Miraculous Medal Novena & 5th Anniversary of Our Lady of Fatima Photo

22 - 23 September 2003

Monday September 22, 2003

Somehow I never tire of going to Emmitsburg for any reason even if it means making the trip on successive days. This does not mean I don’t get physically tired, it means I do not tire of fighting for Our Lady and Her Son who for whatever reason have allowed me to know the truth of the apparitions before the rest of the world finds out.

I do not go to the Miraculous Medal Novena every Monday night but I go often. I considered not going to the novena today because I knew that I would be going to Emmitsburg tomorrow to fulfill a personal promise to God that I made 5 years ago.

On September 23, 1998 I took the picture of Our Lady of Fatima with the burst of light that shows the side profile of the Face of Jesus looking and smiling on The Blessed Virgin Mary. As a small token of my gratitude, I promised God that I would go to the Grotto of Lourdes on the 23rd of September for the rest of my life. So far I have kept this promise.

When I got up this morning the clock next to the bed said 7:33. I got ready for mass and work and when I pulled out of my driveway the odometer was 3.3.

I attended mass and then went to work in "hometown". Later in the day I received a email from Ted Szymanski saying that he chipped a tooth and had a 3:15 dental appointment in Tyson’s Corner to get it fixed. He said that he would call later in the day if it looked like he would not be able to go to the Miraculous Medal Novena. Ted automatically assumes that we are going unless I say otherwise. I pretty much knew Ted would be able to go and I was suddenly sure I was going to go when I saw the time on the email. The time was 12:13.

When I got off work I drove to Wal Mart in Leesburg and Ted was already there when I arrived at 6:33. Ted and I rode to Emmitsburg and arrived at St. Joseph’s at 7:33 and again the odometer was 33.

Fr. O’Brien was the celebrant and when it was over we left. I glanced at my watch as we pulled out of St. Joseph’s parking lot and the time was 8:13:33. It was raining very hard most of the way home. Ted and I arrived back at his car in Leesburg at 9:13. I drove home and pulled in my driveway at 10:33.

Tuesday September 23, 2003

Today is the 5th anniversary of taking the picture. When I got up this morning the only thing I knew for sure was that at some point during the day I would be at the Grotto of Lourdes to keep the promise I made to God 5 years ago.

I attended daily mass at "Parish Church" and then went to work in "hometown". I completed everything I needed to do there and then I needed to go to Manassas. My co-worker, Carrol R asked me if I would follow him to the Ford place and then drive him back to SWIFT before I left for Manassas so he could have some work done on his car. Carrol and I left and the time was 9:33.

I rode out to the Ford place and drove Carrol back to SWIFT and I left for Manassas. When I arrived in Manassas I stopped first for just a few minutes at All Saint’s. I went in the side chapel they have there and prayed the Chaplet of Divine Mercy and when I finished and walked out of the chapel I glanced at my watch and the time was 11:13.

I went to work and it did not take very long for me to do everything I needed to do in Manassas. I then took the rest of the day off and as I was walking towards my truck to leave for Emmitsburg I felt the sense of peace that I have come to know and recognize. I glanced at my watch and the time was 1:13:33.

I stopped at All Saint’s and prayed the rosary and completed it at 1:33. I then drove straight to Emmitsburg and stopped at St. Joseph’s first. When I arrived the time on the dash was 3:13. I glanced at my watch as I got out of my truck and it said 3:13:33. I went in and prayed another rosary and when I finished the rosary the time was 3:33.

I then left and drove to Gettysburg to visit Sr. Genevieve in the nursing home she is now in. She did not look good. I visited with her for a little while and I then told her that I had to leave so I would not be to late getting home. She then asked me if I could stay for just 5 more minutes. I said yes. I guess I stayed for another 7 or 8 minutes and as I was leaving I glanced at my watch and the time was 4:33.

After I left the nursing home I rode back to Emmitsburg and went to the Grotto of Lourdes. I walked through the Grotto and arrived at the spot where I took the picture of Our Lady of Fatima at 5:13. I then prayed the rosary and started driving home. When I got to Leesburg the police had closed Rt. 15 South and I had to take another route home. I do not know why it was closed but it was a real mess. They did not have any detour signs up and I ended up having to drive to Winchester to get home.

Once I got in Winchester I was very hungry and stopped at a Burger King drive thru. I ordered and just as the girl gave me my food I suddenly felt like I should not eat until I got home. At that very instant I just happened to notice that the time was 7:13.

I do not know how to explain this but suddenly I felt like this was not the time to eat. It was so strong I felt like I was being asked not to eat and to offer it up as a small sacrifice. I did not eat. I continued my ride home. About a mile from my house I glanced at my watch and the time was 8:33:33. I continued my ride home and pulled in my driveway at 8:35. I just sat there for a minute, the food was still sitting on the front seat. This will sound crazy but I am going to say it because it is true: While I was sitting there I realized that the time difference from when I glanced at my watch at 8:33:33 until the time I pulled in my driveway was about the same amount I was at Burger King.

R_____ C___

Oct. 6. 2003

9:33 Pm