I am not a Catholic...however, when my son was diagnosed many many years ago, with a usually fatal type of leukemia, I was, to say the very least, very despondent, very upset, very sad, and very frightened for my child...we were in the military at the time...
Many different various chaplains came to speak to me, to try to ease my obvious distraught feelings...many different Protestant chaplains spoke to me...they were actually of no comfort...
Then the Catholic chaplain, a very fine priest, came and spoke with me...he reminded me to think of Mary, and what she suffered when Jesus was put on trial, and crucified...he told me, that God knew she was suffering immensely, and yet He allowed events to go forward, and Mary accepted, in spite of her obvious maternal fears, and despair...the priest reminded me, that God has specifically chosen Mary for this task, and she accepted...and God saw her pain...as God saw my pain...in that moment, I felt a link to Mary, I had never before felt...
And the whole time my son was ill(15 months), I always kept Mary in my view..I tried in some small way to emulate her, accepting what God had chosen for me and for my son...I found great comfort in Marys suffering...that sounds strange, I know, and yet, I felt that through Marys experience, I was gaining strength to care for my son, and accept whatever happened..
When my son died, I again looked to Mary, to provide me some strength...and it was there...She was there...I dont know how better to explain it, other than to say, I felt her holding me up, when I could not hold myself up any longer...
Some will scoff at this, as being nothing but my imagination, or my own wishful thinking...but I tell you, I know what I felt, I know I got strength from somewhere other than my own self, and I just feel that it was Mary, sympathizing with my loss, but all the while, assuring me, that her son, Jesus, would hold and comfort my son...
That was many years ago...its been a long hard road for me, losing ones child is a horrid life experience...but I have felt that Mary has been with me in my journey...
Now, my husband is a Catholic, and thus our children were baptized Catholic, and my son who died, is buried in a little Catholic cemetary, in northern California, near to the Blessed Sacrament Church near Elk California...we are from Washington State, but decided to have our son buried in this cemetary, as he was buried next to his favorite uncle, and its in a lovely location, right on the edge of the ocean...someday, I will be buried there myself...I was worried at first about being able to be buried there, as I am not a Catholic, but the priest assured me, that no Catholic Church, would ever separate a mother and son, in death...I guess I am considered Catholic, by virtue of my sons and husband being considered Catholics...
This Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, is a very lovely, little country Catholic church...we went inside, looked around, spoke with the priest there, and felt comforted by his words...
I have included a link to this lovely church...one can take a tour online of the church itself, and there one will see a huge statue of Jesus...one will also see a huge statue of both Mary and Joseph, holding Jesus...but surely Jesus takes prominence..
As a side note, I have since my sons death, done a lot of reading and praying, and especially have followed the threads on FR, especially those were Catholics are in open disagreement with people of other Christian faiths...
By my own view, I have found the Catholic posters here, to be extremely well read in the Bible, and in Catholic dogma..and have an excellent knowledge of Catholic church history...I find the Catholic understanding of the Bible to be of the highest level..and the Catholics exude a happiness and joy and love for their Church and their beliefs, which is beyond reproach...
Shortly I will be studying to become a Catholic, for I have found their faith, their knowledge, and their love for God to be of the highest caliber...
Here is a link to the Blessed Sacrament Church, near to where my son is buried..take a tour of the rectory and the church and the surrounding area...one will take note of the huge statue of Christ...you cannot miss it...
http://www.blessedsacrament-elk.org/Default.html
Congratulations!! I think you will be a wonderful Catholic. God bless you and keep you! May the Angels and Saints always intercede for you!
I have tears in my eyes. You are the second person today who has told me that you are considering becoming a Catholic. May the Lord walk with you on your journey.
We all support you, and if there is anything we can answer for you, we will sincerely attempt it.
Blessings throughout this new year.
Tears falling now.
Your testimony is so heartfelt and real. I did not lose a child, but I lost a husband, and I know I could not have made the trek through the valley of depression without the Blessed Virgin asking Jesus to help me -- much as she asked him to help the couple at the wedding feast at Cana.
God bless you for sharing so openly.
Welcome home dear sister. Thank you so much for sharing your story. All the angels and all the Saints, and all us Catholic pilgrims, embrace you warmly with joy and affection and gratitude to God. We eagerly anticipate your reception into full communion with the Church. May God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, continue to bless, encourage and protect you as you pursue Him. I have no doubt that your son is among those in that great cloud of witnesses that is now cheering you on. He shared in the sufferings of Christ, and now he is rewarded with joy overflowing and eternal.
-A8
thank you for your story and your faith..
welcome Home.
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I hope your words have touched the hearts of others as they have touched mine. Thank you for sharing your story with us.
May God bless you in your journey.
Welcome home!
May God grant you strength as you continue your Journey.
Welcome Home!