A "Marian" miracle through the intercession of Mother Teresa

 

 

The Memorare prayer was one of Mother Teresa's favorite devotions. Attributed to San Bernardo di Chiaravalle, it dates back to the XII century: for those who devoutly recite it, the 'Handbook of Indulgences' provides for partial indulgence. Mother Teresa used to recite it nine times in a row, in every circumstance in which she needed supernatural help.

And this exquisitely Marian prayer is linked to the event of the miraculous and "scientifically inexplicable" healing that took place in Patiram, an Indian town in West Bengal, 300 kilometers north of Calcutta.

Monika Besra, a thirty-year-old married woman and mother of five, had suffered from tuberculous meningitis in early 1998, to which a tumor form had subsequently added which had reduced her dying. Resident in a small tribal village where the animist religion is practiced, Monika had been taken by her husband to the reception center of the Missionaries of Charity, in Patiram, on May 29 of that year. Very weak, Monika was in the throes of constant fevers, with vomiting and atrocious headaches. She did not even have the strength to stand and could no longer hold back food, when at the end of June the woman felt the presence of a swelling in the abdomen. Subjected to a specialist consultation in the Medical College of North Bengal, in Siliguri, the diagnosis indicated a large ovarian tumor.

The operation could not be performed due to the state of serious organic decay of the patient who was unable to cope with anesthesia. The poor thing was therefore sent back to Patiram. Sister Bartholomea, Superior of the Convent of the Missionaries of Charity of the place, with Sister Ann Sevika, head of the Reception Center, on the afternoon of September 5, 1998 went to Monika's bedside.

That day was the anniversary of the death of their founder. A Mass was celebrated and the Blessed Sacrament was exposed all day. At 17 pm the Sisters went to pray around Monika's bed. Sister Bartholomea mentally turned to Mother Teresa: “Mother, today is your day. You love everyone in our homes. Monika is sick; please heal her! " Memorare, the prayer beloved by Mother Teresa, was recited nine times, then a miraculous medal was placed on the stomach of the patient who had touched the body of the Mother immediately after her death. After a few minutes, the woman dozed off gently.

Waking up the following day, feeling no more pain, Monika touched her abdomen: the large tumor mass had disappeared. On September 29, she was taken to a check-up and the doctor was amazed: the woman was healed, and perfectly, without having had any surgery.

A short time later Monika Besra was able to return home, to the surprise and disbelief of her husband and children, for her sudden and inexplicable recovery.