It was exactly one year ago at 3:33 am on the feast of The Immaculate Conception that I saw Our Lady of Emmitsburg. I have never considered myself worthy of such an event and it will always be a special moment for me that would be impossible to forget. The details are as vivid to me now as when it was actually happening. This is what I wrote about seeing Our Lady in the paper describing this event a year ago:
December 8, 2004When I arrived home from St. Joseph’s I was fairly tired and was ready to go to bed early. I was probably asleep by 9:30 or so. Later in the night I awoke very suddenly and I was filled with a feeling of peace and a desire to pray. The feeling of peace and holiness was so very strong that I knew it was special. I also knew to look over at the clock next to the bed and the time was 3:33.
I laid in bed and I prayed Hail Mary’s over and over with other prayers mixed in. When I finished I rolled over to go back to sleep and just as I closed my eyes I suddenly saw a bright white light that covered the entire field of my view. Suddenly Our Lady of Emmitsburg was in the middle of the white light. She looked just like the picture of Our Lady of Emmitsburg except she had a magnificent smile on Her face.
The smile and the beauty of Her face came to life. The smile reflected a look of ecstatic joy. I can’t possibly describe the beauty and the feeling of love I was experiencing. Every feature of Our Lady’s face was adjusted to reflect the smile and look of unearthly joy. Her entire face was smiling.
This is the way it happened a year ago and I must admit that I was hopeful it might happen again today but it did not, however the day was special as I will now describe.
December 7, 2005
I have noticed that the events that I have been experiencing and writing these papers about since 1998 always seems to be the strongest leading up to Holy Days and just before and during the apparitions of Our Lady of Emmitsburg and sometimes Our Lady of Medjugorje even if I am not there.
It’s very hard to explain but I am doing the best I can. This morning I again awoke suddenly from a sound sleep with the desire to pray. I looked over at the clock and the time was 4:33. I prayed and went back to sleep and awoke an hour later in the same exact way and looked over at the clock and the time was now 5:33. I prayed and a little while later got up for the day and stopped at St. Joseph’s on my way to work and arrived there and the time on the dash was 6:33.
I went to glance at my watch but realized I was not wearing it and decided that I would go home and get it. Just as I left St. Joseph’s to go home and get my watch I met a car with the license plate of 33. I arrived home and picked up my watch and left again for work. While I was driving I had a sudden thought about Mary G leading the rosary this past Sunday when Our Lady appeared to Gianna. It made me remember the two times I was leading the rosary in St. Joseph’s when Our Lady appeared. It was so strong and vivid I glanced at my watch and the time was 7:33. I continued driving and arrived at work at 9:13.
Later in the day I took my lunch break as the work load allowed. I glanced at my watch as I walked out the door to go pray the rosary at All Saint’s and it said XX:XX:13. I arrived at All Saint’s and glanced at my watch as I started the rosary and it said XX:XX:33. I prayed the Joyful and Glorious mysteries and glanced at my watch as I finished and walked out the chapel door and the time was 2:13. I started the car to leave at that instant the CD flashed 13.
I returned to work and later in the day when all of my work was complete I left for the day. I glanced at my watch and the time was 5:13 and when I started the car to drive back to Emmitsburg the CD flashed 13.
I drove to St. Joseph’s and parked. At the instant I finished parking I looked up as I was getting out of the car and noticed the car parked directly in front of me had the license plate of 33. I walked towards the church and a pickup truck stopped to allow me to cross the road. The license plate on the truck was 13. I walked in St. Joseph’s and glanced at my watch as I genuflected to enter the pew and the time was 7:33.
I attended the vigil mass for the Feast of The Immaculate Conception and Fr. O’Malley was the priest. Mass ended and I left. As I pulled out of the parking lot I was again met with another car with the license plate of 33.
December 8, 2005
I woke up this morning thinking about it being the Feast of The Immaculate Conception as I put my watch on and it said XX:XX:13. I got ready and both S.C.C. and I went to 8 am mass at St. Mary’s. C.R.C. attended mass at school. During Fr. M______ ’s homily about Our Lady I looked up and there was a bright halo surrounding the head of the statue of Mary. I glanced at my watch and it said XX:XX:33.
Mass ended and I drove to St. Joseph’s to pray the rosary for today’s feast and arrived there at 9:33 and just as I turned the car off the CD flashed 33. I prayed both the Joyful and Sorrowful mysteries and at the instant I completed the rosary and kissed the crucifix I glanced at my watch and it said XX:XX:33.(10:12:33). I left and as I walked out the door it said 10:13:13. The peace was so strong I kissed the corner of the church as I walked by and again felt the peace. I glanced at my watch and it was now 10:13:33.
I then walked to the bank to take care of some business and when I returned to my car which was parked at St. Joseph’s and started it to leave the CD flashed 33.
I then rode to St. Peter’s books and helped Peter Blanchard do a few thing pertaining to the Foundation of The Immaculate and Sorrowful Heart which is the new website for Our Lady of Emmitsburg. As we were doing these things I occasionally glanced at my watch and each time it said XX:XX:33.
After Peter and I finished these task I rode back to St. Mary’s because there were special prayers there for the “Hour of Mercy”. I arrived and just at the car came to a complete stop the CD flashed 33. After the prayers people helped stuff envelopes for a large Mission of Mercy mailing. When we finished I then rode back to St. Joseph’s to complete my rosary that I started earlier in the day. Beyond any control of mine I arrived at St. Joseph’s and the time was 4:13. I prayed the Luminous mysteries and when I finished I glanced at my watch as I genuflected to leave and it said XX:XX:33.
I rode back to St. Peter’s because S.C.C. was working and had coffee. Later in the evening I sat down to write the December 2-4 paper and noticed the time was 9:13. I completed up through December 3 and was so tired I could not continue and stopped for the night and the time was 11:13.
R_____ C___Dec. 18, 2005
3:33 Pm