Aug
31
2012
0
By Anonymous (not verified)
by Major Andy Bringuel, U.S. Army Ret.
In July 2005, I came down with encephalitis. I almost died. While in a coma in the hospital, a lady's voice came to me saying: "Please get up and do something productive."
Something "productive?" What would be considered "productive?" Cutting the grass or washing the car? However, I was sure that was not what the Lady had in mind. I fought with myself silently for a day or two. Was I hallucinating? Did I really hear a lady's voice? I prayed, "God, please help me."
I continued to struggle with, "What am being asked to do?" Was that the voice of Our Blessed Mother? I finally found solace in Jesus and our Blessed Mother. You see, I had faced departure from earthly things and loved ones several times before. I was facing that same destination when that voice spoke to me. I concluded that was in fact Our Blessed Mother, and she wanted me to wake up and do something for her.
I came out of the coma thinking about that voice. What could I do? Then it came to me. A man named Bob Caldwell had taught me to make rosaries a few months before, so that I could help him with the First Communion rosary production.
I decided I would make rosaries for Our Blessed Mother. How about one made like the cord rosary but using thin silver-colored flexible wire instead of cord? I experimented with the wire and came up with what was an attractive yet strong design.
I began sending rosaries to the Maryknolls, and then I started getting requests from others. I settled on three Catholic organizations that said they could use all I could provide. I settled on making 50 for each shipment or 150 rosaries a month.
One day, I looked at my record of rosaries and was surprised to find I was well over 5,000! That's a lot of beads, wire, and prayer. The number of rosaries continued climbing. In June, I checked to see where I was at on total rosaries. I was just one short of 8,000! I completed that 8,000th rosary and marveled: 424,000 Hail Marys and 48,000 Our Fathers! I have been receiving wonderful "Thank You" letters from recipients expressing their delight with the rosaries. Knowing I have helped so many get closer to Our Blessed Mother and Jesus makes me feel like I am doing what "Mommy Mary" wants me to do, and I feel her satis- faction with my work as I continue to make more rosaries.
I just wanted to share with you my happiness with the mission I feel Our Blessed Mother has asked me to perform. I feel like a soldier again, this time for life in Our Blessed Mother's Rosary Army. Please, pray the Rosary every day.
Andy Bringuel (U.S. Army Ret.) lives with his wife in Fayetteville, Ga.
In July 2005, I came down with encephalitis. I almost died. While in a coma in the hospital, a lady's voice came to me saying: "Please get up and do something productive."
Something "productive?" What would be considered "productive?" Cutting the grass or washing the car? However, I was sure that was not what the Lady had in mind. I fought with myself silently for a day or two. Was I hallucinating? Did I really hear a lady's voice? I prayed, "God, please help me."
I continued to struggle with, "What am being asked to do?" Was that the voice of Our Blessed Mother? I finally found solace in Jesus and our Blessed Mother. You see, I had faced departure from earthly things and loved ones several times before. I was facing that same destination when that voice spoke to me. I concluded that was in fact Our Blessed Mother, and she wanted me to wake up and do something for her.
I came out of the coma thinking about that voice. What could I do? Then it came to me. A man named Bob Caldwell had taught me to make rosaries a few months before, so that I could help him with the First Communion rosary production.
I decided I would make rosaries for Our Blessed Mother. How about one made like the cord rosary but using thin silver-colored flexible wire instead of cord? I experimented with the wire and came up with what was an attractive yet strong design.
I began sending rosaries to the Maryknolls, and then I started getting requests from others. I settled on three Catholic organizations that said they could use all I could provide. I settled on making 50 for each shipment or 150 rosaries a month.
One day, I looked at my record of rosaries and was surprised to find I was well over 5,000! That's a lot of beads, wire, and prayer. The number of rosaries continued climbing. In June, I checked to see where I was at on total rosaries. I was just one short of 8,000! I completed that 8,000th rosary and marveled: 424,000 Hail Marys and 48,000 Our Fathers! I have been receiving wonderful "Thank You" letters from recipients expressing their delight with the rosaries. Knowing I have helped so many get closer to Our Blessed Mother and Jesus makes me feel like I am doing what "Mommy Mary" wants me to do, and I feel her satis- faction with my work as I continue to make more rosaries.
I just wanted to share with you my happiness with the mission I feel Our Blessed Mother has asked me to perform. I feel like a soldier again, this time for life in Our Blessed Mother's Rosary Army. Please, pray the Rosary every day.
Andy Bringuel (U.S. Army Ret.) lives with his wife in Fayetteville, Ga.
PR2
