It never fails. The First Friday and Saturday of each month are two of the strongest days of each and every month when it comes to everything I have been describing over the past 7 years. This month was no exception.

I knew this was going to be a very busy weekend and I really did not know how I was going to fit in everything that I needed to do. The people who have been renting our house in "hometown" moved out because they had a house built and new people were moving in. I needed to be there to meet Sheri A and the new tenants on Friday evening at 6 pm. I also needed to be back here for the monthly LMC meeting on Saturday morning at St. Mary’s because I had been nominated to become the interface between the LMC group and the Missionary of Charity Fathers. On top of that I needed to be back in "hometown" Saturday evening for a Mothers Day dinner after the 6 pm mass at "Parish Church".

First Friday May 6

I left the house this morning and drove to work in Manassas. As I pulled out of my driveway I suddenly remembered that today is First Friday. I also thought about how busy I will be this weekend. At the very instant I thought about this I noticed the CD counter flash 33. I then glanced at my watch and it said XX:XX:33.

I did stop by St. Joseph’s on my way to work and said a few prayers. There was nothing special about the time I arrived or the odometer. That was very surprising to me and it left me with a bit of an empty, lonely feeling. It caused me to want to pray for people who choose to leave God out of their lives. I then drove to Manassas and went to All Saint’s for mass. I arrived in time to pray the Sorrowful rosary before the Blessed Sacrament. I finished the rosary and mass began at 8:33.

Fr. Hudgins was the priest and the All Saint’s school children were attending mass. Mass was very nice and when I received Holy Communion I returned to my seat. The host was still on my tongue and at the very instant I knelt down I suddenly felt the peace hit me. I glanced at my watch and the time was 9:13:33.

Mass ended and I drove across the street to work. I was extremely busy the entire day. Lunch time came and Frank K came up to my desk wanting to go to All Saint’s to pray the rosary. He said he needed to pray for the annulment of his wife’s first marriage that lasted only 1 year back when she was only 17. Frank and Diane have been married 27 years. The annulment request is being reviewed in Arlington. After Frank told me about this he said he needed to stop by the bank and would meet me at All Saint’s. I finished what I was doing and rode to All Saint’s and arrived at the very same time Frank did. The time was 1:13. We prayed the rosary individually and when I finished the Glorious Mysteries I glanced down at my watch and the time was 1:33.

I drove back to work and at the instant the car came to a complete stop I again felt the peace caused by a sudden thought about Frank’s return to the church because of the events in Emmitsburg. His sincerity is what triggered the feeling of peace. I glanced at my watch and it said XX:XX:33.

The afternoon at work was crazy. It was as busy as I can ever remember it. Venkat and I were the only 2 there and it was impossible for me to leave in time for me to meet Sheri A and the new tenants at our house in "hometown" at 6 pm. I called Sherri and told her that I was running late and would get there as soon as possible. Venkat and I finally finished all the work and I left for the day. I drove to my house in "hometown" and when I arrived (about 40 minutes late) I glanced at my watch and it said XX:XX:33.

Sherri A who was the aide in my CCD class at "Parish Church" now manages the rental of my house in "hometown". I have never told her why I moved to Emmitsburg. I liked the new tenants very much and they officially move in tomorrow.

S.C.C. and C.R.C. arrived and they are going to stay in "hometown" the rest of the weekend at her moms house for Mother’s Day. We spent the evening just doing little things around the house getting it ready for the new people. When we finished S.C.C. and C.R.C. went to her moms house and I drove back to Emmitsburg because I needed to be there to accept the nomination as the interface for the LMC at the meeting tomorrow morning at St. Mary’s.

I arrived at St. Joseph’s and the time on the dash was 11:33 and at the very instant the car came to a complete stop the CD counter flashed 13, I glanced at my watch as I walked in the church and it said XX:XX:13. I completed the rosary that I began this morning at All Saint’s in Manassas by praying the Joyful and Luminous mysteries. When I completed the rosary I glanced at my watch and it said XX:XX:13. I then left and as I pulled out from St. Joseph’s the time on the dash was 12:33.

First Saturday May 7

When I got home last night I went straight to bed. When I got up I got ready for the First Saturday LMC meeting at St. Mary’s. The meeting started with 8 am mass followed by the Glorious Mysteries of the rosary. The meeting followed and I did accept the nomination to be the link that interfaces with the MC Fathers and was elected for a 3 year term. After all of the business was finished Dorothy B____ asked if we were going to end with a closing prayer. At the instant we started the closing prayer I felt the peace. I glanced at my watch and the time was 10:33. At that instant someone asked what page the prayer was on. Sherry Masser who is the current LMC interface link responded 13.

After the meeting was over we cleaned up and people left. I helped Sherry M load a few things in her car. She has been the LMC interface ever since I joined and we stood out in the parking lot discussing the responsibilities of the position for a while. She said she would help me with anything I needed once I take over in July. We finished talking and then we left. I had the sudden urge to go to St. Joseph’s and pray the rosary for the LMC position I have accepted. I drove to St. Joseph’s and at the very instant I arrived I felt the peace and glanced at my watch. The time was 11:13:33. I went in the church and prayed the Joyful mysteries of the rosary and at the very instant I finished I looked at my watch and the time was 11:33.

I then walked down the street because I needed to go to the bank and open a new account for the rental of our house in "hometown". I opened the account and when I finished I walked back to St. Joseph’s where my car was parked. I got in the car to leave and I glanced at my watch and it said XX:XX:13. At the very instant I started the car the CD counter flashed 33.

I drove to St. Peter’s Books to pick the Pilgrim Statue of Our Lady for Brian F. I told Brian I would pick it up there for him because he could not return it himself to the Mission of Mercy mass tomorrow at St. Mary’s because he had to work. When I arrived to pick up the statue the CD counter flashed 13. After I picked up the statue I drove home and at the very instant the car came to a complete stop the CD counter flashed 33.

I got ready to drive back to "hometown" for Mother’s day and I also wanted to do a few last minute things at the house. On my way to "hometown" I again stopped for just a minute at St. Joseph’s for a short prayer. I went in and prayed. When I came out I was instantly met with an approaching car with the license plate of 133.

I planned on driving straight to my house in "hometown" and meeting up with my family at the restaurant. I had not planned to attend mass at "Parish Church" because I would be attending the Mission of Mercy mass tomorrow. Suddenly I had a strong out of nowhere desire to attend mass at "Parish Church". At that very instant the oncoming car had a license plate of 13 and the clock on the dash was 3:33.

It was at that instant my plans changed and I was going to mass at "Parish Church". I continued to drive and when I arrived in "hometown" I drove straight to "Parish Church". At the very instant I arrived and the car came to a complete stop I glanced at my watch and the time was 5:33:13 and the CD counter flashed 33.

I joined up with my mother, sister, nephews and S.C.C. and C.R.C.. Mass at "Parish Church" is always special to me. I love "Parish Church". At the time of the Consecration I again felt the peace and saw the gift we brought back from Medjugorje. I glanced at my watch and it said XX:XX:13. Mass ended and at the very instant I pulled out of the parking lot I again felt the peace. I glanced at my watch and it said XX:XX:13 at that very instant the odometer switched to 3.3.

I then rode out to the house and took care of something and then drove to Country Cooking for our Mother’s day dinner with my mom, S.C.C.s Mom and my sister and nephews. When I arrived there I thought about it being Mothers Day and I just happened to notice the clock on the dash was 7:33 and the CD flashed 33. We had a very nice family evening together. When we finished eating C.R.C. and I rode back to Emmitsburg because he will be the alter server tomorrow at the Mission of Mercy mass. S.C.C. stayed another night in "hometown". When we arrived home I was very tired and at the very instant the car came to a complete stop the CD counter flashed 13.

May 14, 2005

8:33:33 Pm