‘God’s healing mercy and love in the story of life’ was the theme of Méabh Carlin’s testimony at the Lenten retreat in St Philomena’s church in Palmerstown, Dublin over the weekend.
Many people first heard Méabh’s story at the Eucharistic Congress in 2012 when she spoke from a wheelchair after being knocked down crossing a road in Madrid at World Youth Day the year before. The 19-year-old broke her pelvis in two places, shattered her groin and damaged her knee, heels, feet and spine. “I was lying in a hospital in Madrid in intensive care getting anointed with the Last Rites,” she told the congregation in Palmerstown.
“I knew in my heart I was going to die. The last thing I remember doing was praying the Hail Mary at the top of my voice. I felt this unbelieveable peace wash over my entire body and fill my heart.
“In that moment I knew God was real. I knew all the fulfilment I had been searching for could be found in him and I made a promise that if I opened my eyes the following day every blink of my eyes would be a prayer of thanks to God. I didn’t know the Lord but I wanted to spend the rest of my life getting to know him and trying my best to serve him.”
Méabh made a full recovery, initially in a wheelchair for three months, then crutches for a year and now at the age of 23 she is back on her feet and living in a community with other young people in Armagh and dedicating her life to serving God.
Méabh also guided a workshop for young people through song and music with Hannah McCauley in Le Chéile House in the church grounds on Saturday evening. Other speakers over the weekend included Eileen O’Brien speaking on ‘Praying to God dwelling in the depths of your heart’ and Fr Donal Neary SJ speaking about Ignatian spirituality.