This policeman prays to Our Lady before every shift

In 2006, Federick Yap was a new Fairfax County Police officer working the graveyard shift and looking for a place to file a report. He decided to pull into the parking lot of St Thomas à Becket Church in Reston. “I didn’t realize I was in front of the Virgin Mary statue and I didn’t put any strong emphasis on it because being Catholic, it was normal for me,” he said. “And then I don’t know how it started and why it started, but I just offered a short prayer to the Virgin Mary and made it a practice (before every shift).”

Yap believes Mary’s intercession helped him — along with other police officers and medical professionals — to save the lives of three women during his time on duty, as each save occurred after prayer. “She is the protector of women,” he said. …

Three bars are pinned above the pocket on Yap’s police uniform, each awarded for his role in saving these women’s lives. He refers to each medal by the name of the woman. In his police bag are the rosaries he uses to pray when he gets a few quiet moments during long night shifts.

“Rain or shine, hot and cold, I will see her. I believe she helps me make the best decision,” he said. “You don’t expect this to happen three times. For me, these are miracles.” 

Zoey Maraist

Arlington Catholic Herald, April 3, 2018