The search for the Holy Grail may be the most inspiring quest in history. It was the cup of a poor man, but its value is beyond earthy measure. Not quite as dramatic as the Holy Grail, the treasure that was found and given to me by my brother in Christ, Phil Thomason is still a remarkable story.
Here is how Phil came to possess it in his own words:
“Terry was with us the first night, I cooked up some fried fish and shrimp. I told then the story of how I think Terry and I completed a Godly mission with the film camp experience.
In telling this I had to tell them of the crucifix that Terry had given me. It was an essential part of that event.
After everyone had left except Jeff and Brittany I began showing them interesting pieces of stuff on the shelf beside the table. You all know there is a lot of unusual items there.
That takes us to where and when Jeff and I are at a post playing bingo and Brittany is out exploring a thrift store. Brittany comes back in to the post and gives me a religious piece. It was a ring that you could put on a finger with a tiny detailed crucifix sticking off and ten little pairs of feet going the rest of the way around the ring. It was unusual and I just thanked her and put it in my pocket. I think she said that I could add it to my collection.
Terry was already at the house when we got there. I sent Jeff and Brittany off to get us some peppers and cheese for me to cook us up some snacks. While they were gone I showed Terry the piece. He was aghast. He exclaimed ” Do you know what this is ” I of course did not. He said it was a finger rosary and showed me some details on it. Then he put the ring on his finger and began reciting prayers that are assigned to each of the little feet buttons that were protruding from it. There were ten. of these. He would recite perhaps more than one prayer for each knob. maybe one knob only had one prayer assigned to it but he knew it and all the others verbatim. What the holder was supposed to do was recite these prayers as they moved there finger from knob to knob, He was on the third knob when I told him to stop. I knew this was special and Jeff and Brittany had to hear about this. Terry had to go out to has car and take a business call that lasted for a bit. I took that opportunity to explain a little of what that piece was and how important it was to Terry and that he would be explaining it later. He did that without reciting the prayers but explained that each knob had prayers that had to be said by the holder. Terry explained that the feet represented the unborn children do to abortions.
When Terry was telling me what this piece was I said that he had to have it.”
What amazed me about this finger rosary are the 10 baby feet ‘beads’. They are smaller representations of lapel pins that are the size of a child’s feet at 22 weeks. I have worn the Tiny Feet lapel pin many times. Brian Shields is the face of the Right-To-Life movement in Jacksonville, Fl. He is known for his faith and prayer life. He is the owner of Lumen Entertainment and offers a film camp every year. Phil and I shared the story of how the making of the movie Pirates at Sunrise with Brian all came together in a miraculous way. Jeff and Brittany were very moved.
The Rosary is a spiritual gift given to us, through St. Dominic de Guzman (1170 – 1221), by the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is what she told him in an apparition:
“Wonder not that you have obtained so little fruit by your labors, you have spent them on barren soil, not yet watered with the dew of Divine grace. When God willed to renew the face of the earth, He began by sending down on it the fertilizing rain of the Angelic Salutation. Therefore preach my Psalter composed of 150 Angelic Salutations and 15 Our Fathers, and you will obtain an abundant harvest.”
Note that she recalls the salutation of the Angel Gabriel to her:
“Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you.” Then he tells her she has been chosen by God to bear Emanuel, God is With Us. She offers her body to bring salvation into the world and crush the head of the serpent.
Mary is the model Christian for us. She says yes to God and allows Jesus to come into her. The exchange of greetings between Mary and Elizabeth gives us a profound look at the nature of these children. The two babes in the womb recognize each other. John leaps for joy and their lives become the fulfillment of all prophesy that points to Jesus like an arrow.
A finger rosary is a way to recount the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the meditative prayers she asked us to pray. The Hail Mary is recited ten times:
“Hail Mary full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God. Pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen”
The beads help you keep track so your mind can meditate on those Five Mysteries of Christ’s life, of which there are twenty mysteries. In this small sacramental is a way to recount the entire Gospel of Jesus.
There on Phil’s kitchen counter was this pewter finger rosary with the Right-to-life feet. This lost treasure was discarded and found its way to a second-hand shop. Through a series of improbable events, it came to a man that understands it’s significance and spiritual meaning.
In the movie Raiders of the Lost Ark, the Ark was found after an adventurous quest. Only to be lost again in a massive warehouse filled with identical crates. This is what imagined when I first saw the rosary. It is very small, easily bent, and easy to lose.
This little piece of stamped metal is an instrument to tell the story of our Savior and His Blessed Mother. “For all generations shall call me blessed.”
Phil and I shared another unmistakable encounter with the Holy Spirit. Everything was orchestrated for good ole Phil and Terry to receive another round of grace and abundant blessings.
The Lumen Film Camp was the same, but different.
I have a mustard seed and I am not afraid to use it.
God Bless,
Terry Buczkowski
10.8.23