Who is Father John?

[Casilda]

He is the priest who shows up at someone’s bedside while in the hospital. Shows up between midnight and 6 am and no one on the hospital staff knows him. In fact, they say the hospital has a chapel but there are no clergy there, you have to call the nearest church. Father John is not on staff at the nearest Catholic churches. He left a rosary, helped with remembering the Our Father and Hail Mary and also left a New Testament. He visited my father in the hospital, now I learn that he has visited a new friend of mine. My sister and I are convinced my father saw St. John (the Evangelist), or could this be another Saint?

 

[Nan_S]

He could be who he seems to be, but if the Catholic churches and the Diocese don’t know him that’s a serious problem. Particularly if the sick folks take him for a Catholic priest and believe they are receiving the sacraments from him.

If you have a loved one in hospital, it would be a good idea to ask the nursing staff to help you learn more about this guy.

It may be indication of intent to deceive that he shows up in the wee hours of the morning only, when few people are likely to be around who would question his actions.

Possible explanations:
– He’s from a monastery, but then he probably would be calling himself Brother John.
– He’s a minister of some sort, but not Catholic: an Episcopalian, a Methodist, or some other group.
– He’s from one of the schismatic churches that consider themselves Catholic but who are not in communion with the Pope (and therefore not acting with Diocesan authority), such as SSPX.
– He’s a defrocked Catholic priest living in the community.
– He’s an imposter, possibly one who quit seminary years ago and wants to play-act being a priest.

Whoever he is, I seriously doubt he’s a physical manifestation of St. John the Evangelist. or any other saint. Visions don’t leave physical objects behind. Have you examined that bible he left to see if it is a Catholic bible?

 

[Casilda]

He could be who he seems to be, but if the Catholic churches and the Diocese don’t know him that’s a serious problem. Particularly if the sick folks take him for a Catholic priest and believe they are receiving the sacraments from him.

If you have a loved one in hospital, it would be a good idea to ask the nursing staff to help you learn more about this guy.

It may be indication of intent to deceive that he shows up in the wee hours of the morning only, when few people are likely to be around who would question his actions.

Possible explanations:
– He’s from a monastery, but then he probably would be calling himself Brother John.
– He’s a minister of some sort, but not Catholic: an Episcopalian, a Methodist, or some other group.
– He’s from one of the schismatic churches that consider themselves Catholic but who are not in communion with the Pope (and therefore not acting with Diocesan authority), such as SSPX.
– He’s a defrocked Catholic priest living in the community.
– He’s an imposter, possibly one who quit seminary years ago and wants to play-act being a priest.

Whoever he is, I seriously doubt he’s a physical manifestation of St. John the Evangelist. or any other saint. Visions don’t leave physical objects behind. Have you examined that bible he left to see if it is a Catholic bible?

On both occasions there was just talking and assisting with prayer and being prayed over, no sacraments/annointing. If he is a defrocked priest or one not in communion or just a kindly imposter, I am okay with that. I had tried to contact a real priest and there was no one who could come talk to my dad. At least my dad was able to talk to this ‘vision’ and it got him talking about heavenly things, praying, confessing, and he received a promise from God that he would survive this hospital stay and he did. So my bet is with St. John.

When no priests are available, God sends ‘Father’ John

 

[pianistclare]

On both occasions there was just talking and assisting with prayer and being prayed over, no sacraments/annointing. If he is a defrocked priest or one not in communion or just a kindly imposter, I am okay with that. I had tried to contact a real priest and there was no one who could come talk to my dad. At least my dad was able to talk to this ‘vision’ and it got him talking about heavenly things, praying, confessing, and he received a promise from God that he would survive this hospital stay and he did. So my bet is with St. John.

When no priests are available, God sends ‘Father’ John

Glad to hear that it was a positive experience. But no priest from your Maronite parish would go? That’s odd. The parishes in this Archdiocese are required to have an after hours number to get a priest. All the priests take turns being the one “on call”. My priest has never ever refused a visit, even if it was not life-threatening. If he truly is unavailable, he sends a Deacon and goes himself the next day. Since they asked for him.
Call your parish, explain that you have an infirmed close relative and ask for the emergency phone number/pager number. Keep it in your cell for instances like this.
Peace.

 

[Telstar]

On both occasions there was just talking and assisting with prayer and being prayed over, no sacraments/annointing. If he is a defrocked priest or one not in communion or just a kindly imposter, I am okay with that. I had tried to contact a real priest and there was no one who could come talk to my dad. At least my dad was able to talk to this ‘vision’ and it got him talking about heavenly things, praying, confessing, and he received a promise from God that he would survive this hospital stay and he did. So my bet is with St. John.

When no priests are available, God sends ‘Father’ John

It’s quite possible that it could be St. Jean-Baptiste-Marie Vianney, otherwise known as The Curé d’Ars. He was a very holy Priest in Ars, France. Maybe you can show your Dad the picture and see what he says.

http://www.sautdelange.com/sautdelange/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Jean-Marie-Baptiste-Vianney.bmp
But the chief labour of the Curé d’Ars was the direction of souls. He had not been long at Ars when people began coming to him from other parishes, then from distant places, then from all parts of France, and finally from other countries. As early as 1835, his bishop forbade him to attend the annual retreats of the diocesan clergy because of “the souls awaiting him yonder”. During the last ten years of his life, he spent from sixteen to eighteen hours a day in the confessional. His advice was sought by bishops, priests, religious, young men and women in doubt as to their vocation, sinners, persons in all sorts of difficulties and the sick. In 1855, the number of pilgrims had reached twenty thousand a year. The most distinguished persons visited Ars for the purpose of seeing the holy curé and hearing his daily instruction.

 

[Miserissima]

Glad to hear that it was a positive experience. But no priest from your Maronite parish would go? That’s odd. The parishes in this Archdiocese are required to have an after hours number to get a priest. All the priests take turns being the one “on call”. My priest has never ever refused a visit, even if it was not life-threatening. If he truly is unavailable, he sends a Deacon and goes himself the next day. Since they asked for him.
Call your parish, explain that you have an infirmed close relative and ask for the emergency phone number/pager number. Keep it in your cell for instances like this.
Peace.

Usually listed in the bulletin or in the rectory after hours recording.

 

[Casilda]

Glad to hear that it was a positive experience. But no priest from your Maronite parish would go? That’s odd. The parishes in this Archdiocese are required to have an after hours number to get a priest. All the priests take turns being the one “on call”. My priest has never ever refused a visit, even if it was not life-threatening. If he truly is unavailable, he sends a Deacon and goes himself the next day. Since they asked for him.
Call your parish, explain that you have an infirmed close relative and ask for the emergency phone number/pager number. Keep it in your cell for instances like this.
Peace.

I was in another state, so I called the two nearest Catholic parishes, both Roman.

 

[Miserissima]

I was in another state, so I called the two nearest Catholic parishes, both Roman.

Knowing the ECs have equal sacraments, and in light of your continued disappointment with the ‘RCC,’ I’m a bit taken aback that you hadn’t reached out to any ECs in the area…?