• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Elizabeth Scalia
          • Michael R. Heinlein
          • Effie Caldarola
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Mark Viviano
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
        • CR Radio
        • Protagonistas de Fe
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe

Modern miracle workers, part two

October 7, 2021
By Father Joseph Breighner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Commentary, Wit & Wisdom

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

Having shared my fears about eye surgery before my second operation in the September issue of the Catholic Review, I thought I would share the results afterward. As you can imagine, as I am able to see to be able to write this column, the operations went well.

I had cataracts removed, first from my left eye, then waited two weeks to have the second surgery. While I still struggle to read very fine print without my glasses, I am able to drive and read without glasses. That is nothing less than a medical miracle. I feel very much like the blind man in the Gospel of Mark, who leaped for joy when he was cured.

I want to again thank my surgeon, Dr. Ivan Garcia, who always prays with his patients before surgery. I want to again thank Drs. Dana and Ed Wazlowski, my optometrists, who cared for me before, during and after my surgery. As I’ve already written, they even shared their home with me the night of the surgery!

You and I live in what any previous generation would call an age of miracles. I’ve shared in past columns how I almost died of a kidney infection in high school seminary, but was saved at St. Agnes Hospital. I’ve been in auto accidents in which my car was totalled, but I was able to walk away. I couldn’t even see writing on the blackboard in the first grade, but glasses saved me.

We live in a society in which the big news is always the bad news. Hundreds of millions of people lead relatively peaceful lives every day, but broadcast news is always about the wars and the calamities and the tragedies.

Someone has said that if the only prayer we said was: “Thank you, God,” we would be very holy people. I think that’s true.

Yes, we do experience individual losses and pains, but, as a whole, our lives would be considered miraculous by virtually every previous generation. The fact that we have easy access to food and clean water and housing would amaze those who discovered and settled this continent. The fact that we can cure and prevent so many diseases would amaze those who came before us.

The word Eucharist, what we commonly call the Mass, means “giving thanks.” We like to accept good things from God. Let’s not fail to say thanks by gathering together weekly and by praying personally daily. Life really is a gift. So we give thanks to God, and thanks for all those who made our lives the miracles that they are.

Also see

Farewell and thank you

Guide to Jesus

Life in Christ

Radio Interview: Exploring the Nicene Creed – Part Two

Radio Interview: Exploring the Nicene Creed – Part One

Radio Interview: Religious freedom faces ongoing challenges

Copyright © 2021 Catholic Review Media

Print Print

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

Primary Sidebar

Father Joseph Breighner

View all posts from this author

| Recent Commentary |

Cupcakes with 2025 graduation toothpicks in them and a bowl of cookies

Our 31-hour Road Trip

St. Paul and discovering that sin is ‘missing the mark’

Six lit candles on a chocolate birthday cake

Making a birthday wish come true

Pilgrims of Hope: Walking the Way of St. Francis in the Year of Jubilee

The fisherman and the pharisee

| Recent Local News |

Archbishop Lori announces clergy appointments, including pastor and associate pastors

DUAL ENROLLMENT

Double the learning: Dual enrollment provides college credit to high school students

St. Mary’s purchases former Annapolis Area Christian School

Radio Interview: Exploring the Nicene Creed – Part Two

St. Clement Mary Hofbauer adapts to times, cultures as it celebrates 100th anniversary

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Pope: Vatican still ready to host peace talks between Russia, Ukraine
  • Archbishop Lori announces clergy appointments, including pastor and associate pastors
  • Pope prays for conversion of those resisting climate action at new Mass
  • Judge blocks, for now, Planned Parenthood defunding provision backed by bishops
  • ANALYSIS: ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ gives school-choice advocates partial victory with more to do
  • Notre Dame prepares to reopen towers’ tour with return of famed statues of saints to rooftop
  • After 12 years, locals welcome pope back to his summer home
  • Double the learning: Dual enrollment provides college credit to high school students
  • Synod office provides guidelines to help local churches, bishops implement synodality

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2025 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

en Englishes Spanish
en en