Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

Healer
Healer
Healer
Ebook227 pages3 hours

Healer

Rating: 0 out of 5 stars

()

Read preview

About this ebook

A young priest is the victim of a vicious attack while working as a missionary in the city of Cusco in Peru, he is left to die in a dark alley.
Through a series of miraculous and devastating events, he comes out of a deep coma and discovers he has the ability to heal sick people.
The knowledge he has this supernatural power brings him to the edge of madness, and only his deep faith in Jesus Christ can bring him out of a severe depression.

LanguageEnglish
Release dateDec 11, 2014
ISBN9781311475817
Healer
Author

Nelson Ancalmo

Nelson Ancalmo M.D. was born in San Salvador, El Salvador, Central America. After finishing his Medical School, he traveled to the United States to complete his training in Cardio-Vascular Surgery. Presently he is retired and lives in Austin, Texas where he devotes his free time to writing, graphic design, astronomy and music. e-mail: nancalmo@yahoo.com

Read more from Nelson Ancalmo

Related to Healer

Related ebooks

General Fiction For You

View More

Related articles

Reviews for Healer

Rating: 0 out of 5 stars
0 ratings

0 ratings0 reviews

What did you think?

Tap to rate

Review must be at least 10 words

    Book preview

    Healer - Nelson Ancalmo

    Chapter 1

    Hospital Regional, Cuzco, Peru. Present day.

    Dr. Zuniga, what’s your prognosis?

    I don’t want to sound like a pessimist, Padre Benito, but to be honest, he doesn’t have much of a chance. His head injury is just too extensive, and even when he’s young and otherwise healthy, the brain doesn’t heal like other organs in the body. If he survives, and I have serious doubts about it, he may spend the rest of his life in a persistent vegetative state.

    You mean like a vegetable?

    Yes, Padre, and that may take weeks if not years to become evident.

    Is there something else you can do for him?

    Besides supportive care, not much else. The brain is damaged and as you know, we can’t repair that. In the next couple of days we’ll place an opening in his windpipe to assist his breathing and a tube directly into the stomach for feeding purposes, and then, we just wait and see how he responds. By the way, has the family been informed?

    We are in the process of locating his mother, I believe she still lives somewhere in the United States. As you may be aware, when these young priests come down here to help with our missions in Cuzco, they don’t give us a lot of information about their relatives, they are sent to us from the regional Archdiocese in their own countries, and they are the ones who have access to that personal data. But tell me, how long can you keep him in this unit?

    For as long as it is necessary, Padre. Remember this is a National Health Hospital, and even when the country doesn’t usually covers medical expenses for foreigners, we can make exceptions like in the case of Father Christian Ford. We recognize and appreciate the sacrifice he has made in coming to help our poor, and we’ll do anything within our capabilities to show our gratitude.

    Thank you Dr. Zuniga, that’s certainly a big relief. I was beginning to wonder how our church was going to cover the expenses. I’ll get back with you after I talked with his parents.

    Padre Benito Guevara left the hospital deep in thoughts. He was an old man, small in stature but big in the strength of his faith and his convictions. His balding head and the deep wrinkles in his face, made him look older than what he really was, but sometimes he felt really old and tired, tired of struggling against those who couldn’t understand the simple message of love and peace proclaimed by Our Lord Jesus Christ.

    And now, this shameful tragedy, this brutal assault perpetrated on a young man that came to this town, far away from his own home, leaving behind family and friends, with only one purpose in mind, to bring spiritual comfort and to lend a helping hand to those who havent been so fortunate in life, a young priest with a gentle soul and a warm heart. Was it necessary to beat him up in such a vicious way? What were those animals looking for? They shouldve figured that a missionary priest doesnt have any money or anything of value. But if it wasnt money they were looking for, could this be a crime of hatred against the Catholic Church? Oh dear God, please dont let it happen again

    He realized the answers to his questions were lost for ever. Those who committed the crime, were free and never to be found, and the only person who could’ve provided a clue to identify them, was lying in a hospital bed in a deep coma, possibly never to wake up again.

    But true justice is not in the hands of man, one day these criminals will have to answer to the Supreme Judge on the day of the Final Judgement, and that is something they cant escape from, there is no place to hide from the wrath of God!

    He walked as fast as he could towards La Plaza de Armas where his home, La Catedral Basilica de La Asunción de La Virgen was located, and for the first time since he had lived in this town, he felt a sense of fear, fear of being mugged, fear of ending his life, like young Father Christian, unconscious in a hospital bed.

    The sun was setting, and the city of Cuzco began to show the gloomy resemblance of a city lost up in the mountains, an illusion enhanced by the fast coming down of the garúa, the misty fog so characteristic of these Andean peaks, and even when the street lights were doing their best to keep the city illuminated, the thickness of the fog engulfed the weak lamps quickly turning day into night.

    Padre Benito looked once more over his shoulder looking for an invisible assailant, he was feeling vulnerable, he needed to reach the safety of his church.

    Chapter 2

    Subiaco Abbey, Subiaco, Arkansas, USA. One year ago.

    Sit down, Christian, we need to talk. Have you consider what is involved in joining the missions in South America? Is not a decision to be taken lightly, as you well know you’ll have to confront many risks down there, remember also that you’ve never been out of this country, life is completely different in those places, I wish you would think it over…

    The old monk looked at him pleading about his decision.

    I understand that perfectly well, Abbot Martin, but since I was a child, I dreamed of traveling to other countries to assist those in need. To be honest, I don’t see myself working in a cozy place surrounded by all kind of comforts, I wasn’t born for that kind of life, and is not the reason why I entered the Seminary. I want to spread the word of Our Lord to every corner of this world…

    He opened his hands in a gesture like he was preaching to a crowd and continued,

    …But I have to start some place, don’t you think so?

    I guess you’re right, is your mother aware of what you have in mind? She may not like the idea of her only son traveling to a remote country. You know how mothers are, and I’m afraid Jessica may not agree with you.

    Abbot Martin, we have discussed this subject since the day I entered the Seminary. She is the one who gave me the strength to make such a decision, she knows that no matter where I may be, I will be always close to her, in more ways than one.

    Would you mind if I talk to her about this?

    Not at all, she will be happy to discuss with you my intentions, and you can find her attending the early morning mass almost every day, you don’t need to go looking for her at home. As you know, we live only a few blocks from the church, on West Parish Drive, she loves the morning walk and she enjoys the morning service.

    You still have another six months to complete your studies and be ordained, so we still have time for several more chats. Now go back to your duties, Chris, I’ll call you after I talk to Jessica.

    He kneeled before the Abbot to receive his blessings.

    Abbot Gregory Martin was impressed with the strong convictions of this young seminarian. It was unusual to see a student come to the end of his education with such a clear idea of what he wanted and such an understanding of what the life of a missionary was.

    But why has he chosen such a remote location? Cusco is without a doubt a beautiful city, but hes not going to be working or living near the tourist areas where security is a major concern. The city is fairly large, and the places where the missionaries usually live and work, are located in the outskirts of town. I havent been in that city, but what Ive been told is that some neighborhoods are not be the safest places where to live. He will be working amongst the poor, the indians, and those who have strayed away from the Word of God, but when you think about it, thats the whole idea of the missionary work, to find the lost sheep and bring them back to the flock, even if you have to look for them in the most dangerous places. I will talk to his mother just to make sure she understands the implications of what her son is pretending, but I can already see this is a subject they have discussed at length, Im afraid all I can do for him, is give him my blessings, and pray that Our Lord Jesus Christ will be looking after him.

    He heard the bells of the church tolling, it was time for evening prayers. Since he was the one presiding over the congregation, he needed to be there before the rest of the monks arrived, so he headed directly for the chapel.

    Chapter 3

    Jessica Ford woke up as always at five o’clock in the morning, it was a habit she couldn’t and wouldn’t change. Life in a small town like Subiaco in the western hills of Arkansas, had some great benefits, there were no traffic jams, no large crowds in the streets, and virtually no crime. The Catholic Church was only a couple of blocks away from her house, and watching the sun come up while she walked to attend mass, was like celebrating the new day that God was giving to His children.

    After her husband Frederick passed away many, many years ago, she devoted all her love and energy to raise the beautiful child given to her, maybe a little late in her life, but it was a precious gift from Heaven, somebody for whom she was convinced the Lord had great plans. She acknowledged her duty to raise him according to the laws of the Catholic Faith, and from the moment he was capable of understanding, she taught him how to be a good Christian, just like his name.

    As he grew up, his interest in the teachings of the church became stronger. He wanted to learn about the life of Jesus Christ, not as an obligation, but as somebody who is looking to quench his thirst and hunger for the Divine Word of the Son of God. For her, having a son whose greatest desire was to devote his life to the service of the Catholic Church, was the best recompense for her efforts. All those hours spent with him, reading together the Catholic children’s books, explaining to him in the easiest way she could about the Holy Trinity, the birth of Christ, the Crucifixion and His Resurrection, were now blooming like the most beautiful flower, his little baby was about to become a priest, a Benedictine Priest!

    She felt like she could die any moment, happy with the satisfaction that she was giving back to God that precious gift, the gift that one day He had given her in trust, knowing that she would care for, and raise in the teachings of the Christian Faith.

    Young Christian Ford grew in this small town, surrounded by the love of his mother and under the guidance of the Abbots at the Abbey. His faith and his love for God made him a strong and honest individual, and during his adolescent years, that same strength kept him away from the temptations that burden the path of young men. He knew what he wanted to be and why, so he maintained his celibacy with the firm conviction that the day when he was to prostrate himself in front of the Crucified Christ to be ordained, he was not going to be ashamed, he was going to be proud of offering his body and his soul pure and unstained to the service of his Lord Jesus Christ.

    Abbot Martin found Jessica Ford kneeling in the first pew of the church, she was totally unconcerned with her surroundings, and even when the mass was over, she had remained unperturbed and not aware that the rest of the parishioners had already left. He hated to interrupt her, so he sat in another pew several rows behind her, just watching and waiting for her to finish her prayers.

    How old is Jessica? Sometimes its difficult to guess the age of a person who has lived so close to the church. I have seen her almost every day and it seemed like time has just passed her over, she has remained unchanged. The same small and thin woman with gray hair, a slight aquiline nose and the ever present smile, and those clear-blue sparkling eyes. But her best qualities without a question, have to be a heart so big and a soul so pure, that if somebody wanted to paint the image of a Saint, Jessica couldve been the perfect model.

    He remembered that horrible day when her husband was killed, an innocent victim of a tragic car accident. He was buried in the local cemetery, and Jessica felt like her world was coming apart. That was years ago, and their son Christian, who was just a baby, never knew his father, but this woman devoted every minute of her life to the care and the education of her son, and if Frederick were alive today, he would’ve been so proud of his boy.

    He noticed that Jessica was getting up so he came to where she was.

    Good morning, Jessica, I was waiting to talk to you.

    Jessica bowed her head and kissed the hand of the old monk.

    Good morning, Abbot Martin, it’s always a pleasure to see you. You want to talk to me? I guess it must be about Christian’s decision to join the missions in Cusco, is that correct?

    Yes, my dear Jessica, I just want to make sure you understand what’s involved in this overseas missionary works. If it were here in this country, it would be a totally different story, we have a much better control of the environment in which our priests have to work, at least we can provide them with the minimum of safety and comfort, but in a far away land, we have to depend on the local churches and priests to look for their well being, besides that, sometimes an American priest may be taken as an enemy by some radical groups down there. Believe me, Jessica, I’m not trying to scare you or to sound like the messenger of bad omens, but Christian is going to be working in a place where neither you or I can protect him, that bothers me a lot. I need to know what your thoughts are, can you tell me?

    Jessica took a deep sigh and sat down again. Her usual smiling face was replaced by one of concern and despair.

    What can I do, Abbot Martin? What can I do? Christian has decided that working as a missionary in South America is what he wants more than anything else in this world. We have discussed at length all the risks involved in this adventure, yes, I said adventure, because that’s what this is, a crazy adventure. How many times have I dreamed of seeing my Christian officiating the mass at the church here in Subiaco, and I, his proud mother kneeled in front of him, receiving his blessings, every day for the rest of my life. But instead, I will have to spend the next several months or maybe even years on my knees, praying to the Blessed Virgin Mary to protect him, to keep his path free of any evil. But I have news for you, my dear Abbot, it makes no difference what you or I can say, he will do whatever is in his mind, that’s the way he was raised, that’s how his father was. Forgive me for not staying any longer, but nothing we talk or discuss in here, is going to change his decision, have a good day, Abbot Martin.

    Again she bowed in front of him to receive his blessing.

    Go with God, Jessica, let’s have faith in Our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the only one who can guide his decisions, and the only one who knows what’s best for him.

    Chapter 4

    Little Rock, Arkansas. Present day.

    Your Excellency, you have an overseas call on line one, as I could understand, it comes from Cusco, Peru, and the caller insisted in talking to you, only to you.

    Thanks, Alexandra, do you know who’s calling?

    He identified himself as Padre Benito Guevara, a priest from the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin, that’s the main church in the city.

    Yes, Alexandra, I know that, thank you, I’ll take the call.

    Bishop Andrew Morgan was puzzled. It was not every day that he received a call from South America,

    Enjoying the preview?
    Page 1 of 1