Grace for the Catholic Heart
visiting, eating tacos…and smiling.
“What do they have to be so happy about?” I wondered.
I was attending a medical conference in Mexico City in 1991 and had
taken time out to visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The image of our
Blessed Mother on the 500-year-old cactus fibers of a peasant’s tilma is truly
amazing. But it was the crowd milling
around outside the shrine that captured my attention. I could not understand
why I, a successful physician with a prestigious medical practice in Florida,
should find happiness so elusive while joy radiated off these poor peasants?
material
me. The
Catholic since
course for
lifestyle of women, materialism and workaholism, I
Although I did not feel that way at the time, by
to
can see I was not thinking straight. My
twisted
with my
I ever could rebuild my life with who I was.
How could Susan and I start to build a new relationship on the rubble of
my past? It was at this time that a
friend sent me literature on the devotion of Divine Mercy. The pamphlet explained that the Polish nun,
Saint Faustina, canonized in 2000 and the first saint of the new millennium,
had written a diary in which she recorded her mystical experiences — in
particular Jesus Christ’s desire that the world accept His unfathomable
mercy. As I read: “”The greater
the sinner, the greater the right he has to my Mercy,” (Diary of St.
Faustina, 723).” I was overcome with remorse and gratitude. Tears of sorrow
flowed like a river as if expelling the pus of my wounds of sin. I read the words again and again realizing
that in the depths of sin, there was help–even for me.
kept me
and I went
a solid marriage. We both became part of
the Divine Mercy ministry; sharing our own story, as well as educating people
on Divine Mercy and the true presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.
ministry,
years, I felt called to leave medicine behind.
I
license to
my heart, I fully believed God was calling me out of one healing ministry to
another; from the physical to the spiritual.
Although it meant making big changes in our lifestyle, Susan and I
decided we could manage by living off our savings. It was a new path in our
walk down the road of life. I knew we needed to fully trust in God.
born–John Paul. He was special from the start.
At his birth, he struggled with life; turning blue and unable to breathe. We prayed intently and John Paul soon stabilized and fully rebounded.
A friend distributing Holy Communion walked into the room and said: “”Wow, what happened? I can really
feel the presence of God.””
oldest,
fully understand the changes of going from being doctor’s kids to children of
one dedicated to simple life of service to God.
And yet they surely benefited from the renewal of our marriage and my
commitment to fatherhood as a holy vocation.
conference in the early hours morning. That evening a Mass was going to be celebrated in our home. In spite of very little sleep, I awoke
early to take care of some of the outside work.
I stepped onto our back patio, opened the gate to our swimming pool and
walked out to the backyard. Young Bryan
suddenly yelled from the front for help starting the lawn mower. After helping him, I was reminded that it was
time to drive Andrea to swim practice.
We jumped in the car with Patricia and hurried off.
“Dad,” he said in a strained voice,
“John Paul is dead. Someone left
the pool gate open.” Susan had found John Paul lifeless; he was not breathing and did
not have a palpable heart beat. As a
trained nurse, she was already administering CPR in an effort to pump life back
into John Paul’s little fourteen-month-old body.
Mary together. The rest of the
drive was spent in tears and silent prayers. “Jesus, have mercy on John Paul and me,” I cried. Guilt overwhelmed me as I envisioned my helpless little boy bobbing up and down in the pool,
all
John Paul had been a part of my healing–a child of promise for Susan and me.
“Jesus, why would You take him from us now?” my heart cried.
hit with the scripture story from Genesis of Abraham being asked to offer
his son, Isaac, up to God. “God, are you asking me for my son?” I asked, my
heart breaking. It was the moment of
truth for me. I had been preaching trust
in God’s Divine Mercy for four years.
This is where the rubber hit the road.
God was calling me to a deeper trust.
I wanted my little boy to live. I
loved him with all my heart. Could I
accept God’s will if it meant never holding John Paul again in this life?
in You, in all situations. I submit to
Your will, whatever that means.”
I told God that I did not understand why He would take John Paul from us at this time, but that I offered my
son back to Him. I also thanked God for the time He had given us with John
Paul. I told Jesus that I placed my trust in Him and wanted only that His will
be done. I reflected on the deep trust of Abraham as he was told to sacrifice
his son, Isaac. I felt a deep sense of peace after that.
gotten there. Although John Paul was
bloated and unresponsive, Susan felt a slight pulse after doing CPR. I was ecstatic! There was still hope! Upon arriving at the hospital, I called my
sister who lives in another town and asked her to pray for John Paul that night
with her prayer group. Over the next thirty-six hours, John Paul’s mental
clarity improved hourly. Within two days, he was released, totally normal!
our family
story. But the
said that
morning, she
Then
back.” Tears
tell you the rest
now a
really that I
fact,
of the Divine Mercy
Dr. Bryan Thatcher |
founded in 1996 — the same year that I almost lost my son.
S. Thatcher, MD and his wife Susan eventually expanded their family to include 7 children. Clare Therese was born in December 2006; Susan was 50 years old at the time. Bryan says: “I thank God for giving me the strength to persevere and continue in times of trial. Though the times were difficult, they were times of even greater joy. I believe this understanding came as a result of the Divine Mercy message.”
Eucharistic Apostles of the Divine Mercy.
This ministry, active in 16 countries, is dedicated to serving the poor,
spreading the message of Divine Mercy, and educating people on the true
presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.
Visit http://thedivinemercy.org for
more information on Divine Mercy.