Nun of the Above
By: Xavier Woon
Tags: Spirituality, Christianity, Catholicism, Faith, Catholic

There was no way, in a million years, you could have convinced me that God existed. You know why? Because I was an engineer.

You see, since I was an adolescent, I was enrolled in a technical school. That was where I learned how to machine metal chunks into gadgets, carved wooden blocks into furniture, and connected wires to light up the home. That was where I studied math & science to prepare me for my further education in engineering at high school and university levels. I don’t need God, just a calculator.

But God has a sense of humor.

One day, He hooked me up with a girl through a mutual friend. It started innocently enough — a group date with a bunch of friends at a movie. Nothing fancy. Somehow, sparks flew, and soon, this girl and I were dating one-on-one. As a casual friendship grew into a more steady relationship, I found out that she was a Catholic. So what?

The relationship got to the point where we were considering spending our lives together as husband and wife. Then, she posed a question that made me think very hard, “Can we have a church wedding?”

“What? I’m not even a Catholic …. and by the way, I don’t believe in God.”

Well, that was not what she expected and she was not pleased. Wait …. is that emotional blackmail, or what?

OK. I gave her a challenge. To get me baptized and get me to church, she had to prove to me that God existed. I knew she could not. Why? Because having been schooled in engineering and worked as an engineer for more than 10 years, there was only one way to prove anything existed. You measured it and expressed it in the basic measurements of mass (kilograms), distance (meters), and time (seconds). Now, how could she do that for someone who you could not see nor touch? No way.

Did we get married in church finally? Well, yes. I got baptized because I loved her, not God. I was officially a Catholic, but did it matter if I believed in Him?

Never mind about my (lack of) belief. What was of immediate importance was our honeymoon to Europe. When we arrived in Paris, we let our feet be our guide because everything in Paris was romantic. We explored the little shops and streets that were not on the tourist map. Just then, we saw a chapel on 140, Rue de Bac. We were curious because we saw people entering the door. With so much time to spare, why not join the crowd?

The chapel was quaint. Inside it, there was some literature on a nun, St Catherine Labouré who spent forty years caring for the aged and infirm [1]. That’s nice. Wasn’t that what nuns did usually? No big deal. Then I read that she was dead in 1876 — and her body was still in the chapel! No kidding! Now, this I got to see. So, I walked further towards the altar. Lo and behold, in an encased glass coffin was St Catherine Labouré lying there as though she was just sleeping!

Chapelle de la Médaille Miraculeuse, glass coffin of St Catherine Labouré

I was flabbergasted to see a body that was over 140 years old and still intact. The body should have decomposed by now. This defied science which, until that day, was the only thing I really believed in. I walked up to the casket to take a closer look. I read the holy life of the saint and the accounts of her exhumation in 1933. Then, still under shock and awe, a small voice quietly challenged me, “If you want to measure Me, go ahead.”

This miracle was the proof I needed from God above and this nun convinced me without speaking a word.

This must have been how an unbelieving Thomas felt when Jesus told him to, “Put your finger here and see My hands; and put out your hand, and place it in You My side; do not be faithless, but believing.” (John 20:27, RSVCE)

From that day forward, I know God exists and never doubted again.

Reference:

[1] https://www.chapellenotredamedelamedaillemiraculeuse.com/origine-et-transformations/