This First Saturday I had another unusual experience. I'm sharing about it here without any expectation of being believed. Rather, I'm fine with each reader prayerfully discerning this story on his/her own. In fact, the subject of this blog is essentially about Prayer and Discernment, and I want people to seriously think about both.
Earlier this morning, as I was praying the Joyful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary before the 8:00 AM Mass at St. John Vianney Church (Kailua), I sensed the gentle presence of our Blessed Mother with me. So I asked her, "My Lady, what is it that you want?" which was followed by a verbal response. To my best recollection, the words I heard were:
"I desire prayer ... and be vigilant,
my children, for the forces of evil are
preparing an assault like never before.
Pray for the gift of discernment."
That was it. I actually didn't give it much credence at the time, but I also didn't outright dismiss it, either. I went on with my Rosary but kept the words in the back of my mind.
the Shrine of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
at St. John Vianney Church in Kailua.
After the Mass and some Eucharistic Adoration (this parish holds monthly Adoration after every First Saturday morning Mass), I did my customary visit to the parish's Immaculate Heart of Mary garden shrine to also spend some prayer time with Our Lady. Before leaving, I knelt to receive her blessing and, remembering the words I heard earlier, I asked her to pray for me to the Holy Spirit for the gift of Discernment. I then prayed the 3 Hail Marys that I usually conclude with.
As I stood up to leave, I glanced at my cellphone to check the time and was surprised to discover an oily stain on the surface of the screen ... but rather than appearing like a random smudge, it had a distinct and familiar form - see below:
I'm not claiming it's a bonafide miracle, but come on! What are the odds of these circumstances occurring one after the other on a First Saturday (when the Blessed Virgin's influence is particularly strong)? First, the mysterious voice; second, at the parish's exceptionally graced Marian Shrine (this is not the only strange experience I've had there); third, me asking for prayers from Our Lady, followed by an immediate appearance of a striking silhouette of a torso of a woman draped in a veil with hands together in prayer! (I can't make this up.)
Again, not trying to convince anyone that all of this is divine intervention ... but taken as a whole, it all goes beyond mere coincidences for me; beyond my own imagination and it's now resonating with on so many levels, including those words.
The simple fact is - our society has spiraled down to a level where many evils are no longer viewed as evil, and truths have been twisted in a diabolic manner. So it makes sense that we're being asked to Pray and Discern. These are practices every serious Christian should routinely be engaging in to navigate our way through the jumble of good and bad in our present times. However, ideally, we shouldn't need "messages" from Heaven prompting us ... but for those out there who do need some sort of encouragement, I hope and pray this story will be that gentle nudge.
Even if one thinks this is all just nonsense, one solid truth stands - Our Lady loves us dearly and she's been trying for centuries to guide us to a peaceful existence and then Heaven, via many apparitions, locutions, and signs. Anyone needing her help can get it - starting right now - by simply opening one's heart to our Holy Mother then by saying a prayer.
"I am your servant; give me discernment
that I may understand your statutes."
- Psalm 119:125