I, Davida Esther Meares, was born 22 May 1926, Hamilton, N.S.W, 2nd daughter of a C. of E. mother, pious & strong Catholic leanings, father nominal Methodist, Catholic hater & after marriage, C. of E. too.  No baptism till 5 years of age, as father did not believe it necessary.

After the hiatus of no religious life, I was not satisfied with the C. of E., felt something was missing & an empty show about it.  I found that those who impressed me most were always Catholic priests.  One priest, who was once a C. of E. person during his youth, understood my feelings, and instructed me that I was “playing with fire!”  On 19 March 1957, I was given Baptism in the Lady Chapel, made my confession & so I had come some!  I became an active member of the Legion of Mary & joined the Sacred Heart Sodality.  I had my daughter instructed in the faith and sent her to the Bridgetini Convent.  Through membership in the Church, I met my future husband, Leonard Meares.  We were married on 6 Dec. 1958.

My husband & I were dismayed by the election of “John,” more so when we learned he had recalled Montini from Milan & given him a red hat.  I noticed changes small at first, before my husband, as I had been down that road before.  We hated what was happening saw it as an evil “whitianing” from within, but knew not what to do or where to go.  Every protest made to priests was met with bland smiles & the assurance that “nothing had changed!”  In March 1976, we just got up & walked out, and neither of us ever went back again.

We went to a Fr. P.C. Fox for a Latin mass.  After Fr. Fox went to see LeFebve, he came back a different man, completely brain-washed.  Still, we did not awaken to exactly what LeFebve was doing & how he had been implicated in Vatican II.

My husband had succeeded Hutton Gibson in the position of General Secretary of the L.M.S.  He was promised by several friends in positions of trust also, their support, but when it came to the “crunch” they simply didn’t attend.  Judas!  That was the end of our Mass-going & we were “blackballed” by the community.  We then began to read our Mass on Sundays at home, say the Rosary daily, and make other private prayers.

Soon after, we had the joy of learning that Fr. Lucian Pulvermacher was then in Sydney & would be saying Mass at a house.  We had all our small sacramentals re-blessed by him & stocked up on candles & holy water.  I still have one big container unopened & am working now on the second.

My husband died in 1993.  I am alone now in what used to be a family home.  However, there is no time to spare.  Travel, without a car, takes much out of a day & one is growing older & less strong.  I find now more time for quiet prayer & recollection, but less for spiritual reading.  

By God’s grace I have grown closer to Our Lord & His Blessed Mother.  He will never leave me unless I first leave Him.  This, if my reason prevails, I will never do.  The peak of my will, will always be united to Him in complete trust, gratitude & above all, reciprocal love.  Besides, where else could I go?  Only He has the words of Eternal Life.

Davida E. Meares