The mystery angel priest of Missouri is no longer a mystery. Father Patrick Dowling stepped forward today saying that he was the man that prayed beside Katie Lentz as rescue workers tried to free her from her car.
Dowling, who has been a priest since 1982 , said that he was at the scene of the crash when Katie asked for someone to pray for her. Dowling stepped forward, absolved her of her sins, and then stepped to the side to let rescue team continue their work.
Dowling posted about the incident on the National Catholic Register.
Dowling writes : “I absolved and anointed Katie, and, at her request, prayed that her leg would not hurt. Then I stepped aside to where some rescue personnel and the pilot were waiting, and prayed the rosary silently.”
Dowling doesn’t think that there was anything mysterious or miraculous about what he did at the crash scene. The priest even said that he told one of the officers who he was before he left. Still, many people believed that an angel had visited the crash site.
Perhaps the rescue workers were too busy worrying about the life of Katie Lentz to take much notice of the priest. Whatever the reason, Dowling managed to slip in and out without much attention and soon a story started to spread about a mystery angel priest in Missouri.
But Dowling is no angel and he isn’t taking any credit for saving Katie Lentz. Instead, he thanks the brave men and women of the highway patrol for rescuing the young girl.
Dowling writes: “I was amazed at the calmness of the two Highway patrol men. The sergeant was completely in control, amazingly calm. Everybody worked as harmoniously as a Swiss watch despite the critical nature of the scene… I think there may have been angels there too and, in this context, I congratulate the fire team from New London and Hannibal, the Sheriff/deputies of Ralls County, the Highway Patrol personnel, the helicopter team, the nurses and all who worked so professionally. God has blessed your work. I hope the credit goes where it is due.”