December 23, 2014

A Union with Her Dad

In November of 1979, a woman was at a family life conference in Canada. Her mind, however, was 1,500 miles away. The woman’s father was seriouly ill in a hospital. He had been there for several weeks. Although she wanted to be with him and the rest of her family, she could not make the trip. She had a husband and two small children, one two years old and one only six months. They needed her at home.

At the end of the conference, a Mass was said. The woman prayed that, if her dad died, he “would know the full glory of the risen Christ.” As the Communion hymn was sung, “I Am the Bread of Life,” she experienced a profound union with her dad, one she could not describe. The words, “He who comes to me shall not hunger … and I will raise him up on the last day,” seemed to be full of meaning intended just for her.

Upon walking in her home, she could her the phone ringing. One of her sisters was calling her with the sad news that her dad had died.

A short while later, she realized that the time of her father’s death was exactly the same time as she felt the indescribable union with him at the time of Communion. She surmised that she had been together with her dad, in spirit, through Christ.

Twenty-five years afterwards, she recounted this story. She also said that every time she hears that song at Communion, she is brought back to the time she was given a special grace.

Based on Proctor, Sister Patricia, O.S.C., 201 Inspirational Stories of the Eucharist (Spokane, Washington, Francisan Monastery of Saint Clare, 2004) p. 35.

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