A few days ago, Father Roger Landry, the amazing pastor of St. Anthony of Padua in New Bedford, Mass. and the editor of the diocesan weekly, The Anchor, alerted me that the television news show, 20/20 would feature the story of his parishioner, Joe Amaral, who was healed after praying to the late Pope John Paul II. Here's my story about Joe in today's National Catholic Register.
Until I began researching the story, however, I didn't realize that hundreds of reports of miraculous cures have already been attributed to the late pontiff. Thus, Father Landry didn't know whether Amaral's healing might be used to further the cause of the pope's canonization, but Joe's story and witness have been a source of spiritual renewal for his family and parish. It was a privilege to speak with Joe and Ann Marie Amaral, his wife of twenty-five years.
Update: Here is another interesting article on John Paul Ii's canonization process.
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