A Plea for Miracles in the Face of Suffering
This week, the Catholic world rallied in prayer for Laura Horn, wife of renowned apologist Trent Horn, after the couple shared heartbreaking news: Laura has been diagnosed with malignant brain cancer.
In a moving episode of The Counsel of Trent podcast, the Horns revealed that Laura will undergo surgery on July 23, 2025, with a year-long recovery ahead. Amid the uncertainty, they made a striking request – they asked for prayers through the intercession of Venerable Aloysius Schwartz, a missionary priest whose life was marked by radical love for the poor and profound trust in God amid suffering.
Trent shared a prayer on Instagram, writing:
“Please offer this prayer seeking the intercession of Venerable Aloysius Schwartz for Laura’s healing.”
The prayer itself is a beautiful testament to faith in the midst of trial:
“Lord Jesus Christ, Author of Life and Divine Physician, we thank you for the gift of your daughter, Laura. We thank you for her deep joy, humor, and contagious laughter. We thank you for her open heart and vulnerable spirit. Most of all, we thank you for the gift of her deep and abiding faith and untiring will even in the midst of trails. As members of your body, we implore you to pour abundant grace upon Laura, her entire family, and all her caregivers during this difficult time. Through the intercession of Venerable Aloysius Schwartz, we ask for the miraculous and complete healing and a lifelong remission for Laura. May the faith and Christian example of Venerable Aloysius Schwartz be spread throughout the earth, and may all glory be given to You, our Eternal King and Lord of our lives. Amen.”
But who is this holy priest they’re turning to in their hour of need? And why should you start praying for his intercession too?
The Radical Love of Venerable Aloysius Schwartz
When Fr. Aloysius Schwartz stepped off a train in Busan, South Korea, in 1957, he was met with a scene of devastation. The Korean War had left behind a wasteland of orphans, widows, and desperate poverty. The city’s population had exploded from 250,000 to over 1.2 million, most of them destitute.
Born in Washington, D.C., in 1930, Fr. Al (as he was affectionately known) grew up during the Great Depression, an experience that seared into his heart a deep compassion for the poor. After seminary in Belgium, where he witnessed the aftermath of World War II, he was ordained in 1957 and chose to serve in Korea, a land ravaged by war.
A Mission of Mercy
Fr. Al didn’t just want to feed the poor, he wanted to restore their dignity. He founded Korean Relief (later World Villages for Children) and established “Girlstowns” and “Boystowns,” inspired by St. John Bosco’s model of education – study, work, play, and pray.
He believed that Christ was hidden in the poor, just as He is hidden in the Eucharist:
“Our God is a hidden God. He is hidden in this little piece of bread which we adore… He is hidden in the person of the poor… We must be possessed by this love of Christ hidden in the bread of the Eucharist, hidden in the person of the poor.”
A Crucible of Suffering
In the 1980s, Fr. Al was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), a brutal illness that slowly paralyzes its victims. Yet, he embraced his suffering with heroic trust:
“I accept it, embrace it, and welcome it as a friend.”
Even as his body failed, his spirit remained unbroken. He promised his religious community, the Sisters of Mary:
“If I leave this world, I will not leave the work and the sisters and the children and the brothers. As St. Therese of Lisieux says, ‘I will come back and continue to do good until the end of the world.’”
He died in 1992, but his mission lives on. Today, the Sisters of Mary serve over 21,000 children annually in seven countries, lifting them out of poverty through education and faith.
Why We Need His Intercession Now More Than Ever
In 2015, Pope Francis declared Fr. Al Venerable, recognizing his “heroic virtue.” Now, the Church awaits a miracle for his beatification.
Could Laura Horn’s healing be that miracle?
The Horns’ plea for prayers through Fr. Al’s intercession is a powerful reminder: saints are friends in heaven, waiting to help us in our darkest hours.
How You Can Help
- Pray for Laura Horn—Use the prayer above, and ask Fr. Al to intercede for her complete healing.
- Learn more about Venerable Aloysius Schwartz—Discover his inspiring life and legacy at World Villages for Children.
- Spread devotion to him—Share his story. The more people who seek his intercession, the more God’s power is revealed through him.
Fr. Al once said:
“The greatest tragedy is not to be sick or poor. The greatest tragedy is not to be a saint.”
In this moment of suffering, let’s turn to him, a saint for our times, and trust that God still works miracles through those who loved Him without reserve.
Venerable Aloysius Schwartz, pray for Laura Horn…and for all of us!
