Bishop Thomas John Paprocki | Diocese of Springfield

In a touching account shared by Barbara Rowe, a parishioner at St. Joseph the Worker in Chatham, a profound and emotional moment involving her grandson Cillian and a rosary unfolded in 2008.

Cillian, born at St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, faced severe health challenges shortly after his birth. Despite efforts from medical professionals, Cillian's condition worsened, ultimately leading to his passing at just four days old.

Rowe recounted the poignant moment when she placed her rosary next to Cillian, only to witness a remarkable response from the infant. "He found the rosary, reached out for it, and grasped it," Rowe shared. She described how Cillian, at just four days old, exhibited a rare determination in holding onto the rosary, a behavior that astounded the medical staff attending to him.

Reflecting on the bittersweet experience, Rowe expressed, "It was the saddest day of my life, but also the most beautiful, as I understood I held a saint who is now in Heaven with my rosary." She further conveyed her hope of reuniting with Cillian in the afterlife, envisioning him standing alongside Mary, the Queen of the Holy Rosary, holding the very rosary he clung to during his brief but impactful time on Earth.

The story shared by Barbara Rowe serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring connections and profound moments that can be experienced, even in the midst of grief and loss.