Mystery Creates History

"IS ANYTHING TOO MARVELOUS FOR THE LORD TO DO?" – Gen 18:14

Trial by Fire (12 of 14)

In 2001, the fire occurred a few days after their visit. I awakened from a sound sleep by the ringing of the intercom, the banging on the hermitage door and the shout “The chapel is on fire!” I picked up the phone to dial 911 but the line was dead. Immediately Sr. Teresa Margaret and I drove down our little mountain while Srs. Wilma and Mary Rose watched the blaze from their Hermitages. Standing in front of the chapel, I saw the flames rising 20 feet or so above the building. The fire was advancing from the back and was close to the chapel. A prayer of St. John of the Cross came to mind and with all my might I prayed “Holy God, Strong God, Immortal God, Stop the fire!”

The Chester Firefighters with several local fire departments heroically risked their lives to stop the fire. The whole structure was destroyed. One cannot “patch up” the effects of a blaze that consumed most of the building, leaving the rest a charred specter. The firefighters, emergency squad and police truly reflected the wisdom, integrity, compassion and kindness of Christ. These people really know how to love your neighbor and make your love felt! One of our friends, Ray Leach, a firefighter, rescued the Blessed Sacrament from the Tabernacle and in a touching procession brought Jesus Christ in the Eucharist out of the burning building to us. In the midst of destruction, we received the Author of Life.

Shortly after the fire was extinguished, through his gracious charity Msgr. Kevin Flanagan sent us all that was needed for Mass. Msgr. Thomas Trapasso celebrated our Saturday 8:00 A.M. Mass in our Pocono Barn without skipping a beat. The long journey into the unknown from devastation to new life was launched.

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