ARGENTINA, Rosana Zardini. In 2008, I received my First Communion in the Shrine of Freedom in the city of La Plata – at the age of forty-four – and I made my covenant with Mary. At the end of this year, I began to receive visits of the Pilgrim MTA in my home, and by July 2009, I had joined the Rosary Campaign with my own Pilgrim MTA. A family visited the Shrine whose son had health problems, and although he was only eight years old, he was devoted to the Virgin. He asked me for the Pilgrim MTA…that is how everything began.
The Blessed Mother visited some families in my neighborhood (for one or two days) and some of the polyphonic choir of the Cathedral to which I belong. So periodically she visited several homes and work places on a weekly basis. But this family lived far away, and when they received the Pilgrim MTA, we would be without the Pilgrim MTA for at least an entire week. Two new missionaries, Cecilia and Gladis, (June 2010) emerged from among my choir companions. The number of homes wanting to receive the Pilgrim MTA grew, and we could not serve all of them.
At the Children’s Hospital
In January 2010, I had begun to visit the Children’s Hospital, and then spent time in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, guided by Sister Margarita in the chapel. We began to accompany a seriously ill child, who for some reason did not have the attention of the mother or other relatives.
I commented to the Antognoli’s– the coordinators of the Campaign- about these new roads that the Pilgrim MTA was opening up, and that it would be good to have a Pilgrim MTA especially dedicated to the children who suffered some illness, so they gave me one that needed to be restored. I did the best that I could: always in prayer and it was accompanied by a tablet for the children to write and/or draw their petitions and expressions of gratitude. Franco was the first one who was visited; he inspired this idea through his devotion to the Virgin.
Then, I accompanied Magdalena, an eleven year old, with the Pilgrim MTA from January to August. She did not have parents, and she suffered from leukemia. Twice a week, along with the Blessed Mother, I would take and read books to her, or take drawing materials or other supplies. In this ward –where access was restricted although not as much as in therapy– many small patients (sometimes twenty or thirty) were cared for, so many times the Blessed Mother would go further to visit Magdalena’s neighbors.
There were many volunteers in the hospital, so if we “spoke about God and Mary” a group from Sacred Heart was in charge of the catechesis.
Unfortunately, in July of that year, Sister Margarita was transferred to Tandil for health reasons, and I could not continue with this service, which was grace filled but also sorrowful, alone.
Carolina
In January of 2011, a bricklayer, who was working on a neighbor’s house and who received the Pilgrim MTA, told me that his niece who was in the hospital was dying, and he asked me as a favor to visit her with the Blessed Mother.
Carolina (seven years old) was in ward 21 of the Sister Maria Ludovica Children’s Hospital. The doctors had declared that she was terminal because by a badly performed surgery caused peritonitis and a case of malnourishment. When I arrived with the Blessed Mother, a cousin, who was a minor, was the only relative accompanying her, and it was evident that Carolina was suffering tremendous pain in spite of the strong sedatives. I visited her every day, and I left the Pilgrim MTA at her bedside from the beginning, the Blessed Mother took care of all the children who were hospitalized. In a few days, she improved and got out of bed!!! Moreover all the children who were hospitalized there have already left the ward.
Laureano
Easter 2013 was so special for our city (because of the floods). The Pilgrim MTA visited homes that were devastated by the floods, especially the children, and on March 31st, she returned to the Children’s Hospital for Laureano. He was in intensive care as a result of an accident, and his diagnosis was guarded. I visited the family that took care of him on Sunday, May 5th; I took the Pilgrim MTA, and I went to see him with his mother Maria Ángeles.
I am sharing what I wrote during those days on Facebook, where in 2012, I opened a prayer group for children who are in serious condition, and it has been made up of parents, who have brought their children from the interior to the Sister Maria Ludovica Children’s Hospital in La Plata to be diagnosed.
April 30th. Laureano continues in intensive care, and I found out that his parents accompanied him, but I could not contact them. Thanks to everyone for continuing to accompany this family with prayer. When I have more information, I will share it.
May 2nd. Heavenly Father, we confidently pray for this little boy who is suffering today. Help his doctors and console his family. Thy Will, which is always Just and Merciful, be done. Listen to us, through our Lord Jesus Christ who lives and reigns with you and his most holy Mother. Amen.
May 4th. I met Maria Angeles, Laureano’s mother. She has prayed from the moment she found him on the floor, and she has seen so many signs for which she is grateful. Laureano continues in intensive care. Beyond the medical part that many times is not hopeful, his mother knows that he continues to struggle to recuperate with the Grace of God and of Mary. Let us accompany him, the doctors, the personnel, and his entire family with our prayers.
May 5th. Sunday I share the afternoon with Laureano’s family, praying, listening, sheltering and sharing the sorrow…I could go in with his mother to see him. He is still unconscious and the cranial pressure has not stabilized. I took his little feet in my hands, and while I continue praying, I gave him gentle massages. His mother spoke to him, and I saw how he responded to her words by accelerating his breathing.
May 7th. I felt sad when I found out that Laureano had left us. “I cry with you, but I am also at peace knowing that he is in heaven”, I wrote to his mother; she answered: “Thank you for sharing this very intensive time of my life!”
The children speak
There are testimonies and drawings of the children in the notebook that accompanies the Pilgrim MTA, many are a testimony of their pure faith…
On January 2, 2011, Gianfranco (8 years old) wrote: “May all the children have a family and health. May the star of love always shine.”
On January 7th, it reads: “Pedro: we are going to accompany you with the Blessed Mother”.
Pedro is a baby who was born with health problems. Gianfranco knew about him along with his parents he took the Pilgrim MTA. They relate that the baby began to move and to be happy with Her presence.
The children pray mostly for their families, so that they will remain united and that there are no gestures of aggressiveness or indifference between their parents.
Martina writes: “Little Virgin, I pray that my father will change, that we become a happy family and for all the people who are doing bad things. Thank you that I am one of your chosen ones.” She drew her family and her house filled with hearts.
December of 2012: At last, something that should give our Holy Father, a great fan of Saint Lorenzo, joy: Santiago who is three called the Pilgrim MTA the “Little Virgin of San Lorenzo”.
(This happened, last year. No one could imagine that we would have an Argentinean Pope and of this Club!) He placed Her on the headboard of his bed.
Laureano is no longer with us, and still the Pilgrim MTA has not been returned to me. I pray that She will perform the miracle of transformation in this entire family, who has returned to the road of faith departing from their son’s accident.
Meanwhile, the home Pilgrim MTA continues her itinerary in the neighborhood; people wait for her and always pray the Rosary, but they cannot come to the Shrine for different reasons. These are families with grandparents, babies and people with difficulties of health for whom they must care. Many have become so devout that they have bought their own picture so that they can have Her in a permanent way, but they always wait for the visit of the Schoenstatt Pilgrim MTA with love and desire. Our Mother Thrice Admirable and Queen is always awaited and welcomed in a very special manner.
We experience miracles every day. May we learn to contemplate them and to share them to encourage one another! We always pray with living faith as a praying community, united by Love. Only He inspires our Faith Hope and Love for our brother/sister. Amen.
I have dedicated myself to take care and to work with children forever, but I never would have done this if it were not for Mary my Mother and Teacher, my loyal Companion. She tells me what gesture I should carry out in each case.
Spanish/English translation: Celina M. Garza, San Antonio, Texas
