Amid the devastation of southern California’s wildfires, one family’s unwavering faith was symbolized by a surviving statue of the Virgin Mary.
The statue stood untouched amid the scorched remnants of their home, offering a powerful reminder of resilience and divine protection.
“It was remarkable how everything had gotten fried, but the statue of The Virgin Mary and another statue of Saint Joseph were in perfect condition,” Peter Halpin, the family’s patriarch, shared with Fox & Friends Weekend on Sunday.
“Obviously, they were a little singed, but we just took that opportunity to pray,” he added. “Our home is dedicated to the sacred heart of Jesus and always has been, as has our extended family, so we said a prayer to the sacred heart of Jesus, and then we sang that special song that our entire family has known for decades to The Blessed Virgin, and it was a remarkable thing.”
Halpin revealed that the family “broke the law” by visiting the remains of their home last week after the deadly Eaton fire reduced it to ashes. In the midst of the rubble, they found faith, singing in praise together with their six children and other relatives in a video that has since gone viral on Instagram.
“Our intention was not for this thing to go viral at all,” Halpin explained. “It was pretty much just a family thing, but the response from the community has been unbelievable and so heartfelt.”
Jackie Halpin, Peter’s wife, recalled the moment she learned about the surviving statues.
Her son-in-law had visited the site the day before and snapped a photo showing the statues still standing. Overcome with emotion, she knew it was time for the family to make their own pilgrimage to the site and offer thanks.
“That was my intention,” Jackie said. “We’re going to pray. We’re going to thank God that we’re safe, and we have entertained a lot for years. We feel very strongly in the virtue of hospitality, so I just wanted to pray and say, ‘If we can do it again, that would be great.’”
The song that appeared in the viral video, she said, “kind of came about on its own,” adding that her primary desire was simply to express gratitude for the family’s safety and the years spent in their home.
As wildfires continue to ravage southern California, with the death toll rising to 16, the Halpin family’s story is a poignant reminder of the strength that faith can offer during times of immense loss.
(FOX NEWS)
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