November 1, 2002

All Saints Day

All during this week I had considered not going to Emmitsburg on Friday like I always do because of All Saints Day. After the rosary the previous week Fr. M_____ made the announcement “Next Friday is All Saints Day, a holy day of obligation therefore we will not have our regular rosary or benediction. There will be mass at 6:30 and you are all welcome for that. We can pray one mystery of the rosary after mass and the Chaplet of Devine Mercy and that will conclude the evening”.

During the week I had decided that I would not be going and I thought it might be nice to have a Friday evening at home and that a little break would be good. I also had thoughts that would make me want to go to Emmitsburg regardless of the absence of our regular Friday night activities. In other words I did not know what I was going to do. In prayer I simply said “I want to do what ever it is that You want me to do” and I left it at that.

Friday came and I started the day by arriving at "Parish Church" early enough to pray the rosary before mass. I Prayed the rosary and finished it at 8:13. After mass as I was walking out of the church and I caught a glimpse of my watch and it said XX:XX:33. I drove to work and arrived there at 9:33. Later in the day I had the sudden urge to pray the rosary so I took my lunch break and drove to Our Lady of the Blue Ridge. As I was leaving the SWIFT building I glanced at my watch and it said XX:XX:33.

When I arrived at Our Lady of the Blue Ridge I started praying the rosary and during the rosary I very suddenly remembered that not only was it All Saints day but it was also first Friday so Saint Joseph’s would be open all night for Eucharistic adoration. I remembered this so suddenly that I knew to look at my watch and it said XX:XX:13. At this point I not only knew I was going to Emmitsburg but was excited and looked forward to arriving there. After I finished the rosary I looked at my watch at the very instant I was walking out the door and the time was 12:13:33.

I got off work and drove to Emmitsburg. Ted had said earlier in the week that he would not be going on Friday, in addition to that he had not been feeling well most of the week. When I arrived at St. Mary’s mass was still in progress and Fr. Mxxxxxx was just saying “The mass is ended, go in peace” I looked at my watch and the time was 7:13. I waited outside in the vestibule until everyone came out. I then went in the church and some people stayed and we prayed one mystery of the rosary and Devine Mercy and called it a night. Several of us went downstairs in the parish hall and just talked for a while and had a cup of coffee. I was not paying any attention to the time and left when everyone else did.

I drove to Saint Joseph’s for first Friday adoration and arrived there at 9:13. I prayed the new mysteries of light and I then I just sat there thinking about everything and how nothing in this world compares or even comes close to the value of what so many people have received from God in Emmitsburg. I know a lot of people who would not trade one shred of the blessings they have received at St. Joseph’s for all the money or power in the world. I lost all track of time and did not look at my watch until I left the church and returned to my truck. The time was 10:33.

I decided to walk over to the Ott House and get something to eat, I had only been there about 2 minutes when Raymond Sanders came walking in and sat down with me. We ate and when we finished Raymond said “I am going to walk over to St. Joseph’ for a little while and say a few prayers come on and go with me”. I said “thats a good idea”. When we walked in the church I glanced at my watch and it said XX:XX:33. I stayed for a little while and left before Raymond did. I was not paying any attention to the time and when I left and was leaving to go home the clock on the dash in my truck said 12:13.