When recently, my wife and I, applied for a temporary visa to visit our daughter in a foreign country, both of us, being 75 and 80 years of age respectively, were directed by the Embassy to undergo a health checkup by that Country’s designated Medical Officer. Naturally, we were a bit scared and apprehensive because few years earlier, we had been put through a rigorous medical check for a similar purpose, without any damage fortunately. And that was when we were both 5 years younger!
In between, I, with a few of my family members, happened to visit the local Provincial House of the Congregation of Bethany Sisters, whose Founder, the Very Rev Msgr RFC Mascarenhas had recently been declared a Servant of God. I was very close to Msgr. Mascarenhas for a period of time at Mangalore. Entering the parolur of the Provincialate, my eyes fell on the imposing photograph of this great man, adorning the wall, and instantly, I felt I was standing in front of Msgr Mascarenhas, in person, as I used to some sixty odd years ago. I could not take my eyes off the photograph while talking to the Sr. provincial and other sisters, when willy-nilly, the subject of our medicals scheduled for the next day, came up.
The good nuns wished us well for our impending medicals and assured us of their prayers for this intention through the intercession of their beloved Founder. From that moment till we entered the doctor’s chambers the next afternoon, we felt that our good “Father Mascarenhas” who is now exalted Servant of God, was with us, constantly saying “I am with you” and giving us the courage we needed at that time.
What happened next was, as we definitely felt it, a ‘miracle’- so to say it was just a surprise would be too mild for it, our good God working through His great “servant” as assured by his beloved sisters the previous day. Instead of a few fire works, which we had expected, the doctor was so kind and considerate while examining us and finally saying “Your few ailments are age related. Don’t worry about it and carry on with the medication you are used to. Have a nice holiday with your daughter and come back.”
We wish to put this on record, with the wish and hope that more and more God’s people and followers/admirers of Msgr Mascarenhas will be touched by him and report of bigger favours received from God through his intercession and thus hasten the Cause of his Beatification and Canonization.
10 October 2008
-Mr & Mrs J. D’ Souza
No. 2, C.K. Garden, St Thomas Town
Bangalore 560 084
