From the mail, we take a look, on occasion, at little signs. A sign is by definition any object, event, action, or pattern that conveys meaning.
Actually, no sign is “little,” if it is meaningful. They occur in all our lives.
To wit:
“My husband and I were at Resurrection Cemetery near Chicago in Justice this past Holy Saturday,” wrote Jill Tomanich of Illinois. “The weather was perfect so we walked and prayed the Rosary for our family and for all the deceased. This cemetery has some beautiful old statuary so I brought my camera to get a few shots of the angel statues.
“I wanted to send you this photo just because it has such a peaceful feeling. The angel of the statue does not have wings (it’s an old statue and they most likely fell off) but it makes me think that he put his wings down to stay here keeping a vigil with us, being of comfort and praying for us and our beloved deceased.
“The sun looked a little larger than usual to me as a sign of hope in anticipation of the next day, Easter, the day of the Resurrection of Jesus!The photo filled me with hope knowing that those who fall asleep in Christ will rise again glorious one day. And while we await this and the time when we will be reunited with our dear ones who have died, we have the prayers of angels and saints to sustain us and give us solace.”
“This relates to an event that may be of interest,” wrote John Leach. “We were told of this event by Father Michael of St Josephs at Tweed Heads in Australia and later given further details by the couple who were able to take a few photos at the time.
“The Blessed Sacrament was reposed on Holy Thursday night April 13, 2017, in an alcove in the Church that had the internal walls covered by a curtain fixed to the walls up to around 2.4-meter height from the floor. A number of people stayed after Mass to pray as a vigil until midnight thus Good Friday.
“During this time the couple who took the photos [left] noticed the image appear behind the Blessed Sacrament and were amazed by its clarity and substance, prompting them to bring its presence to the attention of others, including [a priest named] Father Michael. I am told that the photos do not capture the whole three-dimensional essence of reality as seen by those there.
“The image, especially the face, is distinct and can be seen by some to extend a full body length — some suggested a resemblance to Our Lady of Sorrows and others Our Lady of Fatima. The image seems in perfect proportion and gives the impression of depth in spite of the curtain being against the walls.
“There is no statue showing any remote resemblance to the image in the Church. It is not a projection or reflection but an image formed by distortions in the curtain fabric and noting but a blank wall immediately behind the curtain. Make of it what you will but an image is there and is an appropriate one.”
“Your story of the yellow rose petals from St Therese is very true,” wrote Lilia Bautista of Spring, Texas.
“Ever since I was a little child, I have loved Jesus so very much that I would go to church morning and afternoon just to be with Him in the Blessed Sacrament. When I was ten years old, a very dear friend introduced me to St. Thérèse the Little Flower of Jesus and she gave me a prayer card with a novena to her. She told me that St. Thérèse loved Jesus very much and showed it in her ‘little ways,’ just the way I did, so she thought perhaps I would like to get to know this special saint. I fell in love with Thérèse right away, and felt an immediate connection. I learned that she often answered prayers with the sign of flowers, so when I asked for her intercession, I would also ask her to send me flowers.
“One time, I was kneeling in front of a life-sized statue of the saint at church, when suddenly three fresh rose petals fell upon me. I looked up to see where they had come from, but there were no fresh roses, just painted flowers around the cross Thérèse was holding. I was truly amazed by this little miracle, and I have kept those rose petals for 64 years now. That was 1953. Up to this time, they have stayed fresh and still give off a rose scent.
“The other four red petals [above] I picked up from her garden in her birthplace during our pilgrimage in 2003. These petals also stayed fresh and still the same color up to the present time. One of the petals even shows an image.
“We had asked Thérèse for many favors and she always delivers. In 2003 we were asked to go on a pilgrimage to Portugal, Spain, and France, including Lisieux. Ever since I came to know Thérèse, I have wanted to visit her hometown. I prayed and asked the Little Flower to send me fresh white roses if we were to go.
“On the third day of my novena, three beautiful white roses bloomed in my garden even though it was December. We sent in our deposit. The following February, I was laid off from work. It made finances tight. In April, we were supposed to mail in our final payment for the pilgrimage. Rudy and I went to Mass and I asked Thérèse for another sign, any sign, if we were supposed to go on this trip. Immediately after Mass, a friend approached me and presented me with a beautiful locket of Thérèse. He said simply, ‘Thérèse wants you to have this.’
“We took that as our sign. We mailed in our final payment although we knew there were not enough funds to cover that check. We just trusted completely in God that he would provide for all our needs.
“We had a blessed and wonderful pilgrimage. At Thérèse Basilica in Lisieux, I told Thérèse, ‘You brought us this far, what are you trying to tell us?’ Then I felt Thérèse’s hands in mine, leading me to a very far corner of the basilica, and there I saw her handwritten note: ‘I am your sister and your friend and I will always be watching over you.’ At her home with a beautiful garden, I picked up some deep velvety red fresh rose petals. These petals also remained fresh just like when I picked them up in 2003.”
Pity those whose intellectual surety has precluded Heaven’s indications for them.
[Resources: retreat, New Jersey and The Story of a Soul]