The Miracle at Santa Teresita

Yesterday was the Feast of St Claude de la Colombiere, confessor of St Margaret Mary Alacocque and promoter of the Sacred Heart Devotion.  Wondering about a connection between him and Carmel, I came across this by Sister Maria Elia, O.C.D.  ‘As Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles, we have a deep devotion to the Heart of Christ and as such, we had a long-standing interest in the cause for the canonization of Blessed Claude de la Colombiere. Blessed Claude, a Jesuit priest who promoted the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, required a second miracle attributed to his intercession in order to be approved for canonization. To this day, I am overwhelmed by the loving graciousness God has shown our community by permitting that miracle, the healing of Father John Houle, SJ, to occur at Santa Teresita, our hospital in Duarte, California.  Father Houle came to Santa Teresita in late December 1989, in the days when it still served as an acute-care hospital. Father already had a long history of serious coronary issues, as well as emphysema by then; however, he was still able to walk and every day I would accompany him to the main chapel so he could celebrate Mass. However, as he gradually became weaker, walking became more difficult and even a few steps would leave him very short of breath. In February 1990, the doctor ordered a bronchoscopy, a test by which Father Houle was diagnosed as having pulmonary fibrosis, which is a terminal condition.  Father Houle’s superior, Father Francis Parrish, SJ, had a great devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and was in charge of the Sacred Heart devotional programs in Los Angeles. As a result, Father Parrish established many prayer groups in the U.S. and Canada. Father Parrish was also very interested in Blessed Claude’s cause. Now, Father Parrish enlisted the aid of the many Sacred Heart prayer groups he had formed in praying for Father Houle’s cure through the intercession of Blessed Claude de la Colombiere.  I had seen many gravely ill patients in the hospital die and I knew that the doctor’s prognosis was correct; in Father Houle’s case, in all likelihood, it was probably just a matter of time. Still, I was aware that many people were praying for a miracle and that when one prays with trust and confidence, leaving things in God’s hands, miracles do happen – and He worked a miracle now!  Three days later, Wednesday, Father Houle was sitting up in bed reading the newspaper and asking for his favorite food – pizza! Just days before, Father Houle was at death’s door, now his lungs had been miraculously restored and there was no sign of illness! Father Houle’s cardiologist confirmed the miraculous healing.’  Blessed Claude was canonised in 1992.

Intercessions:

Cancer: Brian Davis, Bernard (and wife Angela caring for him), Jacqui, Theresa K, Fr Jon Bielowski (Plymouth Diocese), Catherine, Alex (43 with five children), Marie

Illness:  Katy Keeling

Siena, Elara – sick children

David OCDS – housebound

Sophia – blind infant

Grace – troubling ailments, job difficulties, family (deceased mother and health of father)

Lucia – Overwhelmed by weariness

Mark – brain infection

Michael – youngster with occult influences

Defence of the unborn and the elderly

RIP Roy Seymour, Richard Parker, Joy Smith OCDS, Dr Alan Rodgers