0 Woman credits Blessed Pedro for saving her sight

TWO doctors told Felicitas Castro almost a decade ago that she would go blind.

The 44-year-old real estate agent underwent two laser surgeries to heal her left eye, which had a blood clot.

But Castro was not healed. No one could figure out what was wrong.

“Unsa’y ihatag sa Ginoo dawaton (Whatever God planned for me, I accepted),” she told
herself at that time.

Eventually, she heard about the Blessed Pedro Calungsod Shrine at the Archbishop’s Residence compound on D. Jakosalem St., Cebu City.

Aside from attending healing masses and praying in other churches, she went to the shrine and petitioned to the Visayan martyr to intercede for her prayers.

Years later, the blood clot in Castro’s eyes disappeared.

She believes that Calungsod, who will be canonized on Oct. 21 at the Vatican City in Rome, Italy, had interceded for her.

“Gihatagan ko’g milagro (I was given a miracle),” said Castro, a resident of Talisay City.

She plans to attend the national thanksgiving mass for Blessed Pedro’s canonization,
which will be held at the South Road Properties (SRP) in Cebu City next month.

But to determine whether or not Castro’s healing was a miracle is a long process, said Fr. Charles Jayme of the Sto. Rosario Parish Church.

In a separate interview yesterday, Jayme said a devotee’s claim will have to be verified, if indeed the intercession was made by a certain saint.

The claim must also be studied by experts to determine if it is beyond human and scientific explanations.

After a thorough study, a report will be sent to the Vatican for further scrutiny.

“For us, when we say it is a miracle… nobody can question (you) because it is your faith dictating you. The Church still respects that,” Father Jayme said.

Castro said she worried about becoming blind because she has five children to provide for. In her Social Security System papers, she even described herself as partially disabled.

Since her “miraculous” healing, Castro said she has visited the doctor only once a year.

For her, faith is strong medicine. She said a devotee should not relent in asking for help from a saint.

“They should not lose hope,” she said.

By Kevin A. Lagunda
Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on October 09, 2012.

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