First Saturday

September 4, 2004

Yesterday was a very strong day and it continued right into today in an almost seamless manner. When I arrived home last night from First Friday adoration at St. Joseph’s I went straight to bed. When I woke up in the morning I looked at the clock as I got out of bed and the time was 6:13.

We always have the regular monthly Lay Missionary of Charity meeting each First Saturday and today was our turn to bring breakfast which consist of setting up a table and furnishing doughnuts, juice, bagels etc.

Susan and I pulled out of our driveway to go to St. Mary’s and set up and just a we did the feeling of peace hit me. I glanced at my watch and it said XX:XX:33. We arrived at St. Mary’s and just as we pulled in the parking lot the feeling of peace hit me again. I glanced at my watch and the time was 7:33:13.

Susan and I got everything setup before mass started at 8 AM. When mass ended Fr. M____ asked that we delay the rosary until after the meeting because he had an appointment and needed to be somewhere by a certain time. We had the meeting and it was very good. The meeting ended and for whatever reason people left without praying the rosary. I walked in the church and prayed the rosary alone. Just as I started I glanced at my watch and the time was 11:13:33. When I finished I walked out and met Susan. We left and as we did I glanced at my watch and the time was 11:33.

Susan and I drove home and then she left for work at St. Peters Catholic Book Store. Later in the afternoon I realized that I was very tired and wanted to get some rest. I just happed to walk by a table where my LMC crucifix was sitting and for some reason I just felt like picking it up and giving it a kiss. I did and at that instant the peace hit me and I glanced at my watch and the time was 1:33.

I laid down on the floor in the living room and fell asleep. Several hours later when I woke up I did a few things around the house and mowed the grass. When I finished I sat in a chair in the living room, suddenly I was filled with a very strong desire to just get up and go straight to St. Joseph’s and pray the rosary. I glanced at my watch when it hit. It said XX:XX:33.

I drove straight to St. Joseph’s and when I arrived I thought that I would have to pray the rosary outside because I thought the church would be locked. Suddenly a crashing thought hit me and I was suddenly assured the church was unlocked. I glanced at my watch and it said XX:XX:13.

I walked up to the front door and the door was unlocked. While I was praying the rosary Ray Sanders came in and said hello. We talked for about a minute and he left. I continued the rosary and when I finished I glanced at my watch as I walked out the door and the time was 6:33:59.

I was going to go home at this point but decided to ride out to the Grotto of Lourdes for a few minutes. At the very instant I decided I was going there I glanced at my watch and it said XX:XX:33. I arrived and walked through the Grotto and said a few prayers and then got in my car to leave. At the very instant the car moved the odometer switched to 1.3.

At that very instant I had very strong and sudden desire to ride by St. Joseph’s on my way home. I arrived there and the time on the dash was 7:13. I was walking towards the church when I heard my name called. It was Jim O’Brien and several other people just talking. I joined them and the topic of discussion was the positive attitude people are noticing among many people and some priest regarding the apparitions of Our Lady of Emmitsburg. We all knew the reason for this is because this place is truly The Center Of Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart and nothing will ever change that fact. When our little group discussion among friends ended I drove home and just as I arrived I was filled with peace. I glanced at my watch and the time was 9:33:33.

R_____ C___

Sep. 12, 2004

11:13 Pm