Prior to retreating to our own rooms, our tour leader gave us last minute reminder. We have to be up early, grab our prepared breakfast bags and ready to be transported to Vatican City. We were suppose to be there by 4:00 in the morning. The place, we saw on the hotel lobby television set, was already crowded by thousands and thousands of people who came from all corners of the world.

Close to 1 million people gathered at the Vatican on Sunday, April 27, 2017, also the day of the Divine Mercy. Still pitch dark, our group was transported and dropped off a mile and a half from St. Peter’s Square. I was overwhelmed with the throng of people already there ahead of us; most had stayed and stood overnight. We pushed our way through the crowded boulevard leading to St. Peter’s Basilica that our group got separated from each other. About eight of us, however, were able to converge in a vantage point where we could take a glimpse of what is going on in front of the basilica from a distance. A couple in their early 80s from our group were with me and my husband. I felt quite concerned about them. We were in a situation that was extraordinary. We were in the center of a very “packed-like sardine” crowd. We could hardly move. Although we brought single stools to sit on, in case we get tired of standing, we can’t open them. A little space was impossible.

By mid morning, the woman in her 80s in our group suddenly felt sick. With eyes closed and ashen face, she slowly fell to the ground. Acting quickly, I yelled at the top of my voice, “please give her space.” Instantly, I saw a very familiar scene that I’ve seen in the movie before – the parting of the Red Sea in The Ten Commandments, when the Israelites were taken out from Egypt by Moses. My tour colleagues and I were overcome with amazement. Before my very eyes, I couldn’t believe the big space that has just been created. Sudden whip of fresh cool breeze blew on my face. While a member of our group rapidly gave our sick tour member immediate assistance, I looked around for emergency responders. About fifteen meters from where we were was a First Aid station. My powerful voice must have been heard. Two identified first responders came rushing to the scene with a stretcher. They carried the elderly woman away.

As quick as the open space was created, it instantly closed upon us. We found ourselves enveloped again by a very dense crowd while the high mass and canonization rites were taking place. Before noon, our pilgrim group of six received the holy Eucharist. Multitude of people did not including the rest of our tour group. My husband and I felt greatly blessed. Our pilgrimage trip was well worth it.

In great faith, miracles can happen when you least expect it. I am a walking, talking true testament to the existence of miracles. Believe.

Miracle in Rome

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