Father Paul of Moll

Benedictine Wonder-Worker

Edward van Speybrouck

• Publisher: TAN Books
• Year: 2009
• eBook ISBN: 9781505106749
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Christian Denominations

Fr. Paul of Moll was a Benedictine monk in Flanders, where he developed a wide reputation for sanctity. Not only did he work miracles, but his prayers for friends and petitioners were remarkably effective, and he made numerous predictions which came true. His knowledge of heavenly topics seems almost angelic, and for this reason his friends recorded many of his sayings.FR PAUL OF MOLL: BENEDICTINE WONDER-WORKER contains a brief sketch of his life, a large number of his wonders, some of his letters, and a long list of his holy sayings, which alone are worth the price of the book. Further, it contains Pope St. Gregory the Great's short biography of St. Benedict, to whom Fr. Paul of Moll was especially devoted and whom he particularly fostered as a most powerful patron saint. Also included is an explanation of the St. Benedict medal, the most indulgenced medal in the Church, and one whose use Fr. Paul especially advocated. Fr. Paul of Moll is undoubtedly and extraordinary saint. He was often beset by the devils, regularly used the discipline on himself, and had numerous apparitions of Our Lord, Our Lady, the Saints and the Poor Souls in Purgatory. The faithful flocked to him for prayers and advice. And three years after his death, his body was found in a state of incorruption.

PART FIRST.

WONDERS OF FATHER PAUL.

In accordance with the decrees of Pope Urban VIII., in the years 1634 and 1641, we claim for the wonderful facts herein related, no more than human credence. Therefore the author, translator, and publishers, most humbly submit all herein contained to the judgment and approval of holy Mother Church.

These facts were published during the lifetime of the witnesses, and their names and testimony submitted to proper Ecclesiastical Authority.

A Farmer's Wife

living in the neighborhood of Brussels, suffered from a diseased member of her body, which the attending physicians declared incurable. The patient, hearing of the marvelous cures wrought at the monastery of Termonde, sent her sister to Father Paul, who said to her, "You have come to ask for the cure of your sister." "Yes," she replied, astonished at the Father's discernment. "And your sister, treated in vain by the doctors, implores the aid of St. Benedict." "Yes, Father, but how are you aware of that?" "I know it through my holy Father St. Benedict, and he will cure your sister." He gave her some medals and holy water for her sister, who soon after was miraculously cured.

Two Brothers, Engineers,

write from Malines, in the year 1887, as follows:—

"One of our sisters, as a result of a cold, contracted a facial paralysis. Her physician exhausted his medical skill in her behalf; but, despite his efforts, the dread disease spread over the entire left side of her face. Her left eye remained open day and night, she could no longer close her mouth, and her lips became contorted.

"We came to see Father Paul, related her sad condition, and told him that we depended solely on him to obtain her recovery. He seemed much interested in her case, but instead of holding out any hope, he bade us visit a person in the vicinity, and return to him. When we called, it was seven o'clock, and the bell was tolling the evening Angelus. He said to us, 'Be quiet, I pray.'

"Such was the tone of Father Paul's voice, that we were assured of his prayers being heard.

"And, indeed, the very moment our sister recited the Angelus in Malines, she experienced an extraordinary sensation. Her eye recovered its former activity, the contortion of her mouth disappeared, and she was cured."

An Offical from Thielt

brought to Father Paul his daughter, age seven years, who was suffering from a painful complaint in the nose, which defied all relief. The Father prescribed a novena to St. Benedict, and told him to apply some water, in which he placed a medal of St. Benedict, to the child's nose. In a few days the pain had left her.

This same official also spoke to Father Paul about his little son who was so weak that he was unable to hold himself erect, and it was feared that he would become a hunchback. Father Paul replied saying, the boy would be cured. He prescribed a novena and the use of St. Benedict's medal, and requested the man to tell his wife she ought to wear her scapular, and not leave it hanging on the bedpost.

In fact, the woman did have the careless habit of hanging her scapular on the bedpost. The little boy was cured, and later on entered a military school.

An Afflicted Lady of Bruges

tells how she was cured through the mediation of Father Paul.

"In 1886, I had been confined to my bed for fourteen months by rheumatism. I had lost all control of my lower limbs; the pain was unendurable, and the physician declared that nothing less than a miracle could cure me.

"My husband lifted me into a small wagon, and conveyed me to the monastery, where we were met by Father Paul.

" 'You remain,' he said to my husband, 'and look to your wagon, I will attend to your wife.' He then took me by the arm, bade me put my feet on the ground, led me up the four steps to the entrance, and, I found myself quite comfortably seated in the parlor.

" 'You are indeed in a serious condition: no blood circulates through your limbs, nothing but water; but you shall be cured after several novenas.'

"Father Paul put on his stole, and for some time prayed fervently, amid intense anguish, his forehead bathed with perspiration. When he put his hands on my head, I felt a sudden shock through my entire body. Suddenly I felt relief; and within a month, I was completely healed. The physician beholding me, thus restored to perfect health, desired to know what wonderful remedy had brought about my cure. When I told him what Father Paul had done he exclamed, 'Ah! did I not tell you, that the physicians of the Most High know these things far better than we do.' "

A Young Lady from Ursel

often brought sick persons to Father Paul from whom they all obtained relief. At each visit he gave her a handful of Benedictine medals, assuring her that the sick persons to whom she would give or send a medal would be cured, provided that they used them with confidence.

On one of her visits, the Rev. Father gave her some leaflets on which were printed the beautiful "Salutation to Mary," which he was so fond of distributing. She was to keep one herself and give the others to the members of her family. Then she asked for another to give to a friend of hers, but Father Paul said, "No, no, that young lady won't recite this prayer."

The girl eventually went astray.

In Zele

there was a boy who was doubly afflicted. He had a hump on his back, caused by the dislocation of a bone; and one of his feet was turned inwards. His two sisters brought him to Termonde. Father Paul pressed the hump with his hand, and applied thereto some holy water. He then took hold of the twisted foot, and straightened it, without any apparent effort. And to their amazement and joy he placed their brother on the floor—completely cured.

Having expressed their gratitude for this sudden cure, one of the sisters told Father Paul, that she desired to enter an institution as a boarder, but did not possess the required sum of money. "I need two thousand francs," she said, "and have but the small share of the inheritance left by my deceased parents."

"Don't you know of any wealthy relative?" asked Father Paul.

"No, I do not know of any."

"Well, then, make inquiries and when you have found one, apply to him; he will give you what you need."

After a long search she found a distant relative, a rich cousin, to whom she made known her desire to enter the institution and her lack of means. She did not mention how much money she needed.

"The last two nights," replied her cousin, "I have had the same dream. Some one came and told me to give nineteen hundred francs to a person in need of it. . . .You must be the person. Here is the money." And, in truth, nineteen hundred francs was the exact amount the girl required.

A Possessed Woman

desiring the assistance of Father Paul to free her from the evil spirits, made the journey on foot to consult him. As she was crossing a certain bridge, she heard an unearthly sound; then an invisible hand seized her and threw her into the water. She succeeded in saving herself. As she entered the monastery, Father Paul thus addressed her: —

"You suffered much at the bridge." "Yes, Rev. Father." "And you were thrown into the water." "Yes," answered the woman, astonished at the Father's insight. "That was the last effort of the devil, the last attack of Satan; you are welcome here, and you will soon be delivered from his assaults."

Father Paul prayed over her, and the happy woman immediately recovered her liberty.

Certain Parents

had lost all their children while still young, except one infant whom the servant, accompanied by its mother, carried to Father Paul that he might bless it. He requested the mother to take the baby in her own arms; and at the same moment, the servant mysteriously disappeared. Father Paul then bade the lady never again permit the servant to enter her house, as she was the cause of all her misfortunes.

To an Acquaintance

from St. Michel, Father Paul said that near the monastery he had met a young girl who was coming to be cured. A few paces away he saw a demon leave the girl and flee, while at the same instant the patient cried aloud, "I am cured!"

Fortunate Recruits.

As the time to enlist for military service drew near, many recruits had recourse to Father Paul that they might draw a lucky number to exempt them from being enrolled as soldiers. Those who complied with his directions were never disappointed.

These were the usual conditions: to make a novena in honor of St. Benedict; to wear a Benedictine medal; and to attach a second medal inside the sleeve, near the wrist of the hand with which they were to draw the number.

Father Paul supplied the medals, and sometimes foretold the number that would fall to their lot.

We here insert a few instances that have come to our knowledge.

A Farmer from Oostcamp

urged his nephew, who was to be drafted, to follow the directions which Father Paul would give him; and the Father foretold a number that favored him.

The farmer gave the same advice to another nephew who was soon to enlist. Father Paul said, "Oh, you will draw the second or third highest number!" and he drew 187, the highest being 189.

Another recruit from Oostcamp who sought counsel from Father Paul declared, "The moment I put my hand into the urn, I felt a number adhere to it, and it was a fortunate number for me."

The same happened to a recruit from St. Michel.

A laborer living in Oostcamp, before drawing for enlistment, made his confession to Father Paul; and he mentioned that he had a great aversion to military service.

The Rev. Father bade him recite five Our Fathers and five Hail Marys every evening for two weeks. He added, "You will draw a good number, 134." And it happened as he had foretold.

An Exceptional Case

has come to our knowledge. A rec...

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Copyright Page
• CONTENTS.
• RECOMMENDATIONS
• PRELIMINARY REMARKS
• A SHORT SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF FATHER PAUL OF MOLL
• A WONDERWORKER OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY
• WONDERS OF FATHER PAUL
• EXHUMATION OF THE BODY OF THE REV. FATHER PAUL OF MOLL
• SAYINGS OF FATHER PAUL
• LETTERS OF FATHER PAUL
• A FEW RECENT FAVORS OBTAINED THROUGH THE INTERCESSION OF FATHER PAUL
• LIFE OF ST. BENEDICT, PATRIARCH OF THE WESTERN MONKS
• THE MEDAL OF ST. BENEDICT
• DEVOTION IN HONOR OF ST. BENEDICT
• AFFECTIONATE SALUTATIONS TO MARY