(the beginning the camera is moving, but on 0:44 it becomes still. Thanks Suzana Linhares for the video). Thanks my friends and readers for this moment in Melk.
(the beginning the camera is moving, but on 0:44 it becomes still. Thanks Suzana Linhares for the video). Thanks my friends and readers for this moment in Melk.
Styled with arrariv
I want to tell you Thank you very much! Recently I have read your book “Veronica decides to die” and watched the same film. The book is much better
Dearest Mr. Coelho, I just returned from a vacation that included Melk. Ever since being led to the Alchemist over the New Year, I read your blog daily. Your writing and the comments I read have filled me with love and hope. When I read this passage, I never expected to visit Melk. Melk was awe-inspiring. I traveled from Vienna via bus and boat. I saw the Abbey for the first time from the Danube River and was struck by its beauty. I took out my camera and managed one shot before the camera battery died. The message read battery exhausted. shutting down. I was disappointed, but thought that God must be telling me to experience this place in the present. So many times I get distracted taking pictures or doing other things that I miss the full experience. I went on a tour and was struck by the symbols and signs I saw, ie a blue room bc blue promotes meditation and a wavy walkway to symbolize the ups and downs in life. Hore on the wall to remind us to listen with our hearts. I was very moved to see your beloved name in the figure 8 representing eternal and never ending. I listened intensely to the guide and wished for pen and paper to make notes. Once the tour was over in the library, we were told that we were to have some alone time in the chapel. We were told that no pictures were allowed and that there was no talking to respect the meditation of others. We were told that hats should be removed bc this was a holy place. We were also told that we must honor these rules regardless of our own personal beliefs. I was awed and very grateful to be in the chapel. I began thanking God for allowing me this privilege and having good health and strong legs and good eyes to experience this great gift. I began praying by naming all those I love and asking God to help them and telling each person in my heart that I loved them. I did the same for those people in my life that challenge me and asking for the maturity and wisdom to love them. Two things got in the way. A loud man wearing a baseball hat taking pictures and talking to his group. I was indignant that he should break all the rules and angry that he interfered with my quiet time. The riches in the chapel troubled me. Even as a child educated in a Catholic school, I wondered why the chalice in our parish was not sold to feed the poor in addition to our donations and drives for money. The nuns would hit me for asking those questions. I left the chapel feeling a little down. Why couldn’t I get over that man? Why must I feel that riches in church are hypocrisy? I went out to the courtyard and was struck by the inscription overt the door. In Veritas _________. I actually don’t know what it was but the truth attracted me. I took out my camera hoping against hope somehow that the batteries would forget that they were dead and re-juice themselves. Ha ha. The camera turned on and I was able to take pictures of that courtyard and the surrounding vista and even of the fountain in the entryway that I attempted to no avail before. I went into the bookstore and I found a book that had all the information that I wanted to absorb from the guide. Wow!!! I felt God’s presence in a very powerful way. You and other members of this community – my family now- are the only people that would understand this miracle. I saw a white feather on the street while in Prague and was reminded of how white feathers are a sign for you. The Winner Stands Alone was one of the books I read on this trip, so you traveled with me in more ways than one. Thank you so much.
Wow, it’s really wonderful reading all the comments and all the love. I’ve enjoyed it very much reading and looking at the pictures and seeing everyone, even though I wasn’t there, it feels like I was. It would have been really nice if all WOLs from the blog took a group picture with Paulo, that would have been really cool!
Thank you all for sharing your beauty. I feel the love.
How Wonderful you are Paulo, you can spread So Much Love in so many ways.
God Bless us all.
Love,
C.
Dearest Paulo
I had the time of my life at your party. I expected it to be magical, but reality excelled my expectations.
Love was in the air. Even though it has been a week since then I still can feel it.
You made it possible to meet so many wonderful people that otherwise I would have never met. I even fell in love there.
May God bless you for your constant smile, your humbleness, your willingness to be there for everybody. It was great to realize you are the way I imagined you to be. I know the way you cultivate and stimulate your readers causes you trouble sometimes, but that doesn’t prevent you from doing it. Thanks for that.
It was so lovely to talk to your beautiful wife whom I look up to so much for helping you to become the writer you are. It was even lovelier to have the chance to be by your side three times during my stay in Melk. It was so much fun to drink, and dance, and chat, and laugh out loud!!!
To finish ,I would like to share with you a sign I got when I was flying back home from Vienna to Madrid. When the plane was about to take off there was still an empty seat by my side. Suddenly, a middle-aged man in a rush sat by my side. He begun reading newspapers in both Spanish and English. I tried to read the papers and say something to break the ice , but ha had such an aura of self-sufficiency I decided to ignore him. When the plane landed in Madrid the passangers sitting behind murmured it was Stephen King and as he stood up approached to him to ask for an autograph. Since I was by the window I had to wait and witness the way he signed a paper and a cap for his admirers. He looked conceited and, it seemed to me, was looking down on them. Finally he made his way to the exit without looking behind. I couldn’t help it, but compare the way you had welcomed us and signed our books in Melk, and felt very proud of having gotten to know a person so open and warm who despite his fame and success understands he is not better than the others.
Lots of love and kisses and hugs ♥ ♥ ♥
Adriana
Great story dear Adriana,
Thank you for sharing it with us!
And you’re right, Paulo’s warmth and humanness was overwhelming!
P.s. I couldn’t stop admiring his kindness for spending hours of his own private party signing all these books with smile on his face!
Tarek
Não tenho devoção a nenhum santo, mas estou começando a entender. José é uma figura linda que recebeu a revelação através dos sonhos. São duas coisas maravilhosas: as revelações e os sonhos.
Ontem ouvi Cristina Oiticica em entrevista na CBN, tem voz de professora. Boa sorte com os novos projetos, um abraço.
It has passed a week of that night.
And I still remember every moment, this has been one of my dreams became true.
This experience was just not the night, or the party, or meeting Paulo, it was full of feelings, to do not care about other people thinks, to do not bet afraid of adventure and to know better myself. And Follow my Dreams!
Paulo, thank you because this invitation has changed my life, I had the opportunity to meet so interesting people & the experience to know a new country. I was always wanting that but something stop me, maybe fear maybe doubts, but you help me to make that step!
Nothing will be the same since that night.
Regards to all the people who was there.
A big hug with all the magic of that night.
Thank you all of us to share your emotion, image and video. When I heard the prayers in different languages, I was very moved. It was a moment very important and very worthy. This’s reflected in the video because I think that the words expressed in the prayers were talking to people. I found this prayer time very common human enrichment.
Light & Love,
d’accord avec toi! J’ai ressenti la meme chose.Unite
Bisous
WOW, reading these comments…others Are feeling it too!!!!!
Oh I wish there was a word bigger than Thank You!
But to continue with praying for all of you each night is something I love to do, and now with more discipline (certain time) and direction.
Love and Blessings, Jane : ) xo
Em todas as vezes que assisti essa oração, e mesmo tendo estado presente, em todas às vezes ela me toca bem dentro na alma… Algo de mágico ocorreu no momento da oração, e uma imensa responsabilidade me dominou. Espero estar à altura e ser digna dessa missão! Com a alma e com o coração venho dado cada passo para esta realização, e em gratidão só há uma coisa a dizer.
Amém!
Amen!