Not long ago, I came across a framed picture of the Blessed Mother while cleaning out the basement of my mother’s house. How perfectly I knew every detail of it — the sweet and gentle face of Our Lady, the rays of light streaming from her fingertips, and the snake crushed beneath her feet. When I was growing up, the image hung in my bedroom, but standing there in the dim storage room, my mind raced back to the day I first received it.
Years ago, on one of our family’s trips to Ireland, we stayed in a cottage rented to us by a couple who seemed old to me at the time. The place had everything a child could want, with a gate to swing on, a newborn brood of black kittens, and a friendly dog who trailed me wherever I went.
One evening, my mother and father brought me to a street fair in nearby Killarney. There was a dunking booth and vendors hawking chips with peas and vinegar. Game booths stuffed with prizes stood side by side, and, on the top shelf of one was that beautiful picture of the Blessed Mother. I was smitten and resolved to win it. The couple who rented us the cottage happened by and saw me hard at work. The wife smiled and said, “If you win, you will get that lovely dolly on the top shelf,” but I told her that I was hoping for the Blessed Mother. Do not ask me what the game itself was. It might have been a ring toss or a shooting contest or a game of strength with fat mallets, but the bottom line is that I spent all my pocket money to no avail.
The next morning, I went out to feed the chickens and pay a visit to my kittens when to my delight the image of Our Lady was waiting for me, propped on a bench outside my door. It turned out the couple stayed after our family left the fair, and the husband played the game until he won my prize. The wife told my mother, “We thought it was so nice that your little girl wanted the picture of Our Lady.”
Years ago, on one of our family’s trips to Ireland, we stayed in a cottage rented to us by a couple who seemed old to me at the time. The place had everything a child could want, with a gate to swing on, a newborn brood of black kittens, and a friendly dog who trailed me wherever I went.
One evening, my mother and father brought me to a street fair in nearby Killarney. There was a dunking booth and vendors hawking chips with peas and vinegar. Game booths stuffed with prizes stood side by side, and, on the top shelf of one was that beautiful picture of the Blessed Mother. I was smitten and resolved to win it. The couple who rented us the cottage happened by and saw me hard at work. The wife smiled and said, “If you win, you will get that lovely dolly on the top shelf,” but I told her that I was hoping for the Blessed Mother. Do not ask me what the game itself was. It might have been a ring toss or a shooting contest or a game of strength with fat mallets, but the bottom line is that I spent all my pocket money to no avail.
The next morning, I went out to feed the chickens and pay a visit to my kittens when to my delight the image of Our Lady was waiting for me, propped on a bench outside my door. It turned out the couple stayed after our family left the fair, and the husband played the game until he won my prize. The wife told my mother, “We thought it was so nice that your little girl wanted the picture of Our Lady.”
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A lovely and heartwarming story, Alice. Thank you!
Posted by: L a u r a | June 29, 2010 at 03:43 PM
Alice, Beautiful column! This particular story brought back wonderful memories for my mother when she was a little girl!
Thank you,
xxoo
Posted by: Kathleen | June 29, 2010 at 08:51 PM
I could smell the chips with peas and vinegar as I read this and loved this type of fair in Ireland. Reading this story reminds me of my Nan - Nellie O'Brien - who lived with us when I grew up. In her last few years she got more and more senile and stayed in bed most days but to the very end she would constantly have her rosary beads running through her fingers. Offering up Hail Mary's that I would get a good job and find a husband ( she used also pray to St. Jude for me!). Her devotion to Our Lady was just amazing she even persuaded my Mum to give me Mary as my second name. I have a small statue next to my bed that was next to her bed for years. When I pray to Our Lady nearly 20 years later I feel Nellies presence and it makes me smile.
Posted by: leona | June 29, 2010 at 11:57 PM
LOVE the story!!! You and your family always inspire me and I give thanks to God that there are still such good and Godly family in the world. You are BLESSED!
Posted by: Betty | July 18, 2010 at 05:49 PM
I love how you recollects you memory of Our blessed Mary during your childhood days. For myself, I keep a picture of Our Sacred Heart of Jesus because it fascinates me and of course, being a Catholic, it give me sense of peace.
Posted by: Rosary Beads | April 14, 2011 at 07:11 AM