My name is Lebius Nongdhar. I come from the city parish of Nongthymmai in Shillong. On the 24th December 1997, I was bitten by a mad dog. Though I went to the Pasteur Institute to get the anti-rabies injection I could not get it since the institute was closed for Christmas vacation. It was reopened on the 29th and I received 5 injections after that. On Sunday, 4th January 1998 at midnight I began to bark and growl like a dog, with my tongue out and frothing in my mouth. I began to scratch the wall of the room. This continued for two hours. My wife was horrified to see my behaviour and immediately called my parents and sisters. At two in the morning I fell asleep.

I was not a particularly fervent or a practising Catholic at that time. I was married to a Presbyterian woman and the marriage too was not rectified, and I did not care. I had a wellpaid government job in the Central Excise and Customs department and I thought that life was safe and secure for me. Then came the encounter with that mad dog on that Christmas eve. My life would never remain the same. On 5th January at 7.00 am I woke up and I found that I could not speak and so I took a piece of paper and wrote down asking my wife and sisters not to come near but to run away. I was taken to the Pasteur Institute in a serious condition. The doctor there declared that medical sciences could do precious little for me as I had a 100 percent rabies, and that I would not survive more than three days, and that all those in contact with me should take anti-rabies injection after my death. They advised that I be taken to the Civil Hospital and be kept in isolation and wait for the end to come. At the Civil Hospital no doctor would admit me and sent me from doctor to doctor. Finally a Catholic doctor by name Ms. Elba Dhar admitted me. That evening my two sisters went to call Fr. Cyriac Kochupurackal SDB, the assistant parish priest. They were afraid that since my marriage was not rectified I would die without the reception of the Sacraments. They informed Fr. Cyriac about my condition and hearing the details Fr. Cyriac got frightened and wondered as to how he would be able to approach me. They told him that I was on heavy sedation and hence no more violent and I could write and communicate. Fr. Cyriac immediately rushed to the hospital and he asked me to be sorry for all my sins and trust in the mercy of the Lord Jesus (Jn. 6:37,3:16-18). When he came to know that I was not properly married in the Catholic church, he asked my wife whether she was ready to become a Catholic. She readily agreed and he rectified our marriage there and then. I was given the sacrament of the sick and Holy Communion. Fr. Cyriac returned to the parish and on his way back two thoughts constantly flashed across his mind: why did my wife agree to become a Catholic when she knew for certain that I was going to die and why is it that I, at such a young age, should lose my life. That evening Fr. Cyriac called my two sisters and explained to them the power of praying Psalm 91.

"A thousand may fall dead beside you, ten thousand all round you, but you will not be harmed"(Ps 91:7).

He asked them to repent for all their sins and ask pardon of God and from all those whom they had offended. He also told them to forgive everyone from the core of their being and accept the Lordship of Jesus and stay close to God. He asked them, "Who makes the promises in Ps. 91 ?" and they said, "God". "Does God cheat ?" he asked again and they said "No, he is always faithful to his promise". Then he told them to trust fully in the promise of God and they would witness miracles. He asked them also to recite the rosary of the Precious Blood(to pray on the rosary: Lord Jesus wash and cover me/us/him/her/them with your precious blood, 50 times). He explained to them the passage from Jeremiah 29:11-14: the plans God has for our well being. He told them to believe in the power of praise (1 Thes. 5:16-18) and rejoice always (Phi. l4:4-8; Neh. 8:10). He told them that the risen Lord is with them and with me and that I am safe and secure in the palm of God’s hands (Jn.49:15-16). They spent over an hour in Fr. Cyriac’s office, praising and thanking God for me who was in a situation where no human power could save me.

The following evening Fr. Cyriac and his prayer team came to the hospital to pray over me. By that time I was flat on the ground, completely exhausted with no strength even to raise my head. The room was locked from outside. He told my sisters to continue praying Psalm 91 and the rosary of the precious blood. They prayed the whole night non-stop on the 5th day and night on the 6th. Then slowly the miracle began to unfold itself. I began to regain my lost strength and on the 3rd day I got up and asked for something to eat and drink. On the 7th, doctors examined my blood and found that the poison level had decreased and declared me out of danger. On 13th January, I was discharged from the hospital and I came back home. The doctors were wonder-struck about my recovery as they had never witnessed one such cure before and vouched that it was a miracle of God. A few days later my sisters and other family members went to the Pasteur Institute to get the anti-rabies injection. The doctors there asked them how many days I survived and when did the end finally come. They could not believe what they heard about me. They said that in the history of the Institute no one survived after reaching such an advanced stage. One of the Catholic doctors there declared, "This is indeed a miracle. May Jesus’ name be praised ! "

It is a second lease of life that I have received from God. I feel so humble. What have I done to deserve it ? I can only say with Job,

"So far I have heard about you only, now I have seen you with my own eyes "(Job.42:5).