“Same ole, same ole.” Not quite…
Hello Everyone:
It has been awhile since my twentieth letter appeared on our South African website. Interesting events have occurred though not recorded sorry to say. It has been by and large the same ole, same ole of catching up on this and that, the usual line you’ve heard many times and may have even used. Of course Holy week and the week prior were taken up with administering the Sacrament of Reconciliation, liturgical and church preparations.
Just yesterday before noon a mother called in frantic tones over her cell phone while driving with her teenage daughter. She needed to see a priest, she said. Joan, our secretary asked if I might be available and I said of course, have them come by. After a series of directions it was estimated they would arrive within twenty minutes or so.
It sounded like I should get ready for some sort of spiritual combat, so I dashed to my room, dawned the Augustinian habit and then to the sacristy for the aspergillum of newly blessed Easter Water. To my surprise mother and daughter arrived sooner than anticipated, having entered through the chapel by way of the church before I realized they were at my office door. I invited them in to be seated and handed over a box of tissues as the daughter was crying uncontrollably.
After some time Catherine, eighteen years of age, was able to speak in a halting manner, barely audible. I inquired about the time, place and circumstances of the strange occurrences they related. When did they first manifest themselves to you? Did they happen under suggestive conditions that brought these strange and unusual manifestations on? They began last November, she said.
Had you been engaged in any occult practices, I asked, as they can leave one vulnerable to suggestive machinations and open to unsavory behaviors. She couldn’t remember if she had or had not, but didn’t think so. What happened in November, I asked.
She began by relating that she noticed four distinctive finger marks just below her larynx and two months ago, another distinguishable set of four fingers appeared on the back of her right hand and arm.
Gayleen, her mother, is understandably more than a little worried about her daughter’s behaviors as any mother would be, regarding the appearance of those unexplainable finger imprints, the sporadic crying and episodes of uncontrolled laughter. The acceleration and frequency of these strange outbursts could no longer be passed off as just one of those phases before maturity and adulthood finally arrives. Their frequency in the past two weeks had particularly caused alarm. Catherine also claims to be clairvoyant since her thirteenth birthday. She sighted an example of a person she envisioned dying at a certain time and place which actually happened the way she envisioned it. To this, her mother attests.
Another series of unnerving disturbances in Catherine’s life are the nightmares she now experiences, horrible nightmares, ten to twelve in a single night, each waking her up in a fright and she can remember them vividly. Gayleen mentioned that her daughter’s eyes change color accompanied by a frightening, eerie, vacuous stare.
Catherine claimed to have been a Catholic and left the Church three years ago to join another congregation, not of her mother’s Methodist persuasion. After listening and wondering about what action to take in her regard, I asked if she would like to be prayed over. They both said, yes, in desperation tones.
During our time together, I excused myself to take down a lovely crucifix containing a reliquary, which hangs in my bedroom. This black and silver sacramental (five inches long and three inches in width) has an accompanying certificate stating that the tiny sliver contained therein if of the True Cross or at least touched or been in proximity of the True Cross.
I had Catherine hold the crucifix and proceeded to pray over her by imposing my hands above her head. After praying spontaneously and invoking individually the Three Persons of the Blessed Trinity, as well as Our Lady for healing and wholeness, I concluded with an old Latin blessing.
Are you all right I asked and she said something shot down her arm. They were quite grateful and appeared relaxed and relieved. They committed themselves to come to Mass together at the 6:00 o’clock Sunday Evening Youth Mass.
Fr. Al