The couple has been living together off and on.
They have 4 children together.
They were physically and spiritually sick.
Now, they are both baptized in the Catholic Church and have received the sacrament of marriage and Jesus in the Eucharist.
How is such a healing possible?
A Family in Need of Healing
To use St. Augustine’s image, Jesus desires to heal tired and restless hearts, or "hearts of stone." He searches for those hearts distant from God and desires to bring them rest. By approaching the Divine Physician, those hearts of stones can be healed and given new life - those who are physically sick and those who are spiritually sick.
Not too many years ago, Geiber (a very angry man) came to find Irma, his partner, at Santa Maria Magdalena’s Home one night. Geiber was clearly mad, and Irma and the children looked scared as he approached. Geiber wanted to know why they were spending so much time there. He wanted to know if the Home was trying to separate them, or if Irma was speaking about their relationship troubles with the workers there. If so, he wanted to know what "lies" she had been telling.
On this particular night, Geiber arrived as the rest of the community was leaving after adoration around 9:30 at night. Geiber was invited into the house with his family so that they could talk. A Home volunteer explained that Irma and his children had been coming to the home to visit and to spend time with Jesus. He was assured that Irma was on her way home and that the community had just finished up with adoration in the chapel.
Geiber was invited to come to adoration next Thursday. He responded with a sinister laugh, saying it was best that he did not come because the community did not accept him due to his past. The response he got is typical of any volunteer at the Magdalena Home:
"It doesn't matter what the community accepts because Jesus accepts everyone. This house and its chapel are for everyone. Jesus' love is for everyone."
No One Left Behind
Shortly after Geiber and his family left, a few members of the community expressed concern about Geiber, saying it was not safe to be alone with him and he should not be allowed inside. He had done many bad things to people in the community due to him being a drunk and a thief. Geiber had once even pulled a knife on the local Catechist.
Despite these concerns, the Home volunteers reminded everyone that they weren't going to let fear get in the way of helping a family in need. They came to serve Jesus and His beloved people, even if that meant putting their lives on the line to do so.
You can only imagine the look of surprise on everyone's faces when Geiber showed up to adoration the next weekend! Maybe he was just there to keep control over his family; maybe he was there to make plans to harm someone. But one thing is for sure - Jesus had other plans for Geiber and his family. It did not take long for the family to become regulars at every prayer night, adoration, and activity at the Home. In fact, their attendance became predictable, and they even attended the Valentine’s Day couples retreat and held a rosary at their home. It was clear that a friendship was being built based on the now and not on the past.
Physical, Mental, and Spiritual Healing
Just as things were beginning to look up for the couple, tragedy hit. Geiber was diagnosed with cancer, and he needed help to travel to Lima for treatment. The community who once was afraid, rallied around him. After a long battle and many trips back and forth for treatment, Geiber was told that there were no more signs of cancer! A potentially life-threatening situation turned into a chance for the community to prove how much healing had taken place in their hearts through their willingness to come to Geiber's aid.
But that’s not all the Lord has healed.
Over the last few years, the relationship between Geiber and Irma has healed, there has been reconciliation, forgiveness and a newfound love for each other and for Jesus. He has healed their past wounds not only between them as a couple, but also the wounds that were inflicted by their blindness and hardened hearts on their children and the community.
Thanks to God's Mercy and honestly your support of Magdalena Home through your Rooted for Good purchases, Geiber and Irma have received their sacrament of marriage - an outward sign of just how much Jesus has healed their hearts and made them one in His image. In a real way, the little community of Santa Clara has witnessed a healing miracle as well. One can only pray that this miracle of healing will become a true inspiration for all those who have witnessed it.
From all of us here at Rooted for Good, thank you for supporting the good work at Magdalena Home! We will be supporting them again this month through the 10% of your purchases, so more families like Geiber and Irma's can be radically and completely healed!
Anna Ketterling
