Father Peter Mary Rookey

I wrote this on September 15, 2014 about Father Peter Mary Rookey and am sharing his impact on my life.

Father Peter Mary Rookey died peacefully in his sleep on September 10^th. Today I told him goodbye at his funeral Mass at Our Lady of Sorrows in Chicago. I wasn’t sure if I would be able to go to his funeral with my current medical problems. I didn’t know if I was capable of making this 3 hour car trip by myself, but I asked Father Rookey to please help me make it happen. My friend, this holy priest, this “Man of Miracles,” was able to suspend my physical ailment for the trip and long funeral. He was with me all the way there and back home. “Thank you, Lord, for blessing us with Father Rookey for almost 98 years.

Father Rookey was born in Wisconsin October 12, 1916 to a large Catholic family. As a child he was blinded by a firecracker he happened to pick up on the fourth of July. He and his brother were curious about the used fireworks around their neighborhood. He found a live one and blew on it to reignite it. The firecracker blew up in his face. At the hospital, he clearly remembers the words spoken by the doctor, “irreparable damage.” One the way home he heard his mother’s upset voice saying something like:" No, I don’t believe it. Peter will see again. He will!! We’re going to say the rosary every day together as a family". And they did, and gradually his sight returned. It was a miracle. It was during this time of prayer and healing that Father Rookey, even though still a child, received his calling to become a priest. Father Rookey dedicated his life to those who needed him most.

My first experience with Father Rookey was when friends told me to call him. They knew I was terribly upset over something, but they didn’t know at the time that my son was in the hospital for trying to kill himself. I called Father Rookey and was surprised to be quickly transferred to him. He had already learned my reason for calling before I spoke to him. I clearly remember how he started our conversation, “Oh what a terrible, terrible thing. How is your son now?” I told him and Father Rookey prayed for us over the phone.

The next time I encountered Father Rookey was in Medjugorje. When we arrived, I learned from others that Father Rookey was in town. I was excited to learn this, hoping to get a glimpse of him. The first night after the International Mass they began to say the Rosary over the loud speakers. All of a sudden I heard a familiar voice leading the Rosary over the speakers. I said to the others, “It’s Father Rookey,” and it was. After that I saw him several times at Chicago Conferences. He was very active blessing people all day long. He never seemed to get tired of it and he never seemed to get tired of me standing next to him during the presentations or sitting at his feet when I got tired.

I prayed for him every day. I knew that Father Rookey let people come in to his apartment to pray the Divine Mercy from 3 to 4 every day, which was 2 to 3 my time. I wanted to join them in prayer so I started my Divine Mercy a little before 3PM from home.

I spoke to people at his funeral. They came from all over. They all had a story to tell me about Father Rookey. Most had come today because Father Rookey had affected their lives with spiritual or physical healings.

Father Rookey liked to quote Matthew 19:26 “With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”

The Miracle Prayer of Father Peter Mary Rookey: "Lord Jesus, I come before you just as I am. I am sorry for my sins, I repent of my sins, please forgive me. In your name I forgive all others for what they have done against me. I renounce Satan, the evil spirits and all their works. I give you my entire self, Lord Jesus, now and forever. I invite you into my life, Jesus. I accept you as my Lord, God and Saviour. Heal me, change me, strengthen me in body, soul, and spirit. Come, Lord Jesus, cover me with your precious blood, and fill me with your Holy Spirit. I Love You, Lord Jesus. I Praise You, Jesus. I Thank You, Jesus. I shall follow you every day of my life. Amen.

Mary, Mother of Sorrows, Queen of Peace, St. Peregrine, the cancer saint, all you Angels and Saints, please help me. Amen.

Say this prayer faithfully, no matter what you feel, when you come to the point where you sincerely mean each word, with all your heart, something good spiritually will happen to you. You will experience Jesus, and HE will change your whole life in a very special way. You will see.” With permission from The International Compassion Ministry (ICM) was founded by Fr. Peter Mary Rookey, O.S.M.

And a brief review of a book Man of Miracles by Heather Parsons, I am sharing a bio of Father Rookey:

“From the first healing in Benburb, County Tyrone (where he helped found the Servite order in Ireland in 1948) to the present day, Father Rookey's ministry has taken him from his native USA to countries all over the world. Wherever he goes, thousands flock to this man of miracles. The stories of many of the remarkable healings and exorcisms that have occurred, are told here. And from it all emerges a portrait of a great and humble man, known to the world as 'the healing priest' who, when asked about his 'gift', says simply: 'It is God's work, not mine- He does all the healing, I just pray...”

Fr. Peter Mary Rooker, pray for us!