A Southern California priest’s amazing recovery from a serious injury has been called a miracle by Pope Francis.
Rev. Juan Manuel Gutierrez, from St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Baldwin Park, tore his Achilles tendon while playing basketball. At first, doctors thought he had just pulled a muscle, but an MRI showed it was a full tear, and surgery would be needed, according to Mercury News... Continue reading here ▶
Instead of focusing on the surgery, Gutierrez turned to prayer. He prayed to Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, an Italian Catholic who lived nearly 100 years ago. Frassati, who died at just 24, is known for his kindness and work with people in need. Many Catholics see him as a role model.
While praying a novena (a series of prayers over nine days), Gutierrez noticed something strange. “I was alone in the chapel, praying, when I suddenly felt heat around my injury,” he said. “At first, I thought something might be burning under the pews.”
After that, Gutierrez said he didn’t think about his injury anymore. He stopped wearing braces and felt completely fine. When he went back to the doctor, the surgeon couldn’t find any sign of the tear. “The doctors had no explanation,” said Jose Gomez, Archbishop of Los Angeles. “This isn’t something you hear about every day.”
Last month, the Vatican announced that Frassati would be made a saint in August 2025. Pope Francis officially confirmed that Gutierrez’s healing was the second miracle needed for Frassati’s canonization.
“After all these years, the Vatican finally recognized this as the miracle that will make Pier Giorgio Frassati a saint,” Gutierrez said.
This story is a reminder of the power of faith and prayer, and it’s sure to inspire people everywhere.
