How I Gave a Letter to a “Mail Clerk”…
…Then Found Out Later Who It Was
Written by Hannah G. G. Oster
Hello, Greetings and Pax Christi. I wanted to share part of my story. There have been few places I could share it. I hope it will bless someone to know how the Lord can use us, even when we think we have failed, if we are trusting in Him alone:
I was 24, a lonely young single woman and field biologist in graduate school, immersed in studying egrets at Wichita State University. I was attending daily Mass and Confession in the Diocese of Wichita, Kansas and had not found my vocation. I felt called in Adoration in 2013 to go to Rome to try to speak to the Pope about this topic. I had just read one of your magazines, and also an old book about Fatima. The magazine had a blue cover with Our Lady of Fatima and Jacinta, Francisco, and Lucia on the front.
I felt very grieved in my spirit, and I was kneeling in front of Our Lord Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, and I was hungering to be used by God. I wanted to go to the Pope. I wanted to help. I asked Mary what She thought, then I heard a strong interior voice from Our Lady…”Yes! Go! It’s worth a shot!” As a young single woman still living at home, I asked my father’s blessing to go alone, and he said ‘yes’.
A Search for My Vocation
I went to the travel agency to plan my trip. I had decided that I would pray the Rosary daily over the course of 50 days, writing a letter to the Holy Father every day, asking for an audience to speak to him about the dire need for the Consecration of Russia.
As a biologist, I also wanted to speak of how the faith of young Catholics was being destroyed by indoctrination in evolutionism. I was going to leave in early October 2013 because I knew that Hugh Owen of The Kolbe Center for the Study of Creation was holding a conference and I decided I would attend that. I was going to stay with a group of sisters while I discerned my vocation. I flipped through my calendar and thought: “How long should I stay? We need a miracle, so I want to be home by November 27 (Feast Day of the Miraculous Medal).”
I flew to Rome and landed alone there. I was very afraid. There was no one to meet me and Termini [train] station was frightening. I had never been overseas. I went by train to the conference near Montefiascone; and when it was over, I had to say goodbye to the sisters and go to Rome. The sisters could not keep me there for 2 months as I hoped, as they had lots of visitors at the time. No matter, I knew I had to be close to the Holy Father. Friends at home urged me not to go to Rome. “Stay out!” they said. However, I had my godly dad’s blessing, so I knew I was safe.
I spent two months there in Rome, alone, writing a letter to the Holy Father every day and trying to get an audience. I walked everywhere and spent all my time in Masses and Confession and Adoration around Rome, and staying in cheap, scary hostels. I went to visit a lady working at your Rome location, asked for prayers for my endeavor, and said thank you for what your publication does. I walked between churches. I did not go anywhere but churches, because I wanted to pray constantly and focus. I did not even go to the Coliseum because I considered it a waste of time. I needed to be with Jesus in the Eucharist, always.
Attempts to Meet the Pope
I could write a book about the many stories that happened. My friend Hugh Owen helped me learn of several times I should have been able to meet with Pope Francis, but very unusual forces barred my way.
I almost met him through Cardinal Burke, but he had to go to Australia suddenly. I almost met him at a Concert for Peace (there were Russian Orthodox clergy there and it was a free concert) near the Vatican. They had reserved seats for him up front and I got there early, but he never came as he was supposed to. Every day I gave him my letter in the Vatican mail, or if it was a Wednesday, I went to his audience and juggled 5 balls (the crowd clapped but he never looked), so I handed the guards a letter as he [Francis] went by. I got very discouraged. The days went by and it was almost time to go home. I told Jesus I was sorry; I had failed Him.
A Trip to the Russian Embassy
On November 22 my friend Hugh Owen informed me that Vladimir Putin would be at the Russian Embassy on November 25. He told me he would meet with the Pope at 9 a.m. I knew Putin was in a leadership position in Russia, but I only knew his name. I had no idea what he looked like. I was not into international politics. Hugh thought maybe I could write a letter, asking Mr. Putin to help me talk to the Pope. Hugh suggested a few ideas in how to write my letter to Mr. Putin.
My letter was handwritten on a card with St. Peter’s on the front that I bought at a stand. In it, I asked Mr. Putin to ask Pope Francis to 1) Consecrate Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary as a sign of respect for Russia and her role in the future evangelization of the world; 2) encourage the Pope to support the teaching of the true doctrine of creation as opposed to evolution, as the Russian Orthodox Church authorities are doing in Russia right now; and 3) grant me an audience before I had to return to the US on the 27th, so that I could point out the great joy that comes from knowing that real science supports the traditional teaching of the Church on creation.
This is a joy that many Russian youth have experienced, thanks to the work of Russian Orthodox priest and martyr Fr. Daniel Sysoyev and others who in recent years have boldly defended the true doctrine of creation and the scientific evidence that confirms that doctrine and refutes evolution.
I looked up directions and walked to the Embassy early on November 25. There were two huge guards in camo, with huge guns. They laughed at me. I gave them my letter and said, “Please give it to Mr. Putin”. I had written his name on the front and underlined it. They opened it and spoke Russian, laughing and saying something about “St. Peter’s!” and pointing to the picture, laughing. They hit the buzzer and spoke to someone inside in Russian for a few moments. Then the door opened. They stood back, looked at me with a surprised and happy look and pointed inside with their guns. I thought, “Ok, this is scary”.
The doors inside opened into a long empty room with no furniture, nothing. I waited a moment, not knowing what to do as there was no one there. The door at the other end opened and a man in a very beautiful crisp white shirt came out and walked toward me slowly. He had striking eyes. He stopped in front of me and stared at me with no emotion.
Encounter with the “Mail Clerk”
I was impressed by the bearing of the mail clerk, or administrative assistant. I was glad to see him and knew he might at least put my letter on Putin’s desk and he could read it later, maybe. Maybe he would see it before he met the Pope. If not, maybe he would read it later and could talk to the Pope another time.
I said, “Sir, could you please give this letter to Mr. Putin for me?”
The clerk stared with no emotion. He did not move.
I was worried. Did he understand?
I said again: “Sir, I wrote this letter (I pointed to Putin’s name) for Mr. Putin. Could you please give it to him for me?”
The man showed no flicker of emotion and no movement, but as he kept his eyes locked on mine, he very, very slowly raised his hand. I put the letter into it.
“Thank you, sir!” and I turned around and left him in the room. I was glad the clerk had my letter.
A Startling Discovery
I flew home the next day, and when I touched down in Kansas I sighed and said: “Lord, that was hard. I’m sorry I failed, but I am so at peace!! I don’t need a vocation. I will take care of my mom and dad until I die. Thank you for my life. I am happy to be home and I will never leave again”.
A few months later I was eating dinner with my mom and dad and looked up at the TV news. There was the “mail clerk” on the news. His name was Vladimir Putin. I realized then why he acted so funny in person. He couldn’t believe I didn’t know him.
I did not know until July 2020 that Putin had reportedly asked for the Consecration that day in 2013, but Pope Francis said ‘no’.
God blessed me with a godly husband shortly after I returned, after many years struggling to find my vocation. We now have six living children. It was all definitely planned by God. I had been fearful all these years, thinking that I had failed the Lord, being a sinner. I thought I had wasted the Lord’s time because I was unable to meet the Pope and was not holy enough … but I was thankful to find out that He was able to use me. Praise be to Jesus Christ, Lord of the Universe, and thanks be to His Blessed Mother for letting me help. The world is full of little people who can help.
Let’s all give our hearts to Jesus and let Him use us as He sees fit.