Two streams of signs converge on Saint Francis of Assisi

In January, Pope Leo declared a Jubilee in honor of the 800th annivrsary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi. A plenary indulgence can be otained, under the usual conditions, for someone attending Mass at a church/shrine/monastery dedicated to the Franciscan order.

I am finding God putting these opportunities in my path. I have now had three such encounters since the first of July. The first was planned in advance. In conjuction with my first-ever visit to the State of Maine, I was blessed to be able to attend Mass at the Franciscan monastery of Saint Anthony of Padua in Kennebunkport.

The last 2 have been a bit of surprise and that is where the story takes a surprising twist. In September, I was planning to go to First Saturday Mass at the National shrine of Mary, Help of Christians (aka Holy Hill) in Hubertus, Wisconsin before heading to the hotel our group booked in Manitowoc.

Delays in the transport of my luggage and the aquisition of a rental car caused a change of plans and I ended up going to Mass in Manitowoc at- of all places- Saint Francis of Assisi parish. Bang. Unexpected plenary indulgence.

Here is where the story gets wierd.

Manitowoc is a tiny little town that is world famous for two things- the crash of the russian Sputnik and one of the world's biggest manufacturers of commercial ice machines. If you have been in a restaurant, hotel or convienence store, chances are you have seen a Manitowoc Ice Machine.

Though I had never been to Wisconsin before this year, I was trained to service these machines about 35 years ago, working for a refrigeration company that still exists right here in Manassas, VA. I belonged the Refrigeration Service Engineer's society and had a great big blue Manitowoc Jacket I wore.

Well, as it happens, going to Mass caused me to come back to the hotel by a different route, passing the very factory that made the machines I used to work on. It was a real blast from the past with a Saint Francis Twist.

In isolation, I might have chalked it up to a coincidence. I may have even did the same with the fact that the next day I was watching a football game in historic Lambeau field, home of the Green Bay Packers. Another site associated with memories.

The thing is that the coincidences have continued to pile up and so have the encounters with Saint Francis. Another figure that keeps popping up is John Kennedy. Yesterday, I saw his grave for the first time in about the same time frame- 30-35 years. Next week, for the first time, I will actually visit Dealy Plaza where he died. I've seen it hundreds of times in pictures and videos. Tomorrow, I will be at the Cathedral of Saint Thomas More for, yet again, the first time in nearly 4 decades

The clinchers?

This year, in honor of the Jubilee, the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi was moved to Sunday- today. I was blessed to attend Mass at my parish of 30 years ago none other than Saint Francis of Assisi in Triangle, Virginia. Plenary indulgence #3.

Next month, I will complete the most unique cycle of First Saturdays I have ever done by attending Mass at the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

I don't believe this is coincidence. I believe these two realities are converging. I believe God is calling me to make peace with a painful and troubled past and pointing to Saint Francis of Assisi as someone who will aid me in that process.