I had a sense this presentation was somehow going to be extra-special. There were seemingly heavenly affirmations leading up to it ... then the attendance was surprisingly big! Plus, from the very start, the audience showed an intensity of interest that I don't often see in the beginning; it takes some time to warm up participants, but people's eyes were glued to the slideshow, early on, indicating just how eager they were for the information being shared!
So the Marian Apparitions I featured included: Akita, Betania, Cuapa, Fatima, Champion, Heede, Kibeho, Lourdes, and Paris (Miraculous Medal apparitions) ... and when I periodically polled the audience by a show of hands, I was surprised to discover that the majority had never heard of most of these sacred destinations, not even Fatima or Lourdes?!!! Perhaps the reason why many seemed so intrigued.
in the church for the month of May.
I spoke about the common fundamental points of our Blessed Mother's messages: CONVERSION, PRAYER, PENANCE, and frequenting the SACRAMENTS (e.g. Eucharist and Confession). And the need to follow through with putting the messages into action rather than just being nonchalant bystanders; how our personal follow-through can not only positively change our lives, but also bring about the conversion of others.
As for the relics I displayed - they were from St. Bernadette of Lourdes, St. Catherine Laboure, the Fatima Seers ... and other Marian devotees: St. Faustina Kowalska and St. Padre Pio. After the talk, everyone came up to the display table to venerate the relics and to touch medals and prayer cards I provided to them. Many were in awe and deeply impressed by the up-close encounter with the Saints they had just heard about.
And lastly, one of the unexpected highlights for this author was an elderly woman who approached me after the talk to show me two rose petals with holy figures on them, something I had spoken about as potential signs at apparition sites. One petal was impressed with St. Mother Teresa's face and another with St. Padre Pio's face. She said the images inexplicably appeared after Bro. Carmelo (an alleged Filipino Marian visionary) had prayed over the petals. I asked the lady if I could snap pics of the petals to include them in a future talk, and imagine my surprise when she said, "You can have one." I ended up picking St. Pio. What a wonderful gift from Heaven and a great way to close the presentation! I knew it was going to be extra-special and it was. God is good!
No comments:
Post a Comment
[Your comment/feedback is welcomed. However, business advertisements of any sort are not allowed and will be deleted. Thank you.]