Have you heard of Bobby Angel and Jackie Francois?
Yes ... No? I think it's time you did.
How did you guys meet? Bobby: Once upon a time, in the Pennsylvania Amish countryside, there lay a retreat center named Black Rock. It was there that the Theology of the Body Institute (http://www.tobinstitute.org/) offered several immersion courses for the teachings of Blessed John Paul II’s vision of divine love and human sexuality. It was there, in January of 2011, that I met a beautiful, goofy, fair maiden named Jaclyn. The only minor, teensy problem was that at the time I was in seminary…discerning the Catholic priesthood.
Jackie: In my fair maidenhood, I searched far and wide for my prince charming. Instead, I found a troll named Bobby Angel. Well, he was a troll in the morning hours before the coffee seeped into his blood stream. Then, he became a prince. The first week I met him, I remembered his handsome face and his ugly shoes. He was a goofy, prayerful, ruggedly handsome man. As any good Catholic girl would, I wept for the fact that he was becoming a priest. Okay, not really, but I wasn’t going to be a “chalice chipper.” Ain’t nobody got time for ’dat!
Bobby: Ok, so I did have ugly shoes. But she saw through my shoes and troll-like ways. Crushing on each other, we never stated our feelings, respecting the situation and discernment process, but stayed in contact as friends. In my own spiritual journey, I felt that God used the years of priestly discernment to form my head and heart to be the man He needed me to be. Though I felt like I could be a good priest, I sensed that God was leading me elsewhere, not knowing when or how it would happen…
Jackie: As a speaker and worship leader, I had been speaking to a lot of young girls about praying for their future husbands and never settling for a man who didn’t lead them to heaven. In July 2009, I started a journal for my future husband, consecrating him to Mary, and praying for him monthly. Mother Teresa said to be specific when you pray, so I wrote 3 pages of exactly what I wanted in a future husband, listing things such as “Passionately Catholic,” “loves scripture,” “ruggedly handsome,” “loves Theology of the Body & NFP,” and “likes ‘The Office.”” For some reason, the first six months of 2012, I felt the urge to offer my future husband up at daily Mass. In May of 2012, I had 2 pages left in my journal. Either my future husband was coming soon, or I’d have to start a new journal. So, I decided to do a 54-day rosary novena for my future husband (27 days in petition and 27 days in thanksgiving whether or not I got what I wanted). I thought ending the novena on August 15th would be a great idea, since it was the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Thus, the novena began Saturday, June 23rd…
Bobby: We returned to the Black Rock retreat center on June 24th for a course on the philosophy of John Paul II taught by Dr. Peter Kreeft. Jackie was the first person I saw when I got off the plane, and we were pretty much inseparable for the remainder of the course. It took all of a day and a half for us to realize that something deep and profound was attracting us to each other. I had no idea she was praying a rosary novena for her future spouse at the time, but in each moment of prayer with her I somehow just knew that this was the person I was being prepared for all along. I was still technically a seminarian, but I was given such clarity and peace during this week with Jackie that I knew this was the sign I had asked God for. After that course, and much discussion with my spiritual director, family, and friends, I formally left seminary on August 1st. On the feast of the Assumption, August 15th, the last day of Jackie’s novena (and after only one “formal” date) I bought the engagement ring.
Taken from www.bobbyandjackie.com
Their blogs have left me breathless and inspired!! I have always admired Jackie Francois. If you're not familiar with her or her talks, she is just a beautiful disciple of God! Promoting being chaste until marriage and filling your singlehood time before marriage by falling in love with Jesus!! So when I saw a post on Facebook that she was ENGAGED, I literally looked the picture and started crying. NOT because "Oh look how adorable they're engaged, aw sweet darlin's" because people say that for everybody's engagement! Yet, for this one it was "WOW this is THE ONE GOD made for her, the one GOD made for him! Wow.." Then came the tears. Their patience, trust, and TONS of prayer become visible! It was beautiful! So, they've been blogging. It's awesome. So awesome awesome. So on this Valentine's Day I wanted to share it with you because it's a good message to hear amongst all the fake love that will be shoved in your face today, here's a breather. ;)
Happy Valentine's Day,
Bianca
Happy Valentine's Day,
Bianca