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by Carmelita Cochingco Ballesteros.
March 1, 2013
“We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
2 Cor 4:18
In the Gospel of Luke, the angel Gabriel appeared to Zecharias, an old priest married to Elizabeth, an old woman. Both were good persons, but they were childless. When the angel Gabriel told Zecharias that his wife Elizabeth would soon conceive, Zecharias was dumb-founded, literally.
He became unable to speak because he doubted God. On the day that his son was circumcised, he wrote on a tablet that his son’s name was not Zecharias, but rather, John, as the angel Gabriel had said. In a flash, Zecharias was able to speak again!
Let’s fast-forward to the 21st century.
* * *
In the Philippines, the couple Eric and Suzette doubted that they could ever have a natural child. Having prayed for a baby since their wedding in 2006 and having waited for years, they turned to medical science for some help.
They consulted a fertility specialist and took oral medications. But it didn’t work. Next, they underwent a series of intrauterine injections. But it didn’t work either. Finally, Suzette went under the knife to correct a physiological issue. But they were kept longing for a child.
So they thought that perhaps they should adopt an orphan. They met up with an old friend, Sister Letty of the Daughters of Charity, in an orphanage in Cebu. They were decided to adopt because they were not getting any younger.
However, Sister Paola, another old friend of theirs from the Daughters of Charity, asked them to see her in the Provincial House in Naga. Sister Paola assured them that the whole congregation had been praying for them. Thus, they must be more patient and more prayerful.
Eric and Suzette had been praying regularly at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in Sucat, Muntinlupa City. One day, some parishioners shared with them a traditional method of praying to Our Lady.
Following the tradition, Eric and Suzette went to the Shrine on November 26, 2011, the eve of Our Lady’s feast day. A few minutes before midnight, they knelt down before the gigantic image of Our Lady at the Shrine. Then they climbed a ladder and whispered in Our Lady’s ear their entreaty for a baby.
After a few days, they attended a healing mass celebrated by Fr. Fernando Suarez at the Shrine. They joined the long queue of believers for the privilege of
being touched by the Holy Spirit through Fr. Suarez. After praying over them for a few seconds, he told Suzette with a radiant smile, “You’ll get pregnant soon!”
But they and Fr. Suarez were total strangers. Nobody in the crowd knew what they had been praying for.
To their amazement and utter disbelief, Suzette conceived in early 2012. On January 15, 2013, Isabella Marie was born to them. Her name means 1) Isabella – God’s promise; and 2) Marie – Mary, Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal.
Eric and Suzette surrendered their heart’s desire to God and they held on to the promise of Our Lady, “Come to the foot of the altar, and graces will be bestowed upon all who ask with confidence and fervor.”
Eric and Suzette aver that the feeling of cradling their own baby in their arms is indescribable. It’s probably akin to the divine. They profess that they shall praise God and give thanks to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal for her loving intercession forever!
* * *
Eric and Suzette believe that the birth of their daughter Isabella Marie is a miracle. She is a manifestation of God’s love and faithfulness. Science could not help them solve their physiological problems. They were resigned that they could never become natural parents.
But when they were ready to adopt, friends came along and gave them spiritual support as well as practical advice on how to appeal for the intercession of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal.
Climb a ladder and whisper in the ear of an image of Our Lady? Sounds downright crazy! However, Eric and Suzette knelt down at the foot of the altar, and did exactly what was downright crazy. They dared to climb a ladder to reach the ears of Our Lady’s gigantic image. They asked with confidence, fervor, and humility. And they were overjoyed beyond belief! CCB