Two
twin brothers in Chile say that their mother’s determination in protecting them
from abortion despite the advice of doctors helped to foster their vocations to
the priesthood.
“How
can I not defend the God of life?” said Fr. Paulo Lizama. “This event
strengthened my vocation and gave it a specific vitality, and therefore, I was
able to give myself existentially to what I believe.” “I am convinced of what I
believe, of what I am and of what I speak, clearly by the grace of God,” he
told EWTN News.
Fr.
Paulo and his identical twin brother, Fr. Felipe, were born in 1984 in the
Chilean town of Lagunillas de Casablanca. Before discovering her pregnancy,
their mother, Rosa Silva, had exposed herself to x-rays while performing her
duties as a paramedic. Consequently, after confirming the pregnancy, her doctor
conducted ultrasounds and informed her that he had seen “something strange” in
the image. “The baby has three arms and its feet are sort of entangled. It also
has two heads,” he told her.
Although
abortion for “therapeutic” reasons was legal at the time in Chile and doctors
told her that her life was in danger, Rosa opposed the idea and said she would
accept whatever God would send her.
“The
Lord worked and produced a twin pregnancy. I don’t know if the doctors were
wrong or what,” Fr. Felipe said. “I always think with special affection
and tenderness in the heart of my mother who gave her life for me, for us,” Fr.
Paolo added.
