December 6 - 8, 2003

December 6

When I walked outside this morning there was a lot of ice and snow and it took me a good while to scrape the windshield. When I finally finished it caught me by complete surprise as I pulled out of the driveway to go to mass and the time was 8:13. When I arrived at "Parish Church" I glanced at my watch and it said XX:XX:33. When mass was over and I was leaving I again glanced at my watch and this time it said XX:XX:13.

Later in the morning I rode to Fredericksburg to try to take care of the sale of another segment of my Civil War collection but no deal was made. As I was driving home I had a very sudden thought about riding to St. Joseph’s tonight to pray the rosary. It became very strong, to the point that I knew that before the day was over that I would go. It was so sudden and strong that I glanced at my watch and it said XX:XX:33. At the same time the odometer was 13.

I had not been home very long when the phone rang and Steve Z asked if I could take his place as Eucharistic minister for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on Monday at the 7 PM mass because he was going to be out of town. I told Steve that I would do it.

Later in the evening I rode to "Parish Church" to sell Knights of Columbus Christmas Cards after the 6 PM mass. I arrived at 6:33. I set up the table and thought I would have to stay and sell the cards but I was relieved by Scott Fisher and I was able to leave. I then rode to 7-11 to pick up some things S.C.C. asked for and then drove home. I told S.C.C. that I was going to Emmitsburg to pray the rosary at St. Joseph’s. I looked at my watch as I was getting in the car to leave and the time was 7:13.

I drove to Emmitsburg and arrived at St. Joseph’s at 9:33. It was very cold as I prayed the entire rosary walking around the church and when I finished I walked up to the corner of the church and kissed it as I was leaving. I glanced at my watch and the time was 10:33.

December 7

When I woke up this morning the first thing I saw was the clock. The time was 7:13. We got ready for 8:30 mass, C.R.C. was scheduled to serve and I was one of the Eucharistic ministers. When mass ended I again was struck with that special sense of peace as we exited the church. I knew to look at my watch and the time was 9:33.

I went downstairs to teach CCD. Sherry A and I reviewed the Immaculate Conception in class and discussed the section in the book about the rosary. It was sad to see the near zero understanding these kids have on this subject. Many had never even heard of it much less know what it is.

After explaining the Immaculate Conception along with a quiz afterwards we prayed 1 decade of the rosary. Again at the very instant we started the decade of the rosary I felt that very strong sense of peace. I glanced at my watch and the time was 10:13.

After CCD I drove home for a few minutes before needing to be back to sell Christmas cards after the 11 AM mass. When I finished the card sales I suddenly remembered that I needed to take the Eucharist to Bob G and Agnes C. I looked at my watch as I walked in the church to get the Eucharist and the time was 12:13.

I drove out to Our Fathers house to give the Eucharist to Agnes and when I arrived the time was 12:33 and the odometer was 13. When I walked in all of the residents were eating lunch so I told them that I would come back a little later. I drove to Bob G’s house and gave him the Eucharist and when we were finished I rode back to Our Fathers House to give the Eucharist to Agnes. When I arrived this time the time was 1:33.

I gave the Eucharist to Agnes and then drove back to "Parish Church" to return the pix. I then prayed the rosary and when I finished I glanced at my watch and the time was 2:13. I walked in the ushers room to put my name on the Eucharistic minister schedule as a replacement for Steve Z but I noticed that it had already been done. I glanced at my watch and the time was still 2:13.

I wrote this paper up to this point on 7 Dec and finished at 9:33.

December 8

I got up early this morning to go to Emmitsburg because there were 5 people who completed the year of formation and took their vows for the Lay Missionaries of Charity. I originally thought I would take the vows in December but since my year is not complete it will most likely be in August. As I was leaving the house this morning S.C.C. stopped me and asked me to get Grotto water. I got the jugs and glanced at my watch as I was walking out the door. The time was 5:33.

I drove to Emmitsburg and was delayed by the morning rush hour in Leesburg. When I arrived in Emmitsburg I stopped at St. Joseph’s first. I glanced at my watch as I entered the church and it said XX:XX:33. I said a few prayers and left to go to St. Mary’s. I was delayed on the way to St. Mary’s by a school bus and a snow plow. When I arrived at St. Mary’s mass had already started and Fr. Messaro was just finishing the gospel. I entered the back pew and glanced at my watch and the time was 8:13.

During mass the people who completed their year of formation for the LMC took their vows. It was very nice and I am looking forward to completing my year of formation. Because I was late to mass I did not receive the Eucharist. When mass was over there was coffee and doughnuts.

After the social gathering I left and was going to ride to Gettysburg to visit Sister Genevieve. Aileen C stopped me and asked if I was going to come back to St. Mary’s at 12 noon for the Hour of Grace. I told Alien that I was going to come back.

I drove to Gettysburg and went to the nursing home to visit Sister Genevieve. I glanced at my watch when I arrived and it said XX:XX:33. I went to her room and she looked very bad. We talked for a while and she showed me her new electric wheelchair. She invited S.C.C., C.R.C. and myself to her 80th birthday party which will be held on December 13th at St. Mary’s. I told Sister Genevieve that we planned on being there. I then left and had no idea at all what the time was, it never crossed my mind. I glanced at my watch as I was getting in my truck to leave and the time was 10:33. I started the truck and the time on the dash was 10:33.

I drove back to Emmitsburg and went to the Grotto of Lourdes to get the water S.C.C. asked for. I filled 3 jugs and then walked over the statue of Our Lady of Fatima to pray the Joyful rosary. I glanced at my watch just as I was starting the rosary and the time was 11:13.

I drove back to St. Mary’s for the Hour of Grace and when I walked in the church I was given a reading part during the prayers. When my turn came I went up to the ambo and read the prayers. I had just completed the “Prayer to the Holy Face of Jesus” and was getting ready to start the next prayer which was “Prayer to the Holy Spirit” when suddenly between the two prayers I felt that special sense of peace. I glanced over at my watch and the time was 12:33:13. The feeling of peace remained with me until the prayer to The Holy Spirit was complete. We then prayed the Sorrowful rosary. When that was over everyone left. I drove back to Emmitsburg and stopped at the Ott House for lunch. After I finished eating I went up to the counter to pay my bill. The total was $8.13.

I then drove around the corner and went to St. Joseph’s to pray another rosary. I prayed the Glorious rosary and when I finished and was walking out of the church I looked at my watch and the time was 2:13. As I was driving home I had a sudden thought about being Eucharistic minister tonight that was so sudden I glanced at my watch and it said XX:XX:13.

I arrived home, ate dinner and got ready for mass. S.C.C. said she needed to go to Wal Mart and would meet me at church. I sat at the kitchen table and caught up the daily journal that I keep and when I finished I drove to "Parish Church" and arrived at 6:33. There was a Holy Hour after mass and I prayed the Luminous rosary before the Blessed Sacrament. When I finished I left and when I started my truck to leave the time on the dash was 8:33.

R_____ C___

Dec 8, 2003

11:13 Pm