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When I used to be slightly boy, my uncle as soon as informed me about his probability encounter with former NBA Basketball star, Michael Jordan—my childhood hero. While interviewing for a job at a Cleveland lodge, my uncle bumped into Jordan in a parking storage elevator of all locations. As Jordan left the elevator, my uncle stated, “Good luck tonight!” That night time Jordan crushed my Cleveland Cavaliers.
I used to be shocked that my uncle didn’t ask for his autograph—as a younger boy, I chased skilled athletes’ autographs—they had been like gold. But as I’ve aged, my heroes are now not those that play sports activities, and autographs are now not foreign money. Instead, I discover heroic those that observe God’s will, and I hunt down their blessings in order that I’ll do the identical.
In my life, I’ve been blessed to satisfy Fr. Benedict Groeschel, Fr. Andrew Apostoli, Fr. Thomas Dubay, and to be inside one foot of Pope Benedict XVI. These males encourage me and my work.
On Thursday August 1st, I used to be invited to be on EWTN’s “Women of Grace” present. To my nice delight, I overhead that his Eminence, Raymond Cardinal Burke could be arriving on the studio that night—particularly when and the place we didn’t know (for safety functions). Cardinal Burke was my “Michael Jordan;” I look as much as him in some ways.
I had begun corresponding with Cardinal Burke through electronic mail two years earlier for work functions, once I labored as TAN Books’ Acquisitions Editor. It was throughout this time that I first requested him for prayers, which led to the expansion of my household.
After over 5 years of infertility and two miscarriages, my spouse and I wanted a miracle. I had learn Austin Ruse’s stunning article crediting Cardinal Burke’s prayers for his spouse’s wholesome being pregnant after three miscarriages. And so, being in the same place myself, I sought the Cardinal’s blessings as properly.
After filming the present that day, I went to Our Lady of the Angels chapel to hope, “Dear Mother Angelica, please intercede for me. I’d love to satisfy Cardinal Burke and obtain his blessing.”
Why was I praying to Mother Angelica? Well, she has additionally performed a big position in my prayer and household life. On a private stage, she entered the Poor Clares in Cleveland, Ohio—solely a block away from the place my grandmother had grown up. They had been 4 years aside, and my grandmother would typically pray at that convent.
On a non secular stage, my spouse, our son Jude, and I had pushed from Ohio to Alabama to hope for an additional little one at Mother Angelica’s tomb. We’d named our final little one we’d miscarried Angelica Rose after Mother Angelica—her due date was on Mother’s birthday, April 20th.
Once on the tomb, a cry surged from my coronary heart, “Lord, in case you give me one other little one, I’ll give that little one again to you.” I used to be at a convent of Cloistered Poor Clare Nuns. I all the time thought it could be particular to have a minimum of one in all my youngsters change into a priest or a spiritual.
Just a few weeks later, my spouse grew to become pregnant. I knew it was a woman since that prayer arose at a convent. On September 12th, the feast of the holy identify of Mary, God blessed us with slightly woman, Mella Rose Marie.
Now again to EWTN and my prayerful request for Cardinal Burke’s blessing. With the present over, I ready to go away for the airport however stored scanning the skin for any signal of the Cardinal. My journey arrived sooner than anticipated. I resigned myself to the chance that my prayer wouldn’t be answered.
As I used to be placing my suitcase within the automotive, an unmarked van with black home windows drove down the street; there he was! Now was my probability.
I briskly walked throughout the garden. I requested the safety guard if it could be alright to say hello. He stated sure. As Cardinal Burke got here out of the van, I approached him and stated, “I’m Patrick O’Hearn.” He smiled as if he had been ready for me.
“TAN Books,” he stated. (It had been over a yr since I final corresponded with him at TAN.)
After kissing his ring, I thanked him for his prayers years earlier—that they had led to our miracle child. He requested about my household, then I requested him for a blessing.
And so, two of my heroes, Cardinal Burke and Mother Angelica, labored one other miracle. First, the reward of my daughter, and now this blessed go to.
How stunning that God is within the particulars, orchestrating the whole lot right down to the precise minute. How beneficiant He is; He wishes to bless us, to offer us presents—all we have to do is ask and have religion.
As Catholics, we often depend on within the intercession of our heavenly buddies, the saints, however typically our intercession stops there. Our Lord taught me an excellent fact in looking for the prayers of a dwelling cardinal and a not-yet-canonized saint in Mother Angelica. We are all a group, one Body, one Church, united in our objective.
As Saint James reminds us: “pray for each other, that you could be be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has nice energy in its results” (Jas 5:16). Indeed, the prayers of a holy cardinal and a holy nun have nice energy!
Our Lord taught me one other lesson: no request is just too small for Him. The similar God who carried out a miracle at what appeared like an insignificant request at a marriage in Cana wishes to work numerous miracles in our lives if we however ask. Let us by no means be afraid to ask an excessive amount of of God; relatively, allow us to solely be afraid of asking too little or trusting too little in His energy. God needs us to have the religion that strikes mountains.
Photo supplied by the writer
