First Friday/Saturday

June 4th & 5th 2004

On Thursday June 3rd Phil C called me at work to tell me that we would not be having our LMC study group meeting on Friday night. He said it would be held the following Friday June 11. He said we would have our regular 1st Saturday LMC meeting on Saturday starting with 8 AM mass. I told Phil that I was still planning on coming to Emmitsburg because of 1st Friday adoration at St. Joseph’s. Phil then said to just plan on spending the night at his house and not drive back to "hometown".

Friday June 4th

Shortly after getting up this morning I had several sudden thoughts about going to Emmitsburg for 1st Friday adoration at St. Joseph’s. When I am in St. Joseph’s on 1st Fridays I get the same feeling as when I was in St. Joseph’s on Thursday nights during the visits of Our Lady. It would be hard to describe so I will just say that the desire to go is strong. Each time I had a sudden thought about this I glanced at my watch and it said XX:XX:33.

I attended mass this morning at "Parish Church". It was the children's mass and like always it was very nice. Just as I was receiving Holy Communion the feeling of peace surrounded me. It was the unmistakable knowledge that Our Lady was near. I glanced at my watch and the time was 9:13. When mass ended I glanced at my watch as I walked out the door and it said XX:XX:13.

I went to work in "hometown". Later in the day I went to lunch with my co-worker Carrol. When we finished eating I left to go home because S.C.C. had more boxes packed and ready for me to take to Phil’s house tonight when I go to Emmitsburg. I glanced at my watch as I walked out the door and the time was 12:33.

I arrived home and S.C.C. and I loaded up the boxes she packed in the car. S.C.C. had also packed a small bag for me to spend the night. I then left and drove to "Parish Church" to pray the rosary and when I arrived there the time was 1:13. I prayed the Sorrowful Mysteries of the rosary and when I finished I looked at my watch and the time was 1:33. I drove back to work and when I arrived the odometer was 3.3 and the truck in front of me had the license plate of 333.

When I finished all of my work I left to go to Emmitsburg. It was raining very hard. I caught Leesburg at the worst part of rush hour and traffic was severely backed up. I finally made it through Leesburg and continued my trip to Emmitsburg. I drove straight to St. Joseph’s and when I arrived the time on the dash was 7:33. I glanced at my watch and it said 7:33:00. I walked in the front door of St. Joseph’s and at that instant the peace hit me again. I glanced at my watch and it said 7:33:59.

I was somewhat surprised to find the church unlocked because I was not 100% sure there would be 1st Friday adoration because of renovations currently taking place during the week at St. Joseph’s. I was the only person in the church. I sat down and started to pray. A few minutes later Ray Sanders came in. He said there would be adoration.

After a few more minutes Fr. O’Malley came in and started to prepare for 1st Friday Adoration. By 8:00 PM there were about a dozen people in the church. Fr. O’Malley knelt before the Blessed Sacrament for what seemed like a very long time. When he got up Night Prayers were read. After the prayers were complete he knelt again before the Blessed Sacrament for what again seemed like a very long time. It was during this time I suddenly felt like I should pray the rosary when Fr. O’ Malley finished. About 10 minutes later he got up and I started my rosary. I prayed the rosary and when I finished I got up to leave. I looked at my watch as I walked out the door and the time was 9:13.

I walked to my car and glanced at my watch as I started to dial Phil’s phone number on my cell phone. It said XX:XX:33. Phil’s wife Aileen answered the phone and said Phil had gone to Dr. Joe F’s house and would be back shortly. She told me to come over to spend the night. I drove to Phil’s house and arrived at 9:33.

It was at that time Aileen told me that St. Peter’s in Liberty Town burned down during the night. She said there would be all night adoration at the Grotto of Lourdes because of this and she would be going at 4 AM. She also said Phil was scheduled to go to St. Joseph’s for adoration from 1 AM until 3 AM.

A little while later Phil arrived home and I told him I would go to St. Joseph’s with him. We talked for a few minutes and then went to bed for a few hours before having to get up. When I walked in my room the clock next to the bed said 10:33. I set the alarm for 12:30 and went to sleep.

Saturday June 5th

The alarm went off and I got up and met Phil out in the living room. We left for St. Joseph’s and it was still raining very hard. We arrived at St. Joseph’s and went in. At that very instant I had the sudden desire and urge to pray the rosary. I prayed the Glorious mysteries and at the very instant I finished I again felt the peace. I glanced at my watch and the time was 1:13.

I continued to pray before the Blessed Sacrament mostly about our upcoming move. There were about 10 people in the church. After a while I took the key and walked over to the parish hall to use the restroom. I also stood outside and drank some coffee that Phil and I brought with us. When I walked back in the church the peace hit me again. I looked at my watch and the time was 2:33.

A few minutes before 3 AM Lenny F came in and Phil and I left. It was still raining very hard. We drove back to Phil’s house and as we were walking in the sudden feeling of peace struck again. At that very instant my eyes made contact with a small digital clock on the coffee maker. It said 3:33. That was not the correct time. The actual time was about 3:20.

We went back to bed and had to be at St. Mary’s for 8 AM mass. That would be followed by the LMC meeting. When the alarm clock went off I got up and got dressed. As I walked out of the bed room I glanced over at the clock next to the bed and the time was 6:33.

We attended mass at St. Mary’s. After mass Fr. M____ asked everybody to change the misselet books before the meeting. When that job was completed we started our meeting in the church with the Glorious mysteries of the rosary. I was asked to lead. We then moved into a classroom for the rest of the meeting.

After the meeting we rode back to Phil’s house and unloaded the boxes that S.C.C. sent up with me in the rain. We have been moving stuff up and keeping it at Phil and Aileen’s house for the past few months. When we finished unloading I thanked Phil and Aileen for inviting me to stay at there house and I left. When I started my car to leave the time on the dash was 12:33.

I drove over to our new house which is only about a mile away and checked on the upkeep. The current owner could do a better job. I then rode to St. Joseph’s because I wanted to finish the rosary. I prayed the Luminous mysteries and when I finished and walked out of the church I glanced at my watch and the time was 1:13.

The rain had slowed down so I stopped at the Grotto of Lourdes to get some Grotto water that S.C.C. asked me to get. I got the water and when I pulled out the time on the dash was 1:33. I had to stop in Frederick at the Toyota place to get something for the new car. I then drove home and pulled in my driveway and the time on the dash was 4:13.

R_____ C___

June 10, 2004

11:33 PM