What would you like to know about St. Joan of Arc? Do you have a story about our parish or of general interest that you think others would like to hear? For story ideas, contact Jeff Rholl, jeff@stjoan.com.

I woke up this morning feeling strange. I felt a little bubbling of energy. I felt a firefly glimmering of joy. I actually wanted to zip out of bed and surge into the day. I tried to figure it out. And finally, it hit me. I felt good! I actually felt good. It had been so long since I'd had that feeling.

A series of biopsies and MRI's and MRA's and a dizziness that alternately pulled me into a roaring tunnel and whirled me off the sides of the earth; vision that went out of focus and receded into a darkness had been my companions.

But here I was on this glorious, golden autumn morning, actually feeling good. What a surprise, I thought. Then a second thought came -- and it brought me right to my knees. "Why am I so surprised. Why am I always so surprised when prayers are answered?"

I had gone to a Healing Service at St. Joan of Arc and was anointed and prayed with and under tender concern and tender touches, tears were released.

My name was on the prayer list and at every Sunday Mass George Wertin or Jim Cassidy read my name and the community of St. Joan lifted me up in prayer; my forever friends encircled me with their love, and people I didn't even know asked for my welfare. My daughter stood beside me, encouraging, supporting and loving.

My goddess friends had sent me healing energy. My Divas, The Women of the Artists Way, My Rebuilding Group all raised me up. My Buddhist friends said their mantras, a healing hands friend gave me a massage and energy alignment, an intuitive healer from California checked my chakras and pronounced me grounded in love, a note from Julie Madden greeted me on a deep, dark, down day.

So why didn't I get it right away? I was healed as I live, by grace alone. But I'm pretty dense sometimes. Sometimes I just don't make the connections. I say that I believe. I say I know I can be healed. I say I believe there is work left for me to do and adventures to be had. And yet, when it happened, I almost missed it.

Ronnie Angelus says: "There are three things that make my life work: Talking to my daughter who opens vistas to me and makes me laugh; being in the circle of the Divas, my writing group, who shout "go girl" and give me standing ovations with their smiles and tears; sitting next to Mary and Claude Paradis during Sunday Mass at St. Joan of Arc, which is as close to pure goodness as I will know in this lifetime."

On this morning, I got it. And I raised my arms up high, and I shouted, thank you, thank you. And Thank YOU, St. Joan of Arc!

And I heard a Voice say, "Ronnie, Ronnie, Ronnie, you wear me out. You just wear me out!" And I know it was the voice of God, and SHE was laughing.