Claude Newman, death row convict converted by the Miraculous Medal, dies a most holy and happy death!
In 1943, twenty-year-old Claude Newman was awaiting execution in a Mississippi prison for shooting Sid Cook, his beloved grandmother’s abusive second husband. One day, Claude noticed a medal hanging around the neck of a fellow prisoner, and asked the young man what it was. The latter responded by casting the medal to the ground with a curse and said, “take it.” Unbeknownst to him, the curious pendant was a Miraculous Medal. Even though he knew nothing about it or who it represented, Claude picked up the trinket and hung it around his neck. He had no idea how that simple action would change his life.
During the night, Claude was awakened by a glowing vision, which he later described as “the most beautiful woman that God ever created.” The vision calmed the frightened man and said, “If you would like me to be your mother, and you my child, send for a priest of the Catholic Church.” And she disappeared. “A ghost, a ghost!” screamed Claude, clamoring for a priest. The next morning, Fr. Robert O’Leary (who later recorded the story) was summoned. After listening to the extraordinary account and speaking with him, the priest discovered Claude to be a very simple, illiterate soul who knew very little about religion.
The priest proceeded to teach the young man about Catholicism, and soon the catechism lessons grew to include four other inmates who were deeply impressed by Claude’s vision. Several weeks later, Father introduced the Sacrament of Confession, and Claude volunteered, “Oh, I know about that! The Lady told me that when we go to confession we are kneeling down not before a priest, but before the Cross of Her Son. And that when we are truly sorry for our sins, and we confess our sins, the Blood He shed flows down over us and washes us free from all sins.” The others were stunned at this new revelation. Seeing their surprise, Claude apologized, “Oh, don’t be angry, don’t be angry, I didn’t mean to blurt it out!”
Assuring him that he was far from angry, Fr. O’Leary asked Claude if he had seen the lady again. Taking the priest aside, the young man said, “she told me that if you doubted me or showed hesitancy, I was to remind you that lying in a ditch in Holland in 1940, you made a vow to her which She’s still waiting for you to keep.” This revelation fully convinced him of Claude’s claims. During the war, Fr. O’Leary had promised to erect a church in honor of the Immaculate Conception if he survived. He fulfilled the promise in 1947, and the church still stands in Clarksdale, Mississippi. As Father and Claude returned to the class on Confession, Claude told his friends, “You should not be afraid of Confession. You’re really telling God your sins, not the priest. You know, the Lady said that Confession is something like a telephone. We talk through the priest toGod, and God talks back to us through the priest.” Finally, the catechumens were received into the Church. In the baptismal records of St. Mary’s parish in Vicksburg, MS, Claude’s baptism is registered on January 16, 1944, four days before his scheduled execution. As the day neared, the Sheriff asked Claude if he had a last request. “Well, all my friends are all shook up. The jailer is all shook up. But you don’t understand. I’m not going to die; only this body is. I’m going to be with her. So, then, I would like to have a party.”
The Sheriff was shocked, but consented, and even allowed Claude’s fellow inmates to attend. On the morning of execution, Claude was full of joy. As he mentally prepared himself with Fr. O’Leary, the Sheriff rushed in shouting that the Governor had granted a two-week reprieve. To his amazement, the young man broke down in sobs, inconsolable. “But you don’t understand! If you ever saw her face, and looked into her eyes, you wouldn’t want to live another day! …What have I done wrong these past weeks that God would refuse me my going home? …Why, Father? Why must I still remain here for two weeks?”
Suddenly, Fr. O’Leary had an inspiration. James Hughs, a fellow prisoner on death row, harbored a particular hate for Claude and all things religious despite having been raised a Catholic. Fr. O’Leary suggested that Claude offer his disappointment for Hughs’ conversion, and the final two weeks of the young man’s life were spent praying for the salvation of his fellow inmate. Claude was finally executed on February 4, 1944. Fr. O’Leary testified: “ I’ve never seen anyone go to his death as joyfully and as happily. Even the official witnesses and the newspaper reporters were amazed. They said they couldn’t understand how anyone could sit in the electric chair beaming with happiness.”
To heaven, but not alone: Claude Newman and the Virgin Mary . When the time came for James Hughs to be executed, he violently refused all spiritual assistance, cursing and blaspheming even while seated on the electric chair. Suddenly, looking intently towards a corner of the room, a look of surprise came over his face, quickly followed by one of sheer horror, he shouted, “Get me a priest!” Fr. O’Leary approached and heard the man’s full confession, and ask him to explain his change of mind. The condemned man had seen Claude Newman and the Blessed Virgin standing behind him, her hands on his shoulders. Per Claude’s request, Our Lady showed James a glimpse of Hell, and filled with horror, he immediately demanded a priest. Once again, the simple wearing of the Miraculous Medal called down our mother’s gaze, and saved not only one, but many souls in that Mississippi Prison.
Prayer on the Miraculous Medal: O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee. Mary was conceived Immaculate in her mother’s womb, St. Anne. Our Lord preserved her Immaculate because He wished to have a spotless mother. It was to her honor and His own. Adam and Eve were created without sin, but only Mary was conceived without sin. If the first Eve could be created Immaculate, why not Mary, the second Eve as the Church Fathers called her, since she was destined to have the highest honor ever bestowed on a creature, that of being chosen to be the Mother of God?
Do not be surprised that God works so many miracles through this little medal in honor of His mother, when he cured people through St. Peter’s shadow, Acts 5:15: ‘’ Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that when Peter came, his shadow at the least, might overshadow any of them, and they might be delivered from their infirmities.’’ And St. Paul’s handkerchiefs and aprons, and even drove away evil spirits by means of them, Acts 19:11. As one Vincentian priest told Fr. John Hardon, “Use the medal. It really works! For another powerful story on the medal, search: Fr. John Hardon and the Miraculous Medal. A nine year old boy completely healed of severe head injuries, after he put the medal around the neck and said the prayers . Be sure and wear the medal around the neck to gain the great graces promised by the Blessed Mother. “Great graces will be given to those who wear the medal, especially around the neck.”
Another marvelous story: A lady at a truck line preserved from serious injuries, and possibly even death. This lady was given a miraculous medal and encouraged to wear it. She is not a Catholic, but she was willing to listen to the advice given her. Little did she know that after being given the medal, and after starting to wear it, she would have a serious accident, but without any serious injuries.
She said she was in a trailer one night checking some freight. It was dark, and she was on her feet, not on her lift. Another driver comes barreling in with a skid and he doesn’t even see her. He’s coming straight at her, and she starts screaming, Stop! Stop! but he doesn’t hear her until he has already hit her, pushing her into a 1500 pound rotary lift, which she said moved forward 2 or 3 inches, She is caught between this skid, her ankle is under the skid, she said, and and she is pushed into the rotary lift. He hits her so hard the 1500 pound lift actually skoots forward 2 or 3 inches. She said she just knew her bones were going to be breaking any moment, and it scared her to death. And she said, “All I got out of it was a bruise on my stomach, and a mark on my ankle!” I let you be the judge. Should she have been seriously injured or not? Personally, I consider it a miracle.
If you have enjoyed this article , please consider sharing it with others. And encourage them to wear the miraculous medal too. “All those who wear the medal will receive great graces.” – Our Lady to St. Catherine laboure’.
The Grave Sister Elena Aiello’s Prophecies https://motherofGodlibrary.org/