An unexpected mission for an iPod
Philippines, February 2010
SURPRISES OF MISSIONARY LIFE
It is already night and I am asleep in my small room. Suddenly, I hear a voice that becomes stronger and stronger. « Father, Father » and it is at that point that I realise that someone is knocking at my door. Getting out from under the mosquito net, I go to the door where I am told, « Someone is possessed and we want you to go and exorcise her. » I do not understand very well, so I ask to repeat again; we are really talking about possession! « OK, let me dress up, and wait for me. »
While dressing up, I have a hard time to believe to the whole story. How many times the people have attributed to the devil phenomena of natural health problems like epileptic attacks or any other sickness. Being a bit more awake, I come once again into the presence of the people who have come to fetch me. I learn the name of the person who is well known for a faltering health, and this directly confirmed by the one in charge of the clinic. « She has been suffering from hypertension for many years. » This immediately gives me an idea. Then I say to the one in charge of pastoral work, « Go and get what is needed for the sacrament of the sick. » I have to proceed that way since I do not reside anymore in the rectory, not being the priest in charge of that community. Then in the dark night I go towards the supposed possessed. To my great surprise, everything is calm and peaceful on my arrival, as if everybody was asleep. Entering the room, I see a person, not possessed, but comatose! Then I am told the long story about the minutes preceding her actual state which made it to believe that because of her convulsions and groans an evil spirit had taken possession of her.
« We will pray for her, » and I ask for the oil for the sick and the ritual to administer the sacrament. Immediately I realise that that the book given to me contains only a few ordinary blessings and nothing more. I mention this to one of my companions, on of the 2 priests going to the exposure program. To my great surprise, he lifts out of his pocket a sophisticated iPod, works on it with his fingers and directly put in front of my eyes the text itself of the needed ritual. I can then celebrate rightly the sacrament, and when we return home, I mention the unusual apparition of that gadget in the middle of our people so far away from that reality…Thanks be to God for that technology present at that moment, and which allowed us later on to save that patient when brought to the doctor.