I had heard of "Father Fernando's Healing Masses" for some time, but only recently had the opportunity to attend two of these extraordinary masses on the same day.
In the early afternoon of December the fifth, Father Fernando Suarez CC offered a mass to Christ's poor at Our Lady of His Mercy Friendship House, on Wellington Street, in Ottawa. After ministering until 3am that morning and driving five hours directly from Toronto, Fr. Fernando with Fr. Jeff Shannon arrived at our storefront drop-in center in the west-end.
Noticeably tired and weak, with only a small trace of voice left from the late night before, Fr. Fernando, without skipping a beat, quickly slipped into his alb in our crowded kitchen and then stepped behind the makeshift altar set-up in our over-crowded front room. As Fr. Fernando began the mass, Fr. Jeff, his faithful companion and servant, sped-off to procure some wine.
The reading was from Isaiah chapter eleven, the wonderful prophesy where wild beasts will lie down with defenseless creatures "and a little child shall lead them".
The gospel came from Luke chapter ten, where Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit saying, " I thank you Father because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants…" Jesus was most identified with children and those who knew that they were little, poor and dependent.
The gospel and reading brought us to reflect on the child-likeness of Jesus and this beautiful quality so apparent in Fr. Fernando. Even before the consecration, through the joyfulness, littleness and simplicity of His priest, Jesus was already very present to us. At the communion, we felt a profound communion with The Kingdom and The King "at hand". The Infant King, The Christ Child, was with His little brothers and sisters around His altar on the street, in the marketplace. It was obvious how Fr. Fernando was completely at home with the poor. In the image of this meek and humble priest, this compassionate shepherd and tired servant, THE WORD sprang to life and astonished us. In Fr. Fernando's authenticity and transparency, the hidden mystery of the very person of Jesus Christ and His divine intimacy was revealed. In that hushed and crowded grotto of our broken humanity, we were touched and fed by the incarnate Emmanuel, who communicated to each of us, the sweetness of His intimate love.
A friend of mi...
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