I bought a few candles from a woman selling them at the corner of the chapel of Our Lady. I had gone there to pay a visit to Our Mother on my way to enjoy a panoramic view of the different peaks of the Ghats, shrouded in a spotless white mist.
As I was about to step out of the chapel after muttering my prayers, the lady at the corner interrupted me: “Did you pray for a child?” I replied with a smile, “No, I prayed for my priestly vocation and for the healing of my cold.” She was curious about my sickness and asked, “What is that cold all about?” When I explained it, she immediately requested that I come to her house. I resisted because I didn’t want to miss other beautiful sights, but she insisted, leaving me with no option but to agree.
I entered her small hut, and she quickly spread a mat for me to sit on, concerned about my height making it uncomfortable for me to stand. She gave me a liquid to take for my cold. It was coffee coloured and had a very bad taste. Soon after, she handed me a cup of lemon tea with an extra amount of sugar, which represented her love for this stranger.
Br Felix Vinal SJ
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