A Case for Establishing Queen of the Holy Rosary Shrine
My mind raced as I searched for a pen or pencil to sketch what I had seen. Then I bolted out of my room and raced for the front door. Was our Lady still here? No, it was a dream - or was it? Questions thundered through my mind. I searched for someone to talk to. I saw John walking in the gardens of the retreat. I stopped him by the shoulder. As he turned, I tried to speak. He looked at me strangely, and then he held his finger to his lips reminding me of our pledge of silence. I shouted, "I have something fantastic to tell you!" Reluctantly breaking the silence, he said: "Where have you been?" "What do you mean," I replied. "We've been looking for you. Don’t you realize that its Sunday at two o'clock? Everyone's getting ready to go home."
Then it dawned on me that I had been sleeping over twenty four hours – actually about twenty eight hours. I'd never done that before. We found a secluded placed to talk and as I explained to him what I had seen, he laughed at me. In fact, he was rolling around on the ground, roaring with laughter. He didn't understand my meagre attempt to describe the Rosary. He thought I meant that I was going to build one about twenty feet long and that the person who was to pray it would have to lug it on his shoulder through the grounds.
When he had gathered himself, I explained further. It was only then that he became more sympathetic. He couldn't get over how I could have slept that long. He had thought that I had decided to have a private retreat staying in my room. As we spoke, he became again my old reliable John: affirming me and promising to get together to discuss these events again at a later date. Excited, I quickly left the retreat house for home. I was ecstatic, bubbling over with joy. I couldn't wait to get home and put down on paper everything that I had seen before I forgot the details.
Arriving home I burst into the house. I must have sounded like a mad-man, feverishly attempting to explain the events of the weekend. Within days I had finished a set of rough drawings and had begun building a model. Once I had completed this work, I began a period of reflection. Over several months, I viewed the model from every angle. It rested on two ping pong tables, each tree, shrub, and bead was to scale. I re-lived that wonderful journey many times.
Questions bombarded my mind: Was this a dream or a religious encounter? Was this something my subconscious had devised to bring attention to myself? Why was this project entrusted to me? There were many such questions. I decided to put the whole thing to the test of time. I dismantled the model and put away the drawings: not from loss of conviction but simply because I knew that the time was yet not right.
Time passed, but the concept continued to pursue me. I found myself researching different methods of building large sculptures. I studied Fine Arts for three years at York University to refine my artistic abilities. Many years were taken up by starting and organizing the Right to Life. John Rooney and I travelled extensively. I added a few ideas of my own: Keep in mind that these additions are mentioned only to show the endless possibilities... building The Rosary Shrine remains and always will be the primary goal...God willing, the following is possible. Why not a family, private, lay-run retreat? We would develop the concept around a family camp ground for Christians. In today’s society, the family seems to be disintegrating. This would be a great place for families who are in trouble — a place to get back to basics; a chance to have God, nature, community and fellowship heal their troubled lives. With the Rosary as the focal point, many souls would be brought to Christ. We eventually envisage trailer sites, cabins and even a lodge-like setting for those not into camping and for the infirm. The environment we wish to create would be as stress-free and as un-regimented as possible — a place for families to rest, to meditate, and to enjoy nature. The revenues which may follow will be used to foster devotion to Our Lady and to help the poor.
The concept is exciting. It has boundless potential for rekindling Christian teachings. Many years have passed since the Rosary dream began. The dream goes on and will be realized. Neither its cost nor size will ever deter realization of it. My faith in God is boundless. Let His will be done.
I had a stroll in ecstasy and I would love to have others experience it too.
J.M.J
Ted Harasti