“There is Victory over Death”

Last week Archbishop José Gomez, President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, led the nation in a virtual Rosary for America.  The intent was to seek our Blessed Mother’s intercession for this country.

Many people today are praying the Rosary and asking for our Blessed Mother’s intercession.  And for good reason.  The Rosary is a powerful prayer.

The Rosary is not just a repetition of prayers and requests. On the contrary, it is an actual journey within the life of Christ.  Revealed to St. Dominic and Blessed Alan de la Roche by the Blessed Mother, it is one of the greatest gifts we Catholics have received.

This Rosary link will take you to its origins and meaning. Our Lady attached Fifteen Promises to all those who pray the Rosary faithfully. What follows is about the First Promise. This is not dogmatic teaching, but it should be noted that the Rosary is more written and published about than all other non-liturgical Magisterial and Papal documents.

The First Promise

“Whosoever shall faithfully serve me by the recitation of the Rosary shall receive “signal graces.”

A “Signal Grace” is a special grace that usually comes in answer to prayer. They are powerful occurrences or thoughts that may fill you and are unmistakably related to your prayer requests. Some folks call them “signs. “

For example, you are praying for your adult child to find a job. You knock a local ad circular off the table, and when you pick it up you immediately see an ad for a job at a local air-conditioning company. Your son is a certified A/C technician who was recently downsized. You quickly call him and give him the number. Does he or does he not get the job?  This is part of our Catholic faith journey.

More Types of Signs

Sometimes those who have lost loved ones and are praying for them are the recipients of signs.  For instance, a photo of a loved one suddenly falls from a shelf landing in front of the person praying, or the sudden smell of ‘her’ perfume or ‘his’ after-shave fills the room.  It could even be a knock on the door, but no one is there.

These incidents can sometimes give a person a message which they believe tells them, “all is well, do not worry.” The flip side is it can cause others to feel their loss even more while others may not pay any attention to them at all.  Certainly these “signs” can just be coincidences. But there are those times they are answers from above.

The most prominent ‘signs” seem to come from dreams. The Bible has many stories of people having dreams. St. Joseph was visited three different times by the angel in his dreams. We know that it was a dream that saved the baby Messiah’s life.  As do others, I believe that we do receive “signs,” especially if we experience significant personal loss. Maybe it is God’s way of helping us through our grief.

A Sign For Ann Marie And Us

I recently attended a funeral Mass.  The Rosary was prayed by all present before Mass began.  Following the Rosary, just a few minutes before the Mass started, something extraordinary happened. I believe God sent a messenger to share with all those in attendance an affirmation of what we proclaim to believe – that there is Life after Death.  It all happened within a few moments, and it was entirely unexpected. How many people paid attention, I do not know. (Oh yes).

The messenger’s name was Ann Marie. (Interestingly enough, Our Lady’s name is Mary and her mother’s name was Anne).  The usual protocol at a Catholic funeral Mass is that family and friends can get up and say a few words about the departed after the Mass ends. At this Mass, Ann Marie went up to the ambo immediately before the Mass began. The funeral was for her dad, and she wanted to say a few words about him before the Mass started.

Ann Marie looked out over the now seated congregation and began to speak. Her demeanor was steady yet sad, and her voice was soft yet clear. She wanted to tell us about her dad.  She just spoke from her heart about a guy named Jerome, who was called “Jerry” by everyone; everyone except Ann Marie, who called him dad.

Ann Marie and her Dad

Jerry was born in 1926 in South Ozone Park, Queens, in NYC. He worked for the Union Gas company and was a mechanic for them until he retired. Jerry was a devout Catholic, a member of the Knights of Columbus, and was the type of man who helped make America the greatest country in the world.  He was all about God, Family, and Country.

Ann Marie spoke of her dad’s kindness, gentleness, humility, compassion, and love for all people. Then she paused and told everyone about “The Dream.”

Two days after Jerry passed, Ann Marie said she had a dream. It was clear and vivid with perfect sound. She was in bed, and her dad was standing at the front door of their house, looking in from the outside. The light outside was brilliant, and he was standing in it, smiling at Ann Marie. Looking into her eyes, he smiled and said, “There is Victory over Death.”

On this day, in a Catholic Church in Florida,  Jerry, a Catholic man who lived a life filled with the love of God, family, and neighbor, and had journeyed to his heavenly reward two days before, sent us all a message. It was a message we can love and embrace, a statement that can reinforce and fortify our sometimes doubtful faith.

His daughter, Ann Marie, was gifted in a dream by a visit from her deceased dad, who gave her the message. God’s grace told her to share it with us all. She did that, and we, in turn, should share it with others. So let us never forget Jerry’s message: “There is Victory over Death.”

“For those who believe no explanation is necessary –For those who do not, none is possible.” St. Thomas Aquinas