Birmingham, Ala., Jul 12, 2009 / 04:27 am
The beneficiary of a Vatican-approved miracle attributed to the intercession of Servant of God John Henry Cardinal Newman says an EWTN show inspired him to pray to the saint for the healing of his back injuries that could have paralyzed him. His use of a relic of the cardinal may also be linked to a second miracle.
John “Jack” Sullivan had awoken to excruciating pain in June 2000. A CT scan revealed that all or most of the vertebrae and discs in his back had turned inward and were squeezing his spinal cord. A neurosurgeon advised him to have immediate surgery to prevent paralysis.
Sullivan, in the second year of a four-year diaconate program, knew that the pain, the surgery and recovery period would mean the end of his effort to become a deacon.
He turned on EWTN and saw a program hosted by Father C. John McCloskey, a devotee of Cardinal Newman. The episode in question featured Fr. Ian Ker, another Newman expert.