Almighty God in his great mercy has done great things for me!

In December, 2005, I visited Rome for an experience that far, far surpassed all my expectations!  It was just about perfect!  The wheelchair worked out okay and in fact did get me in the most incredible places.  It did seem to get the attention of the locals there and frequently my sister and I were wisked up to the front.  It took a beating on the streets of Rome, but did not really impede my sister and I from getting around.

I am Paul Mohr. I spent five years as a seminarian with the Legionaries of Christ, then returned to secular life and my work with the Federal Bureau Of Prisons educating inmates in GED and language courses. I´m in a wheelchair because I have multiple sclerosis. God may not have called me to be a Legionary priest, but I am living a different kind of priesthood as I offer up the burdens and sufferings that this disease has brought to me. Even so, with the help of my sister, I was able to make a wonderful visit to Rome and see the ordinations of some of my good friends from my seminary days.

I did make it to midnight Mass at St. Peter´s with the Pope.  Incredibly I was planted not 20 yards from the altar!  This was very exciting and such a beautiful experience.  It was a midnight Christmas Mass I will not soon forget.  My folks did see me televised twice during the Mass.  I recognized some Legionaries acolyting and we exchanged a smile.

The ordination Mass on Christmas Eve at the Legion College was so powerful.

I ended up personally knowing six of the ordained.  Br. Michael Sullivan somehow managed to get me placed at the very back of the Chapel in the center; great positioning.  I didn´t break into tears but I got very misty eyed more than once.  It was the most beautiful thing.  I did leave with a DVD of the Ordination.  I had the most wonderful reunion with so many brothers and fathers afterwards.  Many more than I thought.  We talked a lot, laughed, and re-counted many stories.

I was able to spend a whole day with Fr. Kevin Lixey, with whom I worked For a year. We toured the major basilicas and had a long lunch together.  I appreciated this time a great deal; we talked and talked, and it gave my sister a break from wheelchair duties as she did not join us.

Fr. Kevin was great as he had to load and unload the wheelchair several times for several stops.

Then, incredibly, at the papal audience on Wednesday, sure enough my sister and I were placed up on the main platform only about 25 feet from where the Holy Father sits.  At the end of the audience we were then wheeled right in front of him!  It was only 10 seconds at the max, but I was able to kiss his ring and for about 5 of those seconds I had made sure to establish eye contact with him.  I tried to say, "Holy Father please pray for this face tonight," but I´m afraid it didn´t come out very well, the moment is so powerful.  What made it all the more special was that a great number of Legionaries were seated right behind me. I knew many of them, and kept yelling back....."Look at me!  Look where I´m at!  Eat your hearts out!"

They all laughed at me and were teasing me.

On Christmas Day I attended the first mass of Fr. Richard Voors, who was assisted by the Legion´s General Director, Fr. Alvaro Corcuera. Afterwards Fr. Alvaro actually came up to me to greet me and we talked awhile. I was touched by this and consider it a highlight of the experience. I didn´t think he would remember me, nor would I have expected him to take the time to visit for a while.  Incredible!

Actually though, even more so than my 10 seconds with the Pope, the best part of the whole trip to me was the re-connection I had with the Legion.

Throughout the week I saw and spoke to dozens and dozens of brothers and fathers with whom I was in formation.  Not on just one day but over the course of several days I kept running into them at different events, and was able to visit with so, so many.  I was able to learn just where each was at in his studies and formation, and get an idea of how close they were to ordination.

I´m afraid that now I must return every Christmas the next four years for their ordinations as I will know so many!  Again this part was very special to me.  The kindness and deference with which the brothers and fathers treated me was very humbling.  What a great consolation.

I told the brothers as a group many things, but one thing in particular was that I am called to do and to be something else now.  I told them we must live our different vocations well and persevere in them together.

The whole nine days was a great cultural experience, but it was much deeper than that. It was a tremendous spiritual experience. Like Mary, I know I must ponder, reflect on and treasure these days and all days for a long time to come.  All the things that happened and the places I found myself I kept asking.....why?  How is it that I am here?  Why has God brought this about? How is it that I am worthy for this?  I must now reflect on all this a great deal and see how it will affect me. I must discover what to do with these experiences in my own spiritual life.

Anyway, what a powerful experience the whole thing was. Keep praying!  God Bless!

Paul Mohr