It's a miracle! Pope Francis to beatify German nun following the documentation of miraculous healing

A German nun is closer to sainthood after the Church completed an exhaustive investigation of a miracle in Colorado. The prayers of Mother Maria Theresa Bonzel have been confirmed as contributing to the miracle involving a four-year-old boy from Colorado Springs.

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DENVER, CO (Catholic Online) - The intercession of Mother Theresa effected miracle for four-year-old Luke Burgie in 1999. At that time, the boy was suffering from a digestive disorder that doctors could not diagnose. Doctors performed a variety of tests and tried various solutions including diets and antibiotics. Nothing worked.

Desperate, Luke's mother, a devout Catholic, asked two nuns to pray for her son. The sisters, Margaret Mary Preister and Evangeline Spenner, obliged and prayed a novena for Luke.

The sisters finished their novena on the morning of Feb. 22, 1999. That same morning, Luke arose from bed miraculously healed. His pain and suffering had come to an abrupt, inexplicable end. Luke's mother said she immediately knew it was a miracle.

This prompted a lengthy and thorough investigation from Church officials.

Officials examined medical records, interviewed the doctors, and investigated the family. The investigation was both long and intensive. Luke was even subjected to further medical tests to ensure he is still healthy and that the cause of his illness is truly cured.

Investigators announced their conclusion on March 27. Luke's cure had been both spontaneous and complete and lacked a scientific explanation. Doctors confessed there was no medical intervention that could be responsible for the healing. The only remaining, and indeed the most likely explanation, was that Mother Maria Theresa Bonzel answered the petition of Sisters Margaret Mary and Evangeline and performed a miraculous healing of Luke.

In Catholic understanding, saints have achieved communion with God and live in His Presence. Because death cannot separate us from the love of God made real in Jesus Christ (cf Romans 8:38, 39) we share in what the Church has long called the the communion of Saints.(See, Catholic Catechism # 946-948) 

As our brothers and sisters in the Lord, they can hear our prayers and petitions and offer their intercession on our behalf before God. Sometimes, God grants the requested miracle. However, when such events occur, the Church is very skeptical and investigates thoroughly in order to document and evaluate the event.

In Luke's case, the young boy who was gaining no weight and couldn't even attend school, simply woke up one morning entirely cured. Today, Luke is a healthy young man who repairs bicycles and works a second job in fast food while waiting to attend college.

Luke remains a living example of the power of the saints to intercede on our behalf.

Pope Francis has announced his approval and Bonzel will be beatified in November.

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