Roses on All Saint’s Day

November 1, 2006

Sometimes I find it very hard to accept in my own mind some of the things that have happened to me since I first came to Emmitsburg. I don’t think I would believe all of this if it were being told to me by someone else.

I have no choice, I must believe because it is happening to me, however I do have a choice as to if I will respond or not. I choose of my own God given free will to respond to these events because I know it all started in Emmitsburg and I know Our Lady, The Mother of God is here as Our Lady of Emmitsburg.

On my way to work this morning I stopped by St. Joseph’s to pray for a few minutes before leaving for Manassas. I arrived and the CD track number flashed 13. I sat out in the car and prayed and when I finished I glanced at my watch as I left and it said XX:XX:33. I drove to work and when I arrived the odometer was 13.3.

It was a busy morning and I had not yet been to mass today for the Feast of All Saints. Later in the day I took my lunch break so I could attend the 12 noon mass across the street at All Saint’s. I arrived and glanced at my watch as I walked in the door and it said XX:XX:33. As I genuflected to enter my pew I felt a feeling of peace, I glanced at my watch and it now said XX:XX:13. Mass began and Fr. Bob Celinski was the priest. We knelt for the consecration and again I felt the peace. I glanced at my watch and again it said XX:XX:13.

Mass ended and I considered going to the chapel to pray my daily rosary but I decided not to because there was so much noise as a result of people hanging around after mass just talking. Because of this I just went back to work, I glanced at my watch as I walked out of the door and it said XX:XX:33.

I returned to work and it was still very busy. I was so busy I never even gave any thought of taking a break and going back to All Saint’s to pray the rosary. Later in the afternoon I walked into the cafeteria to get something out of the vending machine. Suddenly as I was walking towards it I was stopped dead in my tracks by the unmistakable scent of roses. It only lasted a few seconds followed by a 2^nd blast of roses. I instantly knew this was Our Lady calling me to go pray the rosary NOW. I glanced at my watch and it said XX:XX:33.

I walked back to my desk to get my keys and rode across the street to All Saint’s. I glanced at my watch as I walked in the chapel and it said XX:XX:33. I prayed both the Joyful and Glorious mysteries of the rosary and never looked at my watch until I finished and kissed the crucifix and the time was now 3:33.

I returned to work and when I got off for the day I drove back to Emmitsburg. While I was driving a sudden thought crashed through my mind about the events I just described and at that instant I noticed the CD flash 033.

I continued driving and when I arrived at St. Joseph’s the odometer was 1.3. The car parked next to where I was pulling in had the license plate of 33 and the time on the dash was 8:33. People were leaving from having just attended mass. I tried to go in but the doors were already locked. I got back in my car to leave and as I started it the CD flashed 033.