January 2005 The Megaphone Page 6
Msgr. Hammes
by Louise (Mountcastle) Romine
Msgr.
Hammes was one of the most lovable people I ever knew.
Once I needed some help financially and went to him with my problem. It was
only $20 I needed to pay one of my utility bills and he gladly loaned it to me. We
sat and talked for the longest time and never once was our conversation boring. I
loved to sit with the elderly and hear their stories anyhow!
He told me of the time he had found a small statue of Our Lord Jesus which
someone had discarded . . . probably because it had been so marred from falling
to the floor so many times. He said he told Jesus, "I am rescuing my
savior," and put the little statue on the dash of his car saying,
"Maybe someday He will rescue me." And here is the awesome story I
shall never forget!
A few years later Msgr. Hammes was in an traffic accident involving several
autos. His car was in the middle of it all and was so crunched together,
they expected to find him mangled in all the rubble. But to their amazement, it
looked like he had been sitting in a bubble and he walked away without a
scratch.
No story ever just ends when it comes to Msgr. Hammes. I went back to pay Father
what he had loaned me, and again we got into a grand ol' story of his. This time
it was about the titles he'd wanted to be called. He studied very hard when he
was in the Seminary. He'd go up into the attic to study by candle light into the
wee hours, barely getting his needed rest and read his Bible hungering to know
Jesus.
(1) They said he was a fanatic, and yes he was a fanatic to know his Lord and Savior! Thus
the name..."Jesus Fanatic."
(2) He became a priest and they called him "Father."
(3) He was such a good man and some mocked him for his "Excellency"
and they called him "His Excellency."
(4) Because he loved the Lord and people so much, he treated everyone like Jesus
would treat them . . . and someone said he was acting like he was "Jesus."
(5) I have forgotten just how he got the name of "Monsignor," but it
was wonderful when they finally recognized him as such because he was worthy of
it as well as all the other names.
He told me he had been called everything he ever wished to be called. At that,
he walked me to the door of the Parish and shook my hand, gently folding my
fingers around that $20 dollar bill. It left me totally speechless! I was
so humbled by his story and now more than ever, by his act of kindness! What
a man of God. If anyone is looking down from the Portals of Heaven, I am
sure Msgr. Hammes is one of them!!
Louise Mountcastle Romine' 56
Elwood, IN
Geese Heading South
by Louise (Mountcastle) Romine
One morning as I rode my bike to "Early Morning Prayer" in Rockwall, Texas, I heard a formation of geese overhead, and I knew they were heading South. It was still dark and the sound was very comforting . . . it took my mind off the cold damp morning.
This
was the beginning of something special just between God and me . . . as I prayed
for Him to always let me hear them as they go, and again on their return. That
was in 1991, and since then, He has never failed to bless my request (Ask and
thou shalt receive!).
On Division Rd., I pass 2 man-made lakes and the geese are numerous on the
larger one. I hadn't seen them lately and just figured I had my Christmas
music up too loud and missed hearing them as they headed South. A little sadness
filled the air, in my Tachoma, yearning to hear them once again!
Wednesday, Dec.22nd, I took my grandson David Lee Romine, the 2nd, out for his
13th birthday to an Applewood (shopping center in Anderson) movie (SpongeBob, to
be exact). Having an hour to "kill," we sat in the parking lot
talking, when all of a sudden . . . "Up in the sky . . . was it a
bird?" I'll say!! Large birds . . . one, two, three sets of geese . .
. not many in each set, but in formation heading South. We sat there talking
about it when all of a sudden more formations appeared, then more. What a
Blessing! Twice we were blessed to witness how geese group and then get
into formation to make the long haul Southward. There were a few coming from two
different directions and at the same time a larger group passed over us as
though they were meeting at their designated spot. They fluttered there for a
bit and then getting into formation, headed South.
What
an awesome sight and sound as they flew over the Applewood parking lot, having
entertained us as the Lord seen fit . . . to Whom I will always be grateful. He
truly knows how to make someone feel really special!!
Louise (Mountcastle) Romine '56
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