A Saint Sharbel Moment, Miraculous Healing of a Baby’s Heart
The names have been changed for privacy reasons.
We have come to know that Almighty God has manifested the power of Saint Sharbel’s intercession by numerous favors and miracles, and I wish to share a St. Sharbel miraculous moment with you.
The compassion of Saint Sharbel in this memorable story began in June of 2021 when I was invited to have dinner at my daughter, Kate’s house along with her husband, Matt and his parents, John and Jane who had traveled from Florida for a visit. John and Jane were just stopping by for a lay-over on a trip to see the birth of their grandchild. The birth of this child was very special as his parents’, Joe and Lucy had been trying to get pregnant for seven years. Finally, a baby had been conceived and was on his way.
The birth of a new baby is an exciting event, but sadly, a prenatal diagnosis through an ultrasound detected a rare congenital heart defect in which the heart’s lower two chambers, the ventricles, are reversed in their position. The right ventricle is on the left; and the left ventricle is on the right. This is a serious birth defect.
It was anticipated that the baby would need immediate pediatric cardiac surgery by a team of experts. It was also expected that the infant would spend up to four weeks in the hospital for recovery after the procedure.
In catching up with John and Jane, as I’d not seen them for two years, I began to talk about Catholic shrine where I currently work. I talked about the pilgrims, the devotions, the shrines and the thanksgiving for prayers answered. The soon to be new grandparents asked me the question, “Who would you pray to for the baby who was already known to have a serious heart defect?” The first thought that came to my mind was Saint Sharbel.
I shared all I knew about Saint Sharbel. I suggested, if they were open to the idea, that we pray a Novena to Saint Sharbel together. The next day I got Novena booklets, literature on the history of Saint Sharbel and Saint Sharbel Devotional Oil which contains a tiny relic of cloth. I took these items to Ralph and Sue before they got back on the road.
We four (my daughter, the baby’s grandparents and myself) prayed the Novena to Saint Sharbel each day for a miraculous healing of Baby Eric’s little heart. I was able to pray at the Saint Sharbel Shrine and before the Saint Sharbel relic at the shrine.
When John and Jane arrived, the expectant parents Lucy and Joe began to pray the Novena to Saint Sharbel as well with expectant faith and hope.
By way of a text I suggested that the expectant mother be anointed with The Sign of The Cross with the Saint Sharbel oil, and that her belly be anointed with the holy oil as well prior to delivery, which they did.
Prayers for the intercession of Saint Sharbel were continuously and fervently offered for the healing of Baby Eric’s heart defect.
On the ninth day of the Saint Sharbel Novena Eric was born. Although a team of pediatric heart specialists was at hand, it was discovered that the anticipated heart defect was not nearly as serious as expected. There was no need for the infant to be rushed into emergency heart repair surgery.
Miraculously the right ventricle was on the right side, and the left ventricle was on the left side as it should be.
There is a hole in the lower chamber of the baby’s heart, but a procedure to repair the hole will not be done until Eric is four months old. With continued prayers to Saint Sharbel, I am confident the tiny hole will be repaired through Divine Intervention.
Praise to God and thanksgiving to Saint Sharbel for the healthy heart of Baby Eric.
We have come to know that Almighty God has manifested the power of Saint Sharbel’s intercession by numerous favors and miracles, and I wish to share a St. Sharbel miraculous moment with you.
The compassion of Saint Sharbel in this memorable story began in June of 2021 when I was invited to have dinner at my daughter, Kate’s house along with her husband, Matt and his parents, John and Jane who had traveled from Florida for a visit. John and Jane were just stopping by for a lay-over on a trip to see the birth of their grandchild. The birth of this child was very special as his parents’, Joe and Lucy had been trying to get pregnant for seven years. Finally, a baby had been conceived and was on his way.
The birth of a new baby is an exciting event, but sadly, a prenatal diagnosis through an ultrasound detected a rare congenital heart defect in which the heart’s lower two chambers, the ventricles, are reversed in their position. The right ventricle is on the left; and the left ventricle is on the right. This is a serious birth defect.
It was anticipated that the baby would need immediate pediatric cardiac surgery by a team of experts. It was also expected that the infant would spend up to four weeks in the hospital for recovery after the procedure.
In catching up with John and Jane, as I’d not seen them for two years, I began to talk about Catholic shrine where I currently work. I talked about the pilgrims, the devotions, the shrines and the thanksgiving for prayers answered. The soon to be new grandparents asked me the question, “Who would you pray to for the baby who was already known to have a serious heart defect?” The first thought that came to my mind was Saint Sharbel.
I shared all I knew about Saint Sharbel. I suggested, if they were open to the idea, that we pray a Novena to Saint Sharbel together. The next day I got Novena booklets, literature on the history of Saint Sharbel and Saint Sharbel Devotional Oil which contains a tiny relic of cloth. I took these items to Ralph and Sue before they got back on the road.
We four (my daughter, the baby’s grandparents and myself) prayed the Novena to Saint Sharbel each day for a miraculous healing of Baby Eric’s little heart. I was able to pray at the Saint Sharbel Shrine and before the Saint Sharbel relic at the shrine.
When John and Jane arrived, the expectant parents Lucy and Joe began to pray the Novena to Saint Sharbel as well with expectant faith and hope.
By way of a text I suggested that the expectant mother be anointed with The Sign of The Cross with the Saint Sharbel oil, and that her belly be anointed with the holy oil as well prior to delivery, which they did.
Prayers for the intercession of Saint Sharbel were continuously and fervently offered for the healing of Baby Eric’s heart defect.
On the ninth day of the Saint Sharbel Novena Eric was born. Although a team of pediatric heart specialists was at hand, it was discovered that the anticipated heart defect was not nearly as serious as expected. There was no need for the infant to be rushed into emergency heart repair surgery.
Miraculously the right ventricle was on the right side, and the left ventricle was on the left side as it should be.
There is a hole in the lower chamber of the baby’s heart, but a procedure to repair the hole will not be done until Eric is four months old. With continued prayers to Saint Sharbel, I am confident the tiny hole will be repaired through Divine Intervention.
Praise to God and thanksgiving to Saint Sharbel for the healthy heart of Baby Eric.
