May 7, 2021

‘Thanks to Mary’s assistance, Jesus answered our prayer’

Linda Weigel poses with her daughter Maria Conklin on May 1. Weigel credits Maria’s health and safety at birth to prayers of intercession to the Blessed Mother after experiencing complications during her pregnancy. (Submitted photo)

Linda Weigel poses with her daughter Maria Conklin on May 1. Weigel credits Maria’s health and safety at birth to prayers of intercession to the Blessed Mother after experiencing complications during her pregnancy. (Submitted photo)

(Editor’s note: In honor of May as the month of Mary, The Criterion recently asked readers to send in their stories of the impact of the Blessed Mother on their life and their faith. This week presents the first of four installments featuring the responses received.)
 

By Natalie Hoefer

Having been a mother herself, the Blessed Mother is a natural draw for women with children of all ages—even before they’re born.

So it was that, in 1987, Linda Weigel turned to Mary when her pregnancy became difficult.

“I was pregnant with our second child, and in June of that year, I had to leave work due to pregnancy complications,” recalls the member of St. Mary Parish in Greensburg. “I prayed the rosary daily that Mary would intercede with Jesus and allow us to have a healthy baby and to keep me safe.”

Weigel was able to care for her and her husband’s “active” 18-month-old son until the pregnancy issues led to her hospitalization on Sept. 8—“the feast of Mary’s birthday,” she notes.

She was hospitalized again two weeks later. Finally, on Oct. 5, amniocentesis results showed it was safe for the child to be delivered.

“On Oct. 7, the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, our precious daughter was born,” says Weigel. “She was healthy, and I was too! Thanks to Mary’s assistance, Jesus answered our prayers.”

Appropriately, the couple named their baby girl Maria. †
 

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