10 years? I don't know exactly how long she prayed to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. She even got her husband to pray with her, without him knowing that they were praying for him, especially for his return to the faith and the curing of his terrible disease: alcoholism.
I admired her greatly. She spoke so maternally of his "sickness," and thus explained his condition every evening to the children. In this way, they still thought highly of their father. Though in time it had its social and medical effects, she continued to confide in the Divine Healer. When her children were old enough to understand, angry and disillusioned, they prayed together.
Even two serious car accidents within only a couple of years had little effect on the alcoholism though a great trial for the family. She continued to pray, to believe, to hope. Externally things seemed to get better, but little by little the illness took over agian, always unstoppable - devastating.
One day I received a telephone call from her. With a firm, peaceful voice she announced: "My husband no longer drinks.... and it seems to me that this time it is for real." Knowing this woman and hearing her tone of voice, I knew it wasn't just a vain hope. If she said it, so it was. She continued, ""He, by himself, told me that he didn't want to drink anymore... and he came to this conviction without medicine or anything else outside of himself."
It wasn't easy. She had to deal with jealousy - she had suffered so, she had to learn to trust, etc! But she embraced this as she always had embraced her daily cross.
He joined Alcoholics Anonymous, where everyone encouraged him to also go to the doctors. It was impossible to be healed without intervention. But, when he went the doctors spoke of supernatural grace. His eyes and internal organs - before in serious condition - now showed no trace of lesions. Clinically - it was inexplainable!
In her faith, however, she explained it easily: "Our Lady did everything."
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