(THREAD) 1. MEET Estela and Nicolas. Today they got married. For anyone else this would be just a picture of a normal wedding day, but for these two, there is much more than meets the eye. For them, this is a story of the triumph of love and hope. 
2. 3 weeks ago I was approached by someone at my parish.
-“Father, there is a couple who wants to get married.”
-“I am glad to hear that. Tell them to call me & we will set up a meeting.”
-“Well” she said, “this is the thing. They are in the hospital. Could you come please?”
-“Father, there is a couple who wants to get married.”
-“I am glad to hear that. Tell them to call me & we will set up a meeting.”
-“Well” she said, “this is the thing. They are in the hospital. Could you come please?”
3. I went to visit them, only to find out that Estela, a beautiful 26 year old woman, had cancer that spread all over her body. Doctors give her a limited time of life. I saw her husband to be, by her side, with a sad smile in his eyes, asking me for hope and a miracle.
4. I didn’t know what to say. I can’t perform miracles, but I listened and I did what I do best: I put a smile on Estela’s face. Her smile brightened the room like I have never seen before: “Yes,” I told her when she asked me about her wedding, “I will do the wedding.”
5. I went back home very sad. I never take with me the hard cases I see in hospitals, but this was different. I couldn’t shake it off. Plus I have never done an emergency wedding, so the nerves were pretty bad. Now I had to prepare for something I myself wasn’t ready for.
6. We agreed that we would do a private wedding since she couldn’t move much and had tons of needles. I would come to the room along with the witnesses and some family members.
I am not going to lie. I felt really nervous. This is something they don’t teach in seminary.
I am not going to lie. I felt really nervous. This is something they don’t teach in seminary.
7. The day came. I took my alb, stole and ritual book, my holy water (of course) and I decided to stop at the store to buy her some flowers since I didn’t expect her to have many. I already told her friends to make her feel like a bride, and to her groom “put in a suit,” I said.
8. I drove to the hospital with alb, stole and flowers. When I got there, I couldn’t believe what I saw: 60 people were waiting +doctors and her nurses. Estela felt so much better, that the wedding would take place in the chapel and SHE LOOKED SOO BEAUTIFUL and full of life.
9. I gave her the bouquet of white roses, and smiling timidly she said, “Thank you father. This is the dream of my life. I never thought I could do it before my life was over.”
I am telling you, I had to summon all my strength not to cry, so I just smiled back and helped her up.
I am telling you, I had to summon all my strength not to cry, so I just smiled back and helped her up.
10. I accompanied both groom and bride to the chapel which WAS PACKED and we started. I’ve never paid so much attention to those vows “I take you for better and worse, in sickness and health, till DEATH do us part.” At this point, sniffles were louder than music.
11. The staff of the hospital were AMAZING.They prepared a surprised reception in less than 24 hours. Then the groom said to me, “Thank you father for the miracle I asked. All I wanted was for God to bless my love for her, and it happened. Thanks.”
Ok, the heck with it 😭😭😭
Ok, the heck with it 😭😭😭
13. So, MEET Estela and Nicolas. Today they experienced the love that conquers the hopeless heart, sadness & suffering. The love that brings tears of joy, in health and illness, till death breaks the earthly bond. My dear friends, I love being part of your witness. God LOVES you.
