Rosa Mystica House of Prayer
Edmeston, New York

Below you shall find different articles / letters about the Rosa Mystica House of Prayer. Please notify us if you know of an article on the Rosa Mystica House of Prayer that is not posted here. We thank you for your assistance. The M.A.N. Foundation does not affirm the personal account of spiritual events that appear in any letter submitted to the foundation. Also, please note Rosa Mystica has not been designated as a shrine and should be referred to as a chapel or house of prayer.

EVENTS and NEWS

PHOTO GALLERY

The following letter was received on November 9th, 2005:

I am writing this testimony to give witness to the power of prayer.

My brother was diagnosed with "B" cell, non hodgkin's lymphoma last December. For the past 11 months, he has been treating his condition with all natural rememdies, new age type procedures, and was totally against all western medicine, refusing chemo and radiation. My continual prayer was for his conversion and healing, mind body, and spirit. This too is my daily prayer during mass for all the sinners of the world.

My brother had four huge tumors on his right arm that continually bled and were growing ever bigger. He finally decided at the urging of his doctor to do radiation. Initially, they told him he needed 20 radiation treatments. Ultimately, he only received 10. His arm looks completely normal with the exception of some scarring. Which by the way, in two places is in the shape of a cross.

Fast forward to October 27, 2005. He was admitted to Bethdesda Naval Hospital in Maryland as he is a retired Colonel, USMC. He had a touch of pneumonia, cough, high fever, etc. I was due to leave on a pilgrimage to go to the Rosa Mystic Shrine in Edmeston, NY on 10/28. I was torn between going and staying home. I went to mass on the 27th. and received my answer to go. I know when Our Lady calls me, I need to go where she leads me to. So I went.

During the week leading up to me leaving, I had asked everyone I knew to pray for my brother. I sent out an SOS for prayer to Holy Love in Ohio, Seers 2-Joyce Lang's list, local prayer groups, my church, etc.

I arrived at Rosa Mystica on Friday evening. I met an 84 year old priest, Fr. Alan Cole, from PA there. I asked him to please pray for my brother as he was in the hospital. He did, as did all that were on the pilgrimage. He offered all the masses that weekend for my brother.

On the way back from the shrine to the hotel, we stopped for gas. As I am the only one of six who smoked, I got out of the car to have a cigarette. As I turned around to walk back to the car, I saw a car parked in the parking lot with a license plate and numbers 442 on it. This was my grandmother's home address. I knew she was telling me I immediately had to call home, something was wrong. So I called home. My mother was hysterical crying. She had just received the news. The doctors told my brother he had 7-10 days to live as the tumors were wrapped around his aorta. He also had a touch of pneumonia, his O2 saturation levels were dropping, his abdomen was filling with fluid, he had a fever of unknown origin, etc.

To my prayer was added a request that he receive the sacraments of the Catholic church if God was going to call him home and if that was God's will for him. He has been away from the Catholic church for many years, but does believe in Jesus Christ.

The following morning I was told he called for the chaplain as he did not sleep the night before. When I mentioned this to my mother, she said he also called a Catholic priest. He had received the annointing of the sick. I have not asked but believe and trust in Jesus Christ that he also went to confession. I leave that in God's most capable hands. I gave a witness talk on Saturday to the pilgrims regarding the above and asked they continue to pray.

While at the shrine, there was a raffle for three different prizes. I had purchased some tickets hoping to win the Rosa Mystica Statue for my brother. They did not announce on Saturday night who had won. Saturday night while laying in bed, I had said a prayer to Our Lady. I had asked her that if my brother was going to be healed to send me a sign . The sign being winning the statue. No one but Our Lady and I knew of my prayer. I asked Noreen, "Who won the raffle?", not telling her my prayer. She said, "someone from Long Island", (that's where I am from), had won one of the prizes and they would be called on Monday. I replied, "But I am here now, I am from Long Island." So off to her car she went to get the names. I didn't win. She then said to me, "You wanted to win the statue for your brother didn't you?" I simply replied, "Yes", then went downstairs for a cup of coffee with a friend. As I was sitting there, Noreen came over to me with a statue of Rosa Mystica and said, "Our Lady told me to give you this statue for your brother." I knew my prayers were going to be answered. I have a very deep relationship with Our Lady. She never fails me. I brought the statue to my brother along with a Benedictine cross I had put St. Raphael's healing oil on. Statue and cross were placed on the window sill facing my brother at all times.

So Sunday came, I came back to Long Island, unpacked and then repacked to fly down to Maryland the next morning with my mom. Before departing, I sent out another SOS for prayer for my brother.

They could not start the chemo because of the fever. Being an RN and having worked on the cancer unit about 12 years ago, I kept saying, "Are you sure it's not tumor fever as the cultures keep coming back negative?" Because by Tuesday, the clock kept ticking against that 7-10 day window. I knew they would not find the source of the fever. And they didn't. They finally agreed it was tumor fever and started the chemo on Tuesday. My brother had a severe reaction to the pre-meds. He went into the rigors. He kept calling upon Jesus. I prayed silently at his bedside. My mother's expression was one of what she was witnessing as being surreal. He came through the rigors after about a 45 minute period. He was able to receive the remainder of the other three chemos later that evening.

On Wednesday, my brother got married while lying in bed with an oxygen mask on. He was married by one of the hospital chaplains. His son and I were there. On the same day, my younger brother who has Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis, spoke to me for the first time in almost 2 years. I had called to speak to my dad who is his primary caregiver. My brother answered the phone. I asked him to please not hang up. A lengthy conversation followed in which he agreed to allow me to help him when necessary and to put all behind us and to move forward. I was jumping for joy as I ran to my brothers hospital room. I told him I could not give him a better wedding present than this miracle. I thanked him for allowing God to use him as an instrument of peace, because I also know that everthing happens for a reason. I wanted him to know that his suffering was not in vain, God was using this circumstances for good to come out of it.

By Thursday, his O2 saturation level was still plummeting. Normal levels are between 95-100.
His were ranging between 79-81. That is dangerously low, compunded by the fluid in and around his lungs. They decided to give him 2 units of blood. He again called the chaplain to say a prayer before the blood was to be given at midnight. Again, Fr. John came. He, my brother, and I said a prayer together as my mom prayed silently on the couch. I added this to Fr. John's prayer," Dear Blessed Mother, I ask you to please send forth the most precious blood of your dearly beloved son Our Lord Jesus Christ. Please let the blood my brother is about to receive be the instrument to allow Jesus's most Precious Blood flow into every cell of his being to heal him, because Jesus is the Divine Healer , Amen" I remained at the hospital the entire night, comforting him, reassuring him, helping his nurse, praying, etc.
He finally fell asleep at 4:20 am.

By Friday, he was doing a lot better. He was able to walk around his room, the cancer unit and downstairs outside, he no longer needed the oxygen mask, his O2 saturation level was between 96-98, he no longer had a fever, the fluid in and around his lungs was starting to reduce as was the fluid in his abdomen, the tumors on his neck were no longer visible. The MRI showed the tumor under his eye socket was gone and there wasn't any mets to his brain. The tumor in his chest was gone. His appetite was improving and was his spirits.

Saturday night, the Marine Corp Chaplain stopped by to see him. He is Baptist. They had a lengthy conversation according to my brother. But this is what touched my brother deeply:
The Chaplain told my brother "God was preparing his army and my brother was part of it."
I knew he was talking of the remnant faithful of which I had spoken about to my brother many times.

My mom and I said our goodbyes to my brother on Sunday night as we were due to return home on Monday. You see, so was my brother. He was discharged from the hospital on the same day we were leaving. God's timing is not our timing. He planned it all perfectly.

My brother is expected to go into remission with each subsequent chemo treatment. Please continue to pray for him.

There are many angels we had met along the way this past week. Many who were prayer warriors on the home front and through the internet. Many who prayed with hearfelt prayers, spent time in front of the Blessed Sacrament, offered masses and rosaries. My heart is overjoyed for each and every one who stepped out in faith and prayed with their heart for my brother and my family. As Our Lady's messages always say, "Pray, Pray, Pray". Pray we did and pray we will. God bless you as you will remain in my prayers for your miracle to happen. Amen.


I extend the Blessings of the United Hearts of Jesus and Mary to you and all of those you love.
Jo Ann Riggio, RN , MSHL

This letter was submitted by Kim Lastauskas on October 28, 2005.

This letter was submitted by Cathy on September 1, 2005.

Dear Noreen,

I finally was able to juggle my family's lives to allow me to take time on Saturday, the 26th, to be embraced by Our Lady at the House of Prayer. What a wonderful day, although I was only able to spend about 5 1/2 hours there! I was very thankful to be a part of it!

I have hungered for many months to be given the opportunity to take part in one of the retreats at the Rosa Mystica House of Prayer. It must have been my time, though, as Our Lady and My Lord blessed me immensely that day.

First, I want to thank you and Joe for saying Yes to God to follow His direction to embrace this holy place. It has been a blessing for me since I first found it in early October of '03.

As I had gotten to the retreat a bit late at 11:30, Sondra was already well involved in her talk. I was well pleased that everything she spoke about was well received by my spirit. What especially surprised me was how I broke into tongues from the time she spoke about the sin of pride and the need for humility. I was in constant prayer praising God for His message through her. This was the first time I had heard her story. She confirmed in my heart the understanding that I felt was also given to me long ago about the moment we die and how Jesus gives us one more chance to choose eternal life or death by giving us the opportunity to accept Him one final time.

Anthony's story was also spell-binding... It was wonderful and his ability to speak from the heart showed his sincerity and conviction of his experience.

But I must tell you, what was altogether the most awesome event that happened to me was when I had the opportunity to speak to Fr. Bill in the basement dining area. During lunch, I saw Fr. Bill coming into the room, and felt the need/prompting to speak to him & relay to him my story of how I found the chapel. I was relaying the events that led up to discovering Rosa Mystica the week after it closed the first year, and how I believed I had heard the Blessed Virgin speak to me about a request she had for me . . . and that was to walk the grounds every day for the month of October, praying the Holy Rosary for the renewal of priests. I did just that every day during the week and as much as I could on the weekends as I work in Edmeston and live in New Hartford (outside of Utica).  I told Fr. Bill how I asked the Lord and our Lady to confirm this request in some way, as I did not want arrogance to seep into my spirit believing it was a divine direction when it was only my interior desire. This confirmation came when I had attended the Utica annual Rosary Rally for our Lady. Fr. John Corapi was the keynote speaker. Now be aware that I have only been to two other rallies and was able to get to this one. Listening to Fr. Corapi's talk, near the end of it, he said with much emphasis,"and everyone should pray the Rosary every day for priests." It was as though a spear pierced my heart with God's confirmation. As I said this to Fr. Bill, he annointed my head and I went down in the Spirit there in the dining area. I was probably down for maybe 10 minutes, I really don't know. I did feel someone laying hands on my head and was told later it was Fr. Bill. But someone else also held onto my left arm around this same time which I don't know who it was. But what happened next has never ever happened to me and was highly unusual. As I lay there, and I'm not sure if it was after Fr. Bill was done. . . I started to feel and I mean distinctly feel what at first I thought was someone's soft touch on my right arm, but it was immediately made known to me (an inner knowledge) that a feather stroked my right arm, starting at the forearm and then on my upper right arm. I knew it was a feather. It happened about 4 or 5 times on my arm, then the right side of my face maybe 3 or 4 times; then the left side of my face possibly twice and then by left arm 2 or 3 times. I could not open my eyes, but I distinctly felt or was given the understanding, I'm not sure which, that it was an angel's wing. I was totally at peace with this. During this happening, my awareness of the room lessened and I had total focused awareness of the reality of this feather touch. After gaining my composure, I got up and needed to walk outside to be alone to soak in the reality of what had just happened to me. I needed total privacy and solitude. This timing was about 1:00-1:15.

Later, during Mass, I had been praying for my family, including my sister in Florida who has been having some very serious marital problems with her husband, a doctor-not practicing due to a bipolar condition that still is not under control. He has been very abusive to the edge of becoming physical. He comes from a very wealthy, controlling family which is focused on money and its control on people's lives.  My sister had been at the end of her rope with how to release herself from the bonds of this sick web of family ties and monetary ropes. Even with my faith, it was getting more difficult to see any light in this situation. During Mass, I cried out to God for divine intervention for her welfare. Later, I noticed during Mass that I had a message on my cell phone which I was concerned may be from my children who were home alone (older-13 & 17, my husband was out-of-town). I excused myself from Mass and found the message was from my sister in Florida telling me of an unbelievable message from her sister-in-law, Linda, telling her she believed her, and that her brother needed serious medical help. She was trying to convince her father of this also. This phone call my sister had gotten from her sister-in-law had come in to her at just about 1:15 -The same time I was going through my angel feather experience.This was a complete turn-around from my sister's in-law's previous attitudes towards her (as an outsider to "the family"). I knew immediately that God in  His great mercy pierced the darkness with His divine light with that divine intervention that I cried out for. This was the only way to save this situation from complete devastating breakdown.  There is a very long road to go and each step is still engulfed in satanic attacks, but I am convinced that what happened to me on the floor of the basement was a message of miracle proportions for a healing of this dire situation.

I wanted you to know about this event. Fr. Bill wanted me to contact him at a later time which as yet i have not had an opportunity to do. I do need to know from him if there was someone else next to him holding on to my left arm. I believe also that hold was not earthly as that had happened to me at another time when I was resting in the spirit.

I hope to be at next month's retreat, at least on Saturday. I will be sending you $40 as you had told me for Saturday. I was not sure who to give it to on Saturday. Thank you again for your devotion to Our Lady Rosa Mystica and Our Lord Jesus.

Peace of Christ Jesus,
Cathy

Dear Noreen,

I just wanted to share in writing with you the miracle we had in our home on December 13th 2004. Here's what happened. Last year I attended several retreats at the Rosa Mystica. All were wonderful. the speakers, the statues, and the grounds are so beautifully moving. I recieved such peace in my heart each time I went. My daughter is 19 years old. She was diagnosed with a lot of female problems. Very scary. She began getting very depressed. She graduated in June of 2004. She gradually got more depressed as time went on. In August her good friend was killed in a horrific car accident. Needless to say the depression got worse. Her Doctor put her on antidepressants. This is not something I wanted for her but I was told it will help. I kept praying for a miracle every time I went to Rosa Mystica and everyday. When Ferdinand was there I remember him saying at the end of the retreat, he had a few pictures left of Rosa Mystica and the shrine. He said several healings would take place with this particular picture. I purchased one. I hung it over her bed as Ferdinand said with a crucifix above it. On December 13th. My daughter left me a note it states Mom if you look close at this Q-tip I found glitter all around my Rosa Mystica picture, on my wall above it and around it. How beautiful. It is visible to our eyes. When I woke up in the morning and found this I cried. I asked my daughter what she thought and she felt the Blessed Mother had been there. Happily I can tell you her depression has lifted, she is off her medication and her female problems have disappeared. I truly believe in my heart she recieved a healing. The glitter is still there not like it was glistening on that day but still traces are there. It is on the ceiling, in the crack where the ceiling meets the wall, under the glass in the photo, on the crucifix and the wall. Thank you Noreen for this beautiful place to worship since I will be now working for the Blessed Mother. Please let me know if there is anything I can help with. Thank You Jesus and Blessed Mother for my daughter's healing. Please feel free to share this letter since we all need to know MIRACLES happen. May God Continue to Bless You and all the staff.

Sincerely,
Kim Lastauskas

"I believe that the Rosa Mystica shrine, as well as being one of the most spiritual places I have ever been , has a very special future role in the salvation of souls and as an "Oasis of Peace", especially for those who accept the Motherhood and leadership of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church and Mother of sinners. Her time is NOW.
P.S. Please remember to visit the graveyards in the area of the shrine, especially non-Catholic or non-Christian graveyards....the month of November would be a very fitting time to do this. After the visits ask all the souls from those places to join you in the Rosa Mystica mission....and they will."
God bless,
Tom

"I temporarily live just outside Edmeston, and found the Sanctuary of the Rosa Mystica in June. I think it is a wonderful place for praying, and it is definitely Holy Ground. Whenever I stop by there, which recently has been daily, I feel the power of My Holy Mother over me, and I leave there with so much peace and happiness.

I am so glad I have the opportunity to be so close to a so magnificent place. I've been asking Mother for a new career, and She just granted me with a new job. I was very patient and confident that She wouldn't let me down. I trust in Her miracles."

".... Since I am so close to the Sanctuary, if I can be of any help, I would be delighted to serve the Lord. Please let me know.

Meanwhile, God bless you and your Ministry."
 
Be in peace,
Fausto Capella

God Bless,
Rick Wallace

To Whom It May Concern,

My husband and I were at the September 13th Retreat at the Rosa Mystica Prayer Chapel in Edmeston. We couldn't stay the weekend so we spent the day on Saturday. It was so wonderful and very special to be there with our Blessed Mother and all of you.

The first question I have is who was the Monsignor who Blessed people on the Altar as Ferdinand and Barbara and Char Vance were on each side of the altar. I have been praying for him since then. He had trouble walking and if I'm not mistaken he used a cane or a walker. Earlier he asked me to Bless him by using the special Holy Oil with gold flecks in it. I had my eyes closed as I stood by the confessional as a few of us were passing this awesome Holy Oil around ...when I picked my head up he was in front of me motioning to me to Bless him. Now I pray for him almost daily..... If you can help me that would be great. I seem to be drawn to praying for Priests and Religious.

I converted to Catholicism on Easter Vigil 2001. I was a Baptized Methodist who later went to the Presbyterian Church. I am so very happy and my journey continues to be so special. I have come to know wonderful Holy people on my journey. My husband and family have always been Catholic but respected my being Protestant. They were so surprised when I told them of my decision to become Catholic, especially my husband. But it all began in 1996 when I started to visit a beautiful Jesus Statue on the grounds of Marywood University. I wondered what the Heart exposed meant and started researching this, (at the time even my Catholic husband didn't know.) My devotion to the Sacred Heart began and my prayers were deepening. I was then led to (now Saint) Padre Pio who led me to our Blessed Mother, teaching me how to love HER deeply. I had taught myself the Rosary during this time and said the Rosary each and every day besides other prayers and meditation. When I began to feel her deep in my heart and soul how could I remain a Protestant. For many years my husband didn't attend Mass (he would come with me to the Presbyterian Church...) but now we go together to Mass and he himself is growing more and more spiritual. Praise be Jesus and Mary.

One of the people that I have grown so close to is almost 80yrs young. She has helped me in my spiritual life by giving me medals and prayers and wonderful stories. She has been very close to our Rosa Mystica ...as she has a beautiful statue of HER and explained to me about 2 years ago about Rosa Mystica. She wasn't in good health for the September Retreat but I brought her back some Relics. Now she heard .... there will be another Retreat and she is praying she can come to that....

Thank you and God Bless you always,
Marilyn Ahern

Note: The Monsignor was Christopher Francone

My name is Rick Wallace and I am a combination of gatekeeper and greeter at the Rosa Mystica House of Prayer in Edmeston, NY. I would like to share with you an experience that happened to me on our closing weekend of October 11-12th.

On Saturday afternoon at around 2:55 p.m., I was starting to close the Rosa Mystica House of Prayer when a couple arrived from Rhode Island. They were somewhat disappointed that I was closing for the day. I said, "Please come in. I won't close until you are finished praying." They also told me they were meeting a group from Miami, Florida on Sunday noon at the Rosa Mystica House of Prayer.

When I arrived home Saturday evening, after dinner, I was feeling unsure about the path I was traveling with Rosa Mystica. In my prayers that night I asked, if possible, to be shown a sign if I was on the right path.

Sunday morning I arrived at the Rosa Mystica House of Prayer at 11:00. After opening the doors the couple from Rhode Island returned and at noon sharp the couple from Florida (former residents of Central America) arrived. Also, a girl and her friend came from Connecticut and Delmar, NY and a gentleman arrived from Utica, NY making a very warm gathering.

I was checking on things at the gift shop and making sure the visitors were comfortable. I took some time to rest out on the deck overlooking the beautiful valley. I have M.S. (multiple sclerosis) and I was starting to get a little tired. The slight rest was welcomed.

While I was meditating, I heard more pilgrims arrive at the Rosa Mystica House of Prayer. As I was getting into my wheel chair in the deck's doorway, I could sense the aroma of what I thought was some perfumed scent, but there was no woman near me. So, it had to be the scent of roses.

That afternoon I was invited to say the 3:00 rosary with the group. We would say a decade in Spanish and then a decade in English. During this time a woman exclaimed that there was blue and gold glitter on the left side of my shirt, pants and my left shoe. I looked at the gentleman from Utica and he also had glitter on his clothes. Soon after several feathers were found on my left shoulder.

When I arrived at my other home in Albany, NY my wife and son John immediately saw the glitter and were awed by it. A group member from Miami later told me the glitter and feathers were a sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit. I showed the feathers to a nun who sang in our choir and she told me they were a relic of St. Michael the Archangel.

Needless to say, the sign I had been asking for was shown to me.

"Thanks so much for giving us the Rosa Mystica House of Prayer; it is truly a holy place, where God's work is being done. Again thank you. My son Joseph (Ren) and I had a blessed pilgrimage." Deirdre and Ren Henehan

"I just want to tell you that I made a pilgrimage by myself to the Rosa Mystica prayer house. I live in Ct. The caretakers were busy working so it was open. I saw the face of the staute oiling and there was a strong aroma of roses present. God Bless you for all that you do. It was a very moving experience for me and I felt as though I was in Medjugorje. Could you tell me if Mother Leonardi had any particular prophecies about this site besides just the location? Ten years ago I was in Italy and I tried to find the prayer house there of mother Leonardi, but just couldn't. God Bless, Mary."

"Dear Noreen (Von Zwehl),

I enjoyed reading your correspondence today with the spiritual experiences mentioned by the members who attended the weekend at the beautiful Rosa Mystica House of Prayer.

I held back my own experiences because people do not believe private miracles or apparitions.

With the exception of Sunday (July 13th), I saw Padre Pio in back of the altar. I saw his figure down to his waistline all through the Holy Mass. It was so clear to me, yet I could not figure it out. I noticed a Cross where He stood. I stared. The Cross was slightly above his eyes and the long part came over his nose. But his face was clear. Later on I discovered that where Padre Pio appeared down to his waistline turned out to be the Holy Tabernacle. I did not know at first that it was the Tabernacle where he appeared and stood during the Holy Mass. The following day I clearly observed the whole Tabernacle. Maybe the whole thing was a figment of my imagination, even though I saw Padre Pio very clearly.

Another experience may not be unusual. The blue color of the Cross was shining on Father McCarthy's vestment during the time that Father stood in front of the podium.

The miracle of the Fatima sun has remained with me since 1967 when I spent three weeks there, taking a three week course of study on the entire message of Our Lady of Fatima. From 1967 onward our Prayer Group (St. Padre Pio) followed our Lady of Fatima."

Dear M.A.N. Foundation;

My name is Corinne Barnes and I am a member of St Mary the Assumption Church in Binghamton, NY. I was watching Catholic TV over the summer and saw a show about the Rosa Mystica House of Prayer. So on July 13th, 2003, my 10-year-old daughter and I drove out to Edmeston and visited the chapel. It is beautiful! We met Scapular John there, who was packing his things from the retreat, and he let my daughter and I go inside the Rosa Mystica House of Prayer. In there I felt non-stop goose bumps all over my body, and I couldn't help being moved to tears at seeing the statue of Mary. Scapular John offered to pray over me 3 times (an experience I have never had in my life) and I fell to the Spirit twice. This experience has changed my life.

Our Lady's Flowers and
The Rosa Mystica House of Prayer
By D. Lynch

"I'm told it will be America's Medjugorje". So spoke Steven McDonald, a paralyzed Police Officer sitting in the rear of Rosa Mystica House of Prayer in a small town called Edmeston, New York on July 12, 2003.
Seventeen years earlier to the day, Steven McDonald was a young Police Officer patrolling Central Park in New York City. He stopped to question some youths and was violently attacked from behind, shot and left for dead. Only a miracle saved his life, but that miracle left him totally paralyzed from the neck down. His loving wife, PattiAnn McDonald, was at the time of the attack five months pregnant with their unborn son.
PattiAnn McDonald bravely stated a few months later at the birth of their first child named Conor that Steven and PattiAnn McDonald forgave the person who grievously shot Steven. It was, the McDonald Family told the world, what Christ's message of forgiveness was really all about. In the story known by millions across the world, Steven McDonald forgave the person who brutally shot and paralyzed him. A remarkable story of forgiveness in our unforgiving world of today.
Yet seventeen years later to the very day he was shot, with his nurse beside him Steven McDonald was praying at the Rosa Mystica House of Prayer in a small town in Central New York as far away from New York City as one could imagine. What was he doing there? Why had he travel there? What is the Rosa Mystica House of Prayer?
On June 13, 1947 in Northern Italy, Our Blessed Mother appeared to a nurse named Pierina Guilli. Her message was that Our Lord required a new Marian devotion for all religious orders and priests. Our Lady's wish was that on the 13th day of each month, a special day be set aside to pray that this Marian concern for renewal and sanctification of priests be realized.
In the beautiful Rosa Mystica House of Prayer, a brilliant blue cross blazed above the altar. While the "thin blue line" refers to police officers, that day in Edmeston, New York two thin blue lines forming a cross had a special meaning to those devoted to Our Lady and to police officer Steven McDonald. Steven McDonald prayed quietly along with nearly one hundred others who traveled from all around America to visit this quaint Church in this quiet town. They all traveled to this remote Church situated above the farm fields of upstate New York. They all traveled along a small dirt road that seem to come from nowhere and lead to nowhere. But this road lead to a newly refurbished Marian House of Prayer whose location was precisely selected by a series of numbers revealed by Our Lady to Mother Elena Leonardi twenty years ago. Those numbers were determined to be longitude and latitude coordinates whose location marked that very site in Edmeston, New York where the Rosa Mystica House of Prayer stands.
Rev. William McCarthy led the prayer service at Rosa Mystica. He spoke of the need for renewal and the need for our Catholic Christian Faith to be witnessed by all in America today. He spoke of the need for evil influences in the world to be rejected and the need for all clergy to experience a new Marian Devotion so that all religious orders will "increase your vocations, and achieve a greater striving for saintliness among the servants of God." This is a message everyone present at the Rosa Mystica Shine prayed our Catholic hierarchy in America would heed closely today.
Steven McDonald's friend of many years was a priest named Father Mychal Judge, O.F.M. Father Mike (as he was known to all) died during the terrorists attacks on the World Trade Center September 11th. These terrorist were, of course, part of the culture of death that Pope John Paul II has told us battles with the culture of life in our world today. Father Mike's death was officially the first casualty of the September 11, 2001 tragedy. He died administering the sacraments to fallen Firefighters and Police Officers.
Father Mike's good name as a faithful Catholic Priest was, however, viciously attacked by those supporters of the culture of death in America after September 11, 2001. Unfounded accusations were made against Father Mike who was a dedicated Priest loving only Christ and wanting nothing more than to serve everyone as a faithful and celibate Priest. The attack on Father Mike is like the attack on our Priesthood today. The media ignores the wonderful, dedicated and holy efforts of so many of our Priests in America today. Still all priests in America today need to renew a special Marian Devotion as the Rosa Mystica apparitions urged.
What few people know was that Father Mike and Steven McDonald shared a special Marian Devotion throughout the almost 17 years they knew each other. It was during a trip to Medjurgorje many years ago that Father Mike told Steven McDonald about witnessing a Marian Apparition. Father Mike was present a few years before his tragic death at the World Trade Towers in a small Church in Medjurgorie, located far from everywhere just like the small Church in Edmeston, New York. It there that Father Mike observed the Medjurgorie visionaries experience a message from Mary. Father Mike told Steven that he could not see Our Lady, but experienced a strange sense of peacefulness and the unworldly smell of flowers just after the Marian Apparition.
Father Mike and Steven's devotion to Our Blessed Mother was deep and lasting.
Seventeen years to the day that Det. Steven McDonald was shot and paralyzed, he sat in the rear of the Rosa Mystica Shrine in Edmeston, New York. The phrase "Rosa Mystica" refers to a flower, the Mystical Rose. Father Mychal Judge, O.F.M. was on Steven's mind at the Rosa Mystica House of Prayer that day. And, looking up at that blazing blue cross behind the altar, I understood what their Marian Devotion was all about. I also knew that Steven McDonald was present that day to pray especially for all priests to have a special Marian Devotion. I also know that Father Mike was present there praying alongside with Steven for a Marian renewal for all priests in America today.
As I left the Rosa Mystica House of Prayer that afternoon , Steven McDonald was still deep in prayer. That beautiful afternoon in Edmeston, New York was so peaceful as I left the Rosa Mystica Shrine. Just outside the Rosa Mystica House of Prayer, I heard someone remark about the beautiful aroma of the flowers nearby. It was than that I remembered Father Mike telling Steven about the peacefulness and the smell of flowers in that Church in Medjugorje. Perhaps I thought Edmeston, New York will indeed be America's Medjugorje.

The MAN Foundation
Noreen Von Zwehl
1121 Oyster Bay Road
East Norwich, NY 11732

Dear Noreen,

I missed your presence and pray you will be active shortly. I thank you for the opportunity to be present at the dedication ceremonies at the Rosa Mystica House of Prayer and have something to report to you.

Re: Dancing sun:

Saturday 7-12-03 about 6:45 PM on N/S N.Y. Route 8 on the way from Angel Hill in Edmeston to our motel and restaurant in Norwich, several of us saw which one lady described as moving hosts. My description follows:

I'm a retired Hospital Microbiologist and Public Health Sanitarian and accustomed to identification of various sorts: organisms, objects, observations or conditions set before me.

I was seated at a window, in a mid bus location on the right side of the bus, talking with a gentleman in the group from Long Island N.Y. when a lady, directly in back of me shouted several times, "Look at the sun the Host is moving".

I looked at the sun, which was breaking through the clouds, and initially saw only the brightness of the sun. Then, looking at the sun, focusing (I was reluctant for fear of affecting the retina), I saw the disc of the sun, which was in an immobile position and another similar disc but less brilliant moving about erratically on my left of the immobile sun disc and bouncing about on the nearby clouds: it was seen by me as one would see a spot of light from a spotlight, but without a ray/beam. This I never saw before.

This continued for several minutes, and then stopped. Immediately afterwards and lasting about 5 minutes I saw multiple after-images of the sun discs (Hosts) in a dark orange shade, but did not see an after-image of the immobile sun disc.

The lady in back of me said she's seen dancing sun images before, which she called Hosts, and associated such phenomena with an affirmation of some type. I accept what I saw as an unexplainable occurrence, and unless proven otherwise a miracle (after-images are seen regularly by many and perhaps all).

I recall the reported occurrences of the dancing sun in various apparitions elsewhere.

Yours truly,

Joseph S. Wisk
Michigan, USA

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