God Has the Last Laugh, July/August 1996
by George Morin
The devil was laughing in my life from June 1954 when I left
Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago, until October 1988 when
the Immaculate Mother of God wiped the smile off the devil's
face by accepting my humble Marian consecration.
Here is how far I had fallen after leaving Quigley. I completed high school at Proviso East in June 1956. On August 5, 1956, I joined the U.S. Army under the Reserve Forces Act that called for six months of active duty and seven and a half years of reserve meetings. The training was for the MP's -Military Police.
In March of 1957, I joined the U.S. Air Force. After processing at Lackland A. F. B. and pre-language training at Kelly A. F. B. (both in San Antonio), I was assigned to Syracuse University to study Russian. I graduated second in my class of forty-one students and so had my choice of assignments. I chose Bremerhaven, Germany.
One of my older brothers had gone through Bremerhaven and said the barracks there were great. They had been built for German Naval Officers during World War II. After living in wooden barracks at Fort Leonard Wood, Syracuse University detachment (where six men would later die in a fire), my choice was easy: Bremerhaven, a port town, with all four Armed Forces represented there.
I got into trouble when I started hanging around a notorious area called Lessing Strasse, also known as "court-martial square." I received four summary court martials due to drinking and failing to show up for duty. I was given three 30-day sentences in the stockade but on the three Sunday mornings when I was released, I went back to Lessing Strasse, of course. If I could have gotten drugs I probably would have taken them too. I was given a general discharge under honorable conditions and sent home a year early.
Still I did not quit drinking nor would I until July 11, 1984, the feast of St. Benedict, patron saint against poisoning.
Why do I tell you of my past? - to encourage you to pray for your loved ones who may have drinking or drug problems. I know my family prayed for me. I will be celebrating twelve years away from alcoholic beverages this July 11.
I have been out of work due to a corporate down-sizing since November 1992. I have sent out over one thousand resumes since that time - all to no avail. I atribute my not falling back into drinking to the grace of my Marian consecration.
I have tried to live my consecration by frequent attendance at Mass and recitation of the Rosary. Recently I have gotten into the habit of saying the Divine Mercy Chaplet. I can assure you that these are powerful antidotes to the urge to drink or use drugs.
I also repay the "girls of the evening" of my youth (who would often slip me cab fare to get back to the base and sober up before duty) by having Masses said for them. I offer up my sobriety not only because I want to please God and save my own soul, but also to save the girls of the evening. You can help prostitutes by praying for them and by supporting such organizations as Genesis House.
My consecration to the Immaculata brings me peace. I pray for the poor and sisters of every race. Marian consecration has made me more sensitive to the needs of others, more reverential and deferential to the Magisterium of the Church, more interestd in studying Scripture and more willing to give the Immaculata prerogatives over me.
God is having the last laugh. I hope to cooperate with his grace and submit my will to his so, in the end, I will see him laughing "face to face."
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