A seemingly routine basketball injury turned into what Vatican officials are calling a real miracle, paving the way for the Catholic Church’s newest saint.
It all started with a mysterious burning sensation in a quiet seminary chapel.
Father Juan Gutierrez, now 38, was just a basketball-playing seminarian when he was seriously injured during a game in 2017.
An MRI revealed he had a torn Achilles tendon that threatened to derail his path to the priesthood with costly surgeries and months of recovery.
But what happened next has shocked doctors and convinced the Catholic Church that they have witnessed a modern-day miracle.
“I was praying and I started to feel a sensation of heat around the site of my injury.” Father Gutierrez revealed this during a press conference at St. John the Baptist Parish in Lake Baldwin, California.
“I honestly thought there might be something on fire under the couches.”
“That event touched me deeply,” Gutierrez added, recalling how he was moved to tears when he remembered that heat can be associated with healing by God.
And later, the tear that had appeared clear as day on his MRI seemed to mysteriously disappear. He no longer needed a brace or surgery.
A seemingly routine basketball injury turned into what Vatican officials are calling a real miracle, paving the way for the Catholic Church’s newest saint.
His healing was a miracle. His doctors couldn’t explain it,” said Archbishop José Gómez of Los Angeles.
“Of course, miracle is a word that is overused in our culture; that is not well understood.
“But the Scriptures tell us that Jesus performed miracles on earth. … And we believe that Jesus continues to do miracles from heaven.”
“And we believe that Jesus hears not only our prayers, but also the prayers that the saints pray for us,” he added.
“Now we have a new saint watching over us from heaven.”
The incident is now attributed to Pier Giorgio Frassati, a charismatic Italian who died of polio in 1925 at the age of 24. Catholic News Agency reported.
Father Gutierrez had prayed to him for help through a special nine-day prayer known as a novena.
“The Saints can help us pray for our needs and make sure someone listens to our prayers,” Gutierrez said. “God always listens to our prayers.”
The priest who investigated the miracle, Monsignor Robert Sarno, taught at the same seminary where Gutierrez’s experience took place—and it was his knowledge of the story that ultimately led to Frassati’s canonization.
Father Juan Gutierrez, now 38, was just a basketball-playing seminarian when he was seriously injured during a game in 2017
An MRI revealed he had a torn Achilles tendon that threatened to derail his path to the priesthood with costly surgeries and months of recovery. But what happened next has shocked doctors and convinced the Catholic Church that they have witnessed a modern-day miracle
“When I heard it, I immediately suspected there was something substantive in this case,” Sarno said.
‘What we are called to do is to imitate the holiness of Pier Giorgio and to pray for his intercession, especially for young people today who are so confused and in search of answers, on life and on faith ‘ he added.
Gutierrez said, “I will be the first to acknowledge that God could have chosen a more charismatic, easy-going and less troublesome person. Trust me, I know, and my colleagues will be able to tell you how true that is.
“But as Scripture tells us, it was not we who chose the Lord. It was He who chose us. And he has chosen us to bear fruit.”
‘There have been moments when I thought: how did I get here? And what was I thinking when I got on this ride?’ he added. “But in the end, I am left with a heart full of gratitude and awe for what God is doing in our lives.”
“And I am also humbled by the fact that in Pier Giorgio God has given me not only an intercessor, but also a friend.”
Sarno said: “There are many similarities between Pier Giorgio Frassati and Juan, whether he knows it or not.”
The incident is now attributed to Pier Giorgio Frassati (pictured), a charismatic Italian who died of polio in 1925 at the age of 24, the Catholic News Agency reported.
Father Gutierrez had prayed to him for help through a special nine-day prayer known as a novena
“They were both very athletic, very young and involved in sports. And for this reason, Pier Giorgio Frassati was named one of the patrons of World Youth Day,” he added.
Of the canonization process, Father Gutierrez said, “It’s crazy. But it is a wonderful blessing.”
“Giorgio wanted to spread faith in God, and this will ensure that more people can hear his message that invites us to take our Catholic Christian faith seriously and be willing to take it beyond the doors of the Church to save people’s lives to influence. society,” he added.
‘Because that is where the love of God, Jesus, and what he has brought us is so desperately needed.’