I was assigned at St. Raphael Catholic Church in Santa Barbara California as associate pastor in the late 1980s. I had taught high school at a local Catholic school and knew a lot of people in the Santa Barbara area. I love that part of California for the beautiful sights and people. I really enjoyed teaching high school there back in the 1980s.
One summer’s evening I was scheduled to celebrate Mass for a group of young adults in a home up in the hills above Santa Barbara. I arrived and started to set up for Mass. But then there was a phone call. There was an emergency at the local hospital in Goleta. They needed a priest right away. So I jumped in my car and drove there as quickly as possible.
When I arrived at the hospital, I just walked into the emergency room because the charge nurse there was the mother of one of my students at Bishop Garcia Diego high school. As I entered, I saw there was one gurney with a patient on it and the curtain closed. There were three firefighters standing at
the foot of the gurney. I pushed the drape back and entered. The charge nurse said: “I’m sorry Father John, he’s already flat lined.“
The cardiac machines were not beeping and the nurses were getting ready to take off the sticky patches with electric wires. I felt very bad about the situation and then I noticed the man was wearing a cloth brown scapular. I took a moment and said, “Oh look; he’s wearing an old-fashioned scapular, one of the old cloth ones”. I touched the scapular and immediately the heart monitor started to beat. He opened his eyes and in an Irish accent said: “Father I’m so glad you’re here. I want to go to confession“.
The charge nurse asked what I did in a confused state. The firefighters looked shocked and a doctor came out of his office and was angry because he had already made out the death certificate. The patient looked surprised and I said, ” God bless you” and then made the sign over him very quickly.
Immediately they went into action and took him into surgery without having a chance for him to
go to confession. The firefighters had to get me a chair as I was so surprised at this situation and event.
I went home and prayed for the man. I didn’t even think to ask for his name. I was so surprised by the situation that I just left. But that’s not the end of the story. About three weeks later, he came to see me at the parish. He told me his name and I recognized him not only from the hospital but because I had taught his son in high school. We had a short chat and he told me that the firefighters had come to visit him in the hospital and showed him their notes. They had written “brought back to life by God“ at the bottom of their records.
He said that the doctor had treated him in surgery and that he was on a waiting list to get a new heart. We prayed a little bit together and he left. I was amazed and continued to pray for him. His son, who was a large redheaded young man, called me and talked to me about his dad. He asked me to go over what had happened at the emergency room as he had found it surprising and didn’t quite understand how it had happened.
About four weeks later, the man came back to see me at the parish. He sat down in the parlor, and we talked about the situation and he smiled and said that he was off of the list for a new heart. I was a little confused, and said that I was surprised because he needed a new heart.
Then he told me that he had seen the cardiologist, and the cardiologist was amazed, but that his heart was healed. He could find nothing wrong with his heart at all. So he was to keep his heart and not have to have surgery. We laughed in joy at that news.
He said that God had healed him. I was very surprised, because I don’t expect miracles to happen like this. I know they have happened, but I never thought I would see one so plain and simple and in my presence. I have never expected to see a miracle and I certainly did not cause this one. This was all the will and the work of God!
Every once in a while I get up to Santa Barbara and Goleta. When I drive or walk past that hospital it brings me joy to think of what happened there. I have heard from that man’s son that after reaching the age of 92 that man died and received the final anointing and had a Catholic funeral. Now I think of him as a saint, who like billions of those in Heaven have not been Canonized by the Church, but are still very much rejoicing in Heaven with God, including my own mother.
Most of us have known real saints in our lives and they will laugh and greet us when we are welcomed into the very presence of Christ and all of the Saints. What will Heaven be like? I doubt that it will be floating on a cloud playing a harp. I can’t play the harp and I’d be bored. I’ll write more on what I believe Heaven may be like later. But for now think of those who are there that you know. Rejoice that
they are there and probably praying for you to join them!
19 thoughts on “The Miracle at Goleta Valley Hospital”
Greetings from Santa Barbara.
Hi Fr. John!
We miss you at St. Raphael’s… more than you know. It was great seeing you this last visit when you said Mass.
This story and miracle is just beautiful and lifting to the heart and soul.
Thank you for sharing. Hope to see you soon!
I’d love to get up there soon for some time at St. Raphael’s. Maybe I can do that in the Spring or Summer of this year.
Thanks!
Fr. John
When I was about 14-15 years old, my mother sent me in a pilgrimage to Lourdes with a group of half a dozen of older men. One man among them was blind. He had both his eyes burnt by a splash of caustic soda while working. We spent some days in Lourdes visiting and praying. When we came back home by train, the blind man recovered his sight, being able to read hours on a wristwatch.
This much stroke me because in this time I was not yet a devout catholic.
That’s a wonderful story! Miracles do happen. Our Lord gives us those sings because He loves us and encourages our faith, hope and love too.
Thanks for sharing this.
Fr. John
When I was 14 (1976) we had a house fire that was devastating as the youngest Karen-Ann 8, died from smoke inhalation. However, re the brown scapular. We had catholic nuns raising us for a few years after my mom had a brain aneurysm (1967 after the birth of Karen-Ann) ( she miraculously survived ). We were catholic mass goers and had great relationships with our Priests and Sisters. The Sister taught us to wear the brown scapular and the reasons why. Back to the house fire – My brother woke up because he forgot to put his on…if he did not wake up we all would have perished and there were 6 of us children. Also, my mom was gifted to see Karen-Ann walking away hand in hand with Our Lord.
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I was very surprised, because I don’t expect miracles to happen like this.
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Thank you Father John Higgins for sharing this miraculous story with Catholic Stand online readers. This story also appeared on Spirit Daily. I also read your wonderful posts on California Catholic Daily News. I always appreciate your posts. The world needs hope more today than ever before. God bless you Father John Higgins.
l”m from puero Rico l olso wear the scapula every day.God Bless you
Zaida
My son in law’s Dad Louie from New Brunswick Canada just died. A few days before he passed I asked that they give him a brown scapular. They told Louie ‘I know you are not religious, but you do believe in the big Guy up there. Well, Louise sent you a brown scapular that could bring you blessings. Would you accept it?’ Louie said ‘ok that’s fine’. They tied the brown scapular to the handle of his night table beside the hospital bed. Sure enough Louie died a couple of days later very peacefully, The Catholic nurse turned to the son and pointing to the scapular said ‘it was the scapular. Your Dad died a peaceful death. Most do not have that. It was the scapular.’
Thank you Father for your article. We need miracles in this age of pessimism, doubt, and fear. I believe God used you to cause the miracle: from God -through you- to the deceased.
(1) He was pronounced dead before you arrived: ” I’m sorry Father John, he’s already flatlined.”
(2) You arrived and touched the scapular and ” immediately the heart monitor started to beat. He opened his eyes…”
Father, what would have happened had you not arrived?
I’m not sure, but I believe he would have been transported to a mortuary.
Father John, A truly inspirational share. Thank you.
Thanks be to God❤️
What a beautiful experience!! Thanks for sharing it with us. I belong to Our Lady of Mount Carmel parish and I wear my Scapular every day. God bless you.
I still get up to Santa Barbara occasionally. I taught at Bishop Garcia Diego High School. You probably know Fr. Steve Downs. He was Pastor at St. Raphael when this happened. May God bless you for all eternity!
Make my day, Fr John.
I do believe in miracles. Thanks for sharing this good news!!