Eladio was a most engaging character. He was a parishioner in the parish when I was a newly ordained priest in the Philippines. He had a wonderful sense of humor. He was quick with a retort. He had a unique perspective on it all. He was a travelling salesman. He travelled with a tennis racket hanging out of his suitcase. He did not play tennis. He just thought it improved his image. I hadn’t seen him in a while but had heard about a traumatic incident he had experienced.
Eladio had been a passenger on a bus that was ambushed. In those days in the southern Philippines there were a number of such incidents caused by conflict between political factions. Fifty-two people had been on the bus Eladio was travelling in. He was only one of three to survive. I hadn’t seen him for some time since this incident. He described how he survived.
He was seated behind the bus driver. The driver was the first to be killed. Eladio dove under the slumped body of the driver so when the attackers entered the bus he was overlooked and spared. We talked about how he was adjusting and got on to other topics. Near the end of the conversation and knowing that he would understand that I had my tongue firmly cheek I asked, “Well, I presume you said an Act of Contrition when the shooting was going on.” He knew I was not being flippant about the tragedy.
He responded in the spirit with which the question was asked. He explained that he did not say an Act of Contrition. He added that if he had, God would have known that he was ready to die. But he wasn’t. He clarified his reasoning by adding that by his not praying the Act of Contrition God obviously concluded that it would be wise to give Eladio more time on this earth.
I doubt if that would pass as good theology, but it is difficult to argue with a survivor.
Columban Fr. Brendan O’Sullivan lives and works in the U.S.