It was Christmas Eve, early evening, and it was already dark. It was freezing cold with blinding snow still falling and winds making driving conditions perilous to say the least. Weather warnings on the radio advised people to stay at home.
Yet Father Ignatius was on the road. Driving back slowly towards St Vincent Church determined to be there to celebrate Midnight Mass.
He had been away the previous few days and had planned to return home early on Christmas Eve; but the bad weather held him back. Missing Midnight Mass was out of the question for the determined priest, and as he set off on his journey home the skies were dark and the roads were clear; until suddenly he was caught in a snow storm and had no alternative but to proceed onwards towards his Parish church.
The shortest way home was through treacherous country roads, which he knew well, yet never drove on in such conditions. As he turned a sharp bend on the road he noticed just in time a fallen tree blocking his way. He managed to brake in time and avoided hitting it or sliding out of control into a ditch.
He had no option but to reverse carefully and take another way home.
A few miles further on, just before entering a village he saw a car crashed against a tree. He stopped to help.
He’ll never forget the sight that greeted him.
There in the driving seat was a man covered in blood. He was breathing heavily and still conscious.
“Can you move?” asked the priest, fumbling for something to say.
The man shook his head, then slowly mumbled “my leg … trapped …”
“I’ll go for help …” said Father Ignatius.
“No … my wife … she’s gone to the village …”
The priest decided to wait with the injured man until help arrived. He got a blanket from his car and covered him to keep him warm. He tried as best he could to place another blanket on the man’s chest to stop any bleeding from a wound which, although not clearly visible in the dark, was obvious by the bleeding.
It was still snowing and Father Ignatius was freezing. Yet he stood outside the crashed car leaning through the broken driver’s window, trying his best to comfort the driver.
In between heavy sometimes gasping breaths, the man noticed Father Ignatius white collar and asked, “Are you a church minister?”
“I’m a priest,” said Father Ignatius.
“I’ve never had time for people like you …” said the man, “I suppose I’ve never been able to believe … I tried mind you … but just couldn’t believe in God … Jesus …”
Father Ignatius said nothing but prayed silently.
“Do you think it’s too late … you know … can I believe now … or at least try …”
“It is never too late to put your trust in God. Just accept Him in your heart, right now, as best you can. Tell Him you believe in Him.”
The man breathed deeply once or twice. “Yes … I do want to believe, if He’ll help me do it …”
“Can I baptize you?” asked the priest daringly.
“Ah … it hurts more now … yes … do as you say … tell your God I’m sorry … tell Him to forgive me for any wrong I've done Him by not believing ...”
Father Ignatius quickly prayed with the man consciously sitting there and baptized him.
As he made the sign of the Cross on the man’s forehead he heard him say “Is that it? … that was painless …” as he forced a smile.
Father Ignatius held his hand and waited for a further twenty minutes or so, praying all the time, and speaking with him until an ambulance and a police car arrived almost simultaneously. He remained conscious throughout, breathing ever so heavily and obviously in great pain.
Father Ignatius eventually drove to the village and phoned a worried Father Donald from a small shop which was still open. He stayed there for an hour or so by the fire to warm up a little and, determined as ever, decided to continue on his way home.
He made it for Midnight Mass all right, but he was too tired and almost frost bitten to celebrate Mass. He sat at the front pew, by Our Lady’s statue, praying for the crash victim.
He learnt a few days later, from the man’s wife, that he never made it to the hospital. He died in the ambulance on the way there. It was then that Father Ignatius remembered that had it not been for the fallen tree blocking his way, he would have got home much earlier and avoided the accident altogether. Obviously, God wanted him to go to the man’s aid.
A tragic Christmas in human terms, perhaps. But a joyous one in Heaven, welcoming a new soul.
FATHER IGNATIUS BOOKS HERE
Every day in our lives is written in His book before even one of them was formed.
ReplyDeleteIndeed Brenda.
DeleteGod bless.
Oh, you've said it oh so well, Victor.
ReplyDelete'It is never too late to put your trust in God. Just accept Him in your heart, right now, as best you can. Tell Him you believe in Him.'
We never know when our final moments will be. Maybe that's been one of this year's biggest reminders.
Let every heart prepare Him riom. Amen.
room
DeleteYes Linda, we never know when our time is up. The time to respond to His call is now.
DeleteGod bless you. Prayerful Advent to you.
Absolutely beautiful, Victor; a touching, bittersweet time for Fr. Ignatius. At least he knew the man who died was going to be with his Savior.
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
That's true, Martha. A sad time for the family but a wonderful Christmas for the man in Heaven.
DeleteGod bless always.
It is difficult for me to comment with these tears in my eyes. Such a beautiful story even though I am sure that we who read it hoped the man would survive.
ReplyDeleteGod indeed works in strange ways.
It is not for me to ask Him why he does things the way He does... although I still may wonder why it was the way it was.
Of course I was praying the man would survive
Beautiful story and photos Victor.
God's Blessings ✝ My Friend ⛪
Thank you Jan. I am pleased you liked this story despite it's sad ending. I try to make my stories realistic when I can.
DeleteGod bless you and your family.
I could hear the angels rejoice as I read of the man's death. A beautiful story, Victor - so well written! Love the happy ending!!!
ReplyDeleteIt's a happy or sad ending depending on the way we look at it, Chris. Certainly the man's family had a sad Christmas to remember; but it was joyful for him in Heaven.
DeleteGod bless you Chris and your family.
Tears! I want to believe this is a true story. Divine intervention, indeed!
ReplyDeleteWe go about our days, making plans for next week's dinner, next month's vacation, etc. -- unaware there may never be that dinner … even a tomorrow. This underscores beautifully the necessity of always being ready to meet Him.
Thank you fro your kind words, Mevely. No, this is not a true story. When I wrote it I had in mind, as you say, the fact that we never know when our time is up, despite all our plans for tomorrow. Remember the song: "If tomorrow never comes" by Garth Brooks?
DeleteGod bless you, Mevely, and your family too.
Yes! While I'm not a big Garth Brooks fan, there's no denying THAT is a wonderful song.
DeleteThank you Mevely. The lyrics make me stop and think about the meaning of it all.
DeleteGod bless you my friend.
A great story to remind us that right up to the time we die it is not too late to except God's Gift.
ReplyDeleteJust like the thief on the cross with Jesus!!
That's right, Happyone. We have the choice even at the end to accept God as our Lord and Saviour. Many don't get the opportunity like the man in my story.
DeleteGod bless you.
I'm not so sure it was God that arranged for Father Ignatius to be at the accident, but God is responsible for the compassion that Father Ignatius provided.
ReplyDeleteI think I understand what you're trying to say, JoeH. But I have seen occasions where God precisely put a person where he ought to be at a given point in time. This story is loosely based on such a fact.
DeleteGod bless you.
There are no delays, just Divine appointments.
ReplyDeleteIndeed.
DeleteGod bless. Mimi.