May His Blood be Upon Us, and Upon the Whole World

"Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and the Blood, the Soul and Divinity, of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins, and those of the whole world."

I am as certain as I can possibly be that I was graced with a vision of sorts this morning, prior to the beginning of the 8:00am Mass at St. Patrick Oratory in Green Bay, Wisconsin (which is served by the Institute of Christ the King, Sovereign Priest). 

I am not joking; so don't expect a punch line. I am, as they say, "as serious as a heart attack." Parts of this I will need to omit, as those parts would impinge upon the rights of others to privacy and confidentiality.

The substance of it is this: As I entered the Church proper, I looked up at the very large, wooden crucifix, suspended behind and above the high altar. 

This photo, taken at St. Patrick's Oratory, is from 2014

Those of you who know me well, also know that I am critical (some would say hypercritical) of things artistic -- as well as being a symmetry freak. So, as I looked up, I nearly gasped -- the "blood" that's painted as coming from the feet of Our Lord, had been -- it seemed clearly to me -- painted over, a bright, sort of "wet-look" red -- like a glossy red nail polish. Right away, I went into my critical mode, thinking such things as "Who in the heck did THAT? Why did they have to do that? Why didn't they just leave it alone; it doesn't match the blood on the hands."

Then, suddenly, I was overcome with an inspiration to pray the chaplet of the Divine Mercy for a particular intention -- that shall remain private. I immediately did so, now sensing that what I was seeing was not simply someone's touch-up painting work. I finished the final "Amen" of the chaplet, just as the corporate Rosary -- which is prayed before each Mass at the Oratory, was beginning. Thus, I was able to pray the Rosary as well, for this same intention.

During the rosary, sensing that my prayer had been answered, I looked back up at the Crucifix, and nearly gasped again; the color of the painted blood on the feet of Our Lord looked, once again, like that of dried blood.

I am not at all given to "seeing things," and those who know me personally, know that I am among the strongest skeptics when these sorts of things are spoken of. That said, I know what I saw today; and -- thankfully -- I believe that I know why I saw it.

"For the sake of His Sorrowful Passion, Have Mercy on us, and on the whole world." Amen.