Raphael was the only one of my six children whom I saw born. The doctor placed him on Sharon's tummy with the cord still attached. There was a white-like cream over all of him. He was like born in Noxema. HIs hair was dark, and he had a lot of it. He made nust one little cry as if to say: "Here I am. What's next?"
Well, the next 37 years for Raphael were quite full. There are some memorable moments: I was drawing a picture of a horse for Cynthia my daughter [who just turned 40] when she was 3 or so. Well, Raphael of course younger and was watching intently as this horse came alive on the blank paper. I know how to draw a horse in detail because I loved horses. I did not even noticed how intense who the attention of Raphael on this horse-apprearance on paper. He told me years later how those moents shaped his life. He decided at that early stage of life that he would spend his whole life as an artist. And he did. With a full Evan's scholarship to U of M, he went for 4 years majoring in industrial design. But secretely he went to the Art Center in California on a full scholarship in transportation design. He would jump summers and even a regular semester to almost complete both programs together. While getting his last semester approved at U of M and having his scedule and books, he was called to appear before the school adminoistrator: "We know what you have been doing? We have transferred all your credits from the Art Center to U of M. You are graduated from U of M." Raphael said: "I cannot graduate. That would make me a grad student at the Art Center, and I will lose my scholarship!" "Ok, we will hold your degree until you graduate from Art Center." With that, Raphael hopped on a plane to go to Art Center full time. It was not long When Raphael graduated from Art Center in Calinfornia in the month of April or May. And he graduated from U of M in June.
Now, I have never heard of anyone doing that. But Raphael said he planned to do that since high school But he planned to go to U of M and to the Center for Creative Studies in Detroit. But learning that Art Center was the most prominant Art school in transpertation design, he elected to go there.
Presently Raphael is teaching art at the U of C in Ohio. He is working on his third degree in art: MFA.
He just won a reward for best presentation in Vancouver a week or so ago. He connects with his audience.
Raphael was a prayed-for baby. I made a deal with St. Raphael, the Archangel that if this great angel were to give me a third son, I would name him "Raphael". Well, soon after, Raphael was conceived. But the Archangel did not consider the deal done until Raphael reached the age of reason. While Raphael [age 7] was sitting in a chair, I asked him this question to test him: "Son, what is your name?" My son jumped out of his chair, threw his shoulders and head back, stood up straight and with great authority and power said: "I AM RAPHAEL!" Now that statement is an exact quote from the Book of Tobit in which St. Raphael indentifies himself by saying: "I am Raphael one of the seven who stand before the throne of God!" I believe that for those few seconds, St. Raphael took over my son Raphael and spoke through him. I believe that angels can possess people. If bad ones do all the time, why not a good angel take possession for a few seconds. Well, St. Raphael let me know that the deal was completed. He did his part, and I did my part. Deals with angels are awesome.
Well, this blog is due totally to Raphael. He was excited and called me to write a blog. I knew nothing about blogging. But Raphael told me how to do it. I asked him why he wanted me to write a blog. He said he saw me make perfect strangers feel good about themselves and wanted me to do the same for many more. Well, the Holy Spirit was speaking through Raphael when urging me to write this blog. I love doing it. It is like giving brushes, oil colors and canvass to a painter. It is natural. When I sit down to write, I often feel the presence of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes I just sit in front of a blank screen without a subject or any word. But the Holy Spirit comes like a wind and tells me what to write. I have devoted this blog to the Holy Spirit; but I wish in this one particular blog to honor my beloved son, Raphael. Thank you, son, I love you.
Love, Pio
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