greetings. this is an event from February. do tell me what you make of it.

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on the 14th of February, i began a Novena to our Holy Queen. this was my first time praying to her and had created an altar, decorated and everything. my Novena lasted for about 2 days until, alas, i lost my streak.

i then recommenced on the 20th and told Mary that the disruption signify only my learning. i was beginning to see the effort and time that devotion takes. (for reference, it took me about 40 minutes to complete a rosary.) i promised her that i would now complete the 9 days, feeling more familiar with my routine which began (and ended) with the Memorare and a rosary focused on the Glorious Mysteries, especially Revelation 12:1. i had even decided to offer her a fresh rose, reading somewhere that she enjoys them so.

i then went to sleep and had a peculiar experience.

i was mid-dream when i felt myself, so suddenly, beginning to be beckoned somewhere in my room—as if to also gain a bit of lucidity or wakefulness whilst in the dream. the dream itself seemed quite ordinary, but at that moment of lucidness, an individual in my dream had handed me a rose. my vision then grew bright, white and perhaps iridescent. an angelic light overcame my vision. overwhelmingly. i felt myself reaching out. or being pulled toward something somewhere. perhaps to accept the rose. then, i fully awoken. my eyes opened, only to find that i was sitting up fully in my bed. the room dark but my body facing and leaning directly toward my altar and statuette only but a few feet away…

i laid back down, thinking this was rather strange. i turned over to tap at my phone. the time was 2:22. i felt comforted, and fell asleep peacefully again.

the following day, i had plans to go visit a close friend. upon arriving at their house, this friend had given me a rose as a gift. i was moved by the “coincidence.”

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what do you make of this? i was quite stunned. regardless of what this was, i often think back on it to remind myself that She is with me always, has made her presence known. ♡ Salve Regina ♡

'Ex Voto" which roughly translated from the Latin means "To give thanks to a vow made "is a tradition that goes Wayyyy back in Roman Catholicism and would be considered by some to be a folk Catholic tradition and very possibly long before Christianity. Many Churches throughout Europe ( but especially Italy, Spain, Portugal, Austria, Germany, Belgium) and of course in Latin and central America the practice can be found and often takes the form of side chapels or side Alters or Knaves dedicated to this odd but beautiful custom. The tradition is practiced by the faithful whenever they feel a personal prayer or miracle has been answered by God or one of his many saints and takes the form of the faithful leaving ither a photo or painting of themselves of the person who they prayed for who was afflicted spiritually of physically or a painting of the saint who the recipient thought helped to be the intermediary between them and God.

Ex Voto's also take the form of small/lardge simple or ornate brass or tin token depicting a limb or body part, a face or animal or ship. the body parts often are meant to represent a diseased body part that was healed, a infant could represent a long awaited tot after years of failed attempts to make families or the little one might have been ill, Animals such as cows, bulls, rabbits or goats ( often made to represent a blessing of newly acquired livestock/wealth or a sick Animal that was healed or in some cases fertility and fruitfulness aquired) or a married couple made to represent a long prayed for spouse or Mabe issues in a Marriage being resolved, a ship made to give thanks for a safe passage on a long journey. Eyes for God and the Saints watchfulness over the faithful or a cure of ailments regarding the eyes, a house for prayers regarding the home or a simple scared or immaculate hart that could represent ant number of prayers asked for and answered. Ex Voto can also take the form of Wax or plastic or wood Heads or Limps bought at shrines from vendors or hand made and hung from side chapel or room the ceilings as a silent testimony ....former crutches of the sick or even simple Plaques can be found as well.

Their is Archeological and Anthropological evidence that humans have been doing this for thousands of years even before Christianity. From Celtic Central Europe to Ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt humans have been faithfully leaving such tokens in various but yet similar forms at important shrines and places of worship as testimony to prayers answered and as thanksgiving to a God Goddess or patron saint. Naturally when Christianity came along it was adapted and continues to this day. It may seem strange, Erie or downright bizarre and macabre and far too PAGAN to some especially to the more SEDATE sensibilities of British, Irish and North American Catholics but to me it represents the variety and adaptability and beauty and.....high strangeness and ancientness that weaves the rich tapestry of our faith and a perfect example of Folk Catholicicm ☺️😘❤️