The following excerpt is from the NigerianObserverNews.com
By THOMPSON ERHOMONSELE/KEN ABU/OGBEMUDIA JAMES
BENIN CITY- St Paul’s Catholic Church along Airport Road in Benin City, yesterday, turned into a mecca of sorts as people from all walks of life thronged the church to catch a glimpse of what has been literally described as an apparition of Jesus Christ.
The uncommon but holy phenomenon according to catholic faithful and enthusiasts present at the church premises, came up early Wednesday morning immediately after the offering of adoration at the church. It has however generated so much frenzy amongst catholic faithful and non-Catholics who jostled through the ever-busy Airport Road in the state capital to witness the rare spiritual occurrence.
According to Rev. Fr. John Edosomwan, a Catholic Priest in Edo State, the “apparition of Christ” to people serves to reinforce the faith of Christians in the presence of Christ while tending to reassure the present day followers of Christ that they should re-direct their steps to the faith as exemplified by Christ in the holy scriptures.
“The modern people have lost the presence of God, they have lost insight into the life of Christ and of his presence amongst us because we begin to pursue so many unnecessary things and that has made them far from God,” the Catholic Priest stated.
Rev. Fr. Edosomwan further stressed that the appearance of Christ on the Blessed Sacrament through the monstrance would help re-direct the lives of Christians whose faith have been ebbing out owning to varying challenges of life.
The “apparition of Christ” according to the Priest,” was to remind Christians that through His presence they can draw support and increase their faith in God.”
He pointed out that as Christians we must always appeal for the presence of God in our lives in order to transform our lives and those around us.
Similarly, the spiritual significance of the “apparition of Christ” at the St Paul’s Catholic Church was further described to connote the signs of the end of time by Prince Ken Ebosele, a committed catholic faithful who was present at the church to catch a glimpse of the “apparition”.
Prince Ebosele revealed that it was a reassurance of the fact that the salvation in Christ which Christians profess was not in vain, adding that the appearance of Christ was a manifestation of the presence of Christ in our lives.
A member of the Edo State House of Assembly representing Ikpoba Okha Constituency, Hon. Jude Ise-Idehen who was also in the Church described the occurrence as a re-affirmation that “Jesus Christ is real,” adding that, “this is the belief of Catholics and other Christians. It is our faith and belief.”
A woman, Mrs. Mary Omare, who disclosed that she is a member of the Church of God Mission and that she came from Warri to attend a programme in her denomination in Benin City, said she was passing by on a commercial motor-bike but out of curiosity she came to see what was actually happening in St Paul’s Catholic Church, Airport Road.
She confirmed that she saw Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament that was placed on the altar, stressing that “it is real and that with her coming to Jesus on the altar, all her hearts desires have been received by faith”.
Meanwhile, the miraculous appearance of Jesus Christ in Benin City yesterday have been described as a good Omen and an indication that better things are coming to Edo State.
The state Director of Poverty Alleviation Agency who said she personally went to St. Paul, Catholic Church along Airport Road in Benin City to see things for herself, remarked that she was amazed stressing that “it was a miracle.”
