It was a crisp, sunny day in February. The ice on the Bras d’Or Lake glistened and beckoned Florence, Mary and Clare to grab their skates and head for the shore. The immense span of ice gave such an enormous sense of joy as they skimmed and glided at liberty.
After skating for a while, the girls gathered in a group, perhaps to rest or for conversation. Without warning, the ice gave way and they were all in the water. Florence, Clare, and Mary were able to cling to the ice desperately calling for help
Mary’s sister Theresa, aged 7 was at the shore and they shouted to her to run over to the C.N.R. Station for help. It was now time for the evening train. They knew people would be gathering there as it was customary at train time.
About a mile to the north of where this mishap occurred, in the home of Malcolm Dan MacNeil, Mary’s 17-year-old brother, Norman abruptly had a feeling or premonition that he should go skating.
Shortly after leaving his home, he could see that something was wrong at the skating party. With all the speed he could muster, he made for the scene of the accident. Soon the horror was revealed but a cool head and a stout heart prevailed.
It was a long run for a 7-year-old but Theresa was up to it. Clinging to the ice, the girls had their eyes turned towards the station with hopes of a rescuer coming. The Angelus bell rang distinctly in St. Columba Church and the girls prayed fervently for deliverance from the freezing water. Suddenly from behind them appeared Norman.
He pulled Mary out of the water and she was able to make her way to the shore on her own. He took Clare out next and then Florence but they were unable to move on their own. With one under each arm, Norman started for the shore. They hadn’t gone but a few steps when the ice gave way beneath them and now all three of them were in the water.
Norman knew that the easiest way to get out was with your back to the ice, rather than facing the ice. He quickly extricated himself from the water, much to the surprise of the girls and he soon had them out of the water again. This time, the journey to the shore was successful .
In the meantime, little Theresa made her way to the train station where she spread the alarm. The people gathered there waiting for the train didn’t take long to respond. In a few minutes, they were able to assist Norman in getting the victims to a warm, dry shelter.
The survivors slowly recovered from their chilling and traumatic experience. Florence, Clare and Mary were back in school a few days later. All three continued with their studies, moved away, became nurses, married and raised families. Sometime later Norman was awarded the well-deserved Carnegie Medal for his epic performance; a rare honor in the Little Village.
When he completed his high school, Norman attended St. Mary’s University, Halifax, and then joined the RCAF Fleet Air Arm Division as Leading Aircraftsman in 1944, serving in Canada and the United Kingdom.
What does this mean for you and I? Norman had a premonition. In the quiet of his rural life, heard the voice of God and he listened. Florence, Clare and Mary prayed. Perhaps you know of a time when your prayers have been answered so dramatically. If so, Thank God! If not, do not surrender to despair. “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:22.
The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary: And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
Hail Mary….
Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to Thy word.
Hail Mary…
And the Word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us.
Hail Mary…
Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray:
Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Your Grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, Your Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord.
Amen.