I consider my close friend Chris McCarthy to be alive today from COVID-19 because of his faith and his belief in the miraculous grace of Saint Teresa of Calcutta.

Chris felt the saintliness of Mother Teresa, before she was canonized, when he met her when she visited New Bedford in 1995. Chris holds the utmost love and regard for Mother Teresa.

Mother Teresa grew famous the world over for humbly ministering to lepers, the homeless and the poorest of the poor in the slums of Calcutta, India. She was proclaimed a saint by the Catholic Church in 2016.

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During the zero hours of Chris's bleakest heartbeats, he says he remembers coming face-to-face with passing over. He was departing this life, at death's door, knowing any moment he could be gasping his last breaths of life.

Chris's friend, Natalie, called me in tears and despair, saying the doctors feared we were going to lose him. I knew without thinking to get my framed photo of Mother Teresa and some sanctified Holy Water to his bedside.

I don't mind telling you I still tear up knowing through intercession, Chris's prayers were heard. Intercession is praying through, not to, saints. Only God knows what Chris was praying silently, but I was asking for my friend to be comforted in his suffering, and to be restored to wellness through the power and grace of Jesus.

That Mother Teresa photo will, from here on, live with Chris McCarthy, who continues to get better and better each day. He shared the story of his own vision of Mother Teresa in those bleak hours on my show this morning:

During serious health events or when life becomes troubled, having faith in a higher power has been proven to provide beneficial enlivenment, and a visit by your guardian angel is helpful, too. But please remember, in the words of Saint Teresa of Calcutta, to "Never travel faster than your guardian angel can fly."

Phil Paleologos is the host of The Phil Paleologos Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. Contact him at phil@wbsm.com and follow him on Twitter @PhilPaleologos. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.

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