7th Anniversary of the Picture of Christ in the Sun

September 23, 2005

It does not seem possible that it has been 7 years since I first came to Emmitsburg. It was on my second trip, September 23, 1998 that I took the picture of the statue of Our Lady of Fatima and the Face of Christ showed up in a burst of light over Her shoulder. At that time I had still never heard of the apparitions of Our Lady taking place in Emmitsburg.

My first stop at the Grotto of Lourdes was July 3, 1998. That was that day I saw my life flash before me while standing in front of the statue of St. Therese, The Little Flower. It was then that I made a firm commitment to God that I would get C.R.C. baptized. I left the Grotto that day with C.R.C.’s baptism as my number one priority.

I returned to "hometown" and made all of the necessary arrangements for C.R.C.’s baptism at "Parish Church". I was astounded at the lack of resistance I received from S.C.C. who was attending the Baptist church at that time.

After all of the arrangements for C.R.C.’s baptism were complete I rode to the Grotto just to say thank you to God for making everything so easy. That was September 23, 1998 and that is the day I took the picture.

C.R.C. was baptized on October 3, 1998. The picture was developed and I saw it for the first time on December 8, 1998. After seeing the picture I took and realizing something had come out in the picture that I did not see when I took it, I made a promise to God that I would come to the Grotto of Lourdes on this day every year. So far I have kept this promise.

In order to keep my promise of going to the Grotto today I thought about stopping there on my way to work. I knew it would not be open yet so I decided I would make my visit on the way home from work this evening. I did stop by St. Joseph’s on my way to work and when I arrived there the odometer was 1.3 and the CD track flashed 13.

I said a few prayers and left to go to work in Manassas. I stopped at All Saint’s for mass and mass began at 8:33. Fr. Hudgins was the priest. I felt the peace hit me just as he said “The mass is ended” I glanced at my watch and the time was 9:13:13.

I then went to work and was busy the entire day. I was so busy I did not take my lunch break until late in the afternoon when things had slowed down a little. Without ever looking at the time I left to go to All Saint’s to pray the rosary. I looked at my watch as I walked in the chapel and the time was 2:13:33. I prayed the Sorrowful mysteries of the rosary and looked at my watch upon completion. The time was 2:33.

Later in the afternoon when I got off work I left to go back to Emmitsburg and stop at the Grotto to fulfill the promise I made. At the instant I started the car the CD track flashed 13.

I drove to Emmitsburg and stopped at the Grotto. I walked up to the statue of Our Lady of Fatima where I took the picture and simply said “thank You” I then prayed a Hail Mary. At the instant I completed the prayer I felt the peace run through me knowing I had again kept my promise. The peace was so strong I looked at my watch and the time was 7:13.

R_____ C___

October 4, 2005

10:13 Pm