I recently came across a story of a miracle that’s simply too good not to share. It was shared by a friend of mine on Facebook. Back in the summer of 2013, a Tulane college student named Katie Lentz was on her way to church in Missouri. She was doing an internship there.
A drunk driver hit her car so hard it flipped and she was trapped. The car was on its side and her face was on the pavement. When help arrived, they worked over 45 minutes and couldn’t free her. Their equipment kept failing. A helicopter waited to air lift her to a trauma center. All reports say Katie remained calm.
A priest appeared out of nowhere and asked rescue workers if he could anoint Katie. The officer in charge was concerned that it would send her the wrong message, that they had given up and called in a priest. Another rescuer concurred.
Isn’t that our human nature? We so often second guess the work and abilities of God. Their hearts were in the right place, but they were afraid.
Meanwhile, Katie’s vital signs began to fade. Something had to be done to get her out or she wasn’t going to make it. The rescuers decided to make a risky move and flip the car back over. The move could have been fatal for Katie, but they were out of options.
But, before they proceeded, Katie asked if someone would pray out loud with her. The priest stepped forward and said, “I will.” He did and he anointed her head with oil. Her vitals immediately stabilized. The priest stepped back.
They flipped the car. A new rescue crew appeared. Everything worked beautifully and she was removed very quickly and life flighted out. The priest disappeared. It was a miracle.
For several days, there was a search for the mystery priest. He didn’t turn up in close to 70 pictures at the site and the traffic was blocked off for two miles. How did he get there? Was he an angel?
Perhaps one of the rescuers said it best when he said, “Whether he was an angel dressed as a priest or a priest who became their angel, he was good with it either way.”
The priest did come forward. He was Father Patrick Dowling who was filling in that day for a sick priest. He said he never leaves the scene of an accident because he has the power to help. He gives all of the glory of that day to “the Almighty God.”
Katie’s rescuers said they had never seen such a horrific accident and couldn’t believe she survived it. Katie had many broken bones, but felt blessed to be alive.
And the take away? Prayer works. Maybe praying out loud works even better. We certainly know there is great power in praying in numbers. There are miracles that happen everyday. Maybe as Christians we should seek them out and share them with others. The world needs to see them.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/09/20/mystery-priest-to-reunite-with-miracle-car-crash-surviver-katie-lentz/
Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂