The Zucchetto Story
A Friends Perspective
 
Feb. 3, 2007  - Fr. Kevin Peek filled in for our pastor, Fr. Bob, this Sunday.  I went to the car to greet him and then asked for a favor.  I began to cry and he just hugged me and told me that it would be okay.  I proceeded to tell him about Therese's diagnosis.  (Fr. Kevin has given our SOR Confirmation classes their retreat the past few years, and this year he was also the MC at our parish Confirmation just two weeks ago).  He knew who Therese was and asked if she would be here today.  I said yes and explained where the RE classes are held.  I showed Fr. Kevin into the sacristy and then went to the early Mass.  After Mass, one of our parishioners came up me and said that she told Fr. Kevin about Therese, and how she was praying for JP II's intercession.   This person knew Father has a zucchetto of John Paul II, and was hoping one day Therese could be blessed with the white skull cap.  He gave instructions for Therese to find him after the 11:15am Mass so he could coordinate a time/place for them to meet to pray. 
  
As Religious Education classes started, word had gotten out about her diagnosis.  Everyone was looking for Fr. Kevin to make sure that he and Therese met up.   Then when we found him Therese and Fr. Kevin met privately.  It turned out that Fr. Kevin actually had the zucchetto with him because he was going to see his father who is ill. (Side note: his father suffers from diabetes and is in danger of loosing his leg, so please pray for him).  Father offered for Therese's family to be present, so they decided the blessing would be following Mass.  Many dear parishioners, friends, and family of the Fox's remained after Mass.  While waiting for Fr. Kevin to come in, some people were hearing the news for the first time.  Fr. Kevin came back into the church and asked everyone to move closer. 
Fr. Kevin Peek led a service where he administered the Anointing of the Sick to Therese.  In addition, he explained how in the Gospel that Jesus used mud and spittle to heal the blind man, how the friends of the paralytic seeing there was no room on the ground to get to Jesus, brought him in through the roof, and how Jesus told him to pick up his mat and go home, and also about how the woman with the hemorrhage just had to touch his garment.  Father explained that even today the Church uses different signs and means to invoke Jesus' Mercy and Healing if it be His Will.  Fr. Peek also explained that had obtained a zucchetto from Pope John Paul II along with the history of this custom.

*History behind the custom: "It has been the time-honored custom for four hundred years, or more that anyone who is to be presented to the pope in private may choose to make a presentation of a white silk zucchetto to the Holy Father.  Custom requires that the Holy Father, in turn, replace it for his own, giving his to the guest as a token of his appreciation.  In keeping with longstanding Church custom, that is a practice that is also observed in some countries for local prelates.  Pope John Paul II does not encourage this practice; nevertheless, for individuals making the gesture, he graciously follows the time-honored custom.  The pope prefers the smallest size, white silk chamois-lined zucchetto.  He will, however, make the exchange only in private gatherings, not in larger settings." – The Church Visible, James-Charles Noonan, Jr.

Pope John Paul II is Therese's "saint" of choice for a healing if it be His Holy Will.  Therefore this was an incredible grace that Fr. Kevin had the zucchetto with him and offered to pray for her, and Father didn't know until he arrived at the church that morning for Mass about Therese's diagnosis (as she had just found out herself on Friday).

Fr. Kevin then placed the zucchetto on Therese's head and prayed for Pope John Paul II's intercession.  He also prayed for and with Diane - another cancer patient in our parish.  After praying with it and touching their Rosaries to it, Fr. then blessed Therese's husband, David, with the pope's white skull cap.  Fr. Kevin upon seeing that David's rosary was from San Giovanni Rotundo (from a pilgrimage they had taken to Rome years ago) explained that before John Paul II became Pope, he wrote to Padre Pio and asked him to heal his friend.  On Sunday, Fr. Kevin asked Pope John Paul II to intercede for Therese on his own behalf.

Therese then asked Father to bless all those who were there with the zucchetto as a thank you for staying and praying for her and her family. The service ended by praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.  It was such a holy experience that continues to give comfort to Therese and her family.

Thy Will Be Done!