Last night, the Schofield Barracks Young Adult Group hosted a presentation that turned out to be as memorable for its message as for its unexpected challenges. What was supposed to be a routine talk on Saints & Relics quickly transformed into a lesson on spiritual warfare when this author's laptop suddenly stopped working from the very start, along with a second one provided by a participant. Instead of allowing the eerie occurrence to derail the evening, the presentation went on without the usual slideshow and it still turned out pretty well!
Among the relics present were hair clippings from, and part of a compression sock worn by, the late Fr. Rookey, whose sainthood this ministry is helping to promote.
Participants remained engaged throughout the hour-long talk, then asked thoughtful questions after; shared personal experiences about Saints; and displayed a genuine eagerness to understand the deep spiritual significance behind the sacred relics ... and what do you know - my laptop started working normally again after the presentation! Seriously - how can people deny the existence of evil spirits?
Young men praying before relics of St. Bernadette of Lourdes;
Pier Giorgio Frassati; St. Louis & Zelie Martin; St. Therese the
Little Flower; St. Padre Pio; St. Peregrine Laziosi; Our Lady.
By the end of the night, the combination of unexpected obstacles, heartfelt engagement, and the recovery of the computer created an uplifting experience—one of those rare times where everything that goes “wrong” ends up making the message land even more powerfully. All thanks and praises be to God!
