trip out of the country on an overseas assignment , Mabel found that opportunity to do something . While overseas , her husband went on many extended field exercises , and so each time she would go on various tours and visited several holy sites . She visited Lourdes , Our Lady of Częstochowa in Poland ; she saw the Infant of Prague in Czechoslovakia at the time – now the Czech Republic ; and when she returned to her home overseas she had a chance meeting with some Catholic nuns who invited her to visit one of the local orphanages . That day she knew what she could do to make a difference .
Over the next several years ,
Mabel and her husband had , with their connections from their journalism days and the assistance of several airlines , arranged for the adoption by families in the United States of over 500 abandoned and orphaned children .
“ Mabel and her husband arranged for the adoption by families in the United States of over 500 abandoned and orphaned children .”
Since the scar tissue from her ruptured appendix had affected her ability to have children , Mabel and her husband adopted 12 children of their own , and all went on to persevere and contribute as well . Her sons joined the army and served in Vietnam . One daughter served her country with distinction in the Navy and ended a 31-year career serving on the aircraft carrier USS Roosevelt during Operation
Iraqi Freedom . Another daughter is teacher in a Native American village in Alaska and has adopted a son of her own . Time doesn ’ t permit me to tell you about the rest .
Though she did not seek publicity or fame , in 1968 Mabel and her husband ’ s efforts were recognized and they both received the Papal Humanitarian Award from Pope Paul VI .
For the rest of her life she continued to be an inspiration for all on how one person from humble beginnings could make a difference , change America positively , and influence how Americans are perceived by other nations .
Think about how different this world would be today if many years ago that determined little girl who refused to die had succumbed to her illness . All of the individual positive changes that she made may not have occurred . Over 500 children would have easily wandered off the face of the earth unknown and not knowing the love of a family . I would definitely not be standing in front of you today , most certainly would not have had the privilege of being an American soldier like my dad , as I am one of those 12 children who benefited from her and my father ’ s unbelievable love and their great example of what good and decent human beings can do .
She and my dad gave me a second chance at the wonderful gift of life . They gave me my faith , my devotion to Our Lady , and also to Saint Jude , one of my mom ’ s favorites and also my confirmation saint .
I attribute to Saint Jude all the other blessings that have come my way since that time .
And so in closing I ’ d like to ask you to reflect for just one moment on what and where America is today . In our relatively short history as a nation , we ’ ve eclipsed many others who have been in
ST . JUDE MESSENGER • VOLUME IV , ISSUE I 11