On the Feast of Immaculate conception December 8, 2018 at St. Marys Parish Al Ain, it was announced by Bishop Paul Hinder that Pope Francis was going to visit the UAE. I was so determined that I will go no matter what happens, not minding my colleagues as long as I'd go, so secretly I talked to our manager two months prior the visit, but selfish acts like that really is not rewarded, our branch manager told me that it was too early for him to decide. I was so dismayed, so I told my workmate that I'd love to go and she agreed.
All set I thought, and because I am in a country where my belief is tolerated there are restrictions that should be followed, the event was not on the hand of the Church but of the government, information were given to us as per government instructions that we have to abide and we are grateful for, no words other than gratitude, the venue, ticketing, transport was well being taken cared of by them, as information were being released, the venue can only hold upto around145,000 people, I am not sure about the number, we are more than 1 Million Catholics in this country with 7 Parishes and the distrtibution of the ticket is via raffle, oohh if you only knew how I felt when the news broke out.
I have no other option but to wait, everytime I go to Church the Papal visit seems like an orchestra ringing in my ears, what made me more anxious is that some of the people who are in Church Ministries says per ministry there is a percentage that’ll join, that did not help my waiting time, since I am consecrated to the Blessed Virgin, I told her Ma, I’d love to go, if You want me to be there surely I’ll be there, if not, then its fine, if not here then maybe there in heaven the Pope and I will meet. And I rested on that, from that moment on I was consoled by that prayer no matter how may hear sayers I’ve been encountering throughout the weeks prior to Popes Visit.
“Take a seat for a few announcements”, our Parish Priest said, every one was silenced in anticipation, “you can now register online, the most awaited announcement I have been longing for, I hurriedly gone home to register, passed on the link to my ever Supertwin Jayzafer and to other Catholics, I registered in full surrender to the Blessed Virgin, knowing that She’s taking care of it, if Mom wills surely it will come into reality.
I got a phone call from a friend telling me that tickets are being distributed in Dubai, to tell you quite frankly, I panicked, she told me the timings and that if I have my time I can go and take the risk of having the surest way to have a ticket, again I was tempted to go, but then I did not go. I said to myself, I wont do anything to alter the works of my Mom, I will not do it with my human ways of hacking my life the way I think I know best how, on prayer, I told my Mom, Ma, I surrendered it to You and so I must see and wait, whatever You wish to happen, I will allow You to work through it with me.
Two days before the visit, still no news, no email, no sms, nothing, the silence made me accept that I was not chosen to attend, at around 1 am, as I was reading an article I think about the Apparition in Japan, the Our Lady of Akita, an email was sent, I thought my eyes fooled me, but when I checked, PAPAL VISIT: INSIDE TICKET! When i saw that I cried. I told the Blessed Virgin, Ma, you really want me to be there, and gave me the previlege to be INSIDE the Stadium, and so I checked who else I might be able to know to accompany me, there is only one person whom I know and love the most thats on the list, Jayzafer Ciruelas, I cried even more!!! My supertwin! I was like, Mama, THAAAANK YOU! This is more than enough!!
Of all my friends whom I shared the accomodation with who registered I was the only one who got the INSIDE ticket, well for some, they might think its just coincidence, but for me, its a miracle that I’ll forever be grateful to my Mom.
One day before the mass, my colleauges who had no interest at first to attend, now wanted to attend, I wanted to cry from the inside, I fully understand that everyone wants to see the Pope, and who am i to assert my desires and neglect my colleagues’, I swear that was tough, and so I took it to prayer, I really feel bad that I did not concede, but I am super blessed that my Colleague conceded for me, I swear I included her on my intentions during the mass.
30 mins prior the Mass, I had stomach upset, I was like, Ma, okay Im thankful, but my tummy? Seriously? lol! I offered all the tummy upset I endured that time, I thought by offering it all up, it will stop, but no, I was not able to take it any longer, I told my supertwin, I’ll go to restroom just stay here, the mass was about to start, but because shes my supertwin ofcourse she opted to go with me.
The shame that I had in the bathroom was rewarded by what was soon to be revealed. We noticed that there were a lot of camera men from the gate that we’re in, and so we assumed that Pope might be having His way there and so we waited, Lo and behold, indeed it was His entrance in the stadium, we saw the Pope upclose, His wrinkles, His face, I‘ll never forget, I found myself screaming, Papa, Papa, oh the joy of my heart!
Everything happens for a reason indeed, who would have thought that stomach upset turned into a blessing! I am so thankful for that grumpy tummy, if it not for that, theres no way we’ll move from our seats.
This is one of the many intercession the Blessed Virgin did to me, there are for sure countless times She had helped me but i was not able to see, for that Mama, Im so sorry, but you see, those did not stop Her to grace and bless me. Thats how loving our Mother is. Ask her to deepen your relationship with Her, oh how happy She would be, like Her visit with St. Elizabeth, She will come to you hastily to come to your aide!
O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee. Amen!
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