Burning Charity
My name is Andrew and I currently live in Montreal, Canada. I have struggled with same-sex attractions for 28 years now. I am currently 38 years of age.
In 2006, I was struggling with much confusion about my identity, engaged in self-loathing and battling severe depression. A local priest from the South Asian diocese in which I used to live outed me in front of the parishioners after Mass and harshly berated me in public for my sexual abnormality. This priest said that everyone at the Archbishop's palace is laughing and mocking me and that I am known among the priests of the local hierarchy as Andrew the 'gay'.
To make a long story short, a confidential letter I had addressed to the Cardinal Archbishop of my diocese was leaked and read by all the seminarians and other clergymen. I had written to His Grace telling him about the good works of Fr. John Harvey, describing how the Courage Apostolate helps women and men like me to embrace the call to chastity, fostering the development of chaste, disinterested and platonic friendships with the same sex, the 5 goals of Courage, etc. The crux of the letter was that I just wanted to ask permission from His Grace to start a local Courage chapter as I was greatly distressed to see my many friends and cousins leave the Catholic Church and embrace the gay lifestyle.
“We ended the conversation by reciting the ‘Our Father’ slowly together over the phone.”
After that humiliating episode, I thanked the priest for his tirade and I went back home shaking terribly and in tears. I was about to commit suicide but a sudden inspiration took hold of me and I contacted Fr. Harvey in the U.S. I just rang a phone number that I had found (in a book or on the internet; I don't remember) in my tears and despair. I didn't expect anyone to pick up the phone. But Fr. John Harvey did! I don't know what time of day or night it was for him or the whereabouts of where he lived in the U.S. We had a conversation that lasted for around 10-15 minutes. He treated me - a stranger from a distant land - with such love, concern & tenderness. He was so fatherly in his demeanour. He treated me like his own biological son. He dissuaded me from taking my life. I agreed and cried. We ended the conversation by reciting the 'Our Father' slowly together over the phone.
The above is a summary of what transpired all those years ago. If am alive 17 years later in 2023, it is SOLELY due to the burning charity of this priest who loved his neighbour thousands of miles away in South Asia. This 80-odd year priest loved me to such an extent that he gave me his precious time even when it must have been inconvenient for him (in terms of his religious duties, his tiredness, his sleep, etc.)
Looking at the way he treated me, can you just imagine how much he BURNED with love for Our LORD and Blessed Mother and all things Holy?
I promise to spread Fr. John Harvey's devotion far and wide. He helped me tremendously when he was here on earth. He kept me alive to fight another day. He instilled in me the virtue of hope, fortitude and perseverance. Consider how much MORE he can intercede for those of us struggling with issues of chastity and sexual brokenness in this fallen world from the bosom of Our LORD and Saviour Jesus Christ!
Thank you so much for starting this Guild to pray for the opening of Father's cause for canonization. Fr. John Harvey was a holy and service-oriented priest. I can testify to this and the Courage Apostolate he started. Deo Gratias!
You have my continuous prayers and sufferings offered up due to my poor health always.
Fr. John Harvey, ora pro nobis!
Dei voluntas fiat!
Warmly,
Andrew
Sacred Heart by Adolfo Simeone (close-up)