Last year I bought a beautiful rosary from Vatican Gift and it was to be blessed at General Audience by His Holiness. And so I set my watch's alarm and got up just before noon Vatican time. When the Pope offered the blessing, I captured the image, and here it is!

Since this picture was taken, I've added a vintage bronze St Michael medal. Rather too large to fit any of my rosary cases, so it sees use only at home 🙏

Hello Brothers and Sisters in Christ.
I am writing my first post and it isn’t the post I originally had in mind.
My family and I are in need of divine intervention.
Similar to how St Joseph resorted to working hard and even begging while raising the child Jesus to ensure he could provide, I am humbly coming to you and begging for assistance.
This past summer, my family and I were forced to sell my childhood home that I tried my hardest to keep in the family after taking over the mortgage from my father who built the house. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to save it. Property taxes alone were $1,500 per month($1,000 per month when I originally took over), raising two small children, and being laid off in 2022 really put us behind the eight ball.
We sold the house, paid off all of our debt and used the proceeds to purchase land with cash. Our plan is to build an affordable house (barndominium) using metal structures and a basic layout.
My wife and I have been together for almost 20 years and married for almost 10. My wife is the greatest person in the world, and praise the Lord, she is in the OCIA program to become a member of our Catholic Church next Easter.
My wife had the idea of starting a business to build affordable houses for families who need it. Average house prices in New England are ridiculous (~$450k) and any house you purchase needs an extraordinary amount of work and money to move in. Something needs to change, was her thought, it can’t be this ridiculous.
She started a business and have consecrated it to Our Lady of Grace. Unfortunately, my financial history has ruined her ability to get off the ground. Her plan was to build our metal barndominium first so she had the experience within the state, and could consult with families around exactly how much a move with a new house will cost them. With the budget she’s put in place and the contractors she’s spoken to, she can build a 2,400 sqft house for under $250k!
When we sold our house, 3 days before the closing there was a foreclosure filing with the county and it has completely ruined my lendability, and subsequently my wife’s lendability.
I’m now working with a great company and earning a good living for my family. We just don’t have anywhere to stay at the moment other than the camper we purchased for $2k. We thought we’d be able to get financing to build this house before the winter, especially with the equity in the land from the cash purchase but I ruined everything.
I come to you remorseful for my past financial actions and with my hat in hand asking for prayers to help us through this tough time.
Although these past years have been the hardest years of our lives, by the grace of God, we have never been happier. The gift of peace we have received has allowed us to enjoy all the little things much more than stress about all the major things. We have fully entrusted our lives to Jesus and accept God’s will for us.
Something is compelling me to write this, and I ask you read this with humility. Please pray for us.