Significant Object, Andrea Troncoso

Saint Pancrass on the road.

It happened that in the year 2000 I was just with my new forest engineer diploma and I was looking for a job. At that time I had a job as a volunteer at a biological station, on an island at the south of Chile. I used to take the bus to go to that island, from Santiago, capital city, to Chiloé, the island. A 17 hour trip.

In one of my trips, it happened that a very kind old man sat next to me. He talked and talked about many things. He was a very catholic person and he told me many stories about Virgin Mary, including some very curious details. I was really interested. Until he came to the story of Saint Pancrass. He told me about this Italian saint, who cared for health and a job, to anyone who prayed to him. He showed me the imagine of St. Pancrass, that he was carrying with him. It was a young boy, dressed in green and red, with the right hand pointing to the sky. He looked calm and cool. I was really surprised now.

I thought that having someone “upstairs” that helps you to get jobs and have a good health is really a treasure. He said he wanted to give me an imagine of Saint Pancrass but at the moment he didn´t have more. He asked me where did I live. I give him the address of my friend, with whom I would be staying during my 3 days on the island.

And there he came. The old man, the next day, was ringing the door. He just give me the image and said a friendly goodbye. When I came back to Santiago I looked for the church where there was a big  image of my saint, and I found it, in the heart of Santiago.

Some months later I was in Cuba. Me and my friend were visiting a friend. On the street of our Cuban friend there was an old man, that lived on the street, fed by all the neighbours . He was an alcoholic, but a very “soft” one. I mean, he was always drinking rum, but he liked to drink slowly and  to sit outside the houses of people, asking always for a friendly chat, that of course, you get always and everywhere in Cuba.

“Chema” was his name.

Chema came one day with a box. He said: “Hi guys, I bring you a present today. Look what I found on the rubbish just an hour ago”. He was carrying a small box, and open it.

I could not believe my eyes: there in the box, were 12 images of Saint Pancrass, standing , one next to the other, with their right finger pointing to the sky… Chema said: Take one!

And so did I. And I have my statue and my stamp close to me. Although the statue is since 2010 at the house of one of my best friends, because she was having a hard time and I just say: “Pray to Saint Pancrass, and here is his image. I lend it to you”. I know he is fine, only with the finger broken, after the 8,8 degree earthquake that hit Chile on February 2010.

And also every time I go to Santiago and to the church were his big statue is, I buy many stamps, so I can give them to people on the way.

Saint Pancrass is a good friend, and his stamp is now here, in Germany, at the entrance of  our house.

I hope you feel glad to meet him. And of course, if you believe, just give him a personal call…

*****

Thank you for your contribution Andrea.

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