Mary

In 1960 I was 7 years old.
Our family moved from Detroit to my aunt and uncle’s home, high in the wooded hills near Eureka, California.
We stayed with them for a while, until we found a house of our own.
They had a
beautiful, peaceful “chapel room” in their house. There was an altar, benches, crucifix, candles, and a picture of the Shroud of Turin. It was just like a little church. A problem was that sometimes we kids were “forced” to pray the Rosary with the grownups; even though we had youthful energy pouring out our ears . A seven year old boy does not appreciate a quiet, dark room in which to pray, especially while we had new cousins to play with !
It was Summer, and my brother, my older cousins, ( I'm sure to our parents relief.) would sometimes spend the night outside. We would wrestle around in our sleeping bags until we would fall asleep. One of these nights I
had an abscessed tooth (whatever that was). My gum was swollen and very sore; but playing was priority for the night. While roughhousing, I was hit pretty soundly in the mouth., and my gum started to bleed.
I began to cry and the others were quick to minister to me, and diagnose what should be done. My very wise, all knowing 12 year
old cousin, examined the damage in my mouth. In solemn fear and dread, he gave me dire news. If a drop of infected blood, had gone down my throat I would surely die by
morning. There was no cure, or hope of escaping my imminent demise. I started my dirge, and death wails immediately. My brother and cousins helped me on my death march to the house. It was late, and the grownups tried in vain to quiet my fears. Eventually mom and dad got me into a bed; but did not realize I was going to die before daybreak. I knew I would not see another day. I laid down still crying and getting ready to die. One of the adults gave me a hot water bottle to lay my cheek on, a rosary to hold, and patted me on the head. While I laid there that night, in the dark, alone, crying, and trying to pray; Mary, Jesus' Blessed Mother appeared to me. She was dressed in flowing blue and white. She calmed me and filled me with peace and joy. I don’t remember all that she said, but she talked with me, and stayed with me through the night. We prayed together, she filled me with her love. When I rose up in the morning I was so full of joy and peace, I’ll never forget it. The whole world looked, smelled, and felt new! That’s when I learned (for my lifetime), that Mary surely loves the little children.
Rick