During World Youth Day (WYD) in Fátima, a teenage pilgrim had a spectacular turn of events that left her and those around her in awe. After two and a half years of blurry vision, Jimena finally received her most precious gift—unexpectedly.
"I opened my eyes, and I could see perfectly," said Jimena, a 16-year-old Spanish WYD pilgrim, during her interview with the ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner.
Jimena headed to Lisbon from Madrid along with the Opus Dei group. A few days before, the young lady's relatives and friends planned to pray a novena to Our Lady of the Snows, whose feast day is August 5, not knowing that it would be the same day she would regain her sight.
It was two and a half years before Jimena became 95% blind due to a myopia problem. She finally obtained a "great gift" from the Virgin Mary on the morning of August 5, while the Holy Father was also praying the rosary at the Fátima shrine.
She was overcome with emotion, they attended the mass, and after receiving communion, she ardently prayed to heal her visions. Tears poured down her cheeks, and upon opening her eyes, she had no idea that her prayer would be answered.
"Because we are at WYD, and after receiving Communion, I began to cry a lot because it was the last day of the novena, and I wanted to be cured, and I had very much asked God to please [cure me]."
The once hazy world that surrounded her suddenly became a vibrant realm full of colors and shapes. She was overly surprised by being able to see the altar, the Tabernacle, and her friends with such clarity.
"It was overwhelming; very many thanks must be given for the miracle because I saw the altar, the tabernacle, and my girlfriends were there, and I could see them perfectly," the teengaer said.
Jimena’s overflowing joy radiated the gratitude that she had for the miracle she received. She attributed this newfound vision to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin. The young lady’s faith was tested and proven when she showed an unwavering belief and fully submitted herself to prayer and the boundless grace of God that was bestowed upon her.
"This has been a test of faith; the Virgin has given me a great gift that I will not forget," she said.
Cardinal Juan José Omella, archbishop of Barcelona and president of the Spanish Bishops' Conference, referred to the possible miracle as "a grace from God" during a press conference at Eduardo VII Park in Lisbon on August 6, according to ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner.
The cardinal stated that he spoke with Jimena through a video call and that she narrated what transpired in an unaffected and natural manner.
"The girl was very excited; she'd been blind for a while and had been learning the Braille method for two or three years," he explained.
The young lady, Jimena, also shared with the cardinal that they dedicated themselves to praying to the Blessed Virgin for nine days to ask for her healing.
Since the Virgin is already a saint, the prelate advised the faithful to "give thanks to God" but added that "this doesn't lead to the cause of beatification for anyone, because the Virgin is already a saint, but it is indeed a grace from God."
According to him, the physicians will have to analyze Jimena’s condition, what it was like, whether it existed, and whether it could be cured or not. But for the time being, this is a huge occasion for the girl.
"Let's say a miracle," he said. She could not see before, but now she does. "Now the doctors will be able to say the rest, but she has gone home seeing. Well, she sees, blessed be God," he added.- Leahna Villajos
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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