Nigerian Catholic on How Devotion to Eucharist, Our Lady of Perpetual Have Helped Him Cope with Near-death Experiences

Regular practice of praying the Holy Rosary on long journeys, including the day of the accident, played a pivotal role in his survival, he told ACI Africa. 

“At times, even if I have my rosary with me, I would do a full length of the rosary. So, I started with the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” he recalled the events of the fateful day in 1991. 

He continued, “I am a devoted follower of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Whenever I feel stranded, confused, or when all hope seems lost in my life, I turn to the Novena. I dedicate myself to it for one week, nine days, or even 21 days, and it has never failed me.”

“Even during my darkest moments, I held fast to the maternal intercession of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. In fact, during the accident I experienced, I was praying the Rosary when it happened. Because she is a loving mother who cares for her children, she did not allow me to die in that accident,” Egbunu said.

He went on to share how he finds “strength” in the Eucharistic celebrations, saying, “Whenever I feel even slightly sick, I find strength in the Holy Communion. As a devoted attendee of Mass, I understand the power it holds in my life. It is something that flows naturally from me.”

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“The moment the Sacrament, the body of Christ is raised on the altar, I believe my problems are solved. I enter deep prayer, surrendering myself to God, and this faith has never let me down,” the 70-year-old native of North Central Nigeria told ACI Africa during the September 12 interview.

He emphasized the central place the Sacrament of the Eucharist holds in Catholicism, noting that “without it, the Catholic Church would be in a worse state than many other denominations.”

“I know this to be true. Even pastors from other churches come to adore the Blessed Sacrament because they understand its power, perhaps even more than some Catholics do. Some seek this power to fuel their own ministries, while many Catholics fail to appreciate the gift we have in our faith and the Church.”

Egbunu went on to express his awareness of human frailty. He said, “We are all sinners, and apart from going to confession, the Eucharist is where we cleanse ourselves, especially during the Eucharistic prayer.” 

“When I meditate on the words of the Eucharistic prayer, I am filled with wonder. The content of the prayer and the miracles it brings, if you truly engage in the celebration, are transformative. This has had a profound impact on my life,” Egbunu said.

Apart from the 1991, Egbunu said that he has survived further ordeals, including a robbery at his home in Bauchi and a stroke that left him partially paralyzed. 

He expressed gratitude to God for protecting him, and added, “The grace of God is so great to a man He loves.”

Abah Anthony John is a Nigerian Journalist with great enthusiasm and interest for Catholic Church Communication and Media Apostolate. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Mass Communication from Benue State University, Makurdi, Benue State Nigeria. He has vast experience in Print,  Electronic and Multi-Media Production.