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The Miraculous Story of Claude Newman & His Conversion Through the Blessed Mother

Mystics of the Church:

The remarkable true story of the miraculous intercession of the Virgin Mary in 1944 to prisoner Claude Newman of Mississippi.


By: Glenn Dallaire

Claude Newman was an African American man who was born on December 1, 1923 to Willie and Floretta Newman in Stuttgart, Arkansas.

In January 1943, Claude is apprehended in Arkansas and is returned to Vicksburg, Mississippi and makes a coerced confession of a murder, despite the protests of Claude's lawyer. His confession is admitted as evidence, and he is found guilty by jury, and is initially sentenced to die in the electric chair on May 14, 1943.

While Claude was in jail awaiting execution, he shared a cell-block with four other prisoners. One night, the five men were sitting around talking and eventually the conversation ran out. During this time, Claude noticed a medal on a string around one of the prisoner's neck. Curious, he asked the other prisoner what the medal was. The young prisoner was a Catholic, but he apparently did not know (or did not want to talk) about the medal, and seemingly embarrassed, he appeared angry and suddenly took the medal off from around his neck and threw it on the floor at Claude's feet with a curse and a cuss, telling him to "take the thing." Claude picked up the medal, and after looking it over, he placed it around his neck, although he had no idea whose image it was on the medal; to him it was simply a trinket, but for some reason he felt attracted to it, and wanted to wear it.

During the night while sleeping on top of his cot, he was awakened with a touch upon his wrist. Awakening with a start, there stood, as Claude told Fr. O'Leary afterwards, "the most beautiful Woman that God ever Created."

At first he was quite frightened, not knowing what to make of this extraordinary beautiful glowing Woman. The Lady soon calmed Claude down, and then said to him, "If you would like Me to be your Mother, and you would like to be My child, send for a priest of the Catholic Church."

And after saying these words She suddenly disappeared.

Excited, Claude immediately stared to yell "a ghost, a ghost", and started screaming that he wanted a Catholic priest

Father Robert O'Leary SVD (1911-1984), the priest who tells the story, was called first thing the next morning. Upon arrival he went to see Claude who told him of what happened the night before. Deeply impressed by the events, Claude, along with the other four men in his cell-block, asked for religious instruction in the Catholic faith.

Remarkable ending
Dahvid
Certainly is a remarkable story! 👌
lukedaniel
Wow!
LatinLover
Great story! Thanks!