Dear Owen

Last Saturday night ( 1 week ago) a 6 month old baby was rushed to the hospital when he stopped breathing, his name is Owen. Owen is a triplet and has one older brother. I joined in prayer with probably thousands of people last week for this little guy and his family. On Monday or Tuesday his family learned that Owen had about a 2% chance of recovery. During the week someone shared with Owen's mother that the name Owen means "Little warrior". And Owen sure was this last week. I had the chance to visit Owen this last Tuesday, it was one of the saddest things I've ever witnessed. It's sad to see anyone connected to all those machines in the hospital and tubes going into someones nose, but you never want to see that on a child. I prayed for Owen while I touched his fingers and then as visitor's hours ended all the visitor's in the room prayed together, it was beautiful and full of hope, we begged God for the life of this child.

It was Thursday evening that Owen finally did leave this world. During the week Owen's mother (whose blog can be found here: bissingfamily.wordpress.com) created an email address for Owen. I emailed him. I really believed there would be a miracle. As Owen's mother pointed out most of the week, there was just not for Owen. Owen donated his heart and kidneys amongst a few other organs. The following is what I wrote to Owen......

Dear Owen,

You probably don't remember me, I only met you once, I think I held you and fed you.....but that might have been one of your brothers ;) One thing is for sure you smiled at me, because I remember you and your brothers all smiled at me that day, you're all so cute.

I want to tell you a story Owen. Today I planned on going to a men's group at 6:30am and then mass at 8am, well, I slept until 9:20, so that didn't quite work out for me. So I decided to go to mass at 11am at Holy Hill, Our Lady Help of Christians Shrine. I got there early and I prayed for you in a side chapel. When I entered the main chapel just before 11 there were many more people there than there usually are for a daily mass. There was also a longer procession of priests than usual for daily mass, usually there is one, today there were 4. Then the priest told us that today was a special day. He said that today is the feast day of Our Lady Help of Chrisitans. I became very happy because I did not know it was today and what a perfect place to be on her feast day, the Shrine of Our Lady Help of Christians!

The Gospel reading today was from John chapter 2, the Wedding at Cana where Mary goes to Jesus on behalf of the people and says "They have no wine" she didn't say we or us, but they. Owen, Mary is constantly helping us to follow Jesus. She goes to Jesus everyday with the little things that we need (things that we do not often recognize). Certainly Mary has been with you and asked her Son for your protection. And just like when Mary asked Jesus for a miracle at Cana, may she ask him for a miracle for you.

After the Gospel reading the preacher went on to tell about all the miracles that have happened at Holy Hill since it opened in 1863. He told of a boy that was blind receive his sight, another boy who was healed of being deaf, several instances of people being cured of cancer, and a woman with a lung disease who was cured by our Lord this last Christmas. He told us how the late Blessed Pope John Paul II used to pray the rosary as young boy at the foot of a statue of Our Lady Help of Christians. Today I did the same for you. Kneeling just outside of the altar and at the foot of a statue of Our Lady Help of Christians I prayed the rosary for you Owen, for a miracle. Take peace in knowing that Jesus nor His Mother has left your side since Saturday. I want to share a few prayers with you:

Stay with me Lord, for it is necessary to have You present so that I do not forget You. Stay with me Lord, because I am weak and I need all Your strength that I may not fall so often. Stay with me Lord, for You are my life and without You I am without fervor. Stay with me Lord, for You are my light and without You I am in darkness. Stay with me Lord, to show me Your will. Stay with me Lord, so that I hear Your voice and follow You. Stay with me Lord, for I desire to love You very much and always be in Your company. Stay with me Lord, if You wish me to be faithful to You. Stay with me Lord, as poor as my soul is I want it to be a place of consolation for You, a nest of Love.

And

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protections, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided.

Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to the do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

Stay strong Owen, you are blessed. Our Lady Help of Christians, pray for us. God Bless you.

AJ

Please join me in praying for Owen and strength for his family.

Owen, rest in peace, you are greatly missed.