Public Message For The Feast of St. Don Bosco and the 34th March For Life

January 21 - 22, 2007

One of the things about Emmitsburg that I have noticed is just how everything always seem to fall in place even in the most impossible situations. There are so many things that I have witnessed and experienced here that do not allow for the possibility of human intervention. My trip to the March for Life this year and the events leading up to it is another perfect example.

I have attended the March for Life in Washington DC for about the past 7 or 8 years. This year I made absolutely no plans whatsoever to attend because it would have been impossible for me to take another vacation day from work after having been off for the past three and a half weeks for our trip to Medjugorje.

Jesus Of Mercy Prayer Group

Sunday January 21

S.C.C., C.R.C. and myself attended mass this morning at St. Mary’s. Mass ended and we got in the car to leave, when I started the car the time on the dash was 11:33 and the CD flashed 13.

We went out to eat and then C.R.C. wanted to go pick up a friend of his and go snowboarding at Ski Liberty. S.C.C. said she would go and pick up C.R.C.’s friend who lives about 20 miles away. S.C.C. also said she would be back in plenty of time for us to go to Mike and Gianna Sullivan’s house for our 5 pm Jesus of Mercy Prayer Group.

About fifteen minutes after they left I walked over to the kitchen window and noticed that it had started to snow. As I watched the snow fall I had a sudden thought crash through my mind that went like this: “Maybe the snow will be enough that Swift will enact the liberal leave policy and I will be able to go to the March For Life tomorrow.” At that instant I just happened to glance at my watch and the time was 2:13.

I called S.C.C.’s cell phone and suggested that she turn around and not pick up Chris’s friend because of the snow. She agreed and turned around and dropped C.R.C. off at Ski Liberty and came home.

Later in the afternoon the snow had diminished to just a few flurries and really amounted to just about nothing. We had about an inch or less. S.C.C. and I left to go to our Jesus Of Mercy prayer group which was being held this month at Mike and Gianna Sullivan’s house. We arrived and I glanced at my watch as we walked in the door and it said XX:XX:33.

Within a few minutes Jim and Susan T arrived. Richard and Rosalie S did not come because they were out of town. We all had a glass of wine and talked for a little while before we started the prayer group. During this time I could not help but notice how tired and beat down Gianna looked. It is not surprising considering all she does and the persecution she endures as a result.

We started the prayer group by reading our Liturgy of The Hours prayers and when we finished that we moved from the living room to the small chapel. We prayed the Glorious mysteries and Our Lady came after the 6th Hail Mary of the 3rd decade while S.C.C. was leading the rosary. After the rosary ended Mike said that this message was for more than just those present and he was going to send it to Fr. John Wang for distribution to the world for the Feast of Don Bosco. We had dinner and Gianna fixed lasagna. It was very good. We then read our scripture readings and left to go home. I glanced at my watch as we left and it said XX:XX:13.

S.C.C. and I rode home and little later in the evening S.C.C. said “That was the first time Our Lady came during my decade. I would like to hang a Miraculous Medal on my rosary to mark the spot where Our Lady came.” At the instant she said that I felt the peace and glanced at my watch. The time was 8:33.

34th March For Life

Monday January 22

Like I said, I had made no plans whatsoever to go to the March For Life today because I could not take anymore vacation. I got up this morning and got ready for work. I was sitting downstairs having a cup of coffee with S.C.C. and she asked if I called the Swift status line. It had never crossed my mind. I called the status line and it said “Swift offices in Manassas are on a liberal leave policy due to snow and ice.”

I could not believe it. Instead of going out the door to go to work I went out the door to go to St. Joseph’s to get on the bus leaving in less than fifteen minutes for the March For Life in Washington DC. I arrived at St. Joseph’s and as I took my seat on the bus my mind went straight back to yesterday at 2:13 when I first saw the snow falling and this ran through my mind:

About fifteen minutes after they left I walked over to the kitchen window and noticed that it had started to snow. As I watched the snow fall I had a sudden thought crash through my mind that went like this: “Maybe the snow will be enough that Swift will enact the liberal leave policy and I will be able to go to the March For Life tomorrow.” At that instant I just happened to glance at my watch and the time was 2:13.

As this suddenly replayed through my mind as I was taking my seat on the bus I glanced at my watch and the time was 7:13.

The bus left and there were only 26 people on the bus. Fr. Paul Murphy CM made the trip and while we were talking he told me that as of this past Saturday night he is assigned permanently to St. Joseph’s. This was wonderful news. Fr. Murphy led the rosary during the bus ride and at the instant we finished and I kissed the crucifix on my rosary I glanced at my watch and it said XX:X:13.

We arrived in Washington DC and went straight to the Verizon Center for mass. When we got there the doors were already locked and we were told that we could not enter because it was full to capacity. There was no visible chance of getting in. It was chaos. Then someone on our bus called someone else they knew who was already inside who had the ability to pull some strings and they came and let us in. The security guard unlocked the door. I glanced at my watch as I walked in the door and the time was 9:33:59. It was a miracle.

Since there were no seats available the person who let us in and led us through the crowd told us to set up chairs on the floor next to the platform where all of the bishops were seated. Archbishop Wuerl said mass and there was a huge clock on the wall in the arena. During the Consecration the time on that huge digital clock was 11:13.

I received Holy Communion and returned to my seat, the host was still on my tongue and I noticed the time was now 11:33. Mass ended and we got our group all together and joined a large crowd of people heading for the march. I glanced at my watch and the time was 12:13.

We walked to the march location and listened to several good speeches given by some pro-life leaders. I was very hungry during this time and did not bring anything to eat because I had not planned on being there. I even started to feel a little sick because of my diabetes, just then Marie Henry walked up to me and handed me an extra peanut butter and banana sandwich. I thanked her and glanced at my watch and the time was 12:33.

The March for Life started and we were located at the very tail end of the march. We had stood there for a long time waiting for the line to start moving. When if finally did I glanced at my watch and the time was 2:33. We arrived and the end of the March For Life and Will L asked me “What time is it ?” I looked at my watch and replied back to him “Three Thirteen and Thirty Three seconds”. (3:13:33).

There was a church at the end of the line named St. Joseph’s on Capitol Hill and they had hot coffee and snacks there for everybody. I believe they have done this for many years. Our bus picked us up there and we started the ride back to Emmitsburg.

During the ride back the person sitting behind me started a conversation and at one point asked me why I moved to the Emmitsburg area. I really did not want to answer the question because I knew I was surrounded by anti Our Lady of Emmitsburg people. I also knew I had an obligation to tell the truth. I glanced at my watch and the time was 5:13. This gave me the strength to tell him it was because of the apparitions. He simply said “Oh”. A little later I was suddenly filled with peace knowing I did not avert the question. I glanced at my watch and the time was 5:33:33.

A little later we arrived back at St. Joseph’s in Emmitsburg. I was sitting near the front of the bus so I could clearly see the car in front of us as we pulled up to St. Joseph’s and it had the license plate of 033.

R_____ C___

Feb. 4, 2007

10:13 Am