August 31, 2004

Eucharistic Minister

I fully realize that some of the things I have written over the years sound absurd. Not in the fact that these things can and do happen but that they have happened to me. I am unable to explain it any other way other than to say that I know with 100% certainty that it is because Jesus Christ and His Mother are here in Emmitsburg in the same exact way they are in Medjugorje. I am not stating this because I believe it but because I know it.

One of the things that amazes me about this whole thing as it happens to me is how something from the past can suddenly be thrust back upon you in a way that you would have absolutely no control. When this happens it only serves as confirmation and provides the needed strength to continue. The reason I mention this is because of what happened this morning in mass at All Saints in Manassas.

I attended mass this morning at All Saints before going to work. During the homily the priest talked about casting out demons. During his talk he said “Believe me this is something you would never want to do”. At the very instant he said that my mind went straight back to February 15th in Bob G’s room when this happened three days before his death:

After the rosary I asked Bob if he felt strong enough to receive the Eucharist and he shook his head yes. I told Bob that I would go to church and get the Eucharist and be right back. I walked out the door and at that very instant the peaceful feeling hit me and I glanced at my watch and the time was 12:13. I drove to "Parish Church" and picked up the Eucharist and drove back to the nursing home and just at the truck came to a complete stop the clock on the dash switched to 12:33.

I walked back in Bob’s room and his son-in-law R___ suggested that they go get a cup of coffee while Bob receives the Eucharist. B______ said she would like a cup of coffee so they left and it’s a good thing because it got very ugly very fast after that.

I started to say the usual prayers Bob and I pray before he receives the Eucharist and he did not try to join in like he always does. He just had a cold, blank stare in his eyes. After the prayers I tried to give the Eucharist to Bob but he turned his head away.

After about a minute of silence I asked Bob if there was anything he would like for me to get him like a drink of water or something and Bob said yes. He said in a strong, loud, clear and angry tone of voice “I would like for you to go get a gun and use it to blow your brains out”.

I was stunned when he said this but I tried to show no emotion whatsoever when he said this because I knew it was not Bob saying those words. I instantly remembered Bob telling me about little brown men who come into his room who have missing body pieces who torment him.

I then said “You don’t really want me to do something like that do you?” and he said “Oh yes I do.” I then asked why he wanted me to do that and he said “So you will leave me alone.”

I then got right down in Bob’s face and I asked Bob if anyone was bothering him and with a frightened look on his face he shook his head yes. I told Bob to tell whoever was bothering him to go to hell and leave him alone because he belongs to Jesus and Mary and nobody else. Bob shook his head yes again and regained his peace. After a few minutes of Bob being back to normal I offered the host that I was still holding in my fingers. Bob consumed it with no problems other than being exhausted.

My sudden mental recall of this episode caused by what the priest said was so clear and vivid it was like experiencing it all over again. The suddenness and vividness of this caused me to glance at my watch and it said XX:XX:13. Later after returning to my pew after communion with the host still on my tongue the reality of this episode hit me again so strong that again it caused me to glance at my watch and this time it said XX:XX:33. Mass ended and I drove across the street to work and arrived at 9:13.

I had not been at work very long in Manassas when I realized that I was going to need to go to "hometown" and finish my work day there. When I left work in Manassas I stopped at All Saints to pray the rosary and arrived there at 10:13. I prayed the rosary and went to "hometown".

I arrived at work in "hometown" and during the morning I thought about Bob G many times and I also thought about how I miss being a Eucharistic Minister since moving to the Emmitsburg area. I clearly remember thinking that maybe its S.C.C.’s turn.

Later in the day I called S.C.C. to tell her that I was in "hometown". She answered the phone and at that very instant I was hit with a strong, sudden sense of peace. I glanced at my watch and the time was 1:33:33. S.C.C. then told me that she had gone to mass this morning at St. Mary’s and Fr. M___ stopped her after mass and asked if she and I would be Eucharistic Ministers. I was stunned and the peaceful feeling was incredible I then noticed the time display on my phone was 1:33.

Later in the afternoon when I got off work I drove home and stopped at St. Joseph’s first just to say thank You for allowing us to be Eucharistic Ministers again. I arrived at St. Joseph’s just as the clock on the dash switched to 7:33. I got out of the car and walked over and kissed the corner of the church. I looked at my watch and the time was 7:33:00.

R_____ C___

Sep 5, 2004

11:33 Pm