A week before
A week before the canonization, I learnt that the health of my father had worsened. Since August, he had been hospitalized due to a minor bleed in the brain together with heart failure. By mid September, he had to have a pacemaker implanted. After that procedure, his condition worsened with pneumonia… and then the left part of his body developed paralysis. He had to go to the intensive care unit and the doctors said that his situation was serious.
When I found this out, I was doubtful about going to the canonization. I had been asking Saint Josemaria for the health of my father and for his conversion, because he is not a Christian. Knowing that God always has the best plan in mind, and praying that nothing would happen while I was out, I decided to go to Rome.
Upon returning to my country, I was told, “On Sunday, Oct 6th, Dad came out of ntensive care and now he is in a normal ward. Come and see him when you can”.I went to see him and, while letting him know how much I had been praying for him, tears flowed from his eyes. Until then, he had only been able to speak in monosyllables, but at that moment he could articulate a whole phrase. I thank Saint Josemaria that my father is better and I continue to have recourse to his intercession so that he may receive the Sacrament of Baptism.
A Decision on October 6, 2002
My father had stopped practicing the Catholic faith for many years. When my younger sister became a member of Opus Dei, my father started to change his attitude, accepting little by little certain aspects of the doctrine. The whole family was praying for him and entrusting this intention to the soon to be canonized Blessed Josemaria.
On October 6, 2002, I prayed especially intensely for the conversion of my father but I never thought that he could change as fast as he actually did. My emotion was very great when that very day he came to tell me that he had gone back to the sacraments and had started receiving spiritual direction. I thought I was dreaming, but no, it was true! As the Founder of Opus Dei used to say — dream and your dreams will fall short!
Saved from an electric shock on Oct 6
Upon returning from the canonization in Rome, I received an email from a friend asking how she could tell everyone the good thing that she witnessed on the same day of the canonization, October 6. Her sister-in-law, who was 7 months pregnant, had suffered a strong electric shock in an accident at home. They immediately brought her to the hospital. As they proceeded with the emergency examination to determine the baby's condition, my friend remembered that it was the very day of the canonization and she asked the new saint to intercede for the baby's safety.
When the examination was over, the doctors were surprised to discover that everything was inexplicably well: the womb had remained free from electric shock as if something had prevented the current from flowing into it!
On the same day
My sister called me when I came back from the trip to Rome. She commented to me that they had watched the ceremony of canonization of our Father on television and they were very impressed. Besides, she told me that Saint Josemaria had granted her a favor that same day: she has arthritis in the hands, which causes an almost permanent pain. Since Oct 6, she had not felt any more pain! She attributes this to our Founder because although she had never asked him for this, she knows that our father –who passed away last March- had been praying for a long time for her cure to the Founder of Opus Dei!
The Saint in the driver seat
The day before the Canonization, a lady was robbed of her van. She reported the robbery to the police and prayed to Our Father to help recover it. The next day, Sunday 6th October, she received a call from the police: “We have found a van similar to yours. Could you tell us what you have in it?” She tried to remember some objects in the van and after mentioning a few things, she said: “I also had a prayer card of Blessed Josemaria de Balaguer”.
“Well, it was the Saint who was on the driver’s seat”, the police told her.
Then they explained that they found the prayer card on the driver’s seat, propped up against the back rest of the driver’s seat! She is convinced that it was a favor of the new saint!
They watched the Ceremony
My four brothers are Protestants. It has always been very difficult to talk to them about God because they considered the topic taboo. As the trip to Rome for the Canonization of St Josemaria was approaching, I called to tell them about a television channel that would have live coverage of the event, and if they wanted, they could follow it on TV. When I got back from the trip, two of my brothers called me to congratulate me. They were very happy talking about how they had followed the entire programme and enjoyed it a lot too. The older one said that another of my brothers had said the same thing and was also very impressed with the ceremony. The fourth one couldn’t watch it as he was out on a trip. It was the first time they had shown interest in anything about Opus Dei. I am sure it was a favor of St Josemaria and I am very grateful to him.
There can be only one explanation
Shortly after they announced the date of the canonization of Blessed Josemaria, I got to know that my friend’s husband was going to be hospitalized because they suspected he had cancer. Immediately I gave a prayer card of Blessed Josemaria to my friend and suggested that she prayed for a miracle. I told her I would also pray for the same intention.
The results of the medical tests were not good and the doctors decided to operate on him. Meanwhile we continued praying intensely.
What happened during the operation was something totally unexpected. They discovered that the tumor was benign. The doctors affirmed that it could not be explained other than for a miracle. My friend and I are very thankful to the new saint for the favor.