Maui, Hawaiian Islands, 1860
We continue our endeavors to harvest coral from the reefs, but on account of the difficulty and expense of the labor, our work goes slowly. Today we had to give up the attempt altogether, for the seas ran very high and great clouds rolled over the island.
The priest paused in writing and rubbed his forehead thoughtfully. Would he and his ardent little congregation be able to build the church they had envisioned? Lava rock was easy to come by, but they wanted coral too, and that was almost dangerous to harvest. And now this great storm…
He looked at the shuttered windows, shaking and banging violently with the force of the rain. He could only hope all their work wouldn’t be washed away by morning. Thunder shook the ground beneath his hut. He sighed, blew out his lamp, and went to bed.
Maui, Hawaii
In the morning, a great commotion from his native helpers disturbed the priest’s prayers. He ran outside, expecting to see destruction and havoc.
The Hawaiians rushed toward him, gesturing and exclaiming, broad smiles beaming from their faces. On the beach, close to the site of the new church, was a massive pile of coral rock torn from the reef and cast upon the land by the storm.
Congregation and priest fell upon their knees in thanksgiving—and then they set to work, building their lovely St. Gabriel Church. The day after the church was finished, another immense storm lashed the island. By morning, all the leftover coral had returned to the sea. After that, St. Gabriel (now known as Our Lady of Fatima Shrine) became famous as the Coral Miracle Church.
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