It has been an honour to have “met” Jessica through this account: an amazing woman known for her Ministry at @blessed_by_cancer. I never had the blessing of meet her in person, but God has unique ways to unite His flock.
God uses the bad for good and the good for greatness: I met Jessica during Covid lockdowns and we started our friendship thanks to Jennifer from the @sisterhoodofthetravelingrelics who, through praying to St. Gianna for her, we followed up on her story… her miracle baby and her own miracle later on.
Last year I sent her a package with an attached letter letting her know how her life had influenced mine; how her Motherhood influenced mine and how her warnings and teachings about spiritual warfare opened my own eyes to the attacks from the enemy of the Church against families. As Catholics we have trust and faith in Our Lord but, sometimes, we forget that there is evil in the world and that we need to cover ourselves with the Armor of God on daily basis…
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Oh Jessica! You’ve had provided many souls with tools for it: your constant rosary prayers, your constant refocus in God in the middle of the cross you were carrying showed us more about loving God and trusting Him than anything else. God used you because you let Him and what a glorious testimony your life has being!
I’ve learnt so much from you! The last few days I’ve been speechless. Trying to diggest the present, remembering the past and looking forward to a future where I know in my heart your name will resonate one day during Church Bells in Rome.
Your virtues are obvious in Faith, Hope, Charity, Prudence, Justice, Fortitude and Temperance and I know, in the perfect time of Our Lord, it will be known even more to the whole world.
With your life you took us closer to God, to Our Lady and to the Saints. You changed the world without knowing. You thought your work was little because there was so much needed to be done in reparation for all sinners and the sins of the World. But you did just like St. Therese did, “in a little way”, in the little acts, in putting yourself out there exposing your most painful details of the disease offering it ALL with LOVE to Our Lord and Our Lady, in praying and praying even when your voice couldn’t give anymore, always showing up on my Instagram with a Rosary in your hand, a Scapular hanging from your neck and your eyes pointing high to God…
“ONWARDS” you said… You’ve arrived now, my friend!
You left your beautiful family behind, specially your husband and your -so young- little children. This was your greatest pain, I know that… but your footprint in the world is there forever for them to see, and I pray that God will show them, like you wanted, that all you did was for love… The world is way more better because you were here.
You told EWTN “I don’t know where God is taking me. Is He going to take me to the path where I need to show people how to die gracefully, with His grace and mercy? Or is He going to show a miracle?”
I think God did both in you…
Rest in peace, now, in the arms of Our Lord who I’m sure received you saying: “Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.” Matthew 25:23.
Amen.
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Jessica Hanna passed away on the eve of the Divine Mercy Feast, 6th of April, 2024.
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My sincere condolences to Jessica’s family in USA, Canada and specially in Australia.
Her family in Sydney will be organising a Mass in honour of Jessica’s memory after all the Funeral Services in USA are completed.
I will keep you all informed.
And, please, continue to pray for Jessica’s husband Lamar Hanna, their children and all the rest of her family in these difficult times.
God bless you all,
Liza, a Maronite Mum
Maronite Mum 