A Fall, A Miracle, A Lesson

by Pam Williams

OCT. 16, 2021 Rosary Rally inside Old Novi, Michigan Town Hall.
Pam is upper right in pink.

On Noon, Saturday, October 16, 2021, I facilitated our annual Rosary Rally in the Old Novi, Michigan town hall building. We had planned to pray behind the building in the new amphitheater, but it was too cold and rain threatened. The Rally culminated weeks of local planning; it is a national program organized by America Needs Fatima.

Exactly 24  hours later, just past noon on Sunday, Oct. 17, I had a precarious fall outside my church, Holy Family Catholic Church of Novi, Michigan. This is how I applied the lesson of Fatima and how God protected me from an attack of the enemy.

Remember!!!  Pray the Rosary every day for the reparation of sins against the Immaculate Heart of Mary and for the Conversion of poor sinners if we want to achieve world peace.  

Here’s my story taken from emails sent to my pastor, Father Bob Lacroix, from that Sunday to the following Wednesday.

Sunday, 10/17/21: Dear Fr. Bob. Thank you for administering to me the anointing prayer for the sick today after I fell outside the church doors. I’d like to explain what happened and give you an update:

The Fall:  I was running to my car to get money for raffle tickets to support our Catholic schools. I was also wearing lengthy pants that were wide legged and suede shoes. My right foot caught the material of my left pant leg and stuck there in mid running-stride. Down I went on the concrete, smashing my leg, arm and face. I couldn’t even tell until I stood up that anything was wrong. 

Blood was dripping off my face. Several people came to my aid immediately. Herb James, trained as a first responder, applied a simple butterfly bandage with no gauze because the bleeding had suddenly stopped. In looking back that was a miracle. A few gentle ladies cleaned up the blood that had spilled.  What a mess I was. Friends drove me home, and brought the car along with another driver. 

At home Stan, who had gone to an earlier Mass, was surprised at my entourage. He could see I was hurt, but I was still walking, although I was dazed. Over the next hours, however, the pain increased to the point of being unable to bear any weight to my left leg or touch anywhere near my knee.

Stan took me to Urgent Care a few miles away where they took an x-ray. I had cracked my patella, the knee cap to my left leg. No wonder it hurt so badly. The technician told me I'd need an MRI because I may have ripped apart some tendons, and that I should see my doctor first thing Monday morning. There was no doubt I was headed for surgery and a long and painful recovery, possibly months.

My knee pain is constant now, even with meds.  Guess God is making sure I slow down. On the other hand, I have suffering now to offer up to God for reparation for sin and for the salvation of the whole world. Yeah!!  Just like Our Lady of Fatima told Francisco!!  We just reviewed this yesterday at the Rosary Rally at Fuerst Park in Novi.  Our Lady told Francisco, “When you suffer, offer up that suffering with that of My Son, Jesus, for the salvation of sinners and in reparation for sins against my Immaculate Heart.  This will bring peace to the world!”

I am very grateful for the immediate care I received at Holy Family.  Thank you for using anointing oil, too, Father. God is with me, I know, even if my senses tell me differently!

Monday, 10/18/21:  Stan could not get an appointment for our Orthopedic Surgeon until Tuesday at 2 PM. I could look forward to another day and night of intense pain. After a very sleepless last night of constant, terrible leg and back pain, in spite of taking maximum dosages of Extra Strength Tylenol, I thought that if I don’t die of pain, I’ll die of fatigue. I kept praying the Rosary over and over because I could not get to sleep. While I prayed I offered up my pain to God for salvation of the world. 

In the morning, I got a long nap and started to feel a little better.  I welcomed two visitors who cheered me up and then suddenly I was right back into the severe pain and extreme fatigue again. But, I knew how to face that pain. I grabbed my rosary and began to pray.  After the rosary, I read my Magnificat for the Scriptures of the day. Then I hobbled up onto my crutches and headed toward the bathroom. The Transport Chair, which we borrowed from my Dad’s apartment, was in the way, but I thought I could squeeze by. The first step should have clued me into the clear-and-present-danger of such a move. And yet, ignoring common sense, I took the second step through the narrow passage. Suddenly, I lost my balance, and fell backward onto the living room carpet!  SLAM! KABAM! THANK YOU MAM! I landed square on my rump. The shock went through my spine clear up to my head. I thought I was done for.

Yet, when I was finally able to stand up with my crutches to continue my journey, I noticed something remarkable.  I was free of pain in my leg and in my back from osteoporosis. (I used to have to lay flat on the floor for a half hour twice a day to get relief from the aging curvature of my spine that caused me daily pain).Father, I just got a healing!!! Not just for my leg, but for my back, as well. It was in spite of my fall here in the Living Room. It must have been the anointing oils and the prayer over the sick as well as the prayers of my friends and family. This was my second miracle.

Tomorrow, when I see Dr. Lennox, our orthopedic doctor, they will do their own set of X-rays.  Perhaps it will show my Patella whole again!!

Tuesday, 10/18/21:  The new X-ray showed significant fracture of the patella, so though the severe pain has ceased, pain still exists when I make a false move. Dr. Lennox gave me an Rx for a knee brace which we picked up right away from the medical supply. I don’t like it, because though it keeps my knee straight, I cannot sit up easily unless that left leg is on the same level as the chair seat and there is firm back support. I think I could sit in a church pew with my left leg on the pew and my back to the right side-end of the pew. I'll watch Mass on-line from home for the first week, due to fatigue. Healing requires lots of energy! 😅 And, I’ll be in this brace for 6 weeks. I’d better get used to it.

Miracles:  My back is like new, though. I’m so thankful. My knee will take much longer, but I’m thankful for no severe pain there!  I’m thankful for no stitches in my forehead and prompt first aid treatment by careful friends.  I’m thankful I had a sweatshirt draped over my right arm with fleece lining, which provided ample padding to prevent breaking my arm. I’m also thankful that no MRI was needed to determine whether ligaments and muscles around the patella were in good condition. (My cessation of pain and second set of X-rays were sufficient to determine no surgery needed!!!)  Yeah, God!!! AND, Thank You God, for the Blessed, Holy Mother of Our Lord, who gives us the weapon against the enemy through her holy rosary, whose mysteries relay the whole message of salvation.  

Lesson:  Offer all suffering up to Our Lord in union with His suffering!!! Pray many rosaries for peace in the world and salvation for sinners!!!

Update November 6, 2021: Pam was given permission by the doctor to use a leg brace that allows her to flex her knee 30 degrees and walk on it without crutches. In two weeks we will increase the flexion by 15 degrees every 3-4 days until she gets to 90 degrees and we see the doctor again. Yesterday, she drove her car to Mass and her tutoring of granddaughters.  There's a toll on her other extremities, but she's somewhat ambulatory with little pain. 

FAITH AND WORKS: Understanding Christian Equivocation Towards Unity

A short essay on

Faith and Works

Notes Toward Christian Unity

There has been a discussion since New Testament time when it appears that St. James (the author of James) and St. Paul (the author or Romans) appeared to disagree on the role of Faith vs. Works. The Relevant passages are James 2:24-26 and Romans 4:3f. I do not intend to contrast and compare those passages here, but attempt an overarching explanation with the help of Jesus's words and passages form the Catholic Catechism. 

1. DEFINING THE ARGUMENT

Some Christians claim that faith alone is all that is necessary for reception of God's salvation (redemption) and others claim the faith AND works are necessary. No Christian doctrine claims the works alone are sufficient. Some Protestants believe that some High-Church doctrines (e.g. Roman Catholicism) teach works alone, but this cannot be found in the catechisms of those faith traditions but only in the anti-Catholic rhetoric that falsely claim such things. The difference is between faith alone vs faith and works. 

2. ASSUMPTION

All of Scripture must agree with all other Scripture (where Scripture here is defined by what we find in the Bible, whether it be the Protestant Canon or one of the other 9 canons used by different Christian sects around the world). I do not claim that one canon of Scripture is more accurate than another or that one should be used over another when trying to understand God's work of Redemption. Pick any of the canons, they will all lead to the same place.

3. DIFFERENT APOLOGETIC PURPOSES OF ROMANS VS. JAMES

Assuming No. 2 is true, some commentators have explained the difference between James's and Paul's perspective as the consequence of the two authors arguing against the extreme and false beliefs of their audiences: Paul arguing against the works alone mentality of the Romans, and James arguing against the faith alone mentality of Jewish Christians. But to us today, these two key passages must agree on some level against if No. 2 is true. So, let's assume that if Paul and James were to debate the issue, they would not disagree once their terms and audiences were clearly defined. 

4. EQUIVOCATION: SALVATION (SAVED)

Perhaps a key stumbling block for Christian unity on this topic can be resolved by seeing a common equivocation between Evangelical understanding of salvation and a High-Church understanding of it. 

Let me propose that Evangelical understanding of "salvation" (or being "saved") is that moment in time when a person accepts Christ by faith into their life and their past sins are forgiven.

The Catholic understanding of "salvation" (as used in Scripture) is broader and more nuanced. Yet in every case "salvation" for both understandings means "deliverance from dire circumstances or oppression by some evil to a state of freedom and security." Biblically this can be achieved by:

a. way of preservation

b. offering the means for being delivered

c. removing the oppressive evil or difficulty

d. rewarding the effort spent in cooperating with grace in order to be delivered.

All of that includes the Evangelical spiritual understanding, but it also includes the many ways God saved his people in the O.T. temporally. It also includes a Christian's final entry into heaven. 

So, "salvation" is more than just personal spiritual redemption, at least in a Biblical sense. 

5. NO EQUIVOCATION: JUSTIFICATION

The terms that is used by both traditions equally is "justification." or "justification by faith." In both Evangelical and Catholic terminology "justification" refers to the instant a person comes to faith in Christ. (Romans 5:1) Here are three passages from the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) that describe that moment, which I believe agrees well with most Evangelical uses. 

CCC 1991 Justification is at the same time the acceptance of God's righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ. Righteousness (or "justice") here means the rectitude of divine love. With justification, faith, hope, and charity are poured into our hearts, and obedience to the divine will is granted us.

CCC 1989 The first work of the grace of the Holy Spirit is conversion, effecting justification in accordance with Jesus' proclamation at the beginning of the Gospel: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Moved by grace, man turns toward God and away from sin, thus accepting forgiveness and righteousness from on high. "Justification is not only the remission of sins, but also the sanctification and renewal of the interior man.

CCC 2018 Like conversion, justification has two aspects. Moved by grace, man turns toward God and away from sin, and so accepts forgiveness and righteousness from on high.

Notice the term "salvation" is not used here because of its broad use in Scripture. 

6. FURTHER CLARIFICATION: SANCTIFICATION

A term used in both Evangelical and Catholic settings that is also generally understood the same is "sanctification." Both faith traditions understand this to mean "to be made holy." Both Evangelical and Catholic doctrines teach this as the process throughout one's life of achieving perfection in preparation for entering heaven. John Hardon divides sanctification in 3 stages:

1. The first sanctification takes place at justification. 

2. The second sanctification is a lifelong process by which a justified person grows closer to likeness in God through grace and obedience. (this is the primary Evangelical understanding)

3. The third sanctification takes place when a person enters heaven and becomes totally and irrevocably united with God. 

7. FAITH AND WORKS

Hopefully, this brings us to resolving the Faith vs. Works issue. 

To oversimplify the centuries old debate, but perhaps focus on a key misunderstanding, Evangelicalism is focused on "justification," that initial moment of the first sanctification or a most important definition of being "saved."  The Catholic focus is on getting into heaven, that third sanctification and being saved and secure for eternity without a chance of losing one's salvation. (c.f. Arminianism vs. Calvinism) 

That Catholic AND Evangelical focus is on that second stage of sanctification—the lifelong process of growing to be more like Christ. A good and extensive Biblical example of this the focus of Jesus's Sermon on the Mount. The sermon is not about justification, but about the process of growing in holiness so one can enter heaven. It is about the Christian's obedience to Christ that playa a critical role if one is to enter heaven. It is here that "obedience" is equivalent to good "deeds" or good "works."  Here is a list from Matthew 5-7:

Be salt and light (5:13-16) — "your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father."

Obey the Law (5:17-20) — "whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments...I tell you unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven." 

Anger and Murder (5:21-26) - You will not be released until you have paid the last penny.

Adultery (5:27-30) — Do not commit it in mind or body. 

Divorce (5:31-32) — Whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

Oaths (5:33-37) — "Let your 'yes' mean 'yes' and your 'no' mean 'no.' Anything more is from the evil one."

And so-on about:

• Retaliation

• Love of Enemies

• Almsgiving

• Prayer

• Fasting

• Treasures

• What your eye sees

• Money

• Judging Others

• Pearls before swine

• The Golden Rule

• Behavior - The Narrow Gate

• Judging the works and fruit of others re: False Prophets

The Sermon is summarized at the end of Chapter 7:

• The True Disciple: "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, BUT ONLY THE ONE WHO DOES THE WILL OF MY FATHER IN HEAVEN. 

• Parable of the wise and foolish man — "And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be a like a fool who built his house on sand...and was completely ruined."

The Sermon on the Mount is not about justification but about that third stage of sanctification or securing our salvation in heaven. It is how the works that come about from justification are required for entry into heaven.  (Not discussed here, but neither forgotten, is the efficacy toward this end, of confession and forgiveness of sins.)

Finally, on the importance of our Christian witness and how the faith of others is dependent on our good works of passing on the faith.  This is another perspective of how faith (in others) is dead without the work (deeds) of our witness. 

CCC 166 Faith is a personal act - the free response of the human person to the initiative of God who reveals himself. But faith is not an isolated act. No one can believe alone, just as no one can live alone. You have not given yourself faith as you have not given yourself life. The believer has received faith from others and should hand it on to others. Our love for Jesus and for our neighbor impels us to speak to others about our faith. Each believer is thus a link in the great chain of believers. I cannot believe without being carried by the faith of others, and by my faith I help support others in the faith.