March 10: Mrs. Mattingly's Miracle

Welcome to the American Catholic Daily Reader podcast. Today is March 10th, and our story is Mrs. Mattingly's Miracle. Arranging a miracle can be tricky. Just ask Father Anthony Coleman, S.J. In 1823, the Georgetown University president and professor heard that one of the city's most devout Catholics, Mrs. Ann Mattingly, suffered from an aggressive form of breast cancer. In addition to a large and painful lump, she was disoriented, vomiting blood, and rarely able to leave her bed.

Around the same time, Coleman learned of Prince Alexander von Hohenlohe, a German priest with a gift for healing. Unfortunately, the German priest was actually in Germany, and Mrs. Mattingly couldn't possibly make the trip. Determined to help the woman, Coleman came up with a plan. He wrote to Hohenlohe, proposing that Mrs. Mattingly begin a novena for healing. On the ninth day, at the hour of completion, one priest would offer Mass near her bedside, while Coleman offered one in the Georgetown Chapel, and Hohenlohe offered one in Germany.

Hohenlohe agreed to the plan. Coleman continued the correspondence and named the date to celebrate Mass. Then, Hohenlohe wrote back yet again to confirm the plan. So it went, back and forth, as the two priests, without the help of phones, email, or even reliable postal service, attempted to coordinate a miracle. Through it all, Mrs. Mattingly's condition worsened, and the impatience of her family grew. Invariably, Coleman replied to their concerns by saying that the miracle would seem all the greater for occurring at the last minute.

Finally, the plan was set, and on the appointed day, March 10, 1824, was carried out. The novena was prayed, all three masses said, and within minutes of receiving the Eucharist, Mrs. Mattingly rose from her bed, both her pain and the lump gone. Catholics celebrated the miracle. Protestants dismissed it. The church hierarchy ignored it. But Mrs. Mattingly and Father Coleman didn't care. Their prayers were answered.

Anne Mattingly lived another 31 years, all of them healthy ones. Faith does not remove obstacles, but it provides the framework to navigate them with hope and trust. Identify a situation in your life that feels overwhelming or impossible. Dedicate a novena, prayer, or consistent effort to it this week, trusting God's timing and providence. May Mrs. Mattingly's miracle inspire us to pray persistently and trust in God's perfect timing. Thank you for listening to the American Catholic Daily Reader podcast. Join us tomorrow, March 11th, for another story of faith and courage in America.