Lives
That Have Been Touched
Dear Fr.
Thaddeus,
The Curate's
Diary of December 2009 saved my daughter from
doing an abortion. She had got pregnant and
wanted to do an abortion without my knowledge.
Thank God for the magazine. I told her God will
see her through and thank God she accepted. I
pray that God will open doors for me so that I
will be able to support her. Pray for me that God
will see her through when she delivers. Thank you
very much. This Curate's magazine saved my
daughter from aborting.
A religious
sister gave a copy of the Curate's Diary to a
person she just met. Later she got a letter from
the lady. Clearly the Diary
had some remarkable side effects. The letter
read, Dear
Sister, I found the meditation
on page 3 of the Diary to be very beneficial and
so did our cats! As I asked
Jesus to fill my inner being, I had a wonderful
sense of being filled with love and joy and a
lovely glow began to spread around my body. I have no idea how long
this lasted for I lost all sense of time, but it
may have been approx. 2 hours or so. We have
recently taken in 2 needy kittens and they
quickly sensed that something special was
happening and both climbed on to my lap and
curled up together quietly. But what was most
surprising was that they were soon joined by a 4
year old cat. She was very traumatised and
starving when we took her in from the wild. The
Diary appears to have brought a sense of peace
and tranquillity into the home environment
Dear
Lord I'm Desperate
Dear Fr. Thaddeus
Your booklet, 'Dear Lord I'm Desperate' has
transformed my life. My prayers are no longer
passive and meaningless, but now are filled with
an unquenchable faith, gratefulness and love. I
now truly know that Jesus is my Saviour.
I am in my mid twenties, and up until this I
never had a strong faith. Like you, I was bullied
and suffered within myself. I tried a lot of
self-help books, but while some helped, I found
it a real burden trying to heal myself. Now
through your booklet, I have surrendered it all
to Jesus, and am learning to rely on Him. I am
now beginning to experience the Lord's power in
all my daily situations. Sincere thanks, Mary
"I
want to go to Heaven the moment I die"
"I'm reading
your book 'I want to go to Heaven the moment I
die'. It's just inspirational!! It turns
everything worldly on its head. Thank you."
Caroline
"I hadn't planned to give any Christmas
presents this year, but now that I have listened
to your 3 CD set 'I want to go to Heaven the
moment I die', I have changed my mind. I will be
giving it to all my friends. Its excellent, and
so reasonable at just £6.50 for a 3 CD set"
Sheila
"One of the Muslim men who once objected to
the validity of the Catholic prayer books was
among the first to request 'I want to go to
Heaven the moment I die'! The book made a big
impression on him and he can't stop saying
thanks." Sr Bernadine Pernii Ghana, (See
Page 9 also).
"The 3 CD set 'I want to go to Heaven the
moment I die' is even better than the book. It
makes everything so clear. I am now beginning to
realise what it means to say that God is
love" Brendan
"The 'I want to go to Heaven the moment I
die' 3 CD set is great for my friends in the
travelling community, some of whom are unable to
read. It is so simple and brings the message
alive." Mary
"The book 'I want to go to Heaven the moment
I die' is outstanding and is helping many
people" Rose Bakina, Cameroon.
A
Testimony in Thanksgiving By Bernadette
February
2002, for me a month to remember! For the
previous number of years I had been suffering
from enormous guilt from sins I had committed
even though I had confessed all of them in
confession. I was also suffering from depression
which I had suffered from since I was about
thirteen years of age.
I am now forty seven, married with a wonderful
husband and the mother of six children, one of
whom is in heaven.
Let me begin at the beginning. Christmas 2001 I
had to attend a dinner with my husband and with
people I had never met. There my husband
introduced me to a wonderful woman called Betty.
(May God Bless His messenger!). From the minute
we were introduced, something clicked and we
talked as if we knew each other all our lives.
During the conversation she invited me to attend
the Divine Mercy Conference which was being held
in the RDS Ballsbridge.
I had never heard of it but my husband said he
would mind the children if I wished to go. So
February 2002 found me getting organised to
attend the conference. Four of us set off that
morning with packed lunches and flasks of tea. I
was a stranger among friends!
During the Conference a priest who was speaking
said he was going to bring Jesus through the
crowds and if we had any troubles big or small we
were to hold out our hands and give them over to
Jesus. I being cynical, said to myself,
"Sure what have I to lose, I might as well
give this a shot", and boy did my life
change!
At that time I felt I had no real relationship
with Jesus. After this handing over, I went to
Confession to Fr. Thady Doyle. I shed a number of
tears and despite the queue behind, he took
plenty of time with me. He told me I was very
open to the Holy Spirit and prayed over me. He
then asked me if I would attend a Life in the
Spirit Seminar. I hadn't a clue what this was and
I said to him, "Father I did well to get to
this Conference since I have five children and my
husband has taken time off work to look after
them". He just smiled and I went away.
A couple of days later I met a neighbour and I
asked her if she had ever heard of a Life in the
Spirit Seminar and she said "If I hear of
one I will let you know".
Within a week she was back to me and said
"Bernie, this one must be for you"! A
Life in the Spirit Seminar was beginning in the
Parish next to ours about four miles from my
house. I went to it every week for the seven
weeks and on the last night as it finished I
began to cry and pray. I felt once this was over
I was going to be back to square one again.
I knew I needed support to keep going.
Suddenly, in my head I heard what Fr. Thady calls
a 'voice thought' which said "I go before
you always". I will never forget it. I
joined a Charismatic Prayer Group in the same
parish and I go as often as possible.
When a neighbour was in hospital I went to bed
one evening at about 11.00pm and just as I was
about to go to sleep, a voice said "Pray the
Divine Mercy Chaplet for 'Peter'." This I
did even though I was wondering was I going mad
because when I was finished I went on to say
Eternal Rest etc. The following day I discovered
that 'Peter' had died in or around the time I was
'told' to say the Divine Mercy Chaplet.
Shortly after all of this taking place I heard
Eddie Stones speaking and he commented on the
fact that there was little or no family prayer
today. He said, and I quote, 'Even a decade of
the Rosary is better than nothing'.
I thought about this and went home and after a
while I said to the family "You know, we do
not say enough prayers in this house, even a
decade of the Rosary wouldn't kill us"! My
eldest son who was seventeen years old said 'I've
no problem with that', and so we began.
We had our home enthroned to the Immaculate Heart
of Mary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus and shortly
after we went as a family to Emmanuel House to
hear Eddie Stones speak.
He once again spoke on the subject of family
prayer and on the way home on the bus, my
daughter who was sixteen at the time said,
"How come we don't say the five decades of
the Rosary". I nearly fell out of the seat
on the bus with shock! Ever since, the Rosary is
said regularly in our home.
Even if one member of the family is missing it is
said to include the missing one.
Since then I have had a few unusual experiences
and I know Jesus is in my life and He is
wonderful. I speak to Him as a friend and I might
add I also 'give out' to Him at times. I often
ask myself where was He up until now? The answer
of course is, I was not looking for Him.
I am now off all medication for depression and
Jesus and our Mother Mary are so important in my
life now.
I urge everyone to go look for them. They are
waiting for you! My life has changed completely,
Praise God. I am learning slowly but surely, to
hand everything in my life over to Jesus and
Mary. I pray about the particular problem I might
have and then I place it in their hearts for them
to deal with. Even if the problem is not solved
in the way I would like, I know that no matter
what happens God can turn evil into good when He
is ready and in His own time.
I came across a beautiful poem recently but
unfortunately I do not know the author of same
and hopefully he or she would not mind me sharing
it with you.
The Rosebud.
It is only a tiny rosebud - a flower of God's
design,
but I cannot unfold the petals - with these
clumsy hands of mine.
The secret of unfolding flowers - is not known to
one such as I,
God opens these flowers so sweetly - while in my
hands they die.
If I cannot unfold a rosebud - this flower of
God's design,
Then how can I think I have the wisdom - to open
this life of mine.
So I will look to Him for His leading - every
moment of every day,
I will trust in Him for His guidance - every step
of the pilgrim's way.
For the pathway that lies before me, only my
Heavenly Father knows,
and I will trust in Him to unfold the moments -
just like He unfolds the rose.
I am still a sinner but trying very hard. We have
our problems within the family like everyone else
but I would say to each and every one of you,
start with even one Hail Mary a day.
Gradually you will find that this one Hail Mary
will lead to more family prayer.
In these times particularly, now is the time to,
(as the words of a beautiful hymn sung by Mike
Keenan goes)
'Arise and follow the Christ. Arise and follow in
the army of the Lord, in the heavenly army of
God.'
May God Bless each and everyone of you who read
this and may He touch your lives in the same way
He has touched mine. Reach out. He is waiting for
you.
A
Very Special Experience
I've really had such an experience when
praying 'A Shower of Blessings' that I have to
tell everyone. It came out of no where and I was
completely amazed at such a wonderful conversion,
and that Jesus knew I needed it at this time in
my life. It was truly perfect timing.
I'm now 24 and from a very young age I was
sexually abused by my step-grandfather who was
later prosecuted and convicted. He just got a
suspended sentence.
My family are a very close and loving family who
go everywhere together. When I eventually told my
parents, they decided that we would move from
near Stoke-on-Trent to Little Hampton in West
Sussex so as to create a new life for myself and
my family.
But I was to be the victim of sexual abuse for
the second time, this time by a psychologist I
went to for counselling. To be honest with you
I've never ever got over it.
My father was brilliant. I was on the way to
trusting again, thanks to him, and to my Mam too,
but then in 1997, a week after my 17th birthday,
we were in a car crash and my father was killed.
When my Dad died, my heart and soul were crushed.
I was broken completely. With my Dad's love and
help, I had been able to be strong. I had got
through life being happy knowing my Dad was
always there right by my side.
But in a split second my Dad was gone. I felt I
had lost everything.
The following year I ended up in St. Senan's
Hospital, Enniscorthy with a complete nervous
breakdown and ever since I've been in and out of
St. Senan's with suicide attempts, severe
depression, uproars of anger and pain. It's
simply that my heart and soul have been crying
out for help.
I found myself crying out, "I can't take
anymore Lord. Why Me? What have I done wrong? Yes
I know I'm a sinner but I don't deserve
this."
I've lost count of the times I've been in St.
Senan's. A few weeks ago I was back in with yet
another bout. It was then that my special
experience, a real conversion, happened.
When I'm in, I try to go through life one day at
a time, knowing that there will be good and bad
days, but being active and making the best of it,
going down to occupational therapy and striving
for a good day, tomorrow, the next day, next
month etc.
Anyway this particular day was a really bad day
for me. I felt awful. And I can be stubborn too.
I wouldn't do anything, wouldn't get out of bed
or get dressed. The only thing I was doing was
punching my pillows real hard, and breaking my
heart with the tears flowing from my eyes.
The nurse called me and I shouted back,
"Leave me alone. I'm staying here and that's
final." I felt awful. I felt like rebelling
against everything, but the nurse kept nagging,
"Sorcha get up, Sorcha get dressed. Sorcha,
you're down for occupational therapy. Sorcha, you
have to go." on and on. Eventually I
screamed back, "Okay, okay, I'll go."
I went down with the nurse but to my surprise and
hers, it wasn't on until 11.30. I was so
delighted, and felt like saying to the nurse,
"I told you so", after all that trouble
to get me out of bed, and to add, "Next time
don't bother".
We'd normally be taken back to the ward, just
like a prisoner to our cell without the
handcuffs, but the nurse went to the main
hospital area to collect the post for St. Anne's.
To my surprise three packages awaited me and the
first one I opened was the one that was to touch
my life.
Even as I opened it, I suddenly felt really good!
Some inner instinct told me my life was about to
change.
The package was from a friend who lives in Bray,
Co. Wicklow. She is a beautiful lady who was in
our group when I went to Medjugorje. When I
opened the package, there in front of me glared
the booklet, "A Shower of Blessings"
right in my face.
In the past I had briefly looked at this booklet
and was struck by it's pictures but I never felt
I had time to go through it. I just didn't feel
that way inclined.
This time I found myself saying to myself,
"Well it's worth a try, right now I need
God." Even though I didn't feel like
praying, I decided to make the effort. So I took
time to read every word and to simply reflect on
my thoughts afterwards. Then I felt inspired to
write my thoughts, and my pain on paper. So as
the thoughts came to me on each page, I'd write
them down. Later I wrote some of them in the form
of poems.
'A Shower of Blessings' has now become my life.
It's my spiritual prose workbook and I find that
I can bring my whole life into it, not just the
past but most importantly I've come to know my
Jesus again. Now I know I'm not alone. May it
continue to bring Love and Peace to many more.
The following is the poem I wrote for the first
prayer page entitled, "Restlessness in
Prayer".
Each day O Lord, I say a prayer
That I'd know, O Jesus, You're there,
And for me to always know I'm loved
By You, my Creator of Heaven Above.
I need to relax and sit by You
To tell You my pain, please carry me through.
I need Your hand to guide my way,
And to tone my heart and soul today.
O my Jesus, are you there?
Please take my hand and show You care.
Please talk to me and show a sign,
That I am yours and you are mine.
O my Jesus take my pain,
Take my burdens and my shame.
Take all you can from my heart,
Give me a life and a greater start.
P.S.
May I take this opportunity of thanking everyone
who has cared for me in St. Senan's, and my
family and closest friends for putting up with
me. Sorcha.
From
A Young Adult
Dear Fr. Thaddeus,
Thank you for the wonderful book - 'Real Love is
Still Possible'. It's fantastic. I am getting it
out to as many young people as possible. I am
involved in 'Pure in Heart' - Dublin based youth
group promoting purity and chastity, so this book
is fantastic. I wrote a short book-review on it
for our December newsletter and gave your details
for people to get copies of the book. Roisin
Moved
To Tears
Fr. Thady,
Before I started my retreat for my Jubilee, we
received your video cassettes and tapes. We were
all very excited and we decided to listen to your
tapes together as a community. As you called down
the blessing of Jesus, I felt a very strong sense
of Jesus blessing me and I felt as if though He
was really present before us.
As you prayed that we all experience the
indwelling Jesus, I just found that I was
shedding tears and filled with the strong desire
for Jesus to fill my inner most being. That is
what actually guided me during my ten days
retreat in preparation for my Jubilee. Then I
passed the video cassette to Fr. Conrade while we
were still using the tapes. He has made a good
number of copies from it just to help other
priests and sisters. Sr. Mary Scholastica,
Tindinyo Carmel, P.O. Box 12, Kaimosi, Kenya,
E.A..
St.
Faustina and Depression
Dear
Fr. Thaddeus Doyle,
I want to write this letter in thanksgiving for
your writing in the Curate's Diary about St.
Faustina's depression. How I needed to hear that,
and the great sense of relief to know I'm not
alone in my struggle with this type of
depression. I was just in doubt about how I can
be close to God, when I'm so troubled most of the
time. But after reading your article I'm full of
childlike trust that it's OK and I must trust Our
Lord Jesus Christ to do His will. Oh if everyone
could understand we would be a more loving
people. Dear Fr. keep up the powerful work. I can
only offer you my prayers. Very grateful sinner.
From A Brother Priest
Dear Fr. Thaddeus,
Your article on St. Faustina's depression was
amazing. While I was diagnosed in 1988, I had
long suffered, not knowing what it was. Your
description of the symptoms and how St. Faustina
suffered them was amazing.
Depression is a terrible taboo. Such a basic part
of one's life is something one just can't
mention. What a blessing it is to experience you
speak of these things from the housetops.
Thank God at the moment, I have great health of
body mind and spirit. But for all things, even
sickness and trouble I give thanks. It is in
opening up our dark side to God's love, our
brokenness, that we come into true conversion and
experience His Providence.
Diary
Came At Right Time
Dear Fr.,
The Diary came to me at exactly the right time -
St. Faustina's remarkable victory over depression
and despair. My son has suffered depression for
most of his life . Last July he got worse! I was
praying so hard for him. When the Diary came and
I read about St. Faustina, I could not tell you
in words how I felt that night after reading it.
My son has improved, thank God, I will always say
the prayer you gave in the Diary and you also
will be in my prayers.
Real
Love Is Still Possible
Dear Fr. Thady,
Your new book 'Real Love
is Still Possible' is fantastic! Couldn't put it
down. I'm quite sure most young people who read
it will identify with one or other of the main
characters and this will give them hope and
belief that 'Real Love is Still Possible' in
their lives today. Looking forward to the sequel!
Dear Fr. Thaddeus,
After reading "Real
Love is Still Possible", I feel compelled to
write to you. It is by far the most wonderful
book I have ever read. I am a mother of two
teenagers. I found it so spiritually nourishing.
I thank you for the hours of thought and work you
dedicated in producing such a beautiful read. I
have got so much out of it. Rebecca's love for
Jesus is reflected in every page. It helps me
understand my own faith and answered some of the
things that I wasn't quite clear on. Sometimes we
are very assuming that everything that happens to
us is the work of God or the Holy Spirit. I would
have loved to have read this book when I was
dating maybe twenty years ago. I do believe this
book could make a big difference in the lives of
young people who are open to a close living
relationship with Jesus. Thanks again. Margaret.
Dear Fr. Thaddeus,
The book 'Real Love is
Still Possible' is a real treasure. I am just
finishing reading it. Please Mums and Nanas get
it for your teenagers. It is a treasure - the way
to live and still be 'with it' for yound people.
It is a nice book to read for yourself and be
much happier to get to know Jesus better. Give it
as a gift to young people around fourteen years
and older. It is right for them. Have a good time
and keep the commandments. Congratulations to
Father Thaddeus. I think its wonderful, Sile.
Dear Fr.
Going through a crisis
with my boyfriend, I sent for your new book,
'Real Love is Still Possible'. I truly believe it
is the work of the Holy Spirit. It touched me
deeply and I both cried and laughed right through
the book. I also felt, as I am sure many others
will feel, that it was speaking directly to me.
Myself and my boyfriend are still struggling, but
now he has agreed to read the book. All the times
I was stuck for words and could not explain how I
felt or what I was trying to put into words, you
did the exact thing by printing it in the book.
Again truly the work of the Holy Spirit.
My
Response
Thank you most sincerely
for your lovely letter, and you have the
distinction of being the first person that I've
got a letter from about "Real Love Is Still
Possible." You clearly are a very loving
person. I pray that the Lord will bless both you
and your boyfriend, and that Holy Spirit will
guide you.
Returned
To Mass
Dear Fr. Thady,
I have had the privilege of passing on 3 copies
of "But I Get Nothing out of Mass" to
people who for one reason or another had stopped
going to Mass. I did not push nor persuade - but
I am happy to say that all three have returned
and are back to Mass. Praise the Lord!
Helped
By Miracle Rosary
Dear Fr. Doyle,
I recently visited the adoration room where the
Blessed Eucharist is and I came across The
Miracle Rosary. As I read it I said to myself
what a great way to concentrate instead of
drifting away while saying the Rosary. I find the
little book great especially the way of praying
the second part of the Hail Mary. And also
learning to pray for the person visualising Our
Lady touching the person. When my hour was up in
adoration, I went home and told all my friends.
They too are interested.
From
South Africa
Dear Rev Fr. Thaddeus,
Many thanks for the box of booklets. This time
they proved to be too little in number. Many of
our sisters from the missions had a glimpse from
those who had some copies. There is a great
demand now. I have been talking with some who
asked me to let you know that these booklets are
a means of spiritual revival. We pray for all the
donors and all those who need our prayers. They
were very much interested in "Dear Lord I'm
Desperate", Yours gratefully, Sister Clara
Rapholo, Lesothio.
Touching
Lives in Kenya
Addicted
to Diary in Kenya
Dear Fr. Thady,
I have become 'addicted' to the Diary, and I am
always avidly awaiting its arrival in the post,
and I was very 'down' when the July one didn't
appear. I share your belief in Medjugorje, I was
there for a week in October 1995 - including the
25th - and I like reading Our Lady's message
which you print each month.
I am now daily praying the Chaplet of the Divine
Mercy and then asking St. Faustina to pray for
the people for whom I recite it. I have had a
small picture of The Divine Mercy for a long time
- given to me by my own sister in England and who
was already a devotee - but that was all. I just
had it, now it means a lot to me.
Sr. Joan Langdon, St. Theresa's Convent, P.O. Box
148, 30403 Marigat, Kenya.
Extract
from a letter from Sr. Mary Scholastica
Dear Rev. Fr. Doyle,
For a number of years I have been struggling to
understand what my foundress St. Teresa of Avila,
meant when she wrote that if a person has had a
deep experience of God's mercy and love in
prayer, but then does not come up with a strong
determination to forgive her adversary, then that
person's prayer is not genuine.
But now, having read your booklet, 'The World's
Most Amazing Experience" I feel so happy and
a deep sense of freedom from within.
Mine is just to hold before Jesus all that I
can't let go of by my own strength and power.
I now believe more in the delivering power of
Jesus than struggling alone with my own strength.
Meanwhile, one of the sisters in the sick bay
suffering from cancer has been transformed since
she was given the little booklet "Dear Lord
I'm Desperate", and she uses it to encourage
those with her in the sick bay. She has it on her
chest continually and she feels that Jesus is
talking to her heart in a way that she can't put
in words. She is called Sr. Clemence and she is
seventy two years old.
A boy called Paul, who is in a school where they
don't teach our Catholic Faith, has also been
very much helped by it, and is using it to share
with others in the school. He came to our
monastery for two days retreat and that is the
booklet he used without anybody talking to him.
We would love if you could come to Kenya
Sr. Mary Scholastica, E. Africa.
My
Response
Congratulations to
Sr. Scholastica on her Silver Jubilee, and thanks
for enriching all our lives and being our
co-worker. Yes, if I felt that lives would be
touched, I would consider doing a week in Kenya.
Let us pray!
Touched
By God Has A Plan
Dear Fr. Doyle,
I came across your booklet 'God has a plan for
you', quite by accident and words will not do
justice to how I felt as I read from page to
page. In an awesome way it has confirmed by
journey towards Jesus.
Touched
By Testimony
Dear Fr. Doyle,
It was with great interest that I read your
personal testimony on the internet last week. So
much so, that I printed off copies and sent them
to relatives up the country. The issues of
bullying (at work in my case), painful and
inexplicable feelings of depression and
temptations to suicide have been with me on and
off for some 42 years now. Counselling has proven
to be of limited help, and, having also been
slain in the Spirit several times, know that only
Jesus can truly heal our personal hurts, but
still this awful darkness persists. Could you
please pray for this to be removed.
Saved By
'The Miracle Rosary'
Binde is a little village in the far north of
Ghana, at the boundary between Togo and Ghana. It
is a semi desert where very few things happen.
Here, there are no television channels, no
telephone, email, post office, market nor taxis
for transportation.
All journeys here are made by night whether the
distance is short or long because that is when
the trucks are available. Alternatively, one goes
on foot or with a bicycle if you are rich enough
to purchase it.
For the sake of the Gospel and the love of God,
we have so far survived in this thickly populated
Islamic and traditional regionalist area in order
to evangelise and be evangelised.
When I received your box containing several books
and leaflets, I was attracted first to the little
book titled "The Miracle Rosary" and I
said to myself, "This will really help our
people here to pray the rosary devoutly and
appreciate their time with the Lord through His
mother."
Little
did I know that I would be the first beneficiary
of The Miracle Rosary.
I always scan
through every book before handing them over to
the people so as to know exactly what I am giving
and to whom. So it was that I picked up the
Miracle Rosary and prayed it first. Having
enjoyed it, I then gave them out to different
people and kept a copy for my own use.
As we have no other means of transport, so we
always avail of the hospital lorry to go for our
shopping etc. to the nearest town, about 250
kilometres from here. We go once a month or so
depending on the availability of the hospital
lorry.
So on Tuesday 13th of January 2004, I took off
with the hospital administrator, a priest, who
drove the lorry. As soon as we got on the road, I
picked up The Miracle Rosary and started praying,
allowing a mental picture of Our Lady into my
mind's eye, and holding before her each
intention.
At the fourth decade of the Sorrowful Mysteries,
the image of Our Lady in my minds eye suddenly
altered. Instead of the image of her I had been
picturing, I saw her quickly kneel down with her
face downward in prayer, while I continued
praying the rosary. In less than two seconds, our
lorry was heading towards a ditch. The lorry spun
off the road and almost somersaulted into the
hedge, but the priest kept struggling with the
steering wheel until everything became calm
again. By this time I have stopped praying and
was holding the handle of the lorry as tight as
possible so as not to fall out.
When all was calm, in my minds eye, I saw Our
Lady sit back on her chair, look at me and say,
"I prayed that this should not happen".
I thanked her, then continued the rosary till I
completed the 15 decades. I then left 5 decades
to be prayed on our way back.
When we were returning the same night, at about
12.45 am just 15 kilometres to our destination,
what appeared to be the worst happened.
I can only recall seeing a truck coming towards
us with full headlights, then the priest
struggling to change gears and to slow down but
it was too late.
At full head-on collision appeared inevitable,
but somehow the priest swerved our lorry and the
oncoming truck crashed into it by the passenger
side where I was sitting. The bang was so violent
that I lost consciousness.
Luckily the drivers side was not badly affected
so the priest was safe and sound with bruises and
shock. But guess what became me? I was buried
right there in the debris of the lorry.
The
passengers from the other vehicle all came out
and for sure they thought I was dead, so I was
covered with cloth.
Meanwhile I had no
idea what was happening for I was happy where I
found myself, in the midst of children. When I
joined these children, I felt so happy and I
wanted to stay on but later they started
shouting, "Sister please go back". They
wouldn't even let me be seated as their shouting
was becoming louder and I was getting confused.
It never occurred to me that staying on meant
death.
Then I saw a young man of 22 years that I knew
very well. When I met him on 23rd of December
2000, he had abandoned the faith for 3 years. I
urged him then to return to the church and go to
Confession. On 30th of December 2000 he went for
Confession and died on the 3rd of January 2001.
Now he came out very happy from the midst of the
children, stepped forward in front of me and
said, "Sister, what are you doing here? Go
back please. You have work to finish!" So
with the help of Our Lady I returned from their
midst.
I can still recall how I felt when my spirit was
returning into my body. I felt as if I was waking
up from a long and deep sleep. I woke up with
severe rigor and my body covered with cloth,
still in the debris. Then the priest started
calling me. I could hear but I couldn't respond.
At this time, I had no idea we were involved in
an accident, I thought I was in the house
sleeping. It was two days later when I had fully
regained consciousness that the whole story was
relayed to me. Later I was taken to see the lorry
from which I came out alive.
The priest who doesn't appreciate the rosary,
confessed for the first time that he believes the
rosary I was praying saved us, that Our Lady of
the Rosary brought me back to life. He said they
found my rosary stuck between me and the broken
door. Now as I stretched my hand towards it
unconsciously, he picked it up for me, one bead
broken.
This is the greatest miracle of my life. No bone
was broken, no deep cut that required stitching
and no serious internal injury, although I banged
my head, chest and right hand. I only lost one
front tooth which by God's grace I will fix as
soon as I get the means to do so. I have since
had an x-ray on my chest and right shoulder but
I'm yet to have a further head scan but I'm sure
it will be okay too like others. I have since
returned to the full time pastoral care of people
here.
Through the intercession of Mary, God has shown
everyone here that He is the God of the
impossible.
Everyone who went to see the battered lorry
praised God that life still came out of such a
situation.
The pagans said that I must have very strong
charm and power that elevated me from death, the
Christians were dumbfounded while the Muslims
said it was Allah, but for me, it was the
omnipresence God that wrought the miracle through
the intervention of Mary our Mother.
The Miracle Rosary makes praying the rosary more
interesting and cuts out distractions. It makes
the praying of the rosary more of a personal
friendly and a deep spiritual encounter with the
Mother of God.
I have come to appreciate more than ever the
words, "Holy Mary Mother of God, please help
our young people to find Jesus".
Meanwhile Mrs. Matina, to whom I gave some of the
booklets, a nurse who has returned to the church
after 25 years, recently received the sacraments.
The thanksgiving Mass was on 29th February.
Meanwhile also at the end of Lent, 28 young
people and 6 elderly are receiving Baptism, and
eight couples are being married. The instruction
started last July.
Meanwhile my thanks to all who have written to
give me their moral, financial and prayer
support. May the Lord reward each of you
according to your needs. Your names are on my
altar for daily remembrance.
Pray always that the Lord will keep me strong and
healthy, and I will do the same for you.
(Sr. Bernardine is attached to the Brinde Rural
Hospital, P.O. Box 172, Bawku, (UER), Ghana, West
Africa)
Another box of our books has just been despatched
to her.
From A
Priest in Kenya
Dear Rev. Fr. Doyle
I'm Rev. Fr. Kizito Sabatia
Handa . I'm a diocesan priest from the Catholic
diocese of Kakamega. Ordained a priest in l994. I
teach in our National Theological Seminary, as a
visiting Lecturer. I teach Dogmatic theology.
I recently visited Sister
Scholastica in the Carmel and she gave me a
booklet “Dear Lord I am Desperate”
which I have been using for my meditation. This
booklet has been very inspiring to me in my
prayer and meditation.
One day when I was using this
booklet, some Christians happened to see it and
they borrowed to go and read it, after which many
of them have been inquiring of where they can get
this booklet. That is why am writing to request
you whether you can sent us some copies of the
same so that we may pass the same message to
other.
My
Response
It is wonderful to know that we
are helping people in Africa; that without
getting on a plane, lives are being touched so
far away. Like St. Therese, we pray for the grace
to be able to lead people to Jesus on the five
continents. We are delighted to be able to send a
5kg box of booklets from our Mission Fund; and
more later if they are helping people.
The
Diary Arrived at the right moment
Dear Fr. Thady,
I only got the Curate's Diary
today, yet maybe the timing was perfect for me.
Because of intense struggle I grabbed the packet
and found seclusion here in the bedroom. I just
read little bits here and there but it was as if
the power of God was radiating out from your
magazine. First the reassurance I felt delighted
me, and that wonderful and complete calming of
the terror I had been feeling. I feel so peaceful
now I can hardly believe it. It is all thanks to
your magazine.
Dear Fr. Thaddeus,
I was just about ready to throw
my hat in and quit. Then I saw the Diary sitting
on the mat. So I opened it up and could hardly
believe what I was reading "Feel
inadequate". I am always amazed at Gods
choice. (Sometimes I find the going a bit rough).
Anyway thank you.
My
Response
We pray each month, and
encourage others to pray, that ripples of
blessing will go with the Diary as it travels the
world, and that lives may be touched. So thanks
for writing to share the above. It encourages us
to persevere in intercessory prayer and for
others to join with us.
"Dear
Lord I'm Desperate"
Dear Fr. Doyle,
"Dear Lord I'm
Desperate" has helped me so much and given
me hope. I take my own everywhere with me. God
knows how I now try so hard to depend on the
higher power. Thank you and all your workers.
Thank you once again for giving me the courage to
carry on. God bless, Mary.
Touched
By Mass Booklet
Dear Fr. Doyle,
I read a copy of your book
"But I get nothing out of Mass" . I
found it a lovely book and I really feel
different about going to Mass now. I really look
forward to going whereas before I think it was
more out of habit.
Helped
by The Miracle Rosary
Dear Fr. Thaddeus,
Greetings from Cameroon in West
Africa. I came across your pamphlet in 1999 while
studying at Milltown park in Dublin. It was very
enriching and it really helped me to develop a
special love towards the rosary. At the moment, I
am Directress of the postulants here. I brought a
few of the pamphlets back home. The postulants
and novices are so interested in it I am short.
It's a pity I don't know how to get more copies
because our postage system is poor as far as
money is concerned. So I am hooked. Please is
there any way that I can get some copies. Sr.
Emmanuella
My
Response
We have sent Sr.
Emmanuella a 5kg box of our booklets from our
Mission Fund
Touched
By Confession Booklet
Confession Booklet
- touching lives
Dear Fr. Thady,
Your latest book on Confession is great and was
needed badly. A friend asked me if she could have
a loan of it for a person who was away from
Confession for six years. Her friend read your
book and two days later went to Confession.
Dear Father Thady,
Your book on "Confession" is really
inspired. No-one should be hesitant in going to
reconciliation after reading it.
Dear Fr. Thady,
Your booklet on Confession is so touching, that I
even do not know how I can put it on paper.
Imagine I can only read it a little bit every day
and ponder on each paragraph.
Thanks also to those who had the humility and the
openness to share their personal experiences with
regard to the sacrament of Confession. It has
really given me a lot of courage to face a
certain area in my life which I had never faced
before. I am very sure God is going to use that
booklet to bring many souls back to repentance.
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