On 17 December 2015, Pope Francis
approved the promulgation of the decree recognizing a miracle attributed to the
intercession of Blessed Teresa of Kolkata. The case submitted by the
Postulation of her Cause of Canonization concerns the miraculous healing that
took place in 2008 in Santos, Brazil. The case involves a man having a viral
brain infection that resulted in multiple abscesses with triventricular
hydrocephalus.
The various treatments undertaken were
not effective, and thus his condition continuously worsened. By 9 December 2008
the patient was in an acute clinical state: obstructive hydrocephalus; he was
in a coma and dying. It was decided to proceed with emergency surgery. At 18:10
the patient was taken to the operating room, but the Anesthesiologist could not
perform the tracheal intubation for anesthesia.
Meanwhile, from March 2008, the
patient’s wife continuously sought the intercession of Blessed Mother Teresa
for her husband. To her own prayers of intercession were joined those of her
relatives, friends, and the parish priest, all of whom were praying for a
miraculous cure through the intercession of Mother Teresa.
On this same day, 9 December 2008, when
the patient entered into serious crisis and had to be taken for an emergency
operation, intensified prayers were addressed to Blessed Teresa for his
recovery. Precisely between the hours of 18.10 and 18.40 the patient’s wife
went to her parish church, and along with the pastor, turned to Blessed Teresa
begging with greater determination the cure of her dying husband.
At 18.40 the neurosurgeon returned to
the operating room and found the patient inexplicably awake and without pain.
The patient asked the doctor, “what I am doing here?” The next morning,
December 10, 2008, when examined at 7.40 the patient was fully awake and
without any headache; he was asymptomatic with normal cognition.
The patient, now completely healed, resumed
his work as a mechanical engineer without any particular limitation. In
addition, it should be emphasized that despite the tests that showed a state of
sterility due to the intense and prolonged immunosuppression and antibiotics,
the couple have two healthy children born in 2009 and 2012.
On 10 September of this year, the
medical commission voted unanimously that the cure is inexplicable in the light
of present-day medical knowledge. On 8 October the theological commission also
voted unanimously that there was a perfect connection of cause and effect
between the invocation of Mother Teresa and the scientifically inexplicable
healing. On 15 December the case received the final approval of the congress of
Cardinals and Bishops of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints meeting in
ordinary session.
The date of the canonization will be officially
announced in the next Consistory of Cardinals.
-
Fr.
Brian Kolodiejchuk, MC
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