So true!
St. George is where it is now because of Archbishop Raya's persistance. rofl when I but think of it. He had great devotion to St. Ann (Blessed Mothers momma), so though it was directly Blessed Mother that got the land her momma sure did.
Archbishop Raya went to the man that owned the land and asked to purchase it - remember we are deep south here - the man said he wouldn't sell to any 'idol worshiping catholic'.
So Archbishop told St. Ann that he wanted the land. He and the parish community had a big service, they dug a big hole, and placed the life-size statue of her that was in the Church ( which is now at EWTN) - in the ground and burried it.
He told her, when she got him the land, he would dig her up.
Well the guy, he had a heart attack of something, and was in the hospital for quite awhile. As soon as he was out and able, he came and found the Archbishop - who was just Fr. Raya at that time - and told him he could have the land. That he must have placed a curse on something on him.
So needless to say, they dug her up, and had a huge celebration.
They say the looks people received going through the town with her statue in the back of the pickup truck when they took her to EWTN were hillarious. ST George today
http://www.saintgeorgeonline.org/
