Reflection of Cross Appears on House in Albuquerque, New Mexico

Photograph by Carla Chavez-Archuleta

By Loci B. Lenar

God works in mysterious ways through signs and wonders, especially during times of difficulty and while praying for assistance. He will affirm his word through divine providence and miracles.

With that in mind, Carla Chavez-Archuleta of Albuquerque, New Mexico has shared several images of a cross of light that she photographed in December of 2014 using her Samsung Galaxy Note 3.  

Carla says, "A few months back, I read the article of the Shield of Archangel Michael on http://www.christian-miracles.com/signsofangels.htm and have been in awe of this event ever since."

Same photo as above but cropped for better viewing

Carla said, "I was surprised when my husband and I were driving home Christmas Day (December, 2014) and I saw this same reflection on a home near ours.  I asked my husband to turn around to get another look.  We tried to take photos but it seemed to start to fade like it did not want to be photographed.  I saw the reflection again on the way home yesterday (December 30, 2014) and was able to get a photo. I even went to the other side of the house to see if there might be something causing the reflection, but I don't see anything that would cause that reflection."

Photograph courtesy of Carla Chavez-Archuleta

"I have been praying to Archangel Michael for months for assistance.  I still pray today as I greatly need his intercession for a miracle.  I take this as a sign that he is with me and letting me know he has everything under control."

Same photo as above but cropped for better viewing

"I just wanted to share the photo with you as you reported on the reflection in your link." Carla said.

The fact that Carla has seen a similar cross is indeed a confirmation that God continues to give us hope with signs during our time of need. He will never abandon us.

Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. (Psalm 55:22)

In 2005, a Cross of Light with a surrounding shield appeared on my backyard fence in Mine Hill, NJ, while my family was experiencing a time of adversity.  I was praying for God's intervention and to Saint Michael the Archangel for protection when the image began to appear. Awaiting for God's Timing, my prayers were answered and the issues were mitigated. More information regarding my (Lenar) testimony on this matter with photographs can be read on www.Christian-Miracles.com.

Without hesitation, we should not underestimated the power of prayer. God will answer our prayers at the appropriate time. 

Jesus said, "Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst."  (Matthew 18:19-20)

Whatever circumstances that we may face today, God is there to give us the strength to move forward and will protect us from the storms of time.

If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling,  no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.  (Psalm 91:9-12)

Read more news on angels on the following link: Miraculous Signs of Archangel Michael

Miracles abound in the life of Sister Mila

Sister Maria Milagros Dela Cruz - photo courtesy of Linda Andrade Rodrigues

The Anchor - Official Catholic Weekly Newspaper of the Fall River Diocese, Massachusetts

By Linda Andrade Rodrigues, Anchor Correspondent

ATTLEBORO, Mass. — In the wake of Typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines, the world watched the apostolic visit of Pope Francis, including Mother Superior at the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette.

Sister Maria Milagros Dela Cruz, SNDS, was born and raised in Ramon, Isabela, in the far north of the Philippines.

A visit by the pope is a great blessing to the Filipino people, according to the vibrant, animated nun, affectionately known as Sister Mila, 65.

“I watched the Mass in Manila, and it was raining,” she said. “We Filipinos don’t get discouraged when it rains. The old people would say it is a blessing from God.”

Sister Mila came from a very large family of 17 children, including eight girls and nine boys. Her parents would also adopt another son.

“I was number 10 and a blue baby,” she said. “The doctor told my aunt that they did their best, but the baby was dead. The doctor left, and then my aunt said I started crying. My aunt reported to the doctor that the baby came alive.”

Consequently, the doctor baptized the preemie Maria Milagros (Miracles).

Her siblings walked to school, which was two miles away; but Sister Mila was too weak to walk a long distance.

“My father would come with us, and he put me on his shoulders,” she said.

He also gave her a small dog so that she would never be alone. She named him Pepsi.

“I had him for 16 years,” she said.

Learning to write her long name in first grade was a trial. Her classmates’ names were short, and they would tease her, “Mary Miracles!”

“I would come home crying,” she said.

Many years later when she went to college, she was asked to translate her name into English.

“Your name is very beautiful,” said the professor. “Your name is ‘Miracles of the Cross.’”

“That teacher was very stern, but I loved him,” she said. “He was the only one who was able to tell me the meaning of my name.”

Growing up in a very poor family on a small tract of farmland, Sister Mila remembers the long years of drought.

“The La Salette Fathers came to my area and did a Novena at the farm,” she said. “They carried the cross and sang songs in Latin. We saw cracks in the soil, and you know in those cracks we found edible frogs. We could not plant rice, but God gave us frogs. We brought them to the market and sold them.”

One of the La Salette priests, Father Conrad Blanchet, gave the family a gas-powered well pump so that they could plant rice and irrigate the land. They also watered a neighbor’s field.

“We were very poor, but my mother and father always shared,” she said. “Lots of people who needed food came to our house for help, but we always had something to eat. It is a mystery.”

Sister Mila attended La Salette High School in Santiago, and that’s where she first saw a statue of Our Lady of La Salette. She learned about the weeping mother and received her calling.

“I told them I wanted to become a Sister of La Salette, even though we had none in our area,” she said.

Her formation was done in Manila at their regional house. In her fourth year, she received her veil. Through the years she served the apostolate in schools as Religious Education coordinator, guidance counselor, registrar and principal.

Three of her siblings also had vocations; two joined the La Salette missionaries and a third is a Maryknoll.

In October 2007, Sister Mila was assigned to the U.S. mission in Miami, where she served as school principal.

“The American culture was itself a challenge,” she said. “I was unprepared to deal with all the technical demands of my job, including using computers. Amazingly, I learned quickly how to do many things, and I was even able to teach others to do the same."

Now serving at the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette in Attleboro, Sister Mila works in the shrine church as Liturgical coordinator of their 80 volunteers — acolytes, lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, altar servers and sacristans — and assists the priests.

Living in Cumberland, R.I.,  about 30 minutes from the shrine, the nuns leave their house early each morning to take part in Community Prayer and Mass at the Attleboro monastery. Two nuns, one from Madagascar and the other from Connecticut, work in the gift shop. Sister Mila’s day revolves around the 12:10 and 6:30 p.m. Masses. When the nuns return to their convent at the end of the day, they go directly to the chapel to pray.

Pilgrims from all over the world worship at the shrine church, where Sister Mila offers a special ministry. She set up a box for prayer petitions and also answers prayer requests online every day.

She recalls the first time she was approached by someone in need of prayers. “Sister, I want to talk to you,” said a young mother with three small children.

“We have priests,” Sister Mila replied. “I can get you a priest.”

“No, no, Sister,” the woman said. “I want to talk to you.”

“I just came from the doctor’s office, and I was diagnosed with breast cancer,” said the woman. “I have a short time to live.”

“Don’t worry,” said Sister Mila. “I will pray.”

A year later, the priest in charge of vocations came looking for Sister Mila.

“Do you remember a lady with three children who talked to you last year?” he asked. “She wanted me to tell you that her breast cancer is gone.”

“And she’s not the only one,” said Sister Mila beaming. “You cannot believe how many prayers have been answered.”

Still a farm girl at heart, Sister Mila also tends the many beautiful live flowers that thrive at the shrine even in winter.

“We need a beautiful place for people to come and experience the nearness of God,” she said.

***

This article is reprinted with permission of Linda Andrade Rodrigues, Anchor Correspondent, Fall River, Massachusetts. First published by The Anchor on Jan 30, 2015.

Anchor Website: http://www.anchornews.org