My Grandfather's Rosary

By Ed Savage, Planned Giving Director

After my Granddaddy Savage died, the family gathered at my grandparent’s home to divide his personal possessions.  It was an innocent task that sparked strong emotions within the family.  Each wanted specific items that had special meaning for them that only my grandfather understood.  Without my grandfather’s instructions in a Will, the family ended up fighting over the distribution of his possessions.  The most tragic example involved a decision which prompted my jovial Uncle Vernon to go storming out the front door, slamming it behind him, jumping in his car and speeding off down the street. 

At the time, I didn’t know what prompted his violent reaction, but later I learned that Uncle Vernon felt a deep bond to his dad through the rosary my grandfather faithfully carried.  That rosary connected my uncle to my grandfather in a way that the rest of the family did not understand.  Because no one else knew of this emotional tie, the rosary had already been given to another sibling without discussion. That innocent decision infuriated my uncle.

Fortunately, my uncle came back later that day and he was given the rosary and the hurt was patched.  But I am reminded again and again of that fateful Sunday afternoon at my grandparent’s house when I hear people say, "I have so little, I really don’t think I need a Will."  Sometimes a person needs a Will for financial reasons to protect assets.  But more often than not the reason for a Will is not to protect property.  The more important reason is to serve as a guide for the sharing of their property with family and loved ones, and sometimes with special causes.

If you do not have a Will and want to write one, Sacred Heart League has some very useful planning materials to help.  And if you do have assets over and above what you intend for loved ones, I hope you will consider sharing some of your blessings with the Sacred Heart League so that we can continue to provide for the poor served through our Sacred Heart Southern Missions.

To request your Will Planning Kit, click here and select Will Planning Kit from the final drop down menu.