Believe! (A Faith Experience)

This story may not mean anything to other people but I took it as a personal “faith experience”.

Time passes so quickly that I have not noticed the many years that have passed since I underwent my first ever surgical operation. (I hope nothing will follow after that one!) Undergoing any medical procedure is one of my greatest fears. Aside from the fact that I do not want to know that I acquire any kind of illness, medical procedures are costly and may be unaffordable for me. Unfortunately, in daylight of the first day of September in 2005, I was awakened by an excruciating abdominal pain. Thinking that it was just a simple pain that will pass after a moment, I just went back to bed and forced myself to take a longer sleep. I was wrong. However, I got up at the scheduled time and did my routine. I even attended our classes as if nothing got wrong with me. Meanwhile, I decided to go to a hospital when I noticed that the pain became unbearable. I was advised to stay in the hospital for further observations. I took hours before the diagnosis of the doctor finally came out which recommended me to undergo a surgery called “appendectomy”. Appendectomy is a procedure where the appendix is removed to avoid causing internal infection due to unrestrained rupture. I asked my family to accompany me and my seminary community to pray for me.


The surgery was a minor one but I could not control my fear when I heard the advice. The surgery was scheduled in the morning of the following day. Therefore, I had to endure the pain overnight. I was not able to calm myself so I just held my rosary and repeatedly prayed all the prayers that I know.

Early in the morning of September 2, I was brought to the operating room. I was asked to take away all the metallic objects attached to me because those were inadmissible in the operating room. They took away everything including my rosary, my source of spiritual strength on that moment. With that, I bid a prayer asking Jesus and Mary to accompany me during the surgery. To my awe, a certain woman introduced herself to me as Dr. de Jesus. While touching my face, she told me: “Julius, do not be afraid. I will take care of you. I am your Mother here.” That simple statement of that doctor took away all my fears. In faith, I believe that it was Mary who spoke to me. But, I was pondering why Mary had to introduce herself as Dr. “de Jesus”? Could it be true that people could get to Jesus through Mary, as pronounced in Latin: Ad Jesus per Mariam? Honestly, I do not know. All that I could understand was I underwent the operation safely and with much calmness because of the assurance of the presence of “my Mother”.

After the operation, all my other doctors and nurses visited me in my room except from Dr. de Jesus. However, upon my discharge from the hospital, I was informed that Dr. de Jesus did not ask for her professional fee.

Many people may find this story trivial but for me it just proves that even in the tough moments of our existence, Jesus and Mary are always there manifesting their love through the goodness of the people around us. Thus, for as long as there are good people who are willing to extend their hands to their fellowmen, the presence of Jesus and Mary among us will last.

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This poem is written in Rogationist Seminary – Manila in 2006 as one of the special course requirements in Practical Approach in Speech and Communication under Mr. Benjamin los Banos offered to the Rogationist Postulants Batch ‘06-‘07.