Canlubang, Philippines, 13 September 202 -- When Filipino Salesian Brother Robert Narvaez (aka 'Obet') asked in 2016 that his family pray for his elder brother after being treated in the ICU without any hope, and having already been in coma for nine days, he didn’t even dream what would happen. His whole family was praying with faith through the intercession of Blessed Artemides Zatti for his recovery. And his brother suddenly woke up!
Today, 6 years later, after the whole family’s devout prayers for God’s special intervention, his brother is now very much alive and the investigation of this presumed miracle was concluded and confirmed by the Church. This instantaneous healing opened the door to the canonization of Blessed Artemide Zatti. Only deep faith can lead to this heartfelt invocation!
In a video interview (July 2018) Br. Obet shares:
I discovered the vocation of the Salesian Brother while still an aspirant. And from that time on, I discovered I have the gift to enter in relationship with anybody, with a joyful atmosphere, to any kind of group, especially with the young people. And that vocation I still persevere with and nurture also with the help of the young people, I serve today.
As a Filipino, my Brother model is late Brother Elmer Rodriguez. When we me the Brother in our Aspirantate I was inspired by his love for the poor young people. I was inspired also at his funeral when so many young people gathered to thank him. I was inspired by his simplicity and humility.
When I was working in Rome, I was told, that my brother was hospitalized and after 3 days was rushed to the ICU because he was in coma and since then I asked the members of our large family to pray through the intercession of Blessed Artemide Zatti. Then after 9 days when my brother was still in a coma, I flew to the Philippines and asked again for the whole family to pray earnestly through the intercession of Blessed Artemides Zatti.
As a Brother I would like to encourage all Brothers to be more optimistic about their vocation. One Brother in the Philippines told us, that the extraordinary thing in us Salesian Brothers is that we are ordinary!"
A few weeks ahead of the Canonization of Brother Zatti, we can ask ourselves how we pray to the holy members of the Salesian Family.
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