THE PILGRIM ROSARY

Dear Marie,

In July of 1959, Dolores and Steve were joined in marriage at the Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Plains, Pennsylvania.

In that same year of 1959, Pope John XXIII made an announcement calling for the first Ecumenical Council since 1870.

One of the invited delegates to this Ecumenical Council was Bishop Stefan Woznicki of the Diocese of Saginaw, Michigan.

While in Rome, Bishop Woznicki purchased a rosary as a wedding gift for Dolores and Steve.

Soon after, he met with Pope John XXIII and asked that his Holiness personally bless this rosary.

When the Bishop returned to the United States in 1960, he called for a meeting at the family homestead.

At this gathering, he presented the Blessed Rosary to Dolores and Steve.

In 1962, Pope John XXIII convened the Second Vatican Council in Rome.

In 1963, Pope John XXIII died.
In 1968, Bishop Woznicki died
In 1989, Dolores died

Since this Rosary has personal and historic significance, I would like you to accept, to keep and to protect this Rosary for as long as you are able.

Love,
Steve



Marie received this letter along with a package containing the rosary. She was delighted to be the recipient of this gift. She called Steve to thank him. In the ensuing conversation, he told her that when Dolores died, he put the rosary in a closet. He was very depressed at the time. The rosary stayed there for years.



He had forgotten about it. One day, as he was passing the closet, a strange feeling came over him. Someone needed help. It seemed as if the rosary was calling to him. He felt that someone needed help..He thought of Marie who had gone through difficult times. He decided to send this rosary to her.

Maries sister, Deb, was involved in a serious crisis at this time. Marie was aware of the problems in Debs life. She called her and said, "this rosary was meant for you".

Both sisters had been scheduled to meet in Colonial Williamsburg the next day and Marie would give her the rosary. Perfect timing, the rosary would be hand delivered rather than put into the mail.



Steve was told about this and decided to meet his sisters in Colonial Williamsburg. It was a wonderful family reunion. Marie gave the rosary to Deb. At that time, she said that this will be our Pilgrim Rosary. It will travel to the person in the family who needs it the most.

AND SO THE JOURNEY BEGAN...........



Deb prayed the rosary every single day. She carried it in her purse during the day and kept it under her pillow at night. This was a difficult time in her life and she needed help. And so she continued to pray. She prayed to the Blessed Mother and God. Her prayer was for strength to get through these difficult times. And also the wisdom to make good decisions that would have an impact on other lives.



Her prayers were answered. She received strength and guidance. There was light at the end of the tunnel. But............still .........things were not back to normal and never would be. She had to accept that. But prayer had helped her to accept.......



Marie had told her to keep the rosary until someone else asked for it. And so the rosary was with her in Mexico when she broke her leg.



The Orthopedic surgeon at the hospital told her that she would require surgery. She asked for another opinion before resorting to surgery in Mexico. While waiting for another Surgeon to arrive, she took out the GREEN CHRYSTAL ROSARY and started to pray for guidance. Her broken leg would heal one way or another in time. Actually in less time than the healing of her broken heart.



Simply concentrating on prayer kept her mind off of her painful broken leg. The color green of the rosary reminded her of peace and healing. She reflected on that as well.



Examination time again...........The second Orthopedic surgeon came in and felt that surgery was required. But then he paused, conferred with the first surgeon and said that he just had a fleeting thought. They re looked at the ex-rays and suggested an alternative course.



There was a slim possibility that they could set the leg and see if it would mend without surgery. The chances were slim but possible. If the setting and cast did not work, then the leg would have to be broken again and pins put in place. That would be done in the United-States.



Deb kept fingering the rosary and felt confident that setting the leg would work.



The Surgeons then asked her what color cast she would like to wear. She started to laugh. She only saw casts in white before. Now she had a choice. With the green rosary still in her hand, she said that she would like a GREEN cast. For peace and healing.



The green cast was put on and she returned to the resort where she was staying. Her green cast received many comments.
As did her wheelchair.


Her leg took longer than usual to heal but heal it did. She did not have to have it rebroken. It healed perfectly. Her heart was also starting to heal................



Marie called when she returned and asked her to send the Pilgrim Rosary on to someone who needed prayer and healing. This she did.



Weeks later, she received a phone call. Once again praying the rosary worked............



I believe that Steve died in 1999. He was pleased that Marie wanted to share this rosary with others but Marie is all about sharing in life. She is a very special woman and an inspiration to all who know her.

AN UNEXPECTED PRAYER

Sherry was a passenger in a vehicle that was involved in a multi-car accident. An uninsured driver, driving an uninsured vehicle passed a number of cars and hit a patch of black ice.

This vehicle started spinning out of control and numerous vehicles were caught up in this disaster on a very busy highway.

Sherry never expected to survive the onslaught of vehicles crashing into their car. She turned to her husband to say good-bye and to say I love you when she hit the windshield. She suffered serious injury that required years of therapy but they survived.

Miraculously, as one car was spinning around, Sherry's husband saw an opportunity to direct their vehicle to push this vehicle through the overpass and create a path for other vehicles to avoid crashing into them and crushing them. Their GUARDIAN ANGELS were with them.

Bob's quick response to a split second opportunity saved not only their lives but the lives of others.

Their car was totaled.........but then began the road to recovery.

They had excellent car insurance with a company that they had been loyal to their entire lives. Their insurance had to kick in since the person who caused the accident was UNINSURED. Most of what had to be taken care of insurance wise was handled in a professional manner but not all and legal action had to be taken.

It did not matter that they were long term policy holders. What mattered was that the company had to make good on the UNINSURED motorist portion of the policy and had to pay the claim without recourse to another insurance company.

She did not go into details, but felt so frustrated trying to resolve the insurance issue while trying to heal her body at the same time.

She was grateful for being alive. The car was replaced. Her body eventually would heal.

She had to speak to someone from the insurance company on one particular day when she was in intense pain.........the woman that she spoke to encouraged her and helped her with her concerns........FINALLY........

AND THEN AN UNEXPECTED LETTER ARRIVED......

Dear Sherry,

I wanted to let you know that I felt your soul cry. I wanted to encourage you. I know a man named, Jesus the Christ who came, bleed and died for reasons like this. As I sit here and thought of what you told me about your accident, I began to weep. Then I was reminded that in the Bible it says that "weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning." I said this to encourage your soul. That if you believe that God is able to restore your body, He alone will do.

What I am going to do is to hold you up in prayer.

Father, in Jesus name bless Sherry. Father meet her physical and emotional needs, God for you alone are able to heal her bones, heart and soul. Father bless her indeed and enlarge her territory that your hand would be with her. Father bless all that come and reside in her house. For I know that you're able. AMEN.....

Sherry, I want you to trust that God would bless and heal you.


This letter came at a time when Sherry needed to hear this message. A stranger cared enough to reach out to her in prayer. Sherry was deeply touched and has kept this letter over the years. This customer service rep was a very caring person.



A STRANGER CARED ENOUGH TO REACH OUT........

This act of kindness has had far reaching results. Sherry and her friends reach out to others in kind and in prayer.

COMING HOME

Sandy was born and raised in the Catholic faith. She attended very conservative Catholic schools and was totally indoctrinated by those who taught her. She believed.......she trusted.....she never questioned.

As she grew older, graduated from college at a time when very few women attended college and married; she found that she had to open up her mind to the entire world around her; not just the protected world and years of childhood in the safe cocoon of home and Church.

Once she did that, she started to question some of what she was taught. Some of the scare tactics that kept one in line for fear of God and going to hell. She believed in a more loving God and had a hard time comprehending these scare tactics.

She also felt betrayed by two priests who she believed in. They did not practice what they were preaching.

And.....so like many others, she stopped going to Church.

Still that tug was there......she felt a void when she passed a Church and did not go in.

Years passed and this successful, intelligent woman no longer felt the tug nor the void. Her faith in God was still strong but not her belief in organized religion.

Her son loved the architecture of old Churches and every time that he would visit out of state, he would encourage her to visit different Churches with him. She agreed, but only AFTER Mass was over.

As he wandered in awe of the beauty of many of the old Churches, she reflected in prayer and found peace while meditating.

Soon she would stop in for a quick visit even when her son was not visiting. She did NOT attend Mass. She still felt a sense of betrayal. Her reasons were her own and as I was told her story, I did not question...........

She began to feel comfort in those visits.

A friend invited her to brunch one Sunday and suggested that they attend Mass together and then go to brunch.

It had been so, so many years since she had attended Mass.

As she listened to the homily, the Priest had mentioned some of the things that were taught in error due to misinformation and personal interpretation eons ago. They were some of the same things that she had questioned. The Priest talked about our loving Father who welcomes us with open, loving arms. With unconditional love........ This Priest touched her heart with his homily.

Brunch with her friend was great and also the ensuing conversation about the Church community that her friend belonged to.

Sandy decided to talk to the Pastor of the Church about her concerns. He helped her to see her concerns in a different light.

She made the decision to go to confession and attend Mass for a time. When she received Holy Communion; the Priest looked into her eyes when he said, "Body of Christ". He smiled as she answered, "Amen".

An overwhelming feeling of love for God and her fellowman came over her at that moment. SHE WAS BACK WHERE SHE BELONGED............

The celebration of the Mass was so different from the latin Mass of years ago. She listened to every word and reflected on what she heard. The first time that someone turned to her and offered their hand and said, "PEACE BE WITH YOU", she was not sure how to respond. Now that is a very favorite part of Mass for her.

People in the congregation turn to one another and say, "PEACE BE WITH YOU". Some people hug one another. There are many smiles as men, women and children express peace to one another. One can feel positive feelings of love and peace in this atmosphere.

Sandy felt so welcome. So much at home.

A friend invited her to brunch.......a kind, caring Priest answered her questions...members of the congregation wished her peace......

SHE CAME HOME TO THE CHURCH THAT SHE LEFT MANY YEARS AGO..........