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"Getting to the Heart of the Matter" is what Sister Mary Lucy Astuto pinpoints in every issue when she takes a common sense approach to living our faith with her practical columns.
This weekend Sister continues the story from a dear friend who experienced conversion through God's providence and His Blessed Mother's secret weapon - the Rosary. It all began in Medjugorje after her dear friend Kathy, like so many other millions, had read about the "Miracle of Medjugorje" from Wayne Weible and heard the call of Our Lady to come to her special Oasis of Peace in then Yugoslavia back in 1988. Sister writes from Kathy's point of view in sharing how Kathy's heart was moved, even though she did not fully understand, to use and share her Rosaries and by so doing pray with the heart for that is truly the crux in getting to the heart of the matter as Sister Lucy shows in the sixth of a multiple part entitled simply Kathy's Rosary Story part six.
Her column provides effective, vital insights into our faith and ways of fulfilling God's Will every day in every way. You can visit Sr. Lucy at her web site for Heart of Mary Ministry at http://www .heartofmaryministry. com or you can reach her at Srmarylucy @aol.com by e-mail.
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KATHY'S ROSARY STORY - part six
I continue Kathy's story. Again I remind you, she wanted me to tell you that if you would
like to have a copy of her unedited story, you can e-mail her at KHestekin@aol.com. Her story is not to
be reproduced for profit, however.
With the loss of my father, the loss of a very dear friendship, my cancer
surgery, etc., my days were very dark and heavy. I purchased another Rosary with green crystal
beads. Our dear God, knowing I needed a bit of Heaven and encouragement, turned it gold, also. As time
went on, the entire Corpus turned pink, then red, than very dark red, almost black. This Rosary I still
use today.
During Easter 1998, I made a trip to Betania, Venezuela. I experienced
very often there the scent of roses. This is usually associated with the presence of something or
someone very spiritual. For example, in the book Padre Pio, the Stigmatist, written by Rev. Charles
Mortimer Carty, he references where persons have attested to the scent of roses after alleged encounters or
intercessions by Padre Pio.
The scent of roses is also referred to as a "signature" of Our Lady as
many persons have noticed the scent during and/or after a particular spiritual event. (I noticed this
scent very strongly while in Worcester, MA to see Little Audrey.)
I had not taken my green crystal Rosary to Betania with me, but rather
another Rosary I had brought back with me from Medjugorje. While in Betania I met a man who had had a brain tumor. I shared with him that I was a cancer survivor, asked him if I could pray over him, and then I placed the Rosary I had brought with me around his neck. This made 7 rosaries that I had given away.
Sometime after my return to the States, I came across my mini-Rosary.
That's what I call a rosary on which one prays the seven Our Fathers, seven Hail Marys, and seven Glory Be prayers as directed by Our Lady to be said every day. (On the crucifix one is to pray the Apostles' Creed.) Our Lady said that that is the minimum of prayers we should pray every day. As you might have
guessed, this Rosary also began to change color. It was then that I really began to wonder what Our
Lady wished of me that I hadn't already tried to do. I had given away the other Rosaries, as I felt
compelled to do. I tray to pray the Rosary every day, and read and pray. I'm a cantor in the church and sing
with a group of people in nursing homes. What else could Our Lady possibly want with me? In the
continued and final article I will share with you what I think that was. Hope you will read on!
Kathy's story will be continued. Don't forget, dear reader, to make a
good confession to prepare for the birthday of Our Lord, Jesus.
God bless you!
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