In my July 20 bulletin message, I mentioned about the accident that happened to me on June 6, 1970. Many years have already passed but the events are still fresh in my mind. Let me elaborate the details of this incident. As I’ve mentioned, “I was rushed to the hospital, diagnosed with broken thigh bone, had surgery, and was confined for some weeks in the ward”. The healing process did not come that quick. Recuperation was difficult and had to be dealt with gradually.
During that time, as I had mentioned also, my parents’ loving care and fervent prayers to God became the source of my strength. This was where I witnessed how grounded they were in their faith, which later on had a great impact on me.
After my series of treatments at the Orthopedic Hospital in the city and each time we went home to the province, we would stop at a famous Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help (in Baclaran, Manila). My parents would leave me inside the car since my leg was still in a cast , and they would spend some time in prayer. And here is the thing, I would see them from afar , crying while walking on their knees in prayer from the entrance of the big church all the way to the sanctuary, pleading and begging for God’s mercy for my recovery. Like the woman in our gospel it seemed they were telling God, “Our son is severely injured, Lord help us, help our son to recover, have pity on us.” For them, this gesture of sacrifice by walking on their knees was a way to show how sincere they were in what they were asking from God. You may call it devotional, but it was a unique gesture of their faith.
Their pleading for God’s help involved patience, persistence, perseverance, insistence or fighting spirit. They were really determined to “knock on the doors of heaven with prayers or to storm heaven with their knocking”. I understood their feelings since this involved their only boy who is also their youngest child. Little did they know at that time that this child will become a priest of God.
At the latter part of my recovery, there were some coincidences that happened. I was confined again in a hospital with a name, Perpetual Help Hospital. One of my aunts suggested that instead of going back and forth from the province to the city, why don’t we look for a temporary residence in the city. And we were offered to stay in a residence where the nearby parish’s name is Perpetual Help Church. Many relatives and friends who sent me some cards for my recovery would insert prayer cards (stampitas) bearing the picture of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. We may call it coincidence, but it can turn out to be a providence. Thanks to the intercession of our Blessed Mother with her Perpetual Help. It is also a good occasion to remember her, especially last Friday on the Feast of her Assumption, August 15.
After all the prayers and professional medical treatment I had, I finally regained my health, strength and ability to walk. Praise God for his kindness.
We can conclude then, when God sees how great the faith of people, it will be done for them as they desire. Though both of my parents are now deceased and are not saints due to human imperfection, what they did for me in the spirit of prayer can be considered as “saintly”. Their faith and their love is what mattered after all.
Fr. Ted Magpayo
Pastor
