A story of Mary, the Mother of God.
Posted: Friday, December 12, 2008
by straight talk
Now I have already written to my beliefs about intercession so this article does not ask you to believe in what I say or anything other then what is truth, reality, fact to me. I offer it for all to consider especially during these hard times.
Now let me begin with saying my dad was very devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary. In fact she met him at the door to heaven when he died. Laugh, scoff do what you like, in my opinion truth. I wrote to this before as well. Now for the sake of simplicity I will break the events down in chronological order.
My dad never knew the connection to Mary that I just stated even unto the day he died. That is significant, nor did I know until today. As I say it was significant that the story he gave us when he literally returned from being dead involved The Mother of God and in my opinion and belief that ties this together even more.
Now my dad when a young man in the CCC in upper New York State, Bear Mountain, saw and apparition of the Blessed Virgin. Now it is important we note that he never spoke about this until his 50 th wedding anniversary, when that was confirmed with all the others who also saw that apparition that night. He had not seen many of them since that time.
Now my dad was always devoted to the Blessed Virgin, actively involved all his life in building shrines and devotional prayers. He said the Rosary each day. Yet, as I said, he never knew the connection. He just felt drawn spiritually to her even while extremely devoted to Jesus Christ he always said he felt close to her as well.
Now as for me, when I was a young man, quite far from the church, one night, while depressed and sick and tired of the drinking and fast life, I found myself alone in my bedroom. I don't know why but I felt an urge to pray to the Blessed Virgin. So I got down, alone and on my knees and I prayed in my own words asking help to change my life and to help me find the right partner for life. And like I said no formal prayers just a heartfelt expression of my needs and my hurts. Well many may laugh but you have to realize I had it all, yes all the bling, cars, jewelry, clothes, vacations, money, position. You would think I would be happy? Yet all the woman I was meeting were hollow shells, facades, people who were living a lie. They were attracted by the bling and not me or my true values. Yes truth drove them away and yet the facade I was living was not really me either. I also didn't want to break from glitz, but deep inside I knew it wasn't me.
Now on the other side of the world, unknown to me, a young girl who was to later become my future wife, had cut her hand and almost lost it. You see in Sicily they did not have the medical expertise at that time to save limbs as they do now. Yet her mother, a Catholic turned Pentecostal, prayed to Mary to save her little girls hand and low and behold it was. A miracle they all said and she still bears the scars to this day and has limited movement in the hand because of nerve damage. Yet she still has the hand. Praise God.
Now in 1968, even before we met, she came to America. Then one day she arrived at the bank on Wall Street where I worked and was hired as a key punch operator. Now my boss, who hired her, called me on the phone and said, Bob come on out as fast as you can. Why I said? He said just come out. As I came out through the doors I passed this young girl. When I reached my boss he said, did you pass that young lady on the way in. I said yes. He said, that girl is going to be your wife. Of course I said, my wife, I laughed and said that isn't part of my job description that I must marry who you choose, is it? He laughed and said well we shall see and he went on to say why.
So a few years passed before we actually went out and subsequently got married. Call it what you may, I call it intercession. In fact prior to getting married we rarely saw or spoke to each other except at work. Like the wine at the wedding. Now while we worked together she was going with someone, I with another, but that didn't work out for us both. So one day I asked her out and she consented, the rest history. On our very first date I knew she was the girl. Yes I knew. How does one say it in words? I just knew. Now to boot all my children were born close to feast days of Mary. She is all and more of what anyone would want in a wife and partner. Gold, diamonds and precious gems are worthless before her. All the wealth this world has to offer is meaningless and I mean that. Yes and my children also not of this world. Enticed as we all are but of different hearts. I cannot ask for anything more in wealth. Thank you Lord Jesus and thank you Mary.
So I leave it for you to discern and for those in despair I offer it to you as a sign of hope. Now understand this, it all had to take place in Gods' due season. It did not happen immediately, yet it happened. Coincidence, fate, circumstance, in my mind too many of all of that to be that. No, for me it was one simple prayer. Believe it or not, your choice.
Now for those who do not know, it is not about the worship of Mary, it is all about intercession. As Mary interceded at that first wedding she also does for us whenever we ask her to. Jesus, her son places her in high esteem because she is his mother. He honors her as commanded to do by His father and in that He listens to her pleas. So I offer this prayer. No where does it state anything against the Son of God Jesus in it. The words of the prayer italicized and the bold an explanation.
Hail Mary, a call of that day signifying someone of importance, that is the truth.
Full of Grace, the grace of God she was and is.
The Lord is with thee, certainly he was and is.
Blessed art thou among woman, certainly she is.
Blessed is the fruit of they womb, Jesus, what can one say but that Jesus receives the blessing from your lips.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, that she is.
Pray for us sinners, intercession prayer as one would from anyone in time of need.
Now and at the hour of our death, Amen, asking for continued prayer.
Now I do not come to argue why not go directly to Jesus, simply because one might say that to all who offer intercession for others through prayer is the very same. I will not argue that we are encouraged to seek intercession because we are. I will not even argue what version of the Word one uses. I will say this, dead in the body alive in the Lord and I believe Mary is alive in heaven as are all who "go to be with the Lord" so in my opinion I am not praying for intercession from the dead, but those alive in Him. Yes Jesus did not say go directly to Him. God the father says no one comes to Him except through His Son. Mary does not either, but as any loving mother would she goes to Her son for help. Yes and when He said mother it is not my time, she said just follow His instructions. Honor for His mother.
I hope this makes sense and I hope it does not offend. Your beliefs are sacred and yours. I just wish to offer my understanding of why the Mother of God should not be overlooked for help.
.Robert T. Melaccio Sr. 2008 Copyright 2008 Robert Melaccio Sr.
This Article has been viewed 198 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)hi robert,beautiful memories, thanks for sharing them.i used to be a "why not just go straight to the source?" person. until 2 years agoi forget what the catalyst was, but i got to thinking one day, and i said to myself, i'm sure Mary would listen, and help if she could, so i started talking to her.i ordered a beautiful 8 " tall wooden statue, made from the olive trees along the path that Jesus walked. (supposedly) i put her on a shelf right next to my bed, now she is someone i talk to and honor as well.thanks for the nice reminder,my best regards,suePlease log in to respond to this comment.Sue, we often ask others to pray for us or others do so on their own. Believers are told Mary was taken directly to heaven when she died. THEREFORE SHE IS NOW THERE in her new body, with her son. Now you said it correctly and it dispells all of those who say people worship Mary. No, we honor her as her son did, a difference and we do not hesitate in going to her help. Blessings and best wishes. RobertPlease log in to respond to this comment.
Sir Robert, thank you for sharing "A story of Mary, the Mother of God, which greatly enlightened me! I never understood why Catholics prayed to Mary or interpreted intercessory prayer in this manner. Your explanation and repeated statements of you are not worshiping her but seeking intercession through her are well taken and offers clarity to me. Your intent to keep your readers beliefs intact and sacred is well appreciated, too. All very good, my friend. Thank you!
Actually, after my own mother went to heaven (for she was a believer), I would talk to her in prayer, much as Sue does to Mary but never looked at it as intercession. I would make certain God the Father knew I wasn't praying to her but wanting her to come to Him on my behalf. Wow! I never connected this to Catholicism and what you've taught me now.
Thanks again my dear friend. I pray all is well with you and yours. Many blessings to you.
Your friend,
AvisPlease log in to respond to this comment.Thank you my dear friend. I try to share in a manner that does not offend on a tough subject. I am glad it gave you more insight. After all do we not say as Christians we have gone to be with the Lord" as you rightly stated about mom. Blessings and best wishes during this holiday time. Have a safe and blessed Christmas. Robert.Please log in to respond to this comment.
We want your comments! If you can read this, you don't have javascript enabled, so you can't use this comment system. Please enable javascript.