Both became Catholic and had their marriage blessed four years ago. They have a lovely four-year-old daughter, Elena, and they also brought into the Church Galia’s mother and uncle.

Now the tears. Galia had just come from the hospital, and the doctor, after seeing her blood test and seeing the baby on the sonogram, said that most likely the child would be handicapped.

He would be hydrocephalic, he told her, and probably wouldn’t live long after birth, so the best thing would be to have an abortion. In three days she would be given further tests and at that time she could have the abortion.

I was busy with another parishioner, and so I sat her before the Blessed Sacrament. When I had a moment to talk, I asked her to join me. She seemed more relaxed and in a strange way, deeply at peace.

I was torn up inside. We had prayed for this pregnancy to come, and now this! Of course I said we can’t even think of an abortion, and at that moment Valodia showed up full of anxiety.

Instead of talk, I felt we needed to pray. So we prayed, each of us. The prayers were cries of faith. And finally I asked Valodia what he felt. He said that when he found out he was going to have a son, he felt great joy. Then when the doctor said he would be handicapped, he felt deep sadness.

Yet he said, and I quote, "It is my son that God has given me, and I will love him as he is, healthy or not."

Galia then said that in sitting before the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, she received a deep comfort and consolation, and she heard the Lord say in her heart that all would be fine. She smiled and said, "Don’t worry, Fr. Michael." She was consoling me!

I had said I know the Sisters of Mother Teresa in Moscow (I often give them retreats) and they have a home for "throw away children." I know they would take even a severely handicapped child.

Galia immediately said, "How could I give away my son? Even if he only lives a short time, I want him with me."

I am not ashamed to say that I wept at that moment. This young family had a seven-year history with me—fighting poverty, alcoholism, breakups, and reconciliations, but all the time growing in faith and trust in God. The fruit of the years of struggle I could hear in the firmness of their resolve. This child will be loved no matter what.

What was left for us to do? For three days, we prayed together. Galia received the Sacrament of the Sick for her and the child. She and Valodia received Communion on the day she went to the hospital for the tests.

That night Valodia came to see me, his eyes filled with light. The blood tests now were normal. The enlarged head? Well, their daughter has a large head, too; it seems to run in the family. Was this a healing? Would the child be handicapped?

All I know is that it was for me a miracle of faith. How one poor and struggling couple could say yes again to the birth of this child even though it would mean a greater burden on them.

Valodia is a carpenter and does work on the side without a contract. He is promised so much for his work and usually either the people don’t pay or they pay less. "After all, he is just a native."

I remember the day he came to our small chapel on Lenin Street. He peeked in after Mass and asked if he could come in even though he was native. I quickly said to him, "It is because you are native that you can come in." Thus began our friendship and long history of struggling to faith.

They said, "This is our child, and he is a gift from God, and we will love him no matter what." Here is the true miracle in a time of selfishness, violence, and anti-life found all over the world. Christ would be welcomed as a little child—poor and accepted only by the loving eyes of his mom and dad and this unworthy priest.

Merry, merry, Christmas or as they say in Russia, "Christ is born. Praise him!" I am praising him and will continue to do so for the rest of my life. Already I can say, "This is the best Christmas present I have ever received."

And what is the name of this little growing son? Yep! Michael—in Russian, Misha. He is named after one very humbled and blessed priest.

This was written just before Christmas 2003. Misha was born perfect and is now an active four-year-old who loves playing with cars and imitating his dad playing with his carpentry set.

Both parents are working for the church, and Galia works with mothers who have decided not to abort, helping with food, medicine, and counsel. She also runs a once-a-month meeting with these moms and their kids.

Approximately 64% of all pregnancies in Russia end in abortion.

Fr. Michael and the Bylingenas are in the former parish of MH Russia.