A family’s unwavering faith was highlighted by a lone statue of The Virgin Mary that remained untouched by the devastating flames of Southern California’s wildfires.
The sight of her resilience among the smoldering ruins prompted the family to sing in praise.
Peter Halpin, the family patriarch, shared his experience on ‘Fox & Friends Weekend’ on Sunday, saying, “It was remarkable how everything around was destroyed, but the statue of The Virgin Mary and another statue of Saint Joseph were in perfect condition.
They were a little singed, but we took that opportunity to pray.” He added, “Our home is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and it always has been, as have all my family members and extended family.
So we said a prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and sang a special song that our entire family has known for decades to The Blessed Virgin. It was a remarkable moment.”
According to Halpin, the family “broke the law” by visiting the site of their home of 37 years last week.
When they discovered that the destructive Eaton fire had reduced their beloved home to rubble, they leaned on their faith.
Accompanied by their six children and other loved ones, the family sang in praise, recording a video that later went viral on Instagram.
“Our intention was not for this to go viral at all,” Halpin explained. “It was primarily just a family moment, but the response from the community has been unbelievable and incredibly heartfelt.”
Peter’s wife Jackie said she fell to her knees in emotion after her son-in-law snuck up to the site of the home the day before, snapping a photo that revealed the statue was still standing.
She knew then they had to make their own pilgrimage to the site to thank God for the years they spent there.
