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Do the saints intercede? They do -- often in ways we never know. When we die, when we are on the other side of the veil, we'll be surprised to learn the times they had helped. The same is true of angels.

Sometimes the intercession is obvious. In other instances it is that little "miracle" or intuition or coincidence. Do you have examples?

"A few years ago my mother was having hip replacement surgery," notes Anne Cronin of Los Angeles. "She had numerous other surgeries and was dreading this one.

"I was praying for her the night before the surgery. That night I had a dream that I was in Heaven. It was a busy place. I was viewing a central command area -- sort of like an air traffic control station. Someone next to me said, 'St. Paul, someone's here to see you.'

"A monk-like person turned around quickly and glanced at me. He said, 'Your mother will be fine, your family is under my protection.' And quickly went back to his work.

"I thought this was strange because my mother never mentions St. Paul. Her favorites are the Blessed Mother, St. Theresa, Padre Pio, and especially the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The next morning I called Buffalo to see how the surgery had gone. My sister answered the hospital phone and said my mother was fine but still groggy and couldn't talk. I told her to relay the strange dream I had to my mom.

"All of a sudden she got on the phone and said she couldn't believe it! She had been making a 'secret' novena to St. Paul because she admired his strength during the ordeals of his life. She had told no one about it!"

Invoke the saints. Keep up those secret novenas. Thank your angel. Often, they communicate with us indirectly. Only in Heaven will we understand how they coordinate things!

"I had a remarkable event happen to me while driving through my little home town in southeast Pennsylvania," wrote Thomas Forbes. "I had just come from York Hospital where my wife had a procedure to stop some internal bleeding. She's had a liver condition for over 15 years and we knew a liver transplant was possible in the far future. We were told to prepare now since a transplant was more probable. The bleeding was a symptom that her condition was progressing -- and we are going to be referred to the transplant program at Johns Hopkins.

"I was feeling down and headed home to get some rest before going back to the hospital. While stopped at a red-light, I noted a car ahead of me with a Delaware license.

"He was from out of state and off the beaten path. The license plate holder had the words: 'Transplantation succeeds! Liver recipient.'"

In the case of Marc Lavelle in Kennesaw, Georgia, several inexplicable instances of such an aroma helped bring him into the Church. He smelled it in his backyard when no one was there and also in his truck or as he was outside heading for his truck and the fact that it could be in several places was convincing. He was told it symbolized the presence of the Blessed Mother. He heard this from a friend who had been on pilgrimage. And while not Catholic, he could feel Mary's presence. He started RCIA on September 11, 2001.

Angels and saints see what we cannot see, both now and in the future. Also in the past. They know all and understand all, at least compared to us. Time to them is a mirage. They are in Heaven (of which there are various levels), and although there is no actual frenzy, they are busier than ever.

"One day I went shopping at Wal-Mart and then stopped over my mother’s house," wrote a woman named Robin from Newington, Connecticut. "As I was taking items out of the bag, I noticed that my engagement ring felt sharp on the side. And one of the two diamond chips that are on the side of my diamond were missing!

"I looked in my pocketbook, the table I was sitting at, and everywhere at my mother’s house but could not find the tiny chip. I could have lost it anywhere that morning, including Wal-Mart or the large parking lot.

"I was very disappointed, and thought I would have to go to a jeweler and have the stone replaced. Since the ring has sentimental value, I felt it would not be the same without the original stones. As I was leaving, my mother said to pray to St. Anthony, which I have done occasionally in the past.

"Well, I did pray on my way home. And when I returned home, I had many chores that needed to be done, but something told me not to do anything until I went into the bathroom downstairs.

"I walked into the bathroom and 'something' now told me to look down. In the crevice between the tiny floor tiles there was something shiny. As I picked it up I saw that it was the tiny diamond chip to my ring! When I brought it to the jeweler to replace, his assistant said it was a miracle that I found it!"

Oh, those little miracles. Oh, that little "something"! Many have a devotion to the mysterious St. Philomena (we'd especially like to hear your accounts of her) and other special saints.

"I live in Montana," wrote another correspondent. "I have made many devotions to St. Therese [the "Little Flower," who often sends signs in the way of roses]. My story begins: I was shocked to find out I was pregnant, and very upset. I knew my sister-in-law would be angry, jealous, and bitter towards me, and the thought of that hurt. I had a very close walk with the Lord so I knew where to turn and did.

"I started praying novenas to St. Therese, and made a huge devotion to her. On the day I was to deliver, my sister-in-law insisted on being there -- and got to the hospital before I did!

"As much as I did not want her there, I didn’t want to cause any more friction than I needed to. It was around ten p.m. About 2:30 a.m., my sister-in-law shooed everyone out of the delivery room to sleep or rest. I told her she could go also, but she insisted on staying, which upset me -- and so I starting praying to St Therese. I asked her to help me!

"All I remember is praying the Our Father and a couple of Hail Marys but I was totally focused on St Therese. I knew she heard my prayers because I suddenly started to relax. I felt this huge calmness come over me and then I was able to totally concentrate on my labor pains.

"Well, I gave birth half an hour later, and later that night, for confirmation, my sister-in-law brought a gift for the baby -- a cute dress adorned with pink roses!"

"One Sunday, I had to attend a service for the confirmation candidates at St. Mary's in Cape Town," wrote Paschaline Jacobs from South Africa. "I was to be sponsor for a very good friend, but during the service, I became light headed and my sponsor requested I leave immediately. Because of blood-pressure problems, we thought it best that I leave. As I left the church and got into my car, I heard a voice tell me, 'Please drive carefully and please stay on the left hand side of the road.'

"I started to drive and passed a car moving slowly in the left lane and again the voice said, 'Please listen to me and stay on the left hand side of the road.' As I was driving and going at quite a speed the voice more urgently this time begged me to drive slowly and stay on the left.

"I slowed down and on the last stretch of my journey, my mobile beeped. It was my husband -- telling me to please drive carefully!

"I slowed down some more and the voice came back saying, 'Just stay on this side now and move over to the side of the road' -- and just then a woman driving a sliver car comes speeding towards me on the wrong side of the road and missed me by a few inches. I was sure that my guardian angel was watching over me, that it was his voice I heard."

You'll find out, for sure, Paschaline, when you get to "air traffic control" in Heaven.

`Secrets of the Eucharist by Michael Brown. Heart-felt reflections on the Holy Eucharist, fresh new insights, and miracles. What did Padre Pio say? How did saints adore? What's the "real presence"? Full of insights into the Mass, the most powerful prayer possible. One of our most popular books. CLICK HERE`