Lisbon - Jimena, a 16-year-old participant from Spain's World Youth Day (WYD) pilgrimage, expressed her awe and gratitude after regaining her eyesight miraculously following the reception of the Eucharist in Fátima, Portugal, during a Mass. This extraordinary occurrence has deeply touched hearts and infused hope in those closely observing the events of WYD, which united over a million young individuals in Lisbon last week.

Jimena, who joined a group from Opus Dei and traveled from Madrid to Lisbon, was the recipient of a novena—a nine-day prayer cycle—organized by her loved ones leading up to the feast day of Our Lady of the Snows on August 5. Coincidentally, this was the day when she experienced the restoration of her eyesight.

For over two and a half years, Jimena had grappled with a 95% vision loss due to severe myopia. On the morning of August 5, while Pope Francis was also engaged in prayer at the Fátima shrine, Jimena recounted receiving what she described as a profound gift from the Virgin Mary.

Jimena recalled her experience with great clarity during an interview with the Spanish radio station COPE. She mentioned that on that fateful morning, much like the past two and a half years, her vision had been extremely blurry. Attending Mass with her friends as part of WYD, she revealed that after receiving Communion, she was overcome with emotion as she had fervently prayed for her healing throughout the novena.

In her own words, Jimena shared, "When I opened my eyes, I could see perfectly. It was overwhelming; there must be so much gratitude for this miracle. I could see the altar, the tabernacle, my friends were there, and I could see them clearly."

She went on to explain that she could read the novena prayer, and her reading skills remained intact. Brimming with happiness, she expressed deep gratitude towards her prayer group and considered the experience a testament of faith—a remarkable gift from the Virgin Mary that she would forever cherish.

Cardinal Juan José Omella, the Archbishop of Barcelona and president of the Spanish Bishops' Conference, characterized this potential miracle as a divine grace. During a press conference marking the conclusion of WYD at Eduardo VII Park in Lisbon, he recounted his conversation with Jimena via video call. Jimena explained her experience to him with a natural and unaffected demeanor. Cardinal Omella noted her excitement and highlighted that, even after years of blindness, she had learned Braille and, remarkably, was able to read the prayer of thanksgiving flawlessly after receiving Communion.

Omella encouraged believers to offer thanks to God for this extraordinary event and acknowledged that while this wouldn't lead to beatification due to the Virgin Mary's already established sanctity, it undeniably showcased a divine grace. He emphasized that medical professionals would need to evaluate the circumstances, the nature of the event, and its potential for healing. However, for Jimena, this was a profound occurrence—a miracle—where she went from not seeing to seeing. He concluded by saying, "She sees, blessed be God."

Cardinal Omella also noted that WYD featured other testimonies of young people who had regained their inner vision, adding to the spiritual depth of the gathering.