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He heard what I said and closed his eyes, praying. I read ‘Great Compassion Mantra Buddhistic carolthe great compassion mantra’ (大悲咒) in silence! I prayed to Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara (Guanyin) (大悲觀音) to protect him! Then I held a fingerprint and read the Mantra. I resorted to magic arts on his forehead! Because I have had the experiences of spiritual cure, I immediately tried my best to drive out the evil spirits of Fr. Albert. It sounded ridiculous! As a Buddhist, I tried to do (income shock?) for a Catholic Father in a folk way! But I could do nothing on the foreign lands! Faith is my strongest power!
After a little while, Fr. Albert opened his eyes, looking at me, puzzled.
Fr. Albert asked: “What are you doing?”
I said: “I’m praying for you!”
He looked smiling and received my blessing peacefully.
Not long after, he said again: “I feel Americans are strange. Christmas comes so soon!” This sentence sounded senseless. I did not respond. I went on with my magic arts. Fr. Albert kept his eyes wide open, with his hands pointing to the bulletin board in front of the bed and said: “The bulletin board is full of MERRY CHRISTMAS!” I looked to the direction Fr. Albert said. But there was nothing except several notices printed on paper A4.
“I see nothing at all!”
“There they are in big color letters!” said Fr. Albert seriously.
I went closer to the bulletin board but still saw nothing. Fr. Albert was confused himself! He asked again: “Didn’t you see it?” I answered: “I really did not see anything! Maybe you are destined to see it! It is God’s decree for you to see it!” Fr. Albert did not know how to give his answer, laughing and looking silly.
Three hours later, a foreign father came all the way from the town to show his concern. He was very kind though that was the first time we met only because he and Fr. Albert were both members of the Society of Jesus. He was willing to travel a long way to the hospital. I was much touched and I thanked him!
He said politely and generously: “Because we are brothers!”
Excellent! If people all over the world treat one another like brothers and sisters, how nice it will be!”
The doctors ordered that Fr. Albert was supposed to stay in the hospital for further observations and examinations. And so Fr. Albert wanted me to go to Detroit by myself! Everyone in the conference inquired after him! They all looked worried and prayed for him! We could see Fr. Albert was very popular!
Three days later, Fr. Albert also showed up in the conference in Detroit. He was unstable but I supported him! He was in high spirits! He said hello to his friends from other countries heartily. All the representatives liked him no mater what religions they believed in!
In fact, I heard in Taiwan about some complaints against Fr. Albert. They said he changed. He had done too much for Buddhist Groups. He was no longer concerned about their Catholic Fathers!
I do not want to justify him! Time will prove!
I wanted the host organization to make a proper arrangement for us to live in the same room so that I could take care of him. I wanted Fr. Albert to take a rest. I myself would go no preparing for the next day’s report. From time to time, I kept an eye on him by stealth. To tell the truth, the old man was rather interesting! Even if he was ill, his luggage was neat and orderly. Funny to say, even the gesture of his lying on bed was straight! He made on me a deep impression that he was still a boy afraid of doing something wrong.
I asked whether or not he had taken drugs. He used to take sleeping pills for scores of years!
Fr. Albert said if he had heart stroke, he should stop taking sleeping pills!
“And so you didn’t sleep for several days?”
“That’s right!” he responded.
An old man did not sleep for several consecutive days. How could he be healthy? I was very much worried. I turned to look at him. I wanted him to try to sleep. Only at that moment did I find him without wearing his glasses. Who was that man? He was surprisingly old without wearing his false teeth. Then I understood he wore false teeth on ordinary days. He looked very thin without his false teeth on. I felt sad. I thought of Heaven Chi’s words: “Remember to bring Fr. Albert back to Taiwan ALIVE!”
“Will you attend mass tomorrow?” I asked. We stayed in a Catholic church. Every morning they have mass.
“Sure!” said Fr. Albert. Mass was very important and meaningful to him.
The next morning when alarm clock sounded, he was already got ready, sitting on the bed. Then we went to the sacred hall together. Morning did not break. In the dark yellow lights, there were several people in the sacred hall. I did not know some Philippines representatives until the conference. We nodded to one another to mean greeting. I supported Fr. Albert to take a seat. I did not know the process of mass. I just followed the Father who hosted the mass. We said prayers and sang hymns. I admitted I was not all attention! I focused on Fr. Albert who stood and sat by turn. I was afraid he might fall down!
The magnificent ceremony was going to begin- Communion. The officiating father held up cookies to pray to God devoutly. The piece of cookie symbolizes Jesus’ body that atones for people’s crimes. The father had a bite. The officiating father held up a cup of wine to pray. The cup of wine symbolizes Jesus’ blood. The father had a drink. All through the ceremony and consecration, and by way of the symbolism of blood and flesh, we unified with Jesus! We did all these to execute what Jesus had done and to live a new life to break through Jesus’ portrait.
(To Be Continued!)
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