Tobar Mhuire Passionist priest Fr Aidan was on hand to see a miraculous health transformation in Medjugorje
A Country Down priest witnessed what many describe as a miracle when a recent group attended a trip he had organised to Medjugorje in Bosnia Herzegovinia.
Since June 1981, apparitions of the Virgin Mary appeared on Apparition Mountain at the Blue Cross and have done so for a number of years.
Fr Aidan explained that he had organised a trip to Medjugorje as he has done several in the past and found that he had two spare places. He said: “It was a last minute thing and literally whoever was to take up the spare places would have to drop everything and get to the airport in a hurry.
“I called in to my cousin’s home on the way to the airport in Antrim. My cousin Oonagh Agnew said she would love to go and within 10 minutes had packed and said her good-byes and was on her way to the airport.
“Oonagh has been badly crippled for many years and used crutches and was in a wheelchair at one stage due to back issues. She has a strong faith in her religion.
“What she experienced in Medjugorje was indeed miraculous. She can now walk freely with no pain.
“When I saw the transformation in her I must say I was personally overwhelmed – she is clearly healed. But I’ve been cautious in saying to Oonagh that she should still keep in touch with her doctors and get checked up.
“I’m just amazed that this has happened to my cousin Oonagh and she may well have not managed to get on the trip at the last minute had she not been so determined and so believing in the miracles that have happened at Medjugorje over the years.”
The Catholic Church is very cautious to acclaim miracles and tends to gather evidence over a period of time. In chatting to Fr Aidan I remarked on the amazing ‘co-incidence’ of her being asked at the last minute to go on the trip and he said: “It’s not really a co-incidence’, its a ‘godincidence’!
He added: “There have been quite a few miracles that have happened over the years that people for different reasons have been reserved to talk about. I was deeply touched by her experience. I was very close to home, Oonagh being my cousin.
“It was incredible that she managed to climb up to the cross on Assumption Mountain on crutches. It was very slippy and the ground was very rough. She was absolutely determined to get there. And the journey back from the cross was equally as hard and painful. But next day she continued on her pilgrimage praying and going to confessions.
“I walked up with her on Sunday when she was on her crutches but by Tuesday afternoon at 2pm she was like a mountain goat – this was a total transformation. I’m delighted for her. Her faith is very strong.”
Oonagh is convinced that she is heeled permanently such is the effect of the miracle on her. It has removed her pain, and she is mobile again.
Her local Parish Priest too was taken aback by her transformation and invited her to speak to the parishioners in the Glenarm and Carnlough parish at mass.
The Miracle At Medjugorje – Oonagh’s Testimony
Oonagh Agnew from Carnlough without crutches bounced on to the altar and her health and vitality radiated through her speech celebrating her strong faith.
Addressing the parishioners she said: “I have experienced a great blessing. For 16 years I was badly crippled and used crutches. I even found coming to mass difficult siting on the hard seats. The pain was constant. I was taking morphine tablets daily.
“But despite that, I prayed every day. My faith was strong. When Fr Aidan arrived for a cup of tea on route to the airport, he said ‘I’ve asked everyone and can’t find anyone who wants to go’ I said ‘You didn’t ask me!’. And I jumped at the chance to go and was packed in 10 minutes. My son Peter too decided to go and we left my husband Arthur for a few days for the trip.
“When I arrived on Thursday a lady said to me that it would be nice if we had a sign from god and I agreed.
‘The following morning I woke up early and stood at the window facing Cross Mountain having a cigarette at 4am. Suddenly the cross started to glow. I called Peter to come and look and he said the mountain was blue and then the lights pulsated but I could not see that part, only he could.
“That Thursday morning I climbed the mountain with my crutches. The pain was terrible and I was almost crying. But I was determined to get to the top even if I had to crawl.
“I prayed constantly and people must have thought I was crazy. But I made it up to the cross and the way back was even worse.
“When I got to the bottom again I got into a taxi and arriving at the hotel Peter had to carry me up to my room I was in so much pain.
“Next day I did not go to early mass and went to join the queue for confessions in the evening. I was standing there for over 40 minutes.
The priest (Fr Leon) came out of the confessional and said to me ‘Stop swearing!’ I didn’t think I was. Later Peter my son said I should ask Fr Leon for a blessing. Before I did, he came over to me.
Fr Leon whispered into my ear, ‘All will be ok.’ I was speechless. Then he added referring to my crutches, ‘You don’t need them anymore.’ I gave them to Peter and stood there for 20 minutes on my own.
“Gradually I could sense feeling in my foot then eventually my whole leg came back with full feeling. And I had no pain.
“I went for a short walk for 10 minutes and was astonished I could walk freely again. I was still in shock but I thanked god and the Blessed Mother.
“Next morning Fr Aidan, myself and another three parishioners were going up the mountain to give our thanks and I helped an elderly lady all the way up and down again such was my transformation.
“I felt great and I was just like a mountain goat. With no pain and full mobility.
“It’s my mission now to tell people about my experience. This indeed was a miracle. It took the Catholic 30 years to acknowledge the miracle at Knock. My task is to let others know about how god works in mysterious ways through miracles.
“My faith has never been stronger. I thank Fr Aidan, god and the Blessed Lady of Medjugorje.”
This is a remarkable testimony from Oonagh Agnew on how she kept her faith strong through tortuous anguish and pain to be cured by a miracle through the hand of god.
And her cousin Fr Aidan too was part of the ‘godincidence’ adding a personal and family dimension to what is indeed a miracle.
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