Marian Helper Winter 2012-2013

34 M ARIAN H ELPER • W INTER 2012-13 • www.marian.org M uch of my life was a pagan one until 1991, when I expe- rienced a Paul-like conversion. In an instant, interiorly, I met Jesus, loved Him deeply, and knew the Catholic Church held the truth. Aware that this gift of faith was an extraordinary grace, I prayed to wit- ness to this faith by being a vessel of God’s love. Years later, I was invited to the south of France to visit my friend Mary. One afternoon in her breathtaking seaside home, we dined with friends. One of them, I’ll call Janet, had survived beyond expectations with stage-four ovarian cancer, yet the prog- nosis remained grim. During a lively discussion, Janet unexpectedly ran from the table, crying. As my work includes comforting the sorrowful, I went to see if I could help her. I asked her questions concerning faith, and she said she had no faith. I shared Mary’s and my hope to go to Lourdes soon, and she asked to join us. Setting out, Mary and I offered our pilgrim- age for Janet. When leaving Lourdes, Janet seemed joyful. She said that “something special” had occurred, yet she offered little more. After I returned to America, I communicated with Janet. She valiantly fought this disease and was an example of perseverance in adversity. I learned of Janet’s death 18 months later. My friend Mary accompanied Janet through her illness and witnessed her being baptized into the Catholic Church. We can only guess that the “something special” Janet encountered at Lourdes came through Our Lady’s interces- sion, as Mother Mary led Janet to her Son. W hen I share my faith, my aim has always been to touch people’s hearts in some way. It’s because I think that many people today have a head knowledge of the faith but not necessarily a heart knowledge. After all, to have faith in God also means to have a personal relationship with Him. When I talk to young people especially, I like to tell them that their faith has to move from their heads to their hearts. It has to become personal. As for myself, I spent the first 30-some- thing years of my life only knowing God in my head but never fully knowing Him in my heart, because I didn’t really have a relationship with Him. And if I did, it was probably very one-sided. Then, I went through a reversion, and as I slowly opened my heart to the Lord, He was finally able to come in. When I share my faith, I talk about how loving and merciful God has been to me. I mention the remarkable difference that He has made in my life. I think that’s why personal testimonies are so important when it comes to sharing the faith. A testimony gives people something they can relate to. It’s comforting for them to know that another person has gone through some of the same things, that they’re not alone. It’s why any time I deliver a homily or give a talk, I try to include something personal from my own life that might be applicable. My prayer is that I will be able to reach the hearts of those listening, so God can touch them. It’s all about Him. Us Between by a Marian and a Helper How I share my faith Fr. Angelo Marian Fr. Angelo Casimiro, MIC, is associate pastor at St. Peter’s Parish and Our Lady of the Holy Rosary of Pompeii Parish, both in Kenosha, Wis. “My prayer is that I will be able to reach the hearts of those listening, so God can touch them.” “I asked [Janet] questions concerning faith, and she said she had no faith.” Patti Lewis is founder of Alexandra’s House in Kansas City, Mo., an apostolate for terminally ill unborn/newborn babies and their families. Patti Marian Helper Back to Index