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By Victoria Ohaeri
I am a Catholic, but my Catholicism and Christian faith have never been cast in stone. As such, I always interrogate doctrines, beliefs and religious practices before I conform to them.
One such Catholic doctrine that I have always interrogated is the intercessory power of the Blessed Virgin Mary. While recognizing divine role she played as the mother of our savior, Lord Jesus Christ, I have always questioned the doctrine of the Marian intercession. Even though I have never voiced out my reservation nor condemned Catholics who routinely pray at the Marian grotto, I have always viewed such practice as a form of idolatry or worship of graven image contrary to the biblical commandments.
Last Friday, January 17, 2014, the Blessed Virgin Mary proved me wrong, melting away ALL of my skepticism.
For more than two years, I have been assailed with a strange ailment that has defied diagnosis and treatment. I have submitted myself to extreme diagnostic tests and advanced medical examinations, including surgical procedures in three different countries famed for their sophisticated medical infrastructure and curative expertise. All the medical examinations presented me with a clean bill of health. Yet the symptoms and pains persisted.
In the last two years, I lived on antibiotics, toyed severally with self-medication and was driven my frustration to experiment with herbal medicine and native concoctions all to no avail. Slowly, I was dying from the pain, anger and shame of an illness I didn’t know where it came from or what was causing it. I stopped eating different kinds of foods and fruits, and constantly changed consumption and social habits. Yet, the problem persisted. Doctors began to suggest my health problem was more of psychological than real, even though the symptoms were manifestly clear.
Disappointed by the failure of orthodox medicine, I resorted to prayer and spirituality. In 2013, I visited the Blessed Sacrament every Thursday to table my woes and supplication before God. I woke up every 3.am. in the morning to say the legendary Precious Blood prayer. I am not very good at fasting, but I did fast a couple of times, believing God for a miracle. On a regular basis, I prevailed on my ‘Born Again” and pastor friends to pray for me. Yet, the miracle didn’t come. I continued to pray even though I stopped visiting the Blessed Sacrament and ended my midnight prayers.
It got a point that my doctors and close friends began to warn me about an imminent depression. I became an internet freak. I spent most of the time on the internet researching the ailment and reading up blog entries and stories of people coping with depression, and living with incurable diseases. I combed the stores of Lagos and Abuja desperately searching for drugs suggested or recommended in online forums. I found myself gradually drifting towards depression and an indescribable life of misery.
The sermon at the New Year service in January 2014 resonated strongly within me. The priest urged Catholic faithful to ask God to give them the grace to accept every situation they cannot change. Painfully and reluctantly, I began to adjust myself to the reality of living permanently with an unknown, incurable ailment. After all, I wasn’t hospitalized, and could move around, go to work, travel and carry out my routine tasks. I began to encourage myself to ignore the worsening symptoms and concentrate on my family and work obligations.
Last Friday morning (January 17, 2014), I went to drop off my daughter at the nursery. As I was leaving the nursery which was located inside a Catholic Church premises, I saw a group of people praying at the grotto of the Blessed Virgin Mary. I began to wonder why Catholics indulge in that “unholy” practice. Then a voice inside me prompted me to go to the grotto and give it a try. I put off the car’s ignition and walked straight to the grotto.
Quite frankly, I didn’t feel like praying there. So, I went to the far end of the grotto (pictured above) to meditate and to avoid distracting the group of people praying there. Then I managed to say the following words;
“Dear Blessed Virgin Mother. I recognize the role you played as the mother of our savior without which salvation would not have been possible. But I have always doubted that you live in this grotto, and I have always doubted that no one can intercede for mankind, except Jesus Christ. If that doctrine of your divine intercession is true, let me experience a healing miracle. Let me be healed of this strange ailment. Let this healing establish the truth about your divinity and celestial might so that through me, others may also hear and believe”. I say this prayer through Jesus Christ my Lord and savior. AMEN.
I went back to my car and drove off. By the time I got to my office, I felt unusually happy, relaxed, and worked with utmost concentration. I also observed that the symptoms were disappearing. I decided to give myself some 24 hours before celebrating. 24 hours came and passed, all the symptoms were GONE!!! I decided again to give myself some 48 hours before rejoicing….By the evening of the second day, I dared the ailment by eating all the banned foods and doing all the banned activities that used to trigger the symptoms. Yet, nothing happened. I then decided to give myself another 24 hours. Yet, the disease just disappeared from my body, and has remained DISAPPEARED!
I feel like somebody who has won lottery. No more doctor visits and medical appointments. No more money losses. No more concoctions. No more pains. No more nightmares. No more NOTHING!!!
I am not sharing this testimony to win new converts to the Catholic Church. NO! I am doing this to give glory to God. I am doing this to profess my faith in God and affirm that the Blessed Virgin Mary is indeed the intercessor of mankind, and mediatrix of humanity to God. The wonderment of her divine nature and intercessory power is also manifestly factual and compellingly true.
Whatever that is your problem, especially a health problem, always remember that God is the supreme healer. All diseases, demons and spirits bow before him, and must surely depart from thine body at HIS command.
Thank you, Most Blessed Virgin Mother of Jesus Christ our Lord!
Source: victoriaohaeri
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