A favor came to our family. My mom, New Order, lives in Indiana. I went to visit (daughter) and my mom said we had a priest in the family, of the Precious Blood confraternity in Ohio and died in 1944. I asked, where is he buried and do we have pictures. Answer was he was buried in Ohio. No pictures of his grave but pictures of him.
We had a drive to Carthegenia, Ohio and went to St. Charles (was) seminary. (May of 2000). I wanted to see more and I was hoping to help my mom see the destruction on the Catholic Church.
I found a door with a door bell. I rang it and a elderly nun in white answered the door. I spoke or our visit, for Fr. Rudolph Stoltz. The nun was shocked, and said, I knew him. Wow! So, my mom and I had a lunch there and a tour.
I was so excited knowing my great-great uncle Fr. Stoltz was here years ago. I asked to see the chapel and the altar. Of course the altar was gone. I spoke up of the shame of it being ripped out. I watched for my mom's reactions. She was angry with me. Not to speak up negatively. I did any way. What else is missing in the chapel? I was told there were side altars and they were removed and masses are said in the basement. I showed my shock and my mother mad again.
We went to the basement. It was damp and drab like a latrine!
When we left, I knew my mom was going to yell at me, which she did. She said to me, "You think you just know it all, don't you?!" Then she said, "I just want to know why he wanted to become a priest." So, I said, we shall pray for an answer.
Well, I did! Then I thought, we have to get the answer from the "horses' mouth".
In 2001, our whole family went to Indiana for my mom's 70th birthday. She sats me down for a surprise! The favor! She put in my hand a very old letter, of May 28, 1905. And it was written by Fr. Rudolph Stoltz to my mom's dad, my grand father. I was crying miracle! I said to my mom, you knew of this letter? She answered, no. She had found it. I said, how did you come across it?
Mom was looking for a picture of a model A car that was owned by her brother Ray. She desired it to show a restorer of cars. She did not find a picture but she found the folded up paper, the letter. It said, Dear Herman, I understand from the last letter from home, you will be receiving your first Holy Eucharist. This is the most joyous event in your life. Pray for your vocation. We I prayed for my vocation, I got a strong inclination to study for the priesthood.
I was so happy and I told my mother, and the date on the letter is your birthday, 28 May!
Did this favor change anyone's thoughts? No, not at all. But it was for me! I have the letter in clear plastic on my buffet!