By now everyone has heard the edifying story of the mysterious priest who appeared at a tragic accident in Missouri...
Emergency workers and community members in eastern Missouri are not sure what to make of a mystery priest who showed up at a critical accident scene Sunday morning and whose prayer seemed to change life-threatening events for the positive.
Even odder, the black-garbed priest does not appear in any of the nearly 70 photos of the scene of the accident in which a 19-year-old girl almost died. No one knows the priest and he vanished without a word, said Raymond Reed, fire chief of New London, Mo.
"I think it's a miracle," Reed said. "I would say whether it was an angel that was sent to us in the form of a priest or a priest that became our angel, I don't know. Either way, I'm good with it." - Finish reading here.I love this story.
It is meaningful on so many levels. It shows how important it is for priests to wear their clericals - to dress as a priest. It shows the world how important and efficacious the ministry of the priest is - remember Boston when they weren't allowed on the scene to assist the injured? It demonstrates the power of prayer when led by a priest, when two or three are gathered. It also demonstrates the reverence due during such a sacred act - everyone there knelt in prayer. It is a beautiful example of faith, demonstrating the power of prayer, the power of the priesthood. It also seems to be a miracle.
So who was the priest?
He disappeared, he doesn't appear in any photo. Some suggest he was an angel dressed as a priest. I think it is more likely he is a real priest. Perhaps a deceased priest? An unknown saint?
Or maybe he is a living priest? A priest who bilocated?
I'm going with that - bilocation. Now we need an accurate description of him. So far I've read he has silver hair:
The silver-haired priest in his 50s or 60s in black pants, black shirt and black collar with visible white insert stepped forward from nowhere.
What do you think?
Composite from The Blaze.
Now if it wasn't bilocation and it turned out to be a saint...
A 'dead' priest I think resembles the composite shown above:
Lots of ministers wear collars, so he might not be Roman Catholic.
ReplyDeleteWell then what's the point?
Delete(Kidding)
worth noting that it was the responders that said he was Catholic, that he used Catholic prayers with the girl along with Holy Oil which which was later confirmed by local priests as being in the correct manner and encasement for such a situation.
DeleteEpiscopal priests also administer the Sacrament of Anointing (with oil), and the formula is nearly identical.
DeleteWhat the heck, Thom, maybe it was a transgendered woman priest.
DeleteThe idea of bilocation was my initial thought too. I would note that in the blaze story that has the composite of what he looked like many people seem to think he looked like St. Max Kolbe
ReplyDeleteI didn't know there was a composite out there. Thanks - I will post it.
DeleteBTW - My first thought after hearing the story was that it is a priest I know of who is a hermit.
DeleteBut then I though of St. Toribio - but he has dark hair.
Now I'm thinking the composite resembles the hermit I first thought of.
wow, he probably would not want to be identified if it was him either way
DeleteNow I'm thinking the real composite from the Blaze looks like Don Pino Puglisi - the priest killed by the Mafia in Sicily.
DeleteI wonder if we will ever know?
well if you ever see that Hermit you know you should ask, at least we can cross off one name... Im comfortable with there being no actual knowledge as to who it was, Padre Pio would say miracles are like the candy God gives us, which so far this is pretty sweet
DeleteThat is what one of my son's said, "He looks like St. Max Kolbe." I I I love mystery... They'll never find him. I am of the opinion that God does what He wants and He did.
ReplyDeleteWhen I read about one witness saying he looked like a younger walter mattau and that he had dark horn rimmed glasses, I thought of St Escriva'.
ReplyDeleteWhoever it was, this was an affirmation of the Catholic Priesthood...happened on the feast of the Cure of Ars, after all
Terry - you crack me up with the speculation that it might be the Pope ... you know Missouri is the Show Me State!
ReplyDeleteNinja priest.
ReplyDeleteThe moment I saw the composite I thought "Fr. Kolbe". His feast day is coming up on August 14.
ReplyDeleteThis is so much joy.
I heard he had a heavy accent - so I'm wondering if maybe it was Fr. Maciel?
ReplyDeleteWhat?
tsk, tsk ... naughty boy
ReplyDeleteMore likely Fr. Aloysius Ellacuria... The Angel of Biscay ...
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=74355530
Here is the other recent story about Fr. Aloysius Ellacuria, CMF which appeared in The Tidings newspaper of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.the-tidings.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4109