Sister Marie-Simon-Pierre's Testimony of Her Miraculous Healing

Update 4/1/07:  Zenit today posted a translation of Sister Marie-Simon-Pierre's testimony provided by the Postulator of the Cause of the Pontiff's Beatification.  The translation that follows is my own translation made March 29 from a French transcript published by La-Crois, attributed to the Totus Tuus website from May 2006l.

La-Croix's article about Sister Marie-Simon-Pierre -- the nun whose reported cure from Parkinson's disease was selected by the diocesan beatification process as the most compelling miracle attributed to Pope John Paul II -- included the down-loadable text of her testimony about her own healing.  The miracle has not yet been confirmed by the Vatican.  Here is an English translation of that text:

Testimony of the nun miraculously cured by the
intercession of John-Paul II

Rome, May 2006
Source: Totus Tuus

***

I was stricken with Parkinson's disease, diagnosed in June 2001, which was lateralized on the left, which left me very handicapped, being left-handed.  The disease developed slowly at first but, at the end of 3 years, the symptoms grew worse, accentuating the tremors, stiffness, pains, insomnia.  Beginning April 2, 2005, the disease left me more devastated from week to week.  I saw myself decreasing day by day, I could no longer write, being left-handed, or if I did it, I was barely legible.  Driving was almost no longer possible for me except on very short trips, for my left leg experienced periods of “freezing” and the stiffness did not make driving easy.  It took me more and more time to accomplish my work, which had become very difficult, working in a hospital environment.  I was tired and exhausted. 

After the announcement of the diagnosis, it was very difficult for me to look at John Paul II on television.  However, I was very close to him in prayer and I knew that he could understand what I was living through.  In the same way, I admired his strength and his courage, which motivated me to fight and to love this suffering, because without love, it had no meaning.  I can say that it was a daily struggle, but my only desire was to live it in faith and to cling with love to the Father’s will. 

On Easter 2005, I wanted to see our Holy Father John Paul II on television because I knew inside that it would be the last time that I could see him.  All morning, I prepared for that meeting, knowing that it would be very difficult for me (it reminded me of what I would be in a few years).  That was hard for me, being relatively young.  But something unexpected in the service did not allow me to see him again.

Then, on the evening of April 2, 2005, we were gathered together in community to join with Rome in the prayer in St. Peter’s Square, by live broadcast, thanks to the French television channel of the Diocese of Paris (KTO).  With my Sisters, we learned by live broadcast about the death of John Paul II.  For me, everything rocked, it was a collapse, I had just lost a friend, the one who understood me and gave me the strength to keep going.  In the days that followed, I felt a great emptiness but, at the same time, I had the certainty that he was always present. 

On May 13, on the feast of Our Lady of Fatima, Pope Benedict XVI made the waiver official, opening the Process of Beatification for John Paul II.  From May 14, my Sisters from all the communities of France and Africa prayed by intercession of John Paul II, asking for my healing.  They would ask without ceasing until the announcement of my healing.

I was then on vacation.  My time of rest completed, I returned that May 26, completely exhausted by the disease.  However, since May 14, a verse from the Gospel of St. John had filled me: "If you believe, you will see the Glory of God."

On June 1, I could do no more, I fought to keep going and to stand up.  On the afternoon of June 2, I went to find my superior to ask her to end my professional activity.  She asked me to hold off a little until my return from Lourdes in August, and she added: "John Paul II has not said his last word."  During that meeting with my superior, John Paul II was present in our exchange, an exchange that took place in peace and serenity.  She gave me a pen and asked me to write "John Paul II.”  It was 5:00 p.m.  With much difficulty, I wrote "John Paul II."  Before the illegible writing, we remained a long moment in silence.  The end of the day passed like other days.

After evening prayer at 9:00 p.m., I went back past my office then went back to my room.  It was between 9:30 and 9:45.  I felt the desire then to take a pen to write, a little as if someone had said to me, "Take your pen and write."  To my great surprise, the writing was very legible.  I did not understand very well, and I lay down.  That was exactly 2 months since John Paul II had left us for the Father’s House.  At 4:30 a.m., I woke up, amazed at having slept.  With a jump, I left my bed, my body was no longer sore, no more stiffness, and inside I was no longer the same.  Then, an interior call, a power pushed me to go to pray before the Blessed Sacrament.  I went down to the oratory.  I prayed before the Blessed Sacrament.  A great peace enveloped me, a feeling of wellbeing.  Something too great, a mystery difficult to explain with words.  Then, still before the Blessed Sacrament, I contemplated the luminous mysteries of John Paul II.  Then, at 6 a.m., I left to join my sisters in the Chapel for a time of prayer followed by the Eucharist.  I had about 50 meters to walk, and there, I realized that my left arm was swinging with my walking, unlike usual, when that one remained motionless beside my body.  I noticed also a lightness in my whole body, a flexibility that I had no longer known for a long time.  During that Eucharist, I was filled with a great joy and a great peace.  It was June 3, feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  At the conclusion of the Mass, I was convinced that I was cured – my hand was not shaking any more.  I left to write again, and at noon, I abruptly stopped all my medications.

On June 7, I went as planned to the neurologist, who had followed me for 4 years.  He noticed with surprise the disappearance of all the signs although I had not taken any more treatment for 5 days.  Beginning the next day, my superior general confided our thanksgiving to all the communities.  The whole congregation then began a novena of thanksgiving to John Paul II. 

It has now been 10 months since I ceased all treatment.  I have resumed normal activity, I write without any difficulty, I drive again, and on very long distances.  I can say that this is like a second birth, a new life because nothing is like before any more.

Today, I can say, that a friend has gone far from our earth and is nonetheless so close now to my heart.  He caused the desire to grow in me for adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and the love of the Eucharist, which have an essential place in my life each day.

What the Lord gave to me to live by the intercession of John Paul II is a great mystery, difficult to explain with words, as great as it is, as strong as it is – but nothing is impossible for God.  Yes, "If you believe, you will see the glory of God."