When I was a little boy, my uncle once told me about his chance encounter with former NBA Basketball star, Michael Jordan—my childhood hero. While interviewing for a job at a Cleveland hotel, my uncle ran into Jordan in a parking garage elevator of all places. As Jordan left the elevator, my uncle said, “Good luck tonight!” That night Jordan crushed my Cleveland Cavaliers.
I was shocked that my uncle didn’t ask for his autograph—as a young boy, I chased professional athletes’ autographs—they were like gold. But as I’ve aged, my heroes are no longer those who play sports, and autographs are no longer currency. Instead, I find heroic those who follow God’s will, and I seek out their blessings so that I may do the same.
In my life, I have been blessed to meet Fr. Benedict Groeschel, Fr. Andrew Apostoli, Fr. Thomas Dubay, and to be within one foot of Pope Benedict XVI. These men inspire me and my work.
On Thursday August 1st, I was invited to be on EWTN’s “Women of Grace” show. To my great delight, I overhead that his Eminence, Raymond Cardinal Burke would be arriving at the studio that evening—specifically when and where we did not know (for security purposes). Cardinal Burke was my “Michael Jordan;” I look up to him in many ways.
I had begun corresponding with Cardinal Burke via email two years earlier for work purposes, when I worked as TAN Books’ Acquisitions Editor. It was during this time that I first asked him for prayers, which led to the growth of my family.
After over five years of infertility and two miscarriages, my wife and I needed a miracle. I had read Austin Ruse’s beautiful article crediting Cardinal Burke’s prayers for his wife’s healthy pregnancy after three miscarriages. And so, being in a similar position myself, I sought the Cardinal’s blessings as well.
After filming the show that day, I went to Our Lady of the Angels chapel to pray, “Dear Mother Angelica, please intercede for me. I would love to meet Cardinal Burke and receive his blessing.”
Why was I praying to Mother Angelica? Well, she has also played a significant role in my prayer and family life. On a personal level, she entered the Poor Clares in Cleveland, Ohio—only a block away from where my grandmother had grown up. They were four years apart, and my grandmother would often pray at that convent.
On a spiritual level, my wife, our son Jude, and I had driven from Ohio to Alabama to pray for another child at Mother Angelica’s tomb. We’d named our last child we’d miscarried Angelica Rose after Mother Angelica—her due date was on Mother’s birthday, April 20th.
Once at the tomb, a cry surged from my heart, “Lord, if you give me another child, I’ll give that child back to you.” I was at a convent of Cloistered Poor Clare Nuns. I always thought it would be special to have at least one of my children become a priest or a religious.
A few weeks later, my wife became pregnant. I knew it was a girl since that prayer arose at a convent. On September 12th, the feast of the holy name of Mary, God blessed us with a little girl, Mella Rose Marie.
Now back to EWTN and my prayerful request for Cardinal Burke’s blessing. With the show over, I prepared to leave for the airport but kept scanning the outside for any sign of the Cardinal. My ride arrived earlier than expected. I resigned myself to the likelihood that my prayer would not be answered.
As I was putting my suitcase in the car, an unmarked van with black windows drove down the road; there he was! Now was my chance.
I briskly walked across the lawn. I asked the security guard if it would be alright to say hi. He said yes. As Cardinal Burke came out of the van, I approached him and said, “I’m Patrick O’Hearn.” He smiled as if he had been waiting for me.
“TAN Books,” he said. (It had been over a year since I last corresponded with him at TAN.)
After kissing his ring, I thanked him for his prayers years earlier—they had led to our miracle baby. He asked about my family, then I asked him for a blessing.
And so, two of my heroes, Cardinal Burke and Mother Angelica, worked another miracle. First, the gift of my daughter, and now this blessed visit.
How beautiful that God is in the details, orchestrating everything down to the exact minute. How generous He is; He desires to bless us, to give us gifts—all we need to do is ask and have faith.
As Catholics, we frequently rely on in the intercession of our heavenly friends, the saints, but often our intercession stops there. Our Lord taught me a great truth in seeking the prayers of a living cardinal and a not-yet-canonized saint in Mother Angelica. We are all a community, one Body, one Church, united in our goal.
As Saint James reminds us: “pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects” (Jas 5:16). Indeed, the prayers of a holy cardinal and a holy nun have great power!
Our Lord taught me another lesson: no request is too small for Him. The same God who performed a miracle at what seemed like an insignificant request at a wedding in Cana desires to work countless miracles in our lives if we but ask. Let us never be afraid to ask too much of God; rather, let us only be afraid of asking too little or trusting too little in His power. God wants us to have the faith that moves mountains.
Photo provided by the author
