Dear Fr. Rookey,
My story begins with my sister telling me that a priest is coming to celebrate a Healing Mass at her parish. I definitely was interested, but I was really hoping that my husband would come too. As things turned out, he was called out of town, so I asked my 20-year-old son and 19-year-old daughter if they would like to join me, particularly to pray for their father that he might be freed from a eating disorder that he had, as long as he could remember and it was getting worse as years passed.
He was very depressed most of the time and sometimes would have fits of anger. Through the years he had been on every kind of diet: liquid diet, Weight Watchers, and Over-eaters Anonymous. He also would buy and read every book out on the topic. He searched for an answer. In November of ’85, I asked him to please go see a doctor for a good physical and to talk to the doctor. This was the time when we first knew he had an eating disorder. The doctor recommended that he go to a psychiatrist across the hall. So he went to A.A. meetings and read the book on the Twelve Steps, just substituting food instead of drink. That lasted only short time because he felt he was getting nowhere.
About a year later I asked him to please go back for another physical because he was really dragging at home and at work, to the point of not being able to stay awake. He chose another doctor this time. This one also sent him to another psychiatrist. Then he put him on a six-month program on Eating Disorders ( a learning program—no diets). He stuck with it and mentally absorbed a lot but it didn’t reduce his eating habits. He had developed diabetes and high blood pressure. They were both at a point of extreme emergency. Just before Christmas, he was told was on the verge of a stroke or heart attack. Even the thought of dying did not make things change; he often prayed for God to take him because he felt he was a prisoner inside of his own body with no way out. He even got to the point of saying he was not going to Church. But it never materialized. Thank God!
One evening he gave me his car keys and told me NOT to give them to him no matter what . . . because he didn’t know what he’d do to himself. He went up to our room, laying quietly in the dark but his mind was screaming with anger. After some time went by, I went up to check on him, asking if I could help in any way. I asked, “How about saying a little prayer together?” He became more upset, talking in a rough, mean way . . ., saying he didn’t think he would be going to Church any more; it wasn’t doing any good and so on. I stood at the end of the bed, not even facing him. I wanted to cry, but God held me together. I turned and in a firm voice stated, “ I know it’s not you talking so I’m not upset with you.” (I don’t know why I said that but I know God was helping us.) “The devil is trying to separate us in any way he can and he’s tried for years but he’s not going to do it . . . because I lover you!”
His head fell back n the pillow and in about a minute or so he lifted up his head and said, “What did I say to you?” (He really didn’t remember.) He was kind of dazed and said, “I don’t want to hurt you.” He is a kind and loving human being only wanting help.
Well, my son, daughter and I did go to the Healing Mass with you last February when a gentleman was witnessing, saying he was there in Proxy for another person. So I decided I would do the same for my husband. I was next to my son and daughter as hands were laid on. The peace and joy I felt were beautiful. My son thought I had died because I was down longer that most. When I got up, I told my son, “He’s going to be fine . . . Dad’s going to be fine.”
“You won’t be afraid again,” I thought. The nice mood this continued when you yourself played the piano after the service. I am a guitarist and your playing made me feel I could trust you.
Well, here’s the healing part. The next day after work, I had the urge to call a counselor that I had heard speak at a Widowed-Divorced Catholics meeting. Mind you, but this time less than 24-hours after the healing service, I had already forgotten all about that. So here I was talking to this lady counselor. She said I didn’t need her workshop on Addictive Relationships as I was already aware of them in my life. Instead, I could use some on-on-one counseling.
My inner healing began on the first visit and had progressed every single visit. Each session is like an inner message from God himself.
NEBRASKA
