In 2016 when my parents visited and stayed with us. This incident is about how Mary saved my dad through the Mercy of God before leaving Australia.

"Mary's Recipe"

My mum is a God-fearing person. She knows things that I don't know, because of her (and a silly idea of mine), I started reading the Bible and try to search God. 

Back in 2003 when it was the first time SARS took place. One day, my mum brought me to a private Eucharistic Adoration Service Centre (a devoted faithful who privately rent a residential unit for the purpose of Eucharistic Adoration). It was the first time I went to that place. It was a quiet place for people to spend time with Jesus through Eucharistic Adoration, at there people can pray, reading spiritual books (you can bring your own or provided spiritual materials in their bookshelves), or simply sitting and meditate.

It was the first time for me to participate in the Holy Hour. (Holy Hour is the Roman Catholic devotional tradition of spending an hour in Eucharistic Adoration in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament.) I love the atmosphere and the new experience teaches me different ways to get closer with Jesus. (I was not a fervent Catholic, in the first 20 years of my life, I only go to Church on Sunday and some "Holy Day". I have my Confessions only when I committed sins if I know, in other words, just a couple of times in a year, seldomly read the Bible nor praying Rosary.) If you asked me now, I only can say God is so patience and gentle, He guides me and leads me to approach Him. And I believe He gives me lots of graces and blessings during the Eucharistic Adoration in particular. So, I am a new person clothed in Christ. (again) 

After a few visits, one day, when I was searching out what to read next in their provided spiritual materials, I can't recall what exactly what I chose and read at that time, the only thing I remembered is, there mentioned a recipe given by Mary, our Queen of Heaven. Because of the SARS, that material caught my eye sight, other than that, I also learnt another prayer in honouring of the Precious Blood of Jesus (but not in English version at that time). So, the recipe I found in the Centre, I name it "Mary's recipe" whenever I communicate with my family and my loved ones.

God Preserved and Spared My Dad through Mary's Intercession

Since I have my young family in Australia, it is not that easy for us to visit my parents, so they like to visit us instead. One time, which happened in 2016, my parents visited and stayed with us like before. My parents were so happy to spend time and played with their young grand-children (both of them were less than 5 years old). 

One night, just a week before their departure, I heard my dad had some coughing while heading to bed. I asked him does he alright, he didn't want to alarm us, just saying with a mild fever. I know normal coughing should not come with any fever, should be something wrong, so I asked him again, does he got any pain when coughing (due to my past experience of having an pneumonia in my early twenties). He finally saying had pain around his left chest. After hearing that, the symptom was so familiar to me, so I suspected it maybe pneumonia. I suggested him to visit a doctor the next day but he told me he was alright, may try to take some cough medicine and see how it goes. 

After a few days, his symptoms still exist but he didn't want to visit a doctor because he thought will be home soon, should be alright. Looking at the calendar, only two days before the date of departure, and he promised will visit a doctor once arrived home. So, I suggested him to take "Mary's Recipe" no matter what (he is my dad, I can't "force" him to find a doctor, I only can rely on God's Mercy, and by faith, I trust Mary who provide that recipe will help). Because I didn't have all the ingredients at home, I promptly bought some, prepared for him and asked him to drink at least twice a day until the departure day. Also, urged him remember to find a doctor once home.

Everything was "fine" and "safely" arrived their homeland.

Divine Providence

They usually will give me a call within a day or two when home, but this time, I didn't hear from them for a while. And one day (forget for how long), I received a call from them finally. My mum told me dad was in hospital, will call me later, no need to worry. I keep them in my prayers as always and I also offered Holy Mass for them.

When having a call with them later, my dad told me the "story" of what had happened once they arrived the airport at their homeland and he still need to back and forth of the hospital as follow up. What he told me during the call, on their arrival, my dad told mum to go back home first and then he told a staff at the airport he felt sick, so the staffs helped him to arrange and send him to hospital for a check-up. After examined by a doctor, the doctor looked at his X-ray film and questioned him why don't you feel pain? Why so late to find a doctor. He then told my dad, if he did not return in time (and find a doctor) for another week or two, he NO NEED to return ie. rest in peace. The doctor gave him a good advice: Don't delay to go to the doctor whenever you feel sick regardless of how mild the symptom is. It does not hurt, but can save your life.

A Little Follow up  

After the serious warning from the doctor, my dad finally realised how badly his condition was and how merciful is God. In fact, he had caught pneumonia as I suspected and he spend days in the hospital for treatment.  

Personal Reflection:

1)   In relation of finding a doctor when being sick.

How often did you go to Confession? Our soul is sick if contacted sins. Sins will spread and develop like tumour. We commit venial sins easily almost everyday at anytime. It is so small and early that can hardly detect unless doing Confession frequently. Confession is like finding a doctor (Jesus is our Doctor, he heals us, forgives our sins, gives us graces and blessings). If delayed in doing a Confession, our souls will be stained and eroded by sins like what had happened in the Great Stink. Not only so, it is contagious, through our bad examples, others may follow and copy. To stop spreading the cause of sins around, keep modesty, fix our mind and heart on heavenly things. To keep our souls healthy, we need to do exercise as well. Always praying, attain Holy Mass and received Holy Communion in the state of Grace, reading and study the Bible and practice virtues. A good healthy soul gives you strength to fight against temptation, prevent your soul getting sick from sins through God's grace and blessing.

2)   "Blessed are those who have not seen, and have believed." (John 20:29)

If I rejected to go with my mum at 2003 to the Eucharistic Adoration Service Centre, I will not have "Mary's Recipe"; without this "Recipe", my dad may not survive. How amazing is God's Providence for us.

When I first noticed I got pain around my left chest in year 2000, just two days after I started coughing. I don't feel right with the pain, so I found a GP and he told my case if treated not properly can develop asthma in long run. Even though I was recovered, but the side effects remain.

By my experience happened in 2000 and multitude blessings from God during Eucharistic Adoration at the Centre back in 2003, and work through "Mary's Recipe", how can anyone know or imagine this combination can save my dad's life? God done great things and sometimes even miracle (every single little thing when no human can interfere and it turns out good, I personally acknowledge it as a miracle from God). To preserve my dad from deteriorate his health condition, thus spared his life (I really thank Jesus and Mary to prevent my dad from a sudden death without having the Sacraments. Death is not horrible, but if the soul is not in the state of grace, that is the most agony and terrible situation) which give my family and I another testimony for witnessing how Jesus and Mary saved us from danger. (this time is my dad)

Jesus and Mary gave me that "recipe" for FREE, let me take this opportunity to share this "recipe" with you if you also "by chance" reading this section.

This recipe has a few ingredients: cloves of garlic, slices of lemon, some ginger, a little bit of honey, which sounds so simple and ordinary, right? But if you put the main ingredient in, it could work wonders. And the most important ingredient that you can't miss is -- FAITH. 

Jesus, I trust in You.

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