A prayer to our buddy

Posted by Karen W.

Growing up in NJ, close to Philadelphia, PA my family was very fortunate to be able to visit the Shrine of St. John Neumann. Here, St. John Neumann’s body is entombed in glass under the altar. Visitors and faithful come from all over the world to ask for his prayers of intercession.

When I was a child, my mom would frequently round us up saying, “Come on everyone. Let’s go see our buddy.” We all knew she was speaking of St. John Neumann. He was and still is our buddy.

In 1978, when my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer, she was told by doctors, she was going to die within 2 years following her mastectomy. She told the doctors it was not up to them, but up to God. She then went to see St. John Neumann (newly canonized in 1977) and asked him to intercede for her.

She was asking for the ability to actively live until I reached the age of 18 (I am the youngest child) and to be able to be a mom to her 4 children and a wife to her husband. She told me when I was in my 20s that God will provide if you ask him to. I must have responded with a puzzled look because she said, “I prayed to St. John Neumann to help me live until you were 18. My prayers were answered ten-fold because I am still here.” She was a vibrant woman filled with faith.

A few years before my mom died in 2004 of a hospital-based infection, she was told a recent full-body bone scan revealed her breast cancer was a few places on her bone. She again went and asked for St. John Neumann’s intercession. While she was praying at the Shrine with my dad, the pastor came and asked if he could help her in any way. She immediately told him of her scan result and he said, “Wait here.” He reappeared with a large cloth which was used to cover St. John Neumann’s body when he died. The pastor placed the cloth around my mom and prayed with her and my dad.  My mom said she felt different after the cloth was removed.

My dad, sometimes a doubting Thomas, said he could feel a presence around my mom. When I spoke to my mom about her scan, she said, “Don’t worry, St. John Neumann’s on it.” Then 2 weeks later, another full-body bone scan was performed to verify the location of the tumors. The radiologist immediately called my mom and dad into his office and telephoned her oncologist. He showed her the two scans: one from prior the visit to St. John Neumann and the one after her visit.

The tumors once there were gone and my mom was cancer free - again. Both doctors were in disbelief of the newest scan results. They said this was not a mistake and it even made them believers! We were all overjoyed with the news and knew St. John Neumann once again interceded on my mom’s behalf.

This past summer, end of June to be exact, I went to visit my family in NJ. I had a strong urge to see St. John Neumann, so I went to his shrine. (I’ve learned not to fight these nudges and to go with them.) While I was at the Shrine, I had a strong thought to pray for Fr. Charlie. Going a step further, I tried to get a relic from the Shrine for Father, but they were sold out.  I knew I would be back to NJ in two weeks so I would try again to get him the relic. Two weeks passed and once again while I was praying at the Shrine I again had a strong thought to pray for Fr. Charlie. The relics were still sold out!  So not knowing what to do I said, “God if this is your will, I will get him a relic. I just need to know how.”

A week later when I got home to MD from NJ in my mailbox was a newsletter from the St. John Neumann Guild. Usually it contains a letter from the pastor and prayer intention or raffle cards. This time it contained information on the Shrine store. I quickly sketched a picture of the relic I was looking for along with a note asking them to send the relic to me. Three days later I had the relic I was seeking and quickly sent it off to Fr. Charlie. With the relic, I included a note to him detailing how St. John Neumann helped my mom and family.

I was astounded to find out weeks later at Sunday Mass about Father Charlie’s mom’s cancer diagnosis. I immediately knew why God directed me to pray for Fr. Charlie and also to have St. John Neumann intercede on his behalf. I still am amazed by this and all I can say is, “Wow!”

Happy Feast day to our Buddy!

O Lord, Who on earth both praised and practiced the hidden life, grant that, in these days of pride and outward display, the humble ways of Your Servant, Saint John Neumann, may inspire us to imitate Your divine example.

Teach us, O Divine Master, to be like Your servant, the holy bishop; intent on pleasing only You and on performing our good actions free from the desire to be seen and glorified by men.

That his holy example may influence an ever increasing number of souls, grant, O Lord, the favors we ask through his intersession. Amen.