Testimony on a miracle by St. Anthony

19th November 2009 Thursday.

Sharing with Senior Citizens group of St. Mary of the Angels/Bukit Batok.

First of all,I would like to thank the organizers for arranging and the sponsors in providing the tickets for the Zoo trip on 12/11/09. For me it had been more than a recreational trip, it had awakened me as I am coup up indoor most of the time. It was a chance going outdoor to appreciate the wonders of God’s creation. He had created animals, the flora and fauna; the birds, the bees which most of us had taken it for granted.

You know St. Anthony talked to the birds and often uses animals to express as symbols of saints or sinners, virtues or vices. He uses spiders as a symbol of pride that spins web network of intricate design. The Serpent symbolizes Satan, somewhat evil, deceptive, crafty that creeps up to a person to tempt as what happened to our first parent Eve in Genesis. The Lion as strong, fearless, King of the beasts and Christ is described as ‘the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has conquered.’

Things of exquisite beauty, flowers, plants

Bengal white Tigers

For me my two favourite animals are the tigers and elephants. I was born in 1938 so it relates me to the tiger according to Chinese zodiac. I went to the rare Bengal white tiger’s enclosure and admiring this magnificent beast that God created. The tiger symbolises bravery, strength, mentally and physically alert, agile, bold, independent, courageous and at the same time gracious. The largest of the three was restless, pacing up and down looking at us menacingly. Face to face the real tiger on the opposite side and myself the symbolic tiger; I was wondering what was the tiger thinking. Probably saying ‘Hi! lame duck, cannot run ah! so how about having you for my dinner. Fortunately our safety being guaranteed by a separation of a moat and the wall.

The elephant is the largest land mammal, a gentle giant; owing to its’ enormous size does not have any natural enemy. Elephants travel by herd as family-oriented and led by a matriarch. They are caring and concern for safety by positioning their young in the inner circle and the adult at the outer. When I was at St. Patrick’s there was a private zoo across the road and I used to spend time after school watching a baby elephant. It was really fun, just watching brought me much joy.

Elephants, the gentle giants

Now on to my testimony, one morning after breakfast, I got to my motor-cycle at the car-park. I secured my bag to the seat by a bungee-strap before mounting on and ride off to office. Half-way I sensed something wrong, so I stretched my hand behind to feel for my bag; I was ‘shocked’ when I realized that it was no longer there and stopped immediately. I found that it was missing so made a ‘U’ turn to return home. at the same time keeping a watchful eye on the opposite side (dual carriage way) hoping to spot my bag.

On reaching home I searched once again just to satisfy myself but result was negative. I remembered from school days my mother had always prayed to St. Anthony when she had misplaced her things. She told me that St. Anthony is the ‘Patron Saint of lost things’, so believe, have faith, trust and you will find.

The implication and seriousness of losing my bag was enormous as it contained some very important and vital ship’s documents issued by a foreign country. They were as follows:-

(1) Ship’s Certificate (Russian refer as ‘sudo-voy passport’)

(2) Ship;s Tonnage Certificate.

(3) Ship’s Load-line Certificate.

(4) Ship;s Safety Construction Certificate.

(5) Ship’s Safety Equipment Certificate.

(6)Ship's Safety Radio Certificate
(7) Ship’s De-ratization Certificate.

(8) Last Port Clearance.

(9) Ship’s Crew-list.

One thing for sure losing all these documents through a negligent act simply would spell the end of my career; my head was on the chopping block. The situation was that without the documents, the Port Authority of Singapore simply could not verify in order to issue Port Clearance to allow the vessel to sail.

I was really desperate and asked my wife Josephine to light the altar. Besides having the statues of the Holy Family, Jesus, his mother Mary; I also had St. Anthony. We both went down on our knees and prayed fervently from the bottom of our hearts asking for Divine intervention through St. Anthony to help find my missing bag. At that time in question the delay in sailing the ship (GRT:10,000 tons)would cost about US$ 5,000.00 per day (running costs: Port dues,crew salary, bunkers, loss of earnings etc…) How could I be so careless, not checking my bungee-strap, probably the elasticity had slacken and gave way. I felt very depressed and my spirit sank to rock bottom. I mounted my bike and rode slowly to office as if in a daze to face the consequences.

However half-way through my pager rang and I responded by calling back home. My wife was excited and broke the news that some kind hearted, honest container-driver had picked up my bag. He had checked through the contents, traced my identity and called the house. My wife Josephine gave his contact number and I immediately called him. It was a miracle when he said that all documents intact and that we could meet at PSA gate No,2 before he enters the port. The voice message reverberated sweetly in my ears as I sigh with relief.

St. Anthony had answered to my calling and I am truly grateful. Finally we met and he handed over to me that precious bag and I thanked him for it: of course I rewarded him. So it came true what my mother had told me when as a young boy the legend of St. Anthony as the Patron Saint for lost things.

Thank you St. Anthony, many, many thanks.

In 1995 my wife and I went on a 19-day pilgrimage tour to Europe by coach, beginning from Fatima (Portugal) travelled through Spain and to Lourdes (France). Then continued on North into Italy; we had the opportunity to visit and prayed over the Tomb of St. Anthony at Padua. For guidance, St. Anthony was executed by Titian at the age of 40 and St, Boniventure discovered surprisingly that St. Anthony’s vocal cord was incorrupt. It is preserved up to this day.

We had a statue of St. Anthony sent to us from Padua as we also subscribe to the issue of their publication entitle ‘The Messenger’.

Statue of St. Anthony

In Italy we also visited St. Francis of Assisi, had seen the incorrupt remains of St. Clare kept in a glass casket and also visited the Tomb of Padre Pio at Rotondo. Finally and fortunately our journey ended in Rome in time to celebrate the birthday of late Pope John Paul II at St. Peter’s square.The crowd was really huge from many nations and some brought along their musical instruments. As the name of the country was announced they acknowledged by shouting or playing their instruments. A Malaysian group were standing before us was represented by native ‘Kadazans’ who brought their home-made drums. They were drumming away, singing and dancing.

We were extremely happy again to see our Holy Father for the second time; the first occasion we saw Pope John Paul II was when he visited Singapore in November 1986.

Praise the Lord, Alleluia!

Afraid of the resurrection ?

 

Relaxing in cozy hotel after a frightful event.

Holy Land, Nazareth / April 2006

   At Nazareth, we checked in our hotel called the ‘Plaza’ a modern building that stood on a hilltop. We stepped out of the hotel for photography, I being the cameraman and my wife the subject. I wanted to capture with a good view of the hotel as the background; so I had to back-step on to the main road.  Not realizing that the traffic system is different from Singapore as we adapt the English pattern. To me they are all crazy and appeared to be driving on the wrong side of the road.

Unfortunately or fortunately I had back-stepped into the path of a speeding car and missed by mere inches. The young Israeli male driver slammed on the brakes and his girl friend besides him gave out a loud hysterical scream. The car stopped abruptly with both occupants, as white as if they had seen a ghost. They were terribly shaken but remained calm and silent; trying to recover from their fright. I went over and sincerely apologized, admitting that it was my fault. In fact both of us were in the state of shock. as it was really unexpected; I could have been killed. They accepted my humble apology as they knew I was a foreigner, a stupid tourist jay-walking and drove off without making a fuss.

I then remembered a story about resurrection as told by a priest and it went something like this. A couple went on pilgrimage to Holy Land and was accompanied by her mother-in-law. She was unlikable as in general with mother-in-laws; in fact she was a pain in the butt.

It happened that she had a heart-attack and died without recovering. The couple were left in a dilemma concerning the final rites and burial. The husband suggested burial in Holy Land as it was a privilege to die on pilgrimage and also to save enormous costs for repatriation.  However his wife objected strongly and insisted that the remains be exported back to their native land as quick as possible.

The husband was not only puzzled but also curious and wanted to know why his wife was insistent as it would have cost a ‘bomb-shell’. At first she was reluctant to reply but finally gave in, admitting that she was afraid taking into account the biblical story. That if her mother-in-law was buried in Holy Land; she would be resurrected on the third day. And of course it would not be in the best of her  interest as it would simply mean that she would have to put up with her monster-in-law all over again.