Dear Brother,

Thank you for doing this service for us. You have no idea how much I appreciate it.

There was a man who attended our Franciscan Third Order meeting one day who may or may not have the wounds of Our Lord. His name is Irving Houle and he is from Escanaba Mi. His hands definitely had wounds in the palms. We were all encouraged to let him pray for us so we lined up and he did just that. He was truly a modest, gentle soul. I told him about my ailing mother and he took off a pair of wrist bands he had on his hands and told me to give them to my mother. On the way home I smelled them and they smelled as though they were perfumed with roses. I don't know what possessed me but I then put my tongue on a slightly yellowed spot and the taste was exactly like I had gotten perfume in my mouth. It tasted acrid, unnatural and nasty. Not like some bodily fluid but like something manufactured.

I tried to tell people that I thought there was something shady going on with Irving or that maybe the people who brought him around to churches and prayer groups had put the perfume on the hand wraps but no one would listen.

Do you know anything about Irving? If he is the real deal then why would anyone think they would need to enhance his presence with the aroma of roses? Rose scents are not uncommon in connection with sanctity, I know, but not roses out of a bottle.

This has bothered me for a long time because Irving is known for his holiness. I never gave my mother the hand wraps, nor was I ever able to get to the bottom of this. If he is a true recipient of the wounds of Christ then I would like to put my doubts to rest.

God bless you and your work.
Geraldine