On November 26, 2003, on the recommendation of the Taiwan ambassador to the Vatican, Reverend Josef Eugster, who is originally from Switzerland but who has lived in Taiwan for decades, made his first visit into the bedroom of Pope John Paul II. Reverend Eugster situated himself at the feet of Pope John Paul II and began giving the pope a foot massage. “I told the pope that foot reflexology is the way that I spread the gospel in Taiwan,” Reverend Eugster said.

“When I was massaging his feet, I was not nervous in the least. It was only later that day after I had left the pope that it dawned on me that I had just given a massage to someone who I revered. It was at that time that I became so excited that I could not asleep that evening,” he said. Reverend Eugster is well known throughout Taiwan for his method of spreading the word of Catholicism via foot reflexology. The reverend’s keen skills in foot massage have long set him apart from other members of the Church throughout Taiwan. However, never in his wildest dreams did he think that one day his massaging talents would be precisely what would get him through the doors of the Vatican in to see the pope.

In relating the story, Reverend Eugster said it all began with the recommendation that was provided by the Taiwan ambassador to the Vatican. In 2003, the ambassador took it upon himself to write a letter to the bishop that was responsible for taking care of the pope. In the letter, the ambassador wrote that there is a reverend in Taiwan who uses foot reflexology as a means to spread the word of the Church. He said that he hoped that the Vatican would give the reverend an opportunity to try and come to the aid of the pope. The ambassador wrote such a letter twice, but did not get any response. The third time he wrote to the bishop, however, he received a reply.

At the time, Reverend Eugster was in the Vatican attending a conference on depression. The first person to meet with him was quite a tall cardinal. To test out the reverend’s skills, the cardinal put out his feet and asked Reverend Eugster to give him a foot massage. After Reverend Eugster massaged the cardinal’s foot, he informed the cardinal of what he believed were the health problems the cardinal faced. The cardinal was extremely surprised that Reverend Eugster was able to discern his health issues simply through foot reflexology. After that experience, two other bishops came to see the reverend and once again he correctly identified the health problems facing the two of them. Having been successful on time occasions, Reverend Eugster finally was given the opportunity to have an audience with the pope.

“Actually, at the time what I was concerned about the most is that the pope for many years had been afflicted with diabetes as well as Parkinson’s disease. I worried that the bottom of his foot had lost a good portion of their ability to react. If this happened to be the case, there would be no way that I could be of any help,” Reverend Eugster said. “Luckily, when I began massaging the big toe of the pope, I noticed an expression on his face that indicated an ache. I then told the pope that this meant that he usually did not sleep well,” the reverend said. Reverend Eugster added that on that day, he spent about 20 or 30 minutes massaging the various pressure points on the soles of the pope’s feet. One by one, he explained to the pope in German about how the sensations from this or that pressure point indicated various problems, including problems associated with his vocal chords, spine and knees.

“The pope did not speak much during the time when I was massaging his feet. He only nodded or made short remarks indicating that he understand the explanations that I was providing him,” Reverend Eugster said. “I do not know whether there was anyone else thereafter who massaged the pope’s feet. However, the ambassador did tell me that two weeks later, the pope’s voice had improved quite a bit and that he was able to lift his head more than he had in the past. Reverend Eugster continues to perform foot massage and instruct others on the benefits of it. When asked if the experience of massaging the pope’s feet changed him in any way, Reverend Eugster said that at least now other people realize that there is nothing wrong with foot reflexology.

Date: 2005/04/04 11:34:16
SOURCE: Liberty Times

Editors Note: I have personally met and received Reflexology from Fr Josef Eugster and the word Reflexology and Massage are used interchangeably by Fr Josef.