As I sit in Cafe de la Mairie just across from Paris’ unforgivably forgotten cathedral Saint Sulpice, my heart is lifted up. This morning I was up at 7:30 am. My plan to beat the time change had worked again. However, as I walked the streets this morning, it was an aimless journey without direction or purpose. Gradually a plan to find Saint Sulpice cathedral formed in my head and suddenly I was very determined to find it.

As I entered the cathedral, I was drawn to sit and pray. As I sat, I realized that I needed a blessing before I left Paris. At which point, I saw a lady leave a small glass enclosure and the Preist inside greeted another lady as she entered. I walked over to the sitting area next to the enclosure, sat and prayed while awaiting my turn. While I sat, I was suddenly overcome by the immensity of my up coming walk, but more by the 2 1/2 year personal journey that led me here, and I suddenly burst into a deep sobbing cry as the emotions overwhelmed me. Slowly I gathered up my emotions and stopped crying just before the priest invited me to join him.

As he invited me in, I asked and he stated that he spoke, although somewhat broken, English. He asked me if I was there for confession and as I began to sit, suddenly I again burst into an uncontrollable sobbing. He was patient as I regathered my composure. Once I was able to speak, I told him that I was there for a blessing before my pilgrimage to Santiago. I explained to him my story, that I had just retired after working 21 years in a prison and how I was suicidal two years ago. I told him how God had blessed me with a loving wife who stood by me, how he lifted me out of my depression and he was with me to help me finish my career. I also informed him that I felt God had drawn me to make this journey and that I was leaving Paris tomorrow for Le Puy to begin it. I told him I was there seeking a blessing before I began. Before he gave me the blessing, the priest, who later stated his name was Francois, explained that he had just returned from a visit to the U.S. where he had visited an old friend of his that he had not seen since 1964 with whom he had gone to seminary in his native Vietnam. Father Francois explained that he had left Vietnam after he was ordained for France in ’64 and his friend had gone to the U.S. After sometime in the U.S., his friend had gone back to Vietnam and was later imprisoned by the communists for 14 years due to his activities as a priest. Father Francois stated that his friend did not regret his imprisonment at all, but found so many people to serve which included many fallen communist party officials. In fact, the officials had to move his friend 14 different times in order tame his influence with the other prisoners. Father Francois said it just goes to show Saint Paul was right in the Letter to the Romans that God causes all things to work together for his good. Finally, before he blessed me Father Francois told me the story of a Polish nun who had had a vision of Christ Jesus and how Jesus had stated to her to remember just one phrase, ‘I am confident in Jesus.’ Just before I left Father Francois blessed me in French and I thanked him.

God truly works in marvelous and miraculous ways!

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28.