|
The story of healing that became the
canonization miracle for St. Maria Faustina
by Patrick Novecosky
|
|
Father Ron Pytel has had some big days, but few were
as important as Mercy Sunday 2000. "After my ordination, it was the
most emotional day of my life," Fr. Ron says of standing alongside
the Holy Father on April 30 and hearing him declare Sr. Maria Faustina
the first saint of the Great Jubilee.
"I've been blessed by the Lord with a wonderful
healing through Sr. Faustina's intercession. My healing became the
canonization miracle. So it was awesome to see her become a saint. And
now, more people than ever will hear of the message of mercy," he
says.
It has been nearly five years since doctors gave Fr.
Ron three to five years to live. At that time, he was extremely thin and
pale with a badly damaged heart.
"I suppose I probably shouldn't be around
anymore," jokes the 52 year-old pastor of Holy Rosary parish in
Baltimore, MD. "But I'm living proof that miracles do happen."
The miracle is not only that Fr. Ron is alive, but
that his permanent heart ailment is gone. As a matter of fact, he says
he is in better health today than he's ever been.
|
| "His Heart touched mine" |
|
On Oct. 5, 1995, the feast day of St. Faustina (who
was then a blessed), Fr. Ron and some friends gathered for prayer at
Holy Rosary Church, which is also the Baltimore archdiocesan Shrine of
The Divine Mercy. After a time of prayer for the healing of his heart
through Sr. Faustina's intercession, Fr. Ron venerated a relic of St.
Faustina and collapsed. He felt paralyzed, but was completely at peace.
A subsequent visit to his cardiologist showed that his heart had been
healed.
Although he was healed through St. Faustina's
intercession, Fr. Ron is quick to point out that Jesus healed him.
"I know in my heart that Faustina put in a word with Jesus, and His
Heart touched mine. It's as simple as that," he explains.
After almost three years of examining Fr. Ron and his
medical records, doctors and theologians from the Congregation for the
Cause of Saints concluded an exhaustive investigation of the healing.
And on Dec. 20, 1999, Pope John Paul II ordered publication of the fact
of the healing as a miracle through Sr. Faustina's intercession, leading
to her canonization on Mercy Sunday, April 30, in St. Peter's Square.
|
| Blessed with peace |
|
When you meet Fr. Ron, the first thing you notice is
how radiant he is - and that he's a man completely at peace. And when
you hear him speak, his enthusiasm for St. Faustina and Divine Mercy is
infectious.
"Personally, I'm still in awe," he says.
"Sometimes I wake up and ask myself if I've just had a four year
dream. Spiritually, my prayer life has intensified tremendously.
"I've had a peace that has been with me through
everything that has taken place," he explains. "I've also been
blessed with a calmness, a gentleness. I think it's made me more open to
the struggles of other people."
|
| Accepting God's timing |
|
During the investigation of his healing, Fr. Ron says
he was hoping for a quick decision from the Congregation for the Causes
of Saints. However, as the case dragged on, Fr. Ron became more willing
to accept the Lord's timing.
"And as it turns out, God's timing was perfect," he
explains enthusiastically. "She's the saint of the millennium!
She's being held up as the model for us. And the significance of the
date on which she was canonized is perfect. On April 30, 1926, she
received her habit and her name - Faustina. And 74 years later, she has
a new name - St. Faustina!"
top of page |
|
