A second miracle confirmed on June 14 by doctors appointed by the
Vatican's Congregation for the Causes of Saints could advance the
sainthood of Blessed Laura de Jesus Montoya Upegui.
According to the newspaper El Tiempo, Vatican officials are expected to
issue a decision on the miracle on Dec. 10. A decree by Pope Benedict
would pave the way for Blessed Laura's canonization as Colombia's first
native-born saint.
The miracle that occurred through the 20th century blessed's
intercession was the healing of Dr. Carlos Eduardo Restrepo, who was
suffering from lupus, kidney damage and muscular degeneration. After
praying the Blessed Laura one night, the doctor woke up the following
morning completely cured.
“Mother Laura,” he prayed that night, “If you heal me of this, I will
tell the world about your miracle so that you will be raised to the
altars.”
“My mind has gone blank. I don’t know if I had an out-of-body
experience or if I imagined it, or if it was my subconscious, but when I
entrusted myself to Blessed Laura I felt a wonderful sense of peace,”
he said.
“If this isn’t a miracle, I don’t know what is,” Doctor Restrepo told the Colombian newspaper.
Sister Aida Orobio, superior of the Congregation of the Missionary
Sisters of Mary Immaculate and St. Catherine of Siena – which was
founded by Blessed Laura – said, “Not even her in her homeland do people
realize how brave and marvelous this woman was.”
“In an era in which women were supposed to stay by men, Laura dared to
follow God’s call, even though she was called crazy,” she added.
The sister noted how Blessed Laura's conversion began when she
encountered a group of local Indians who were being mistreated and
dehumanized.
“How is it possible that they lived so marginalized and estranged from
God, if they were just as Colombian as anyone else and were the first
inhabitants of these lands,” Sister Orobio reflected.
Eventually, Blessed Laura moved into the Colombian rain forest and
began to live and work with the Indians, despite difficulties and
attacks from landowners in the region.
She died on Oct. 21, 1949 in a home in Medellin that is today a museum
and convent. Her congregation has spread to Africa, America and Europe.
Those who knew her recalled that during her last days, “She had a great
sense of humor. She poked fun at everything in a pious way, especially
of herself.”