Exactly 59 years ago, in February 1963, the former president of Brazil, Juscelino Kubitschek, gave a testimony to the Ecclesiastical Tribunal that was handling the initial work for the Cause of Beatification/Canonization of Father Eustáquio. On that occasion, he spoke about two graces obtained by him and his family through the intercession of the Dutch priest.

Read the full testimony:

“"While I was suffering from a throat infection and had a fever for several days, with no effect from the remedies, Father Eustáquio gave me a blessing around eleven in the morning, and by two in the afternoon, I was completely cured. Another fact is this: for twelve years I had been tired and childless. All treatments had been tried, without any result. Finally, Dr. Lucas Machado proposed a minor surgical intervention, which I, as a doctor, knew to be practically useless. In conversation with Dr. Olinto Orsini regarding the aforementioned surgical intervention, he told me that he would bring Father Eustáquio to my house. Father Eustáquio gave my wife a blessing, and approximately ten days after the blessing, conception was confirmed. The entire pregnancy was extremely difficult with several complications, and the delivery was difficult, ending in a cesarean section. There is no further confirmation of this event because my wife did not conceive again. When Father Eustáquio was at my house to give the blessing..." I received it from my wife more out of politeness than because I was thinking of some extraordinary event. As a Catholic, I acknowledge the possibility of a miracle. If the surgical intervention had been performed and, simultaneously, Father Eustáquio had given his blessing, I would attribute the result to the intervention. However, since only Father Eustáquio gave a blessing, I firmly believe that a miracle occurred in this case.”

Juscelino Kubitschek lived alongside Father Eustáquio during the time the Blessed Father resided in the capital of Minas Gerais. At the time, JK was mayor of Belo Horizonte and donated the land to the Blessed Father to build the Parish of the Sacred Hearts, now the Archdiocesan Sanctuary of Health and Peace.