Near-death experiences bring Scripture to life

By Christina Galeone
CFP Correspondent

One of the many joyful aspects of Father Conrad S. Pecevich’s weekly Bible study group is when, at the beginning of each session, he asks God to fill his heart and the hearts of all the participants with a “burning love of Scripture” and bring that Scripture to life. The prayer acknowledges the need for the Holy Spirit to provide a deep wisdom that illuminates scholarly knowledge.  
Although the group, which met via Zoom, has been on hiatus for months because of major health challenges Father Pecevich has been facing, he was not. The consummate professor has been bringing Scripture to life with his extraordinary recovery.
After being resuscitated twice and enduring immense health struggles, the retired priest, who some have dubbed “Miracle Man,” has been recovering at St. Patrick’s Manor, a care facility in Framingham. But his life-and-death experiences have helped him to discover an additional calling.  
In John 14:27, Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.” That peace remained with Father Pecevich during the darkness and light of his journey that began on May 9 when he underwent a fairly routine surgery to have a clamp put on a heart valve. Although that surgery went well, he had a heart attack a couple of days later. His heart stopped and he had to be resuscitated. Two subsequent heart attacks – one of which required him to be resuscitated again – followed shortly thereafter.  
The trauma that he endured necessitated that he be placed into a medically induced coma for about two weeks.
“Finally, one day, I just woke up; surrounding me were a number of my loved ones,” Father Pecevich, 74, recalled recently as he sat at a table in an otherwise deserted dining area not far from his room in the St. Therese de Lisieux section of St. Patrick’s. He remembered that his doctor was holding his hand. “I started crying, and she was crying. She said, ‘Everything’s going to be okay.’ I had no idea what went on,” he explained.    
Several people were charmed by how one of the first things he requested was a simple snack of coconut cake and lemonade. And they marveled at how he kept singing “Peace Train” by Cat Stevens for a couple of days after waking up. But most people were curious and asked him if he saw or felt anything.
 “The only experience I had was peace,” he quietly revealed. “I just felt this profound peace.  Like it … it was such a gentle, soft peace that surrounded me.”
In John 19:27, as Jesus was dying on the cross, he told his beloved disciple, “Behold your mother!” And Father Pecevich is grateful for his own bond with the Blessed Mother. He said that he believes that Mary “has been instrumental” in his healing.
Clad in a royal blue shirt, he noted that many people entrusted his care to Mary.
“My Bible study [group] has been praying the rosary every Tuesday,” he said.
“I pray ‘Hail Mary’ and ‘Hail Holy Queen’ if I need something, and she comes through. I really felt her presence after the fact and that she was with me,” he said.
Even though Father Pecevich admitted that he’s naturally “a survivor” and his friends have assured him that he rises above challenges set before him, his ordeal has been immense. He’s had to learn to walk, talk, and use his hands again. And he said that for a couple of weeks, he couldn’t think of words. Now, he’s getting physical therapy, occupational therapy, and he’s exercising to regain strength.
“I never imagined that I would be this dependent on people,” he said. “I learned that I have to ask for help.”
He’s grateful for the support of his family, friends, former parishioners and Bible study members.
“My friends stood by me,” he said, his voice cracking with emotion. “They’ve all rallied around me 100 percent.”
At the same time, he’s clearly heeded the words of Jesus in Matthew 11:29-30 when Jesus said, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”  
“But I said to myself, if I can’t write, at least I can speak,” the longtime Scripture columnist for The Catholic Free Press said, after noting that he previously had beautiful Catholic school penmanship.
“Now, after going through this, I’m able to share my story about the mystery of dying,” he said.  
Despite everything, he’s not only returned to thoughtfully, articulately leading Bible study, but the former professor of death and dying courses at Nichols College and Anna Maria College also feels called to give presentations about his experience and what he’s learned.
“I learned from it that God has a plan for me,” he shared, noting that he’s not sure what it all entails yet. “But part of it is for me to be the best person I can be and share this experience with others. And part of this is to become more spiritual.”
While he’s been setting goals and is working toward moving into an assisted-living apartment where he’ll have greater independence, he remains remarkably serene and carefree.
“I was ready to die,” he shared. “If it came, I was not afraid because God has so much in store for us! It’s going to be a wonderful, joyful day; that’s how we have to live for him.”    
Joseph Altman, one of Father Pecevich’s friends as well as a member of his Bible study group, views his turnaround as remarkable. But he’s also inspired by Father Pecevich’s calm demeanor and faith-filled attitude despite the physical trauma he went through.
“He lived his life by loving the Lord our God, and by individually loving each person he met,” Mr. Altman said. “Consequently, whatever might happen to him … he is ready to die a happy death as St. Joseph has taught us. Basically, if we turn our worries to God when we are alive, we have no worries when we’re about to die, and we can do so with a smile on our face.”
Cathy Campbell, who facilitates the Bible study and has been leading the Zoom rosary for Father Pecevich’s recovery, is one of the many people who have been inspired by his unshakable faith.
“I consider Father my spiritual adviser,” she said of the man she calls “a gifted theologian.” “I am grateful to have Father in my life. He opens the word of God for so many of us to gain a closer relationship with the Holy Trinity.”  
Lately, Father Pecevich said he has been listening to a lot of religious music, praying more, and exercising in a spiritual way. Filled with faith-driven hope and peace, he offered words of wisdom for people going through seemingly hopeless situations. He advises them to “cling to their faith. Read the Bible. Pray often.”