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Lisbet
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| Posted: Sept 06 2007 at 7:08am | IP Logged
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I wasn't real sure where to post this, but I really wanted to share this story with all of you.
Annie pointed out to me that Mark was born on the feast of Our Lady of Czestochowa . Her icon hung on the wall right over where he was born.
(Here is Tony holding him minutes after he was born, you can see Our Lady over his shoulder, the tub where he was born in just in front of Tony!)
I have had a bit of a devotion to Her for a few years now. We used to live in the inner city, just 2 blocks from St. Adalbert's church where the children and I walked to daily mass and each Wednesday night we prayed the novena to Our Lady of Czestochowa. (I think we only had 3 children at the time!) We became very close to the wonderful Polish priest there, Fr. Marek. He is the most kind, gentle, and genuine priest you could ever meet.
Well, we moved out of the neighborhood because of too much drug/gang activity. (this was originally a Polish neighborhood, with 2 Catholic churches within 5 blocks of one another to accomodate the Polish Catholic population. It is now your typical inner city. So sad.)
But we continued our friendship with Fr. Marek and our Wednesday devotions.
We decided to call the baby "Mark" instead of "Benedict" because, well, the kids were calling him "Benny" and I REALLY didn't like that with our last name! So Tony mentioned "Mark" and said something in passing about how much Fr. Marek would like that. We wanted to keep "Benedict" in there along with his twin in heaven that we call "Scholastica Grace".
So fast forward to last night, we decided to go to St. Adalberts for mass and novena to Our Lady of Czestochowa, and introduce Mark to Fr. Marek, his namesake! :) I was walking in the back with two babies before mass began. Fr. Marek came out of the confessional and saw Tony and the kids in the front pew. (Yes, we are crazy like that!) So he went over and asked him how we were doing and if I had had the baby yet. Tony said "Yes, Mark was born on August 26th!" Fr.'s eyes grew real big and he got a HUGE grin on his face and said "On the Feast of Our Lady!!!!" He was SO thrilled!! He gave me a little wave and asked Nicholas to serve mass.
We were so suprised when just before the final blessing, he invited our entire family to the foot of the altar where he bestowed on me a mothers blessing, and a family blessing on all of us, and asked the intercession of Our Lady of Czestochowa throughout Mark's life! :) It was so beautiful and I was so teary-eyed! Tony and I were both very suprised and touched. Father really was touched at all the circumstances surrounding his name and birthdate! :)
The Wednesday mass there is very poorly attended, Tony and I were the youngest adults there by at least 30 years! LOL! But everyone congratulated us and traced the cross on little Mark's head after mass! It was such a glorious and special evening for us!
__________________
Lisa, wife to Tony,
Mama to:
Nick, 17
Abby, 15
Gabe, 13
Isaac, 11
Mary, 10
Sam, 9
Henry, 7
Molly, 6
Mark, 5
Greta, 3
Cecilia born 10.29.10
Josephine born 6.11.12
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Tami
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| Posted: Sept 06 2007 at 7:27am | IP Logged
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What a beautiful story, Lisa, thanks for sharing it.
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God bless,
Tami
When we are crushed like grapes, we cannot think of the wine we will become. (Nouwen)
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CAgirl4God
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| Posted: Sept 06 2007 at 7:33am | IP Logged
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Lisa, that sounds like a wonderful, amazing evening, filled will blessings. 
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Home is where the Coast Guard sends us
Jamie, married to John
JC, Nugget, Christina & Judy
Chowder
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KellyJ
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| Posted: Sept 06 2007 at 7:35am | IP Logged
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Wow. Thanks for sharing such a great story with us, Lisa.
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KellyJ
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Matilda
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| Posted: Sept 06 2007 at 7:39am | IP Logged
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How wonderful! What a great story!
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Charlotte (Matilda)
Mom to four (11 , 10 , 9 & 5 ) an even split for now
with bookend boys and a double girl sandwich
Waltzing Matilda
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amyable
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| Posted: Sept 06 2007 at 8:00am | IP Logged
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So beautiful! What a wonderful blessing!
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Amy
mom of 5, ages 6-16, and happy wife of
The Highly Sensitive Homeschooler
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MaryMary
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| Posted: Sept 06 2007 at 8:19am | IP Logged
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Sniff, sniff. How very very beautiful!
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Mary
Wife 2 1
Mum 2 four blessings on earth and two in heaven!
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Maria B.
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| Posted: Sept 06 2007 at 8:38am | IP Logged
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What a blessing! Very beautiful.
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Maria in VA
Proud Mom to 10 Great kids!
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chicken lady
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| Posted: Sept 06 2007 at 8:45am | IP Logged
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How beautiful, many heartfelt congratulations to you all!!!!!
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Cay Gibson
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| Posted: Sept 06 2007 at 8:54am | IP Logged
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This is a lovely story. Little Mark's very first blessing was by being born into your lovely family and having such a great mommy. Thanks for sharing, Lisa.
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Cay Gibson
"There are 49 states, then there is Louisiana." ~ Chef Emeril
wife to Mark '86
mom to 5
Cajun Cottage Under the Oaks
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Ruth
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| Posted: Sept 06 2007 at 9:43am | IP Logged
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That is a beautiful story, Lisa. Congratulations again!!!
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Ruth
mom to 7 miracles
My family blog
Loreto Rosaries
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mavmama
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| Posted: Sept 06 2007 at 9:50am | IP Logged
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Lisa, That will be such a lovely memory to share with him when he is older! What a wonderful evening it must have been, Congratulations again
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Liz
Blessed by 4 wonders
dd11, dd911, ds9, ds8
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Elizabeth
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Real Learning
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| Posted: Sept 06 2007 at 9:56am | IP Logged
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OH! I love this story and I love Our lady of Czestowocha. I've moved the thread to Hidden Treasure since it's such a beautiful story of Our Lady.
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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doris
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| Posted: Sept 06 2007 at 5:29pm | IP Logged
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Oh, how beautiful! Brings a tear to my eye.
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Home educating in London, UK with dd (2000) ds (2002), dd (2004), ds (2008) and dd (2011).
Frabjous Days
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hylabrook1
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What a beautiful story. Thanks for sharing it with us, Lisa.
Peace,
Nancy
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Helen
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| Posted: Sept 06 2007 at 5:42pm | IP Logged
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Thanks Lisa for sharing your beautiful and inspirational story!
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Ave Maria!
Mom to 5 girls and 3 boys
Mary Vitamin & Castle of the Immaculate
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CKwasniewski
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What a great story!
Our ds's middle name is Mariusz (polish male version of Mary) after OL Czestochowa.
And our Kitchen Madonna is a little icon of her.
Not too surprising, given the last name!
Congrats to you all!
CK
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Carole N.
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What a wonderful story! Thank you so much for sharing it with us.
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Carole ... in Wales
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Chari
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Most lovely, Lisa!
When people would give me a hard time about having so many kids (I always say: I ONLY have six!  my friends have lots more!  ). I would always retort with, what if St Catherine of Siena's parents thought 16 or 17 or 18 was enough??? We would never have had one of the greatest saints to call upon!
I say the same of you, Lisa! You and your husband have just been given proof by God.........NINE is a blessing!
Congratulations!
__________________
Chari...Take Up & Read
Dh Marty 27yrs...3 lovely maidens: Anne 24, Sarah 20 & Maddelyn 17 and 3 chivalrous sons: Matthew 22, Garrett 16 & Malachy 11
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SuzanneG
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Beautiful story, Lisa!
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Suzanne in ID
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4Real Forums : Hidden Treasure
Topic: An Amazing Evening
