Sunday, May 6, 2012

Fr. Claudio-Healing Masses, Prayer and Good Medicine

My cousin is undergoing cancer treatment, chemotherapy at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan. One of the good things (and there are many) about living in or near New York City, is the expert medical care that's available. My family has rallied around my cousin. We go with her for treatment, we sit with her while intravenous medicines are blasted into her body to kill off the cancer cells and stop their spreading. We are also praying for her daily. I've accompanied her, along with other family members, to a few of Fr. Claudio Antecini's healing Masses which have taken place in parishes in the Diocese of Brooklyn, where he resides. So almost four months into this combination of intense and persistent prayer, healing masses and expert care from cancer specialists in a world renown facility and my cousin received encouraging news. Things look good, the experimental drugs which they have had good results with (with other patients as well) are working. Thank God!
When good science, advances in medicine and the power of prayer are combined, miracles can and do happen. And that is the perfect combination.
And so, there is a long way to go, but we will continue to believe in the power of prayer, the healing power of being prayed over and the mercy of God. The modern advances that are being made each day to combat this devastating disease are the result of hours and hours of research and dedicated doctors and researchers. And they are making progress. I will continue to pray for my cousin, each day and also to pray that a cure for this disease will be found soon.
NJA