The first letter is from Illinois.

Dear Father,

I wish to have Votive Lights burned at our Lady’s Shrine in thanksgiving for favors received.

My nephew had been out of work for nine months. I started making a novena to the Blessed Mother and burning Votive Lights in Mary’s honor.

Thanks to our Lady, he found a good job.

Also, our pastor underwent a serious hip operation. The operation was a success. He is home now and doing fine thanks to Mary our Mother. He is walking on crutches, but has to sit down to say Mass. He is a wonderful priest.

God bless you and everyone at our Lady’s Shrine.

The second letter is from New Year.

Dear Father,

In 2003, when the United States invaded Iraq, my son was one of the first American soldiers to be sent there.

I was so sick with worry I did not know what to do. Since I have great faith in the Blessed Mother, I turned to her and promised to wear her Miraculous Medal around my neck for the rest of my life and spread the word of our Lady and her Miraculous Medal, if she would only keep my son safe.

When my son was in Iraq the first time he and another soldier were standing side by side, and a rocket was shot at them and missed my son by inches. He had to return to Iraq a second time. Through the grace of our Lady, he missed his flight, and had to follow later. The helicopter he was supposed to be in crashed.

Today he is home, and in college. Considering all that he has seen in Iraq, he is as sound as you could hope. He suffered no injuries after 30 months in Iraq.

I know the Blessed Mother was with him everyday he was there. He always wore a finger rosary on his ID tags. I know in my heart our Blessed Mother saved his life, and I have worn the Miraculous Medal every day since that time, and will until my life is over.