Pretty sad and steamed about this following story from CNA:
St. Michael statue stolen from US Marine’s gravestone in New York
Allegany, N.Y., May 27, 2010 / 10:47 am (CNA).- Police are investigating the theft of a marble statue of St. Michael the Archangel from the gravestone of a U.S. Marine in Allegany, New York.
The family of former Marine Corporal David Woods, who died in May 2008, had chosen the marble statue of St. Michael because he is patron saint of the military.
The Olean Times Herald reports that the statue was stolen from St. Bonaventure Cemetery sometime between Saturday and Sunday. It depicts the archangel holding a gray metal sword and stepping on Lucifer’s head. It is between three and four feet tall and valued at $2,500.
A replica from Italy, the statue had been blessed by a Catholic priest. The thief or thieves broke the object from its base.
Diane Hendrix, Woods’ sister, told WIVB News that her whole family, including Woods’ 97-year-old grandmother, had pooled their money to buy the statute.
"One of the things he was most proud of was being a Marine and serving his country. So it was just natural that we got a statue of St. Michael the Archangel who was the patron saint of the military."
"It was such a comforting symbol of what he had accomplished in his life, and our faith."
New York State Police are investigating the theft.
I hope they catch the scrubs that did this and that their guardian angels plague their thoughts and dreams until they repent.
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That’s horrible!
Whenever something bad like this happens, I want to curse the jerks who did it, but know that would just make me as bad as they are. I’m stealing your guardian angel idea for whenever I get that feeling.
Is it allowable to pray that God would give the thieves’ guardian angels extra abilities so that the thieves have no peace until they repent and set things right? We believers need to do some creative praying for a movement of the Holy Spirit to turn things around because this culture is going the wrong way fast.
I hope that St. Michael uses his sword to prod them in the posterior until they bring the statue back.
Catholic facilities need to be more vigilant.
This and the vandalism and desecration of St. Rose of Lima parish school on monday in Maywood, Ca are just the latest attacks against Catholic facilities.
The vandalism at St. Rose included 666 scrawled on the kitchel walls, knifing a painting of Our Lady of Gudalupe and a cross displayed in a sacrilegious manner.
Apparently the sacrilege to the cross was too bad to describe in the report.
What makes this so sad is that the city of Maywood and the surrounding area is almost if not 100% Hispanic and the stabbing of the picture of Our Lady of Gudalupe is deeply offensive to them.
I do not see these problems going away too soon, especially as long as the media makes anti catholic comments.
Absolutely despicable.
“Is it allowable to pray that God would give the thieves’ guardian angels extra abilities so that the thieves have no peace until they repent and set things right?”
Not only is it allowable but it is a act of mercy towards the thieves even if you do it out of righteous anger rather than feelings of kindness.
I’d call this a “hate crime”.
My gut feeling is that this was probably stolen by addict(s) looking for a quick sell to get a quick fix. I imagine the police would alert the local pawn shops and scan Ebay and Craigslist.
May the thieves repent of this crime and restore peace to the family.
Father:
We’ve all seen the power of prayer. You iPhone was returned after many of us prayed for it. As much as I’m glad you got your iPhone back, I think this cause is much greater. I will pray that the thieves repent and return the statue and I hope all your readers will pray for this also.
It seems most appropriate to ask St Michael to intercede.
And St. Anthony, since his position as restorer of lost objects stems from a similar situation . . . .
May St Michael make his influence felt by them so they both repent of their crime and experience a conversion of heart!
This is despicable…may St. Michael give the thieves a ‘whup on the behind’ and so torment their consciences that they bring his statue back! And with their ‘tails’ tucked between their legs in repentance!