eastwind journals – October 7, 2021
By Bernie V. Lopez, eastwindreplyctr@gmail.com
Share by sending this link – https://eastwindjournals.com/2021/06/13/the-ballerina-and-the-nun/
As Sister Raquel Reodica, RVM, the cancer-healing nun, related this story over the phone, she said she could smell the scent of dama de noche. Strangely, her residence did not have that particular plant. I felt bad that I could not smell it. Anyway, this is her story.
Catherine Li, born of a Filipino mother and Chinese father, was the star ballet dancer of Ballet Theater Philippines in 1991. She began dancing the ballet when she was grade four. Now, at age 18, she was married to a famous Russian ballet dancer.
Catherine had an accident. During a performance on stage, she was descending a staircase. Her partner failed to catch her while on a split position. She had a bad fall and sprained her hips. A local orthopaedic doctor said she could not do the ballet any more for the rest of her life. Undaunted, she went abroad and consulted with about half a dozen other experts, all of whom confirmed the findings of the first doctor, that she would never dance again. In the blink of an eye, she lost her entire career, the only thing she lived for.
When she heard of Sister Raquel’s healing power, she sought her desperately. She arrived at 8:30 in the evening at the healing ministry at the RVM compound in Novaliches, Quezon City without appointment. Sister Raquel was tired. She told Catherine to come back on the scheduled healing days.
But when Sister Raquel saw the tears in Catherine’s eyes, she decided to give her 30 minutes. Sr. Raquel prayed over Catherine, and she was healed instantly. That very evening, Catherine danced before Sister Raquel without music. Catherine did not realize that she had to do a favour for the Lord, that was why she was healed instantly.
Sister Raquel asked her if she could dance a ballet number for Mama Mary at the Araneta Coliseum where a huge healing session was scheduled in three weeks’ time. How could Catherine refuse Mama Mary who gave her back her career instantly on a silver platter? The next day, Catherine’s parents were shocked to see her practising. Her doctor could not believe his eyes.
Interestingly, Catherine recounts to Sister Raquel that, in the middle of her despair, someone told her “You shall dance again.” She dismissed the thought completely for she knew every expert in the world told her her dancing days were over. But it was those very words that urged Catherine to see Sister Raquel.
And so, Catherine danced away in a jam-packed coliseum where tickets were sold out. The crowd gave her a violent applause, and she was back in the only thing she cared for in life, namely, expressing herself both by dancing. It is hard to understand the ways of the Lord, a sudden storm, then a sudden calm. His ways are not our ways.
Sr. Raquel explained that the gift of healing was for people from all walks of life, farmers or executives. The Lord did not distinguish between rich or poor, educated or uneducated, beautiful or ugly. He simply heals those who have faith and believe.
When Sr. Raquel was featured in Magandang Gabi Bayan in a quick three-minute interview, the crowds arrived at the healing center like a tsunami. Cars were double-parked outside the ministry for two kilometres. There was a wheelchair traffic jam. A senator donated security guards for crowd control in the ensuing pandemonium. Today, the healing center is empty. Sr. Raquel has retired due to old age.
(Read related story “No Contest for Kuya Germs” on how the healing concert was almost postponed – https://eastwindjournals.com/2021/06/13/no-contest-for-kuya-germs/.)
For a free copy of the e-book “Healing Stories of Sister Raquel” (English and/or Pilipino version), email the author at – eastwindreplyctr@gmail.com
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By Bernie V. Lopez, eastwindreplyctr@gmail.com
Share by sending this link – https://eastwindjournals.com/2021/06/13/the-ballerina-and-the-nun/
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