Mary,
Take Over! an
anointed, inspirational account of how the Blessed Mother -- as Undoer
of Knots -- should be handed our daily trials large and small as we
watch her work wonders with them -- turning obstacles into miracles! This
booklet is by the same group that brings us 'Mary Undoer of Knots' and
though small brims with powerful examples of how the Virgin Mary can enter
any situation -- can help you against any 'Goliath' -- and make things better than ever. CLICK HERE
SHRINE IN ARIZONA SUFFERS MASSIVE DAMAGE IN FIRES THAT HAVE SCORCHED
SOUTHERN STATES
Often, holy structures survive
disasters. We saw this recently during the tornadic destruction in Joplin,
Missouri [left, right]. A Cross will still stand. A statue of the
Madonna will barely escape the plummet of a tree. A Bible will survive a
fire. It happens more frequently than would be expected by chance: When
Hurricane Charley destroyed a Florida church -- utterly, seven years ago
-- still, a candle at the tabernacle flickered.
Not always -- the wind blows where
it will. God leaves us to discern. We are tested -- witness the cathedrals in Christchurch, New
Zealand, after the recent quake, other churches in the tornado-stricken Midwest,
and now a shrine in
southeast Arizona dedicated to the Blessed Mother --
Our
Lady of the Sierras -- that was all but wiped from the map during
recent raging wildfires that have scorched 1.4 million acres in twelve
states.
Located in what is appropriately
known as Ash Canyon, amid the Huachuca Mountains (which also had spiritual
meaning the to Indians), the rapidly moving blaze severely damaged the
chapel and consumed all support structures, including what were known as
Mary's Knoll Prayer House, Mary's Farm Guest House, and St. Joseph's Home.
Also destroyed were most neighboring farm homes, although a retreat center
at the shrine was spared.
Plans already are in the works to
rebuild this shrine. It was built
by a couple, Gerald and Patricia Chouinard, who are formerly of Illinois
and decided to construct the shrine after visiting the apparition site of
Medjugorje in Bosnia-Hercegovina in 1990 and is in good standing with the
Tucson diocese, which allowed the Blessed Sacrament to reside in the
now-devastated chapel.
Overlooking
the canyon, it has a
75-foot Benedictine Cross and a 31-foot statue of the Blessed Mother (both built after
a long legal battle with residents who didn't want "visual pollution" in
the mountains). Seven years ago, a ten-foot tall
statue of the Angel of Revelation was installed. There is also a marble
angel, "Guardian of the Children," at this place with a special dedication
to the unborn. Spiritual phenomena have been associated with "much that
surrounds [the Blessed Mother's] likeness," notes the official website.
It's said when workmen were
gathering river rocks by surface mining during construction, the special
kind of rock they sought kept appearing "unbelievably" in a way that brought to mind the
multiplication of loaves.
It is not the only place where there
have been trials -- and perhaps signs.
In
Jasper, Indiana, fire erupted at Providence Home Health Care Center, a
Catholic nursing home. Writes correspondent Lana Fierst of Jasper, Indiana,
where a Cross here too was scorched by fire:
"Many of us who are
perpetual adorers in a chapel just under that Cross were surprised by the sudden fire that began during the 7 a.m. hour of
May 12. Also it did not escape our attention that it was the right Hand
of the Jesus statue that burned -- the Hand of Blessing. Ten days prior, on
May 2, we had the roof of our high school gym collapse due to heavy rains
combined with clogged drains and much debris blown onto the roof as the
result of high winds. The Lord had mercy on us, because just more than 24
hours before there were over 600 high school students and some adults in the
gym for our prom and post prom activities."
Reported
a news item: "Fire Chief Kenny Hochgesang said the
Cross’s ballast shorted and the
building sustained minor roof damage. A statue of Jesus with his arms
spread attached to the wall below the cross also was damaged. Melting
plastic fell on the statue’s right hand, burning away a finger and heavily
scorching the rest of the hand." Remarked the house supervisor, Lynn Meny,
intriguingly, "People that passed by have called and
said it looked like Jesus was holding a ball of fire."
Let us discern.
Back at the Arizona shrine, Patricia
believes she has receives messages. They are posted on the shrine's
website, and one, in February, reminded them to embrace the crosses in
life. Another (in May) said that they would be poured out "as a libation
upon the sacrificial altar for souls." Back on December 1, 1997, when they
were just starting the shrine, she claimed to hear the Blessed Virgin Mary
say to her, "My dear children, prepare yourselves for a great time of
change soon comes. I urge you to read my messages and discern that which
has been revealed to you. Your time for decision seeps swiftly through the
hour glass of life's unending challenges."
Mary,
Take Over! an
anointed, inspirational account of how the Blessed Mother -- as Undoer
of Knots -- should be handed our daily trials large and small as we
watch her work wonders with them -- turning obstacles into miracles! This
booklet is by the same group that brings us 'Mary Undoer of Knots' and
though small brims with powerful examples of how the Virgin Mary can enter
any situation -- can help you against any 'Goliath' -- and make things better than ever.
CLICK HERE
Overlooking
the canyon, it has a
75-foot Benedictine Cross and a 31-foot statue of the Blessed Mother (both built after
a long legal battle with residents who didn't want "visual pollution" in
the mountains). Seven years ago, a ten-foot tall
statue of the Angel of Revelation was installed. There is also a marble
angel, "Guardian of the Children," at this place with a special dedication
to the unborn. Spiritual phenomena have been associated with "much that
surrounds [the Blessed Mother's] likeness," notes the official website.
Reported
a news item: "Fire Chief Kenny Hochgesang said the
Cross’s ballast shorted and the
building sustained minor roof damage. A statue of Jesus with his arms
spread attached to the wall below the cross also was damaged. Melting
plastic fell on the statue’s right hand, burning away a finger and heavily
scorching the rest of the hand." Remarked the house supervisor, Lynn Meny,
intriguingly, "People that passed by have called and
said it looked like Jesus was holding a ball of fire.".jpg)