In the midst of the devastating wildfires in Southern California, one California family witnessed the miracles and strength that their faith brought them – amidst everything around them turned to ashes, the statue of the Virgin Mary in their home stood tall in the relentless flames.
This family is devout believers, and they were deeply moved when they found the statue of the Virgin Mary and the statue of St. Joseph still intact in their home. Peter Halpin, the head of the family, expressed his incredulity during an interview with Fox & Friends Weekend, as their home of 37 years was completely destroyed by the wildfires, leaving only rubble, yet the statues remained unscathed.
“This is truly miraculous, everything around it was burned down, but the statues of the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph remained unharmed,” he said.
Halpin explained that despite the statues being slightly charred, he and his family chose to express their gratitude through prayer.
So, he sang hymns of praise with his six children and other relatives, and posted the touching video on Instagram. The video quickly went viral, garnering widespread attention.
The community’s response, according to Halpin, was incredible and heartwarming. His wife, Jackie, said that after seeing a photo her son-in-law took of the undamaged statue of the Virgin Mary, she couldn’t help but kneel down.
“We need to pray, thanking God for keeping us safe, we’ve been here for so many years, and we’ve welcomed many people here,” she said.
The Southern California wildfires that erupted in January this year are still raging with no signs of ending. The Palisades Fire in Los Angeles is still spreading. On January 12, firefighters in Los Angeles fought fiercely against the blaze as it spread towards residential areas. Strong winds further fueled the fire, resulting in at least 16 confirmed deaths. The fire has devastated the entire community, leaving thousands homeless.
Halpin’s experience in this massive fire is not an isolated case. On January 12th, as the Palisades Fire spread, a journalist from Agence France-Presse captured an image of a Buddha statue sitting quietly in a charred field.
As early as November 2008, another observer witnessed the power of faith. During the wildfires in Sylmar, which burned approximately 41,000 acres of land, destroyed over 800 homes, and forced tens of thousands to evacuate. Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP) workers found a statue of the Virgin Mary still standing amidst the rubble in the Oakridge Mobile Home Park in Sylmar. This also became one of the most poignant scenes at the time.
In the face of extreme disasters and challenges, faith not only gives people hope but also empowers them to overcome adversity. In the relentless flames, the resilience of the religious imagery reassures people that even in the darkest moments, there is still light to be found.