First of all I would like to thank God and His Blessed Mother under the title of Our Lady of Emmitsburg for the happy outcome of a short family vacation that suddenly turned into a disaster that could have cost S.C.C. her leg or even her life.
August 17th is a day that is unforgettable in our family. It was on that day in 1992 that C.R.C. was beat up by his baby sitter. Our lives were changed that day, although I did not realize it at the time, it was the beginning of a return to God and is THE EVENT that began our Emmitsburg experience. The early papers I have written cover these details.
On August 17th 2001 we were in Medjugorje and S.C.C.’s father died. That made for a very difficult trip but the presence of God and His Blessed Mother under the title of Our Lady of Medjugorje not only saw us through this very difficult time but also confirmed to our family beyond any shadow of doubt that Our Lady of Medjugorje and Our Lady of Emmitsburg are one and the same. I have also written a paper describing in detail these events.
This past August 17th 2007 was another day I will not soon forget. S.C.C. had an accident in the Shenandoah River and ended up in the hospital for 13 days. Her leg and her life were in jeopardy. The events I am about to describe clearly show me that God and His Mother under the title of Our Lady of Emmitsburg saw our family through this crisis.
Feast of The Assumption of The Blessed Virgin Mary
Wednesday August 15
S.C.C. has been wanting to go on a short family vacation for a while and we decided to take a few days off and go to Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. We started the day by attending mass for the Feast of The Assumption at St. Mary’s in Fairfield. During mass something happened that has not happened for a good while now, I looked up and there was a halo of light surrounding the head of the statue of St. Joseph. It was so bright and distinct I knew to glance at my watch and the time was 8:13.
Mass ended and we drove home and finished getting things ready for our trip. When S.C.C. and C.R.C. finally finished packing and loading the truck we left and drove to Harpers Ferry. We had reservations at the Cliffside Inn which was owned at one time by an old Civil War relic hunting friend of mine. We arrived and pulled in the parking lot and the time on the dash was 3:33.
That’s where it stopped. What I mean is from this point on I did not ever feel the presence of God or Our Lady in the way I have become accustomed to since my earliest days in Emmitsburg. There were no sudden feelings of peace that caused me to glance at my watch, no desire to pray, no nothing. It was an empty feeling. We spent the rest of the day and evening looking around the historical sites of Harpers Ferry.
Thursday August 16
We spent the entire day looking around historic Harpers Ferry and took the National Park Service tour. Today was the first day that I have ever had where I did not have any sudden thoughts of God, sudden desire for prayer, or any occurrences of 13, 33 or 333 since I first attended the Thursday Night Prayer Group. Not one. Despite the fact I was with my family, I felt alone. At one point I clearly remember thinking that this was the perfect time for something bad to happen.
Friday August 17
Historically speaking August 17th has not been a good day. Fifteen years ago today C.R.C. was beat up by his baby sitter and six years ago today S.C.C.’s father, Garnett Carpenter died while we were in Medjugorje.
We pretty much ran out of things to do in Harpers Ferry and we considered not waiting for tomorrow to go home and leaving today. There was a brochure in the hotel room advertising a rafting trip down the Shenandoah River and we decided to do it. We drove to the location listed in the brochure and signed up.
They gave us a map to where we needed to go. We arrived at the location and left the truck there. They drove us up river about 3 or 4 miles and the plan was to float down river back to where the truck was parked. They said it should take about two hours.
After being dropped off at the starting point we each put our rafts in the water. The water was calm the entire way with only very minor rapids. About 10 minutes into the trip I suddenly tipped over and fell out of my raft. I got back in and floated through a small area of bumpy water. It was after that I realized I had lost my wedding band.
At this point I saw S.C.C. and C.R.C. being carried downstream by the current and I made my way back to where I tipped over thinking I might be able to find my ring because the water was clear and shallow enough that I might be able to see it on the bottom. While looking for the ring I saw S.C.C. and C.R.C. go around a bend in the river and they went out of sight. I gave up looking for the ring and got back in my raft and tried to catch up with them.
About a minute later I saw C.R.C. come running back towards me and he said “Mom’s had an accident and she is bleeding real bad and she is crying.” C.R.C. and I got back to her and I was stunned when I saw the foot long gash in S.C.C.’s leg. We put a shirt on the cut and I ran up the bank of the river to a road to get help.
Once I got to the road a car was just going by. I then noticed a car parked on the side of the road and a man was sitting in the car talking on a cell phone. I explained to him what happened and asked him to call 9-11. I went back to S.C.C. and the rescue squad arrived about 7 to 10 minutes later. They were pretty fast.
We got S.C.C. out of the river and into the ambulance and they transported her to the emergency room in Charles Town, West Virginia.
The emergency room doctor said S.C.C. needed an orthopedic surgeon but none was available. They consulted with another doctor who suggested that they sew up her leg and let her go home and see a orthopedic surgeon in Gettysburg on Monday. They then told us to be on the lookout for signs of infection and if S.C.C. developed redness, swelling or fever that we needed to take her to the emergency room in Gettysburg at the very first sign of these symptoms.
They released S.C.C. and we drove home. I called Dr. Joe Ferguson who is a good friend and lives just down the street and he said that he wanted to know when we arrived home so he could come up and look at it himself. We arrived home and he did come up and look. He agreed it was bad but could most likely wait until Monday before going to the orthopedic surgeon. He also said he wanted to personally change S.C.C.’s bandage and did not want anyone else to touch it.
After Joe left I sat down to pray the rosary. At the instant I started the rosary I felt the peace for the first time since our vacation began, I glanced at my watch and the time was 10:33.
Saturday August 18
S.C.C. is in a lot of pain and she is starting to look very sick. Joe F came over this morning and changed the bandage and said we need to keep a very close eye on her. Later S.C.C. was better and I left to go to the noon mass at the Grotto of Lourdes. I stopped at St. Joseph’s on the way and arrived there and the time on the dash was 11:33.
The church was of course locked so I sat out in the car and prayed for a few minutes. I rode to the Grotto for the noon mass and just as I arrived and the car came to a complete stop the CD flashed 13. The noon mass began and Fr. Jack Lombardi was the priest. I received Holy Communion at 12:33.
Mass ended and I rode to the grocery store to pick up a few things S.C.C. said she wanted me to take over to Gianna Sullivan’s house for Susan T’s baby shower later today. After I finished at the grocery store I stopped by St. Joseph’s again and when I arrived the odometer was 13.3. I sat out in the car and prayed my daily rosary for S.C.C.. I completed the rosary and glanced at my watch as I finished and the time was 1:33:13.
I drove home and S.C.C. was looking worse. It was not long when both Joe and Jan Ferguson arrived at the house to check on S.C.C.. At this point S.C.C. was having all of the symptoms the doctors at the Charles Town emergency room told us to be watching for.
Joe agreed things had taken a turn for the worse and we took S.C.C. to the emergency room in Gettysburg. The doctors there looked at her and said she would need to be admitted. They asked me to sit down and provide some information they needed. I glanced at my watch as I sat down and the time was 6:33:33.
S.C.C. was then taken to room 256 where she would stay for the next 13 days.
Sunday August 19
I awoke this morning very abruptly. I had the feeling I should pray, I then looked over at the clock next to the bed and the time was 6:33. Later in the morning C.R.C. and I attended the 8 AM mass at St. Mary’s. At the consecration I felt the peace and glanced at my watch and it said XX:XX:13.
Mass ended and Gianna Sullivan stopped to ask what room S.C.C. was in because she and Mike planned on visiting her. C.R.C. and I then went home, ate breakfast and left to go back to the hospital. I glanced at my watch as we walked out the door and the time was 10:13.
We arrived at the hospital and S.C.C. is very sick because a river bacteria has gotten into the bone in her leg and has caused a major infection. While I was sitting in S.C.C.’s room my cell phone rang and it was Jan Ferguson. Jan said she was going to come visit S.C.C. and bring her the Eucharist. We hung up and the time was 11:13. A few minutes later the doctor came in to check on things and he arrived at 11:33.
The doctor explained that the type of injury S.C.C. has is serious. As bad as the cut is the real concern is the infection which can lead to all kinds of serious problems. A little later C.R.C. and I left to go home. We arrived and pulled in the driveway and the time was 12:33.
Later in the afternoon I decided to ride to St. Peter’s just to help get my mind off things. I decided to stop at St. Joseph’s on the way to pray the rosary for S.C.C.. I arrived at St. Joseph’s and the first thing I saw was a parked car with the license plate of 33. I sat out in the car and prayed the rosary and never looked at my watch until I finished and the time was 3:13.
I rode to St. Peter’s and had coffee. I then rode home and later in the evening C.R.C. and I left to go back to the hospital to visit S.C.C.. We arrived and Mike and Gianna Sullivan were there visiting S.C.C..
Monday August 20
I drove C.R.C. to his summer job at Capital Camps. On the way back I stopped at St. Rita’s in Blue Ridge Summit for the 9 AM mass. It was my first time there. I then drove straight to the hospital and the doctor said S.C.C. was worse and needed to be put on a stronger IV antibiotic with more frequent doses. S.C.C. looks bad.
S.C.C. was so sick that my presence there was of no use. I left the hospital and drove straight to St. Joseph’s to pray. I arrived and was surprised to see the church was unlocked. I glanced at my watch as I walked in and the time was 12:33:00.
I did not stay long because Fr. O’Malley was there and he was in the process of locking up the church. As a courtesy to him I just got up to leave rather than run the risk of him asking me to leave. As I was leaving I did tell him what happened to S.C.C. and he said he would pray for her.
I then rode by St. Peter’s and had coffee with Mary Blanchard. I updated her on S.C.C.’s condition. Shortly later, without ever considering or looking at the time I left and stopped by St. Joseph’s again to pray the rosary while sitting outside in my car. I arrived and the time was 2:13. I prayed the Sorrowful mysteries for S.C.C. and glanced at my watch as I finished and the time was 2:33.
I drove home and did a few things around the house before going back to the hospital. S.C.C. was looking a little bit better. I left and stopped by Capital Camps to pick up C.R.C. and when we arrived home the odometer was 1.3.
Tuesday August 21
I woke up again this morning and looked over at the clock and the time was 5:33. I said some prayers and went back to sleep. Later in the morning I rode to St. Mary’s for daily mass. After mass Dorothy Burke said I should stop by her house to pick up Fr. Mike’s walker for S.C.C. to use when she gets out of the hospital. I did and just as I put the walker in my car I noticed the time was 9:13.
I took the walker to the house and then drove back to St. Mary’s to pick up the Eucharist to take to S.C.C.. I got the Eucharist and as I got back in my car I noticed the time on the dash was 9:33. I drove to the hospital and gave S.C.C. the Eucharist. At the instant she finished consuming the host I felt the peace. I glanced at my watch and it said XX:XX:13.
I visited for a few more minutes but she did not feel well and I could tell she needed rest. I left and drove to the Grotto of Lourdes to attend the noon mass. I arrived at the Grotto and the odometer was 3.3. Fr. Jack Lombardi was the priest and the consecration took place at 12:33. Mass ended and I stopped by St. Joseph’s to pray my daily rosary while sitting out in the car. I prayed the Sorrowful mysteries and glanced at my watch as I finished and the time was 1:13.
Later in the evening I sat down and caught up all of my notes from the past few days from the voice recorder I use. While I was recording all of these notes I realized that I would be writing a paper about this very sad event. At the instant I completed the notes I glanced at my watch and the time was 6:33:59.
Wednesday August 22
I feel I need to say at this point that this entire ordeal has been very stressful for all of us. I have been unable to go to work because of this situation and I do fear for my job. I have been feeling more stressed now than I have in a very long time.
I drove C.R.C. to his job at the camp and on the way home I stopped for 9 AM mass at St. Rita’s. The gospel this morning for the Queenship of Mary was the Annunciation narrative which caused a strong feeling of peace and re-assurance in me. It was so strong I knew to glance at my watch and the time was 9:13. Mass continued and I received Holy Communion at 9:33.
Mass ended and I was invited to a light breakfast in St. Rita’s parish hall. When that was over I drove into Emmitsburg because I needed to go to the bank. I parked at St. Joseph’s because it is so close and the time on the dash was 10:33 and the CD flashed 13.
I did my business in town and stopped by St. Peter’s for coffee before going to St. Mary’s to pick up the Eucharist for S.C.C.. After picking up the Eucharist I drove home and pulled in my driveway and the time on the dash was 12:33.
C.R.C. only worked a half day because he wanted to visit his mother in the hospital so I picked him up. He and I then rode to the hospital and after many unexpected delays arrived there with the Eucharist at 3:13.
We walked in S.C.C.’s room and she was very upset. The doctors had just given her very bad news about the condition her leg. They told her the infection was worse and that the antibiotics were not working the way they had hoped. They told her that she would have to undergo surgery tomorrow so they could manually remove the infection in her bone.
I gave S.C.C. the Eucharist and I glanced at my watch and it said XX:XX:13. We then prayed a family rosary in S.C.C.’s hospital room. After we finished the rosary S.C.C.’s roommate, Fran Drago said she very much enjoyed hearing us pray the rosary. C.R.C. and I then drove home and I glanced at my watch as we pulled in the driveway and the time was 6:13.
Later in the evening I drove to the adoration chapel to pray for S.C.C.’s surgery tomorrow. I prayed all of the prayers in a small book about Lourdes. I prayed for Our Lady of Emmitsburg’s intercession during the sorrowful mysteries of the rosary. I completed the rosary and felt a strong feeling of peace. I glanced at my watch and the time was 9:13.
Thursday August 23
S.C.C. gets operated on today at Gettysburg Hospital and C.R.C. leaves to go to Ohio with the Ferguson’s. He was reluctant to leave but S.C.C. insisted that he go and assured him everything would be fine. I drove to St. Mary’s for mass and just as I shut the car off I noticed the CD flash 13. During mass I prayed for S.C.C.’s surgery. Mass ended and I glanced at my watch as I was leaving and the time was 8:33.
I drove to the hospital and the nurses were getting S.C.C. ready for her operation. After they finished getting her ready we prayed the Luminous mysteries of the rosary. The nurses then rolled S.C.C. out of her room to the operating room and the time was 11:13.
The surgery took a long time. Phil C came to the hospital and sat in the waiting room with me the entire time. Dr. George Hochrider finally came out and said things went pretty well but he still had concerns. He said a second surgery would be required. He said she was now in the recovery room. Phil left and I waited. They returned S.C.C. to her room at 3:33.
S.C.C. was still very groggy and all she wanted to do was sleep. I left and I followed a car all the way back to Fairfield with the license plate of 33. I drove straight to the adoration chapel to pray the rosary for S.C.C.. I prayed the Sorrowful and Glorious mysteries before the Blessed Sacrament. At the instant I finished and genuflected before the Blessed Sacrament to leave I felt the peace hit me. I glanced at my watch and the time was 5:33. The peace hit me again as I walked out the adoration chapel door and it said 5:33:33. I drove home and at the instant I pulled in the driveway the odometer switched to 33.3.
Later in the evening I rode back to the hospital to take a few things that S.C.C. would be needing. She was awake but she was feeling very bad. I did not stay long. I left and rode back to the adoration chapel to complete the rosary for S.C.C.. I arrived and prayed the Joyful mysteries. I finished and glanced at my watch and the time was 9:13. I drove home and as I pulled in my driveway the odometer was 1.3 and the CD flashed 33.
Later in the evening I was laying on the couch in the living room watching the news on CNN. The news anchor, John King said “You won’t believe the shocking news about Mother Teresa of Calcutta.” He then reported as “news” that Mother Teresa doubted the existence of God in her diary. I glanced at my watch and the time was 11:33.
Friday August 24
The presence of God felt very strong today and His Grace was obvious in many different ways especially his priest. I drove to St. Joseph’s to go to daily mass. I arrived at St. Joseph’s and glanced at my watch. The time was 8:33:00. I looked down and the odometer was 13. I looked up and coming directly in front of me was another car with the license plate of 033.
Fr. O’Malley was the priest. During mass I prayed for S.C.C.’s recovery. I don’t think it had settled in on me just how serious her condition was or the seriousness of the possible outcomes until today. Mass ended and as I was leaving and walking towards my car I looked up and directly in front of me was a car with the license plate of 33.
I drove home and there was a message on the answering machine from Phil C saying that Fr. David Bustemante MC wanted to visit S.C.C. in the hospital today. Fr. David is a Missionaries of Charity priest who is stationed in Tijuana, Mexico.
He is here because of The I Thirst Movement retreat and he wants to speak with the Lay Missionaries of Charity members. I told Phil that S.C.C. would love to have him visit. After we hung up I left to go to the hospital and I glanced at my watch as I walked out the door and the time was 10:13. I met with several delays getting to the hospital, road construction etc… however I arrived at the hospital at 10:33.
I spent the day with S.C.C. and later in the afternoon Fr. Mike Messaro from St. Mary’s walked in the room to visit S.C.C.. She was very happy to see him. It was a very nice visit and Fr. Mike said a very nice prayer for S.C.C.’s recovery. Fr. Mike arrived at 1:13.
After Fr. Mike left I went downstairs to the cafeteria and ate lunch. After lunch I returned to S.C.C.’s room and Joanne T and Fr. David Bustemante MC were there. As I walked in the room I realized that Fr. David was just finishing up giving S.C.C. the sacrament of Annointing of The Sick. He then said “S.C.C. you have just received the sacrament of The Annointing of The Sick and now I am going to bless you with a First Class Relic of Bl. Mother Teresa.” At this instant as he finished the sacrament and began the blessing I felt the peace. I glanced at my watch and the time was 2:33.
For some reason at this point my mind went back to the other night on CNN when they reported Mother Teresa’s crises of faith as a tool against God’s existence.
Later in the afternoon as I was leaving I ran into Sr. Mary Bernadette DC. Sr. Mary Bernadette is one of the two nuns who founded what became the Thursday Night Prayer Group. Sr. Mary Bernadette’s faith in the apparitions of Our Lady of Emmitsburg is unshakable. She already knew about S.C.C. and was on her way to visit her. I glanced at my watch as we said good by and it said XX:XX:13. I pulled out of the hospital parking lot and instantly met a oncoming car with the license plate of 13.
I drove home and shortly after I arrived I went to my computer to check my email. There was a lot of it. One of the email messages was a special message from Our Lady of Emmitsburg for The Feast of The Assumption. Which is the day our vacation that turned into a nightmare began. I read the message from Our Lady and at the very instant I finished reading it I felt the peace run through me. I glanced at my watch and the time was 4:13:33.
Later in the evening I rode back to the hospital to check on S.C.C.. I left when they said visiting hours were over. I drove home and as I pulled into my driveway the time on the dash was 8:33 and at the instant the car came to a complete stop the CD flashed 1333.
Public Message
Our Lady of Emmitsburg
To the World
through Gianna Sullivan
August 14, 2007
The Vigil of the Feast of the Assumption of Mary
Little children, praised be Jesus!
Little ones, for one moment think how much the Lord loves you. My Son is in love with humanity. You need to be nurtured and loved. Just think. Pay attention to my words. Know how much you are loved, how much your soul desires to be like a child, tenderly nourished and blanketed within His Love.
Continue to knock, and knock, and knock. Ask, ask, and ask. My Son loves those who prod Him. Do not give up so easily. He desires those who are persistent. As you desire to be wanted and needed, so too He desires to be wanted and needed.
Ask, ask, and ask. Remember my Son on the Cross. He said, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" (Mt 27:46), as His last words there, completely tormented. God the Father had abandoned Him, so He felt. But it was not true; so He knew after He said those precious words, and it was consummated.
Ask, ask, and ask. Persist, and do not give up hope. He loves you. Each of you is a real person, a treasured gift to Him. Your soul is valuable! You are not alone. You are not just one among many other souls, as if not even recognized. No, each one of you is valuable and important!
You see as the world sees, not as God sees. Remember how precious you are! I love you on this most gracious, glorious day that I gave myself triumphantly to the Glory of God. Even that was an act of will.
Peace. Give yourself too, as I did.
Reflection by Rev. John B. Wang
On the eve of the Feast of Her Assumption, our Heavenly Mother is telling us that Her Son, Jesus, the God-Man, is deeply in love with humanity. Each one of us is unique, precious and priceless to Him and He loves us beyond our understanding. Jesus eagerly wants to help and to be asked to help. And in our asking, we must be persistent. This pleases Jesus. The loving bond between God and man surpasses but resembles the relationship between a tender mother and her child: just as the child needs his/her mother, the mother needs as much her child. It is an awesome and mysteriously beautiful reality. So, let us continue to seek, ask, knock and beg. We will assuredly find, receive and be admitted to His glorious presence.
Saturday August 25I attended mass this morning at the Basilica because I was running to late to be able to attend mass at St. Joseph’s. I did stop by St. Joseph’s and when I arrived the odometer was 133.0. I went down the street to the Basilica and attended the 9 AM mass. Mass ended and I glanced at my watch as I walked out of the door and the time was 9:33:13.
I stopped by St. Peter’s and gave everybody a report on S.C.C.’s condition. I then drove to the hospital and as I walked into S.C.C.’s room I saw the nurses helping S.C.C. walk for the first time since her surgery. I knew all of the prayers were being answered and I glanced at my watch and the time was 11:33.
S.C.C. was feeling and looking better. Later I went downstairs to the cafeteria for lunch. I felt someone tap me on the shoulder. I looked back and it was Fr. Paul Murphy CM from St. Joseph’s. We had lunch together and when he asked me what brought me to Emmitsburg I knew Our Lady wanted me to tell him. I glanced at my watch and the time was 1:13:59.
I told him we came here because of the Thursday Night Prayer Group. I described to him what Thursday Nights were like and what it meant to so many people. It was a wonderful conversation and I am 100% confident Our Lady arranged this meeting so Fr. Murphy had the opportunity to hear the other side of the story. In other words, nothing but the truth.
After lunch Fr. Murphy went to visit S.C.C. and it really brightened her day because she has always loved Fr. Murphy. After Fr. Murphy left I just sat there and thought about just how tightly knit this community is. I thought about this closeness being caused by Our Lady’s presence here. I thought about all of the support and help we have received in this time of need from so many people here. I glanced at my watch and the time was 2:13.
I left and told S.C.C. I would come back later tonight because Fr. David Bustemante MC was speaking to all of the LMC’s tonight at Phil and Aileen C’s house. I drove back to Emmitsburg and stopped at St. Joseph’s to say a prayer. At the instant I arrived I met an oncoming car coming from the opposite direction with the license plate of 013 and the CD flashed 033. I said my prayers and left to go home and get ready for Fr. David’s meeting. I then left to go to Phil and Aileen’s and at the instant I arrived the CD flashed 033.
Fr. David talked about the I Thirst Movement (ITM) and the Lay Missionaries of Charity (LMC) he also talked in detail about the recent CNN (and other) negative news coverages of Bl. Mother Teresa. At the end of his talk he went around the room and prayed over every person there individually. He finished and I glanced at my watch and the time was 6:13.
I rode home and the power was off because of a strong thunder storm. I got a few things together to take to S.C.C. and then left to go back to the hospital. I started the car to leave and the time on the dash was 6:33. I visited S.C.C. and came home. As I drove through the neighborhood I could tell the power was still off. The car came to a complete stop and the CD flashed 33.
Sunday August 26
I attended the 8 AM mass at St. Mary’s. I was scheduled to be Eucharistic Minister and Fr. David Bustemante MC was the priest. It was a special occasion because five members of the LMC were inducted into the ITM during this mass. Fr. David also prayed for S.C.C.’s recovery during this mass. After mass there was a nice breakfast and then I drove home. Just as the car came to a complete stop the CD flashed 133.
I was very tired and I spent much of the morning trying to get a little more sleep. When I got up I left to go to the hospital and as I pulled out of the driveway the CD flashed 1333. I arrived at the hospital and the CD flashed 033. S.C.C. was looking and feeling pretty good and she gave me a long list of things she needed done. I left and rode back to Emmitsburg. I stopped at St. Joseph’s and arrived there at 4:13. I said a few prayers and left. As I pulled out I noticed the CD flash 33.
I completed the things S.C.C. needed done and I drove home. After I had been home for a while I thought about the fact that I was invited to a special dinner at Harriet N’s house tonight. As I remembered this I glanced at my watch and the time was 6:13:33.
I did attend the dinner at Harriet’s house. Fr. David was there along with Fr. Mike and Deacon Robert and other members of the ITM and LMC. It was a very nice evening. When it was over I drove home and at the instant the car came to a complete stop the CD flashed 13.
I wanted to wait up for C.R.C. to get home from Ohio with Dr. Joe Ferguson and his family. I sat in the chair and thought about the fact that I had not yet prayed my rosary today. I picked up a rosary that was sitting on the table next to me and glanced at my watch and the time was 9:33:59. I prayed the Glorious mysteries and C.R.C. arrived home while I was praying the rosary.
Monday August 27
Today is my first day back at work since S.C.C. had her accident in the river. On my way to work I stopped by St. Joseph’s to pray for S.C.C.. I prayed and as I finished my prayers I noticed the time on the dash was 7:13. As I pulled out I instantly met another car with the license plate of 33.
While I was driving to work S.C.C. called and said that the doctor visited her this morning and was considering taking her in for her second surgery today. I was not prepared for this. I glanced down and noticed the time on the dash was 8:13. I looked up and at that instant a car approached from the opposite direction with the license plate of 33. I just left it in the capable hands of Our Lady.
I arrived at work and explained to my boss that I may need to go back because of unexpected changes. He told me to not worry and take what ever time I needed for this situation. I talked to S.C.C. throughout the day and she said the doctor changed his mind about performing surgery today and that it might be tomorrow. I still took off early and drove back to Emmitsburg. I stopped at St. Joseph’s and prayed my daily rosary for S.C.C. as I sat out in the car. I glanced at my watch at the instant I finished the rosary and the time was 3:33:59.
I drove home and picked up C.R.C. and we rode to the hospital to visit S.C.C.. S.C.C. was very happy to see C.R.C.. We stayed for a while and as we got in the car to leave to go home I glanced at my watch and the time was 6:13:59.
Later in the evening I drove to St. Joseph’s to attend the Miraculous Medal Novena and mass. At the instant I arrived at St. Joseph’s I met a car with the license plate of 13. Fr. Murphy was the priest. Mass ended and as I pulled out of the parking lot the car directly in front of me had the license plate of 33.
Tuesday August 28
Today is C.R.C’s first day back at school. He is in the 11th grade. I woke up this morning to get him off to school and looked over at the clock and the time was 5:13. We got ready and I drove both him and Peter Ferguson to the bus stop at Mother Seton School in Emmitsburg. I then stopped at St. Joseph’s before leaving for work. I glanced at my watch as the car came to a complete stop and it said XX:XX:33.
I said my prayers and left to go to work. While I was driving to work I had a strange thought run through my mind. The thought was about demonic forces causing problems and doing everything they can to dishearten people who support the apparitions in Emmitsburg. That thought was suddenly replaced with a feeling of peace that assured me they have no chance when confronted by Our Lady. I glanced at my watch as this thought finished running through my mind and the time was 7:13.
I talked to S.C.C. on my way to work and she was feeling good. She sounded happy. We hung up and at that instant I noticed the odometer was 1.3. I arrived at All Saint’s in Manassas for mass and just as I pulled in the parking lot I met a car with the license plate of 133013. I glanced at my watch as I walked in the church and it said XX:XX:33. The Blessed Sacrament was still exposed and as I knelt down I felt the peace. I glanced at my watch and it said XX:XX:13.
About 30 seconds later Fr. Tucker came in and reposed the Blessed Sacrament and mass began. Mass ended and I went to work. Later in the day I took my lunch break and rode back over to All Saint’s to catch up my notes. I arrived at 12:13. When I finished I rode back to work. When all my work was done I left to go home and the time was 5:13.
When I got off work I rode to "hometown" because I needed to pick up a few things that S.C.C.’s mother made for us to eat. I also wanted to drop off the latest pack of papers to Fr. ___. I arrived in "hometown" and stopped at "Parish Church" first. I dropped the papers off on the table and then went into the main part of the church to say a few prayers. I completed my prayers and glanced at my watch and it said XX:XX:13 as I walked out the door it said XX:XX:33. As I pulled out from "Parish Church" the odometer switched to 33.
I rode by our house in "hometown" and the people renting seem to be keeping it looking pretty good. Not as good as I would keep it but I can’t complain. I then rode by S.C.C.’s mothers house and picked up some food she had made for me and C.R.C.. I then left to go back to Emmitsburg.
While I was driving home I suddenly remembered that I needed to fill in for S.C.C. and take her hour before the Blessed Sacrament. I was tired but I knew I needed to do this. I drove straight to the adoration chapel and arrived there at 9:13. When S.C.C.’s hour was up Mike Sullivan came in and relieved me. I drove home and pulled in my driveway and the time on the dash was 10:13 and the CD flashed 1333.
Wednesday August 29
S.C.C. has her second surgery today. I rode to the hospital and the nurses were getting her ready for surgery. They rolled her out of the room and towards the operating room, I walked beside her bed as far as I was allowed to go. As I turned off to go to the waiting room I glanced at my watch and it said XX:XX:33.
During the surgery I sat in the waiting room and caught up all of my notes from my voice recorder. About and hour and a half later the doctor came out and said S.C.C. went through the surgery very well. He said he did not see any indication of infection in the bone. He then said that there was a part of the wound that he had trouble closing because of the magnitude of the wound. He said a third surgery may be required that will involve plastic surgery in Hershey, Pa. When he left I finished my notes while S.C.C. was in the recovery room and completed them at 2:33.
S.C.C. was returned to her room and like the first surgery was groggy and wanted to sleep. I left and drove home and pulled in my driveway and the time on the dash was 2:33.
Later in the evening I sat down at my computer and designed a label for the DVD of the new video about Our Lady of Emmitsburg. Upon completion of the label I noticed the time on my computer was 5:13.
A while later the phone rang and it was Rosalie Schneider who is the head nurse for Mission of Mercy. She said she would like to come over every day after S.C.C. gets home and change the dressings for her. I told Rosalie that would be a huge help to us. We hung up and I noticed the time was 6:33.
Later I drove to the adoration chapel to pray for S.C.C.. I arrived and I glanced at my watch as I walked in the door and it said XX:XX:33. I prayed the Glorious mysteries and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. When I finished I drove home and just as the car came to a complete stop the CD flashed 33.
Thursday August 30
S.C.C. comes home from the hospital today. I called her and she said I should be there around 10:30. We hung up and I noticed the time was 8:13. I then drove to St. Joseph’s for daily mass, I arrived and the time on the dash was 8:33. I glanced at my watch and it said 8:33:00.
Fr. Murphy was the priest. When mass was over I did all of the things I needed to do in preparition for S.C.C. getting home such as setting up a bed downstairs in my Civil War relic room for S.C.C.. After I finished I left to go get S.C.C.. I glanced at my watch as I walked out of the door and the time was 10:33. I pulled out of the driveway and the odometer switched to 13.
I drove to the Gettysburg Hospital and parked the car at the patient pickup point and it was then I noticed the odometer was 3.3.
The nurses got everything ready for S.C.C. to leave and gave her instructions as to what she needed to do once she got home. They put her in a wheelchair to leave and I showed S.C.C. what the time was. It was 11:33.
We had no sooner pulled out of the hospital parking lot and S.C.C. said she wanted to stop and get some chicken salad. She said she had a craving for it. We stopped at Kenny’s grocery store and I went in and got the chicken salad. We then drove home and pulled in our driveway and the time on the dash was 12:13.
Phil C came over to the house and sat with S.C.C. while I ran into town to pick up prescriptions for S.C.C. at the drug store. When I finished I suddenly felt the peace. I felt comforted. I glanced at my watch and the time was 2:33.
I arrived home and Phil left. S.C.C. said she was tired and wanted to try to get some sleep. I needed to ride back into Emmitsburg to pick up bandages because I did not think about them while I was there earlier. Traffic was very heavy that time of day and it took a long time to get through Emmitsburg. Because of this delay beyond my control I arrived at St. Joseph’s and the time was 3:33 and the CD flashed 033.
I stayed long enough to say a few prayers. I then rode to the pharmacy and got the bandages for S.C.C.. I had about 20 minutes before I needed to pick up C.R.C. and Peter from the bus stop in Emmitsburg so I drove back to St. Joseph’s to pray the rosary for S.C.C.. I prayed the Joyful mysteries for S.C.C.’s recovery and never looked at my watch until I completed the rosary and kissed the crucifix and the time was 4:13:13.
I drove to Mother Seton School near the Basilica and picked up Chris and Peter. We drove home and Mary B was there massaging S.C.C.’s leg to help the circulation and healing. Naturally we still did not have all of the things S.C.C. needed so I had to go out again to Wal-Mart to pick up more needed items. While I was driving home from Wal-Mart I was suddenly struck with a sudden peace and knowledge that I needed to write a paper about all of these events about S.C.C.'s accident. It was so sudden and so strong I knew to glance at my watch and the time was 8:33:33.
R_____ C___
September 16, 2007
10:13 Pm