Two for the price of one

A man in Lisbon, Portugal, was suffering from Parkinson's disease. As the creeping paralysis rose from his lower limbs, eventually closer and closer to the heart, the patient was plunged into deep melancholy. His wife pleaded with him repeatedly to go to another Mirian shrine like Lourdes, which was only 90 miles away.

One day, in mockery, because he knew that, like himself, his attending physician did not believe in miracles, he said to his wife in his doctors presence: "I'll go if he does." It occurred to the doctor that a trip to the church at Fatima might cheer his patient, or at least it would be a temporary distraction, so he surprised the ill man by saying: "Alright, let's go."

The day they arrived at the shrine was the 13th of the month, so there was a large crowd of pilgrims. The non-believing doctor and his non-believing patient were among the first in the rows of invalids. A man beside them was carrying a canopy over the Holy Eucharist as it was raised by the priest to bless the patient. Suddenly, the ill man pushed himself up from his wheelchair, trembling, he began to move and feel his legs. Then, over and over he pleaded to those around him: "Am I not dreaming? Am I not dreaming?"

The doctors mouth fell open in amazement and he slowly sank to his knees. Tears began to roll down his cheeks. "This is not for you." He exclaimed through his sobs. "This was for me."

A true story by John M. Heffert

Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima photos

God bless you. And this is for His Glory!