[Salvation]

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[Dominick]

I left the faith when I first went to college. I did avail myself of the Catholic Priest there, not for absolutions but for Confession. After I finished Grad school I was consulting, teaching adult and had married.

I got sick one day, kept smoking and my throat swelled like a bullfrog, with a 104 fever. My throat felt it was on fire. After a hospitalization, I could talk and asked for a real confession. I got the most liberal Priest at the Hospital, but I didn't know it at the time.

He heard my confession for a half hour, patiently. He gave me a sorta Absolution and I asked can "I get Absolution?" He then gave me a proper one. I asked him if he had an Rosaries around I would love to pray one for Thanksgiving. He said use your fingers. Five minutes later he came in with one excitedly, it was a red cheapie that I still have as a prized possession.

A little later a person came is and was asked if I wanted Communion, he was sent by the Priest.

A week later I went to a book store and got to know the owner, who helped me re-Cathechize myself. I got reading material galore, Catholic Answers, videotapes and audio tapes. I read books upon books. I did pretty well getting up to snuff.

A few of us had dinner, and I told them this story and they related to me this was quite the liberal Priest. I was pleased he was so good to me.

I mentioned the date of my Hospital stay. It was 2-3 Feb. 3 Feb is St. Blaise Feast, where your throat is blessed. I never realized it, it being ten years since my last throat blessing.

When God wants your attention, he knows how to grab you by the throat.

[AnimalLover]

After reading through Free Republic and posting my comments I turned off the computer to clean up paperwork. Lo and behold I came across a slip of paper with the site www.fatima.org. Have no idea where it came from. Checked it out and thought - maybe I'm supposed to pass this along to my friends. There are three parts and rather lengthy reading but I found it most enlightening and some points have been clarified for me.

Since I don't know how to make it a direct link in this posting, I will post the address next.