He inserted the rose petals, then fresh, last Aug. 21 when he celebrated a Mass in the presence of mystic Carmelo Cortez of Sta. Maria, Bulacan. The petals had no marks at that time.
But Fr, Sol wasn’t that surprised by the petals miracle, similar to that which occurred in a monastery in Lipa, Batangas in 1949 during the alleged apparitions of the Blessed Mother there.
At the monastery, scores of people witnessed rains of rose petals with holy imprints, too.
In the case of Fr. Sol, the medium was Carmelo, already known for the miraculous petals phenomenon even in the US which he frequents for his healing ministry.
At age 21 in June, 1991, Carmelo claimed to have fi rst seen the Blessed Mother in his home in a squatters’ area in Quezon City. First, there was a soft voice and beautiful music which came from a painting of the Blessed Mother who seemed to be shedding tears of blood which the infant Jesus in her arm seemed to be catching.
A similar thing happened two days later, except that this time, the Blessed Mother appeared to him and started to give him messages. Mary identifi ed herself as the Mother of Eucharist and Grace.
Carmelo gained some following since then, and has even been supported by priests and bishops. He is not only medium for the miraculous petals. He is also medium for healing, turning water into rose oil, transforming rose petals into Eucharistic bread, turning chains of rosaries into gold, etc.
Yet, Carmelo has remained humble and has never exacted anything in return for the miraculous favors of which he regards self as medium.
