Some months after this, Miles Dempsey and his wife, Joan, came to see us. Miles had joined the Newman Centre prayer group in Soho and Lalage and I and another person had once laid hands on him for him to receive the Holy Spirit. He had had a powerful anointing and had then played a major role in the leadership of the Soho group, going on to become involved full-time in the Charismatic Renewal in England.
He had come to congratulate us on our marriage and to maintain our Christian fellowship. That day, however, I had an excruciating backache which I could not shake off and had decided that the best way to deal with it was to ignore it, if possible.
We had an enjoyable lunch and afternoon together and later went to Mass at St. Agatha’s. The pain became progressively more and more unbearable.
By this time, Miles had also started a prayer group in his house in Eltham. He was worried about me being in so much pain.
“Why don’t you come with me to our group this evening? I could take you in the car. I would also love you to meet the other members.”
Ursula, who was pregnant at this time, stayed behind and Miles, Joan and I went off together to his home.
It was a welcome experience. There was a sense of commitment and a desire for oneness in the Spirit of God. Knowing I was still in pain, Miles asked if I wanted the laying on of hands.
I agreed and about three of the four prayed whilst I knelt down in the middle. I could feel someone putting their palm against my back and a sense of well-being came over me. Then, quite unexpectedly, I felt a finger poking me right on the point where the pain seemed to be centered. It was agonizing for a second or two but then the pain left me completely.
After we had finished praying, I asked Miles if it was, he who had his hand on my back and if so, why did he poke me so suddenly.
“Yes,” he said, “I had my hand flat against on your back. But I didn’t poke you! In fact, it seemed as if someone was pressing a finger on the back of my hand. It was quite strong. It felt like it was going right through!”
I then remembered the story of Padre Pio and the boy bent double. The boy had been healed instantly by someone prodding him in the back. He stood bolt upright for the first time ever - even his mother failed to recognize him. Later he stood outside the monastery waiting for the Holy man - Padre Pio - who he said had healed him.
Was Padre Pio around again, joining in the prayer with us? I think he was.
Miles’ gift of leadership has taken him on to found a Lay community, first in the south of England and finally the ‘Prince of Peace’ Community in Liverpool which also flowed into the ‘New Dawn’ community experience, now held every year in Walsingham. http://princeofpeacecommunity.weebly.com/about-us.html