In May of 1862 St. John Bosco had a prophetic dream about the Church in these times: the battle and the victory. On October 30, 1976, Ida Peerdeman, also, had similar prophetic messages in a dream followed by two subsequent visions. Both visions occurred at the Consecration of the holy Sacrifice of the mass in 1976 and 1979 on the feast of the Immaculate Conception, December 8.
St. John Bosco had a great affection for Our Lady. His whole life was spent working for the glory of God and the salvation of souls with the aid of the Blessed Mother, whom he addressed as Mary Help of Christians. He had an unusual charism of the Holy Spirit and that was the gift of prophetic dreams. The following is the prophetic dream of May, 1862 taken from a book, entitled Forty Dreams of St. John Bosco, compiled by Fr. J. Bacchiarello, S. D. B.
St. John Bosco Describes His Dream.
"Imagine yourselves to be with me on the seashore, or better, on an isolated rock and not to see any patch of land other than what is under your feet. On the whole of that vast sheet of water you see an innumerable fleet of ships in battle array. The prows of the ships are formed into sharp, spearlike points so that wherever they are thrust they pierce and completely destroy. These ships are armed with cannons, with lots of rifles, with incendiary materials, with other arms of all kinds, and also with books, and they advance against a ship very much bigger and higher than themselves and try to dash against it with the prows or to burn it or in some way to do it every possible harm.
"As escorts to that majestic fully equipped ship (the Church), there are many smaller ships,which receive commands by signal from it and carry out movements to defend themselves from the opposing fleet.
"In the midst of the immense expanse of sea, two mighty columns of great height arise a little distance the one from the other. On the top of one, there is the statue of the Immaculate Virgin, from whose feet hangs a large placard with this inscription: Auxilium Christianorum - 'Help of Christians'; on the other, which is much higher and bigger, stands a Host of great size proportionate to the column and beneath is another placard with the words: Salus Credentium - 'Salvation of the Faithful.'
"The supreme commander on the big ship is the Sovereign Pontiff. He, on seeing the fury of the enemies and the evils among which his faithful find themselves, determines to summon around himself the captains of the smaller ships to hold a council and decide on what is to be done.
"All the captains come aboard and gather around the Pope. They hold a meeting, but meanwhile the wind and the waves gather in storm, so they are sent back to control their own ships. There comes a short lull; for a second time the Pope gathers the captains together around him, while the flag-ship goes on its course. But the frightful storm returns. The Pope stands at the helm and all his energies are directed to steering the ship towards those two columns, from the top of which and from every side of which are hanging numerous anchors and big hooks, fastened to chains.
"All the enemy ships move to attack it, and they try in every way to stop it and to sink it: some with writings or books or inflammable materials, of which they are full; others with guns, with rifles and with rams. The battle rages ever more relentlessly. The enemy prows thrust violently, but their efforts and impact prove useless. They make attempts in vain and waste all their labor and ammunition; the big ship goes safely and smoothly on its way. Sometimes it happens that, struck by formidable blows, it gets large, deep gaps in its sides; but no sooner is he harm done than a gentle breeze blows from the two columns and the cracks close up and the gaps are stopped immediately.
"Meanwhile, the guns of the assailants are blown up, the rifles and other arms and prows are broken; many ships are shattered and sink into the sea. Then, the frenzied enemies strive to fight hand to hand, with fists, with blows, with blasphemy and with curses.
"All at once the Pope falls gravely wounded. Immediately, those who are with him run to help him and they lift him up. A second time the Pope is struck, he falls again and dies. A shout of victory and of joy rings out amongst the enemies; from their ships an unspeakable mockery arises. ( Possibly refers to Pope John Paul I who was deeply devoted to Fatima and died under suspicious circumstances.)
"But hardly is the Pontiff dead than another Pope takes his place. The pilots, having met together, have elected the Pope so promptly that the news of the death of the Pope coincides with the news of the election of the successor. The adversaries begin to lose courage.
"The new Pope, [Pope John Paul II], putting the enemy to rout and overcoming every obstacle, guides the ship right up to the two columns and comes to rest between them; he makes it fast with a light chain that hangs from the bow to an anchor of the column on which stands the Host; and with another light chain which hangs from the stern, he fastens it at the opposite end to another anchor hanging form the column on which stands the Immaculate Virgin.
"Then a great convulsion takes place. All the ships that until then had fought against the Pope' s ship are scattered; they flee away, collide and break to pieces one against another. Some sink and try to sink others. Several small ships that had fought gallantly for the Pope race to be the first to bind themselves to those two columns.
"Many other ships, having retreated through fear of the battle, cautiously watch from far away; the wrecks of the broken ships having been scattered in the whirlpools of the sea, they in their turn sail in good earnest to those two columns, and, having reached them, they make themselves fast to the hooks hanging down from them and there they remain safe, together with the principal ship, on which is the Pope. Over the sea there reigns a great calm."
St. John Bosco explains his dream: "The enemy ships are persecutions. The most serious trials for the Church are near at hand...Her enemies are represented by the ships that tried to sink the ship if they could. Only two means are left to save her amidst so much confusion: DEVOTION TO MARY MOST HOLY and FREQUENT COMMUNION, making use of every means and doing our best to practice them and having them practiced everywhere and by everybody."
The Following is the Dream of Ida Peerdeman on October 30, 1976.
"This night I dreamt as follows. I was standing in the center of St. Peter's Square in Rome and I saw fishing-nets hanging all around. They hung on stakes in order to dry and were full of holes and gaps. Here and there in a hole a fish was still hanging, trying to get out.
"Where I was standing, there was a rock, and big, dark clouds were hanging over it. From there I heard the Voice complaining: 'Cephas, My Cephas, look what has happened.'
"I had to look at these nets and over each fishing-net I saw a mitre hovering, some bigger, some smaller. And I felt myself caught within all those nets. Again I heard the Voice complaining: 'Cephas, My Cephas, look at these holes and gaps. That is how it happened that so many fishes got lost.'
"Then a thread came down from the clouds; it looked like a golden thread. (The golden thread is the great graces from the proclamation of the final Marian dogma of the Lady of All Nations.) Meanwhile, a totally different large fishing-net was spread out before that rock. It had been completely repaired by that thread, and I saw no more holes and gaps in it. It filled up with wriggling fish and was firmly tied up by that golden thread. Now a staff came down from the clouds and struck three times against that rock. It sounded hard as steel.
"While this was happening, I saw that rock growing larger and higher until it was a gigantic pillar. The net with fish was hanging from its top."
Now listen to Ida's vision of December 8, 1976.
"During Holy Mass, at the Creed, while we were reciting: 'The Word was made flesh,' 'the Light' came from the four corners of the Chapel and spread over the altar, the priest and all those present. At the Consecration, 'the Light' shone over the altar and the priest only, and it was as if the people present were in the shade.
"On receiving Our Lord [in the Most Holy Eucharist] I had a heavenly vision. I was again standing in St. Peter's Square and I saw quite the same spectacle as in the dream I had in the night of October 29th to 30th, 1976. This time, however, there were no dark clouds above the Square, but a blue clear sky. The Voice called: 'You are standing now in the same Square, but watch what will happen.'
"All the torn nets disappeared and in their places came new, undamaged ones. Again, I stood near the high pillar and at its top I saw that fishing-net hanging full of live fish. The Voice spoke: 'Watch.'
"Suddenly, the net fell down near the foot of the rock. I had to look at it and thought inwardly: These fish are dead, they have lost life now.
"From the sky I heard the Voice calling: 'Cephas, My Cephas, you have been granted the power to make them alive again.'
"Then the net opened and instead of fish, people of different races and tribes came stepping out. They gathered around the rock and all looked up. The Voice continued: 'Give these people My Bread.'
"Then I saw, on high, beams of light radiating on both sides of the rock, and from them I saw baskets coming down at one side and bowls full of grapes at the other side. (Refers to the Most Holy Eucharist.) They were placed areound these people. 'Cephas, I have given you the power.'
"Thereafter a magnificent, glorious 'Light' began spreading over the rock and the whole Square. And I heard: 'My Spirit will support you. Watch well.'
"Now a beautiful, high Ivory Tower rose beside that rock (Refers to the Immaculate Virgin). It was more beautiful than the one I had seen before. Round about it twelve stars appeared one by one. But high in the midst I saw the most beautiful star, which changed alternately from a star into a Golden Rose.
"Meanwhile I heard the Voice say:
"'She was exalted above all tribes. She is 'the Lady of All Nations.' She will help you.'"
This is Ida's vision of December 8, 1979.
"During Holy Mass in our Chapel at the Consecration 'the Light' came over the altar and the priest and in 'that Light' a beautiful, radiant Crown appeared. It was more beautiful and radiant than ever before.
"After the Consecration, the Crown slowly disappeared from within 'the Light,' which then spread over all the people present and stayed till the end of Holy Mass. On receiving Our Lord [in the Most Holy Eucharist], I had a heavenly vision.
"I was standing on a beach and saw a wild, stormy sea before me. There was a terrible gale and the waves were running very high. In the distance a fishing boat loomed up. I got afraid, for I realised that this boat was unable to make headway against the storm. Gradually, the boat came nearer and I observed that it heeled to the left owing to the storm.
"As the boat drew still closer, I saw to my astonishment that it was a Dutch fishing boat where our Holy Father, the Pope was holding the helm and some Cardinals and Bishops were sitting. The storm was very violent and I saw that the Pope had a lot of trouble, because the boat was tossed about in all directions.
"Black, heavy clouds were hanging over the boat. But, suddenly,a splendid beam of Light radiated down from the clouds and lighted the entire boat. I heard the Voice calling from the sky and it sounded like a command: 'Turn your helm to the right and hold it firmly.' The Voice paused for a moment and continued: 'Keep your course straight and you will safely reach the shore.'
"And really, I saw 'Our Pope' [Pope John Paul II] turning the helm to the right with all his strength and at once the storm died down and the sea was immediately quiet. Now I saw the fishing boat coming to the beach in a straight line. The Pope, the Cardinals and the Bishops disembarked and, to my astonishment, the beach had turned into St. Peer's Square and I clearly saw St. Peter's and the Vatican before me.
"I heard the Voice say: 'Convey this. Tell him!'
"I thanked the Lord and then everything slowly disappeared from my sight."
It was on March 25, 1945, the feast of the Annunciation, that the Lady of All Nations began appearing to Ida Peerdeman. It was on May 31, 1959, the feast of the Visitation, that these apparitions formally ended. Overlapping this time period were sequential Eucharistic apparitions and experiences, which formally began on May 31, 1958 and ended on March 25, 1984! So what we have here is a simple but very powerful statement in the form of a pattern: the Annunciation is to the Visitation as the Visitation is to the Annunciation!
At the Annunciation the Angel Gabriel, as the messenger of God, asked Mary if She would consent to be the Mother of Our Savior. As we know, Mary humbly answered "yes" by proclaiming: "I am the servant of the Lord. Let it be done to me as you say" (Lk 1:38). In that one, magnificent moment, She, Our Mother, the Immaculate Conception, was "overshadowed by the power of the Most High," Her Spouse, the Most Holy Spirit. At that instant, the Word Incarnate dwelt among us in the womb of Mary. This gift of Our Lord's saving presence among us was highlighted when Mary, with great love and concern, travelled in haste to Her cousin, Elizabeth, in consideration of the fact that she in her old age, by the grace of God, had conceived a child, John the Baptist. "When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leapt in her womb" by the grace of the Holy Spirit (Lk 1:41). And this is followed by the formal pronouncement of Elizabeth that Mary is "the Mother of My Lord." This visit of Mary to Her kinswoman is celebrated as the feast of the Visitation.
Now at the Annunciation, we know that Mary was fulfilling the will of God and embracing Her role in salvific history. She, who was created by God the Father as the Immaculate Conception, was selected as the Woman, "called Miriam or Mary [who was] destined, through the Will of the Father, to bring the Son of Man into the world, together with His Church and the Cross" (February 17, 1952). When Mary said "yes" to Her vocation, She became the Woman of Scripture who "bore the Son of Man through the Will of the Father and was thus necessarily allied with the Church and the Cross" (February 17, 1952). So now the Woman, the Lady Mary, Mother of All Nations, the Mother of the Church and the Hope of Our Salvation through the Cross, comes to announce to us the fulfillment of the Messianic times, that the "good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world as a witness to all nations," so that "all may be one...that the...unity [of His love and ours] may be complete." But, now, we must fulfill the will of God by following Our Mother's example and saying "yes." We must say "yes" to the Cross, to being true models of brotherly love as coredeemers, mediators and advocates. We must say "yes" as Catholics to God's will and proclaim Mary, the Mother or Lady of All Nations conjoined with the fifth and final Marian dogma of the Coredemptrix, Mediatrix and Advocate. We must say "yes" to this "One, Great Cause" of "introducing the Lady of All Nations to the world" and to saying Her Prayer invoking the Holy Spirit! This is our role in salvific history!
The Visitation is a particularly eloquent and striking scene. It is so touching and so dramatic in that, we see, Elizabeth, who carries John the Baptist in her womb, the last Messianic prophet of the Old Testament, coming together with Mary, who carries Her Son, Our Lord, the Messiah of the New Testament! In this very beautiful depiction, we see for the first time, through Mary's mediating role, the grace of the Holy Spirit poured forth to Elizabeth and her son, John the Baptist. In this one instance, we see the joining of the Old Testament to the New Testament - the bridging of Judaism to Catholicism through Mary's cooperation as the Ark of the New Covenant! It is a kind of a prefigurement of what will happen today when we truly recognize Our Mother, the Mother of Grace, as the Lady of All Nations and proclaim Her to the world. In a sense, we Catholics are a "stand in" for John the Baptist! Just as John the Baptist herald the coming of the One Who will baptize in the Holy Spirit and fire, so, too, are we to herald: "This is the time of the Spirit" (October 5, 1952)! Through our cooperation, in saying the Prayer, spreading the messages and asking for this final Marian dogma, "the Lady will come to Her apostles and all nations, in order to bring them the Holy Spirit anew" (May 31, 1954). Then we shall see the Victory of Her Immaculate Heart, and true peace and brotherly love! Then, just as we saw through Mary's cooperation the coming together of the Old and New Testament so we shall see flock of Our Lord Jesus Christ coming together in the one, true, universal Church - the Catholic Church!
Thus, the relevance of the feast days which open and close the messages of the Lady of All Nations can be regarded as highlighting the aspect of our role in salvific history through following Our Mother's example at the Annunciation and saying "yes" to His will - the path of the Cross. And, in reference to the feast of the Visitation, we herald in the reign of the Holy Spirit upon the world by our cooperation in proclaiming the dogma under the title of the Lady or Mother of All Nations.
When Ida was graced with mystical experiences and messages from Our Lord in the Most Holy Eucharist, these occurrences began conversely on the feast of the Visitation and ended in a chronological juxtaposition to the end of the messages of the Lady of All Nations, on the feast of the Annunciation. On May 31, 1958, the feast of the Visitation and the date of the first Eucharistic experience, the Lady of All Nations says: "He the Comforter and Helper will come." Then Ida sees "a large Sacred Host, irradiating light...Three shafts of rays emanated from the Sacred Host: in the centre a beam of magnificent colours; to the left and right, beams of wonderful, brilliant light. At the end of the right one, there was a Cross and at the end of the left one, a Dove..." On May 31, 1959, the date of the second Eucharistic experience, Ida sees a brilliant, dazzling Sacred Host. Then Ida says: "All at once there came from the Two, an indescribable light and in it I saw, breaking out from the centre...a Dove! It shot like an arrow down to the earth...What splendour, what magnificence - the soaring Figure, majestic, powerful, grand; and now the world all bathed in light from the radiant Dove! And a Voice rang out, 'He who eats and drinks Me receives life eternal and the Spirit of Truth!'"
These two Eucharistic visions, as do many of the messages of Our Lord in His True Presence during the period of 1958 to 1984, emphasize the importance of frequent reception of the Most Holy Eucharist by Catholics. As Our Lord said on March 23, 1978: "Let the Fire burn your hearts and let it shine all around again...My people open your mouth and your heart, so that your Lord may enter and animate you." And through returning to daily sacrifice we will have the visitation or indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the "knowledge [that] proceeds from...the Holy Spirit, Who proceeds from the Father and the Son."(May 31, 1973). This knowledge from the Spirit of Truth is that "it is through the Mother that Life comes" (March 25, 1973) and that She is "the Mother of Christ and Mother of humankind" (Lumen Gentium). "Hence, She must be brought back into...[the] churches (cf. Rev12:1-6, Gn 3:15,16, Mt 24:8) and among the nations and [we] will witness the revival" (March 25, 1973; cf. message of September 8, 1974 and Acts 2:17, Heb 8:8-12, Mt 24:14.) We will be given the grace of understanding that the Lady of All Nations "will lead the nations to Her Lord"; that "Mary leads the faithful to the Eucharist" (Pope John Paul II's encyclical, Redemptoris Mater). We will be animated with a lively spirit to do the Will of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and to annunciate to the whole world that Mary is the Lady of All Nations through whom the Savior comes. Then we shall see the visitation of the Holy Spirit "shot like an arrow down to the earth and the world...all bathed in light" and the era of peace! Hence, we see that from Our Lord's Visitation within us, through frequent reception of the Holy Eucharist, that His Presence will be "manifest in a new way through the Holy Spirit [Who] is the salvific 'hidden God' 'filling the universe' as love and gift" (Pope John Paul II: Dominum et Vivificantem).
The overall significance of the dates of March 25 and May 31 in both the messages of Our Lady and messages of Our Lord in the Eucharist can be summarized in this way. The Eucharistic experiences which began on May 31, the feast of the Visitation, reiterate the message of the Lady of All Nations conjoined with the importance of daily reception of the Eucharist among Catholics. Thus the focal point is the Eucharist and that through a return to the daily Miracle we will carry within us Our Lord, as a beacon of the True Light, to all the world, a "people that live in darkness" (Mt 4:16, Mk 16:15). Therefore, just as Mary brought Our Savior and the grace of the Holy Spirit to Elizabeth and John the Baptist, so shall we Catholics filled with His Love, in imitation of Our Mother and in union with Her, bring the Holy Spirit of Truth to the rest of the world! Finally, the messages of the Lady of All Nations began on March 25, the feast of the Annunciation,in order to add prominence to the momentous announcement of the key to the Victory of Our Mother's Immaculate Heart which is the fifth and last Marian dogma. So too the Eucharistic messages of Our Lord ended on the feast of the Annunciation purposely underscoring His Will that we Catholics announce to the world that Mary is the Mother of All Nations: Coredemptrix, Mediatrix and Advocate, thus procuring the Victory of Her Immaculate Heart!
Our Lady chose May 31 as the day on which She will be crowned. As has already been noted, it is the feast of the Visitation. But, in addition to that, the feasts of Pentecost and Corpus Christi sometimes fall on that date. Corpus Christi is the liturgical feast honoring the Body and Blood of Our Lord truly present in the Most Holy Eucharist. This date had also, at one time, been set aside in recognition of Mary, as the Mother of Grace, under the title Mediatrix of All Graces. The feast of the Queenship of Mary was also celebrated on this date, until it was moved to the calendar date of August 22. The Queenship of Mary was a titled conferred upon Our Lady by Pope Pius XII in 1954 in order to celebrate Her role in the universal Kingdom of Christ. Eventually, when Our Lady is finally crowned on May 31 She will truly and most fittingly be recognized as the Queen of All God's Nations . As St. Catherine Laboure said: "Oh, how wonderful it will be to hear, Mary is Queen of the Universe!" And when that time comes, the time when all nations recognize and acclaim their Mother, She will be, in the words of St. Catherine Laboure, "carried as a banner and She will make the tour of the world!"
Now it is worth repeating the fact that the Lady of All Nations chose May 31. On May 31, 1954, She says: "I have chosen this day: on this day the Lady will be crowned." Of course, the Lady never does anything that is not the will of God. Still it is significant that She says "I have chosen this day..." Might this deliberate choice of the use of the personal pronoun 'I' be permitted by God to emphasize just Who the Lady Mary is and what entitles Her to make such a choice? Of course, Mary chose May 31 with the thought of pleasing Her Lord and Creator and to emphasize Her twofold desire to bring glory to Her Son in the Most Holy Eucharist and to bring the love of Her Spouse the Holy Spirit into the hearts of all nations. Thus, out of love, Mary appropriately chose the feast of the Visitation which exemplifies Her mission of love. However, it can not be overlooked that there is special significance in the emphasis that this date was chosen by Her. Perhaps if we call to mind certain events which highlight exactly Who Mary is, we will understand more clearly the authority with which She speaks. At the Annunciation the Angel Gabriel says: "Hail" to Mary! This is not an ordinary greeting but a royal salutation for the Angel Gabriel knew he was addressing the Queen! Never was such a royal tribute ever recorded for any other human being except for Mary. Furthermore, the Angel Gabriel goes on to accord Her even more recognition when he says "Hail, full of grace." Thus, the Angel Gabriel is at that very moment identifying Mary as the Immaculate Conception and illuminating to all the very unique and dignified position She held in God's salvific plan - that of ultimately bearing the Savior and being the Woman Who shall crush the serpent's head! And consider this, Mary's fiat to God through the Angel meant that She would also be the Lord's first follower and hence the first example or model for the rest of God's sheep. Therefore, She would not be ruled of this world but assume the posture of a true Queen by leading the flock to Her Lord and Master even to the point of suffering with Her Lord at the Cross by cooperating most perfectly spiritually and physically. As the prophet Simeon foretold Mary, Herself, would be pierced with a sword. But with that magnanimous sorrow and pain "the Lord Almighty has foiled them by the hand of a Woman" (Jth. 16:6). Hence, in the earthly life of Mary, we see through Her humble yet sublime cooperation, the embracing of God's powerful love, which enobled Her to act as the true Queen. God, having deposited that authority with Her through His Holy Spirit, once Mary assented to His Will, would only naturally and most perfectly defer to Her choice of the feast of the Visitation as Her Coronation Day! Our Lord's deference to Mary should make us realize the magnificence of Her Royal Stature in heaven and on earth! It is no wonder that the name of Mary in Hebrew means: unruled by this world; the perfect one; and pierced or bitter with sorrow. No other name is more perfect and no other human being was more perfectly created and suited for that name than Mary. For this most beautiful, most loving and most powerful creation one can only bow with deep love and gratification to God for having given us such a Mother! Hail to You, O Mother of All Nations!
"This day [May 31] will in due time, be the 'Coronation Day' of His Mother, 'the Lady of All Nations,' who once was Mary" (May 31, 1954). "Hold yourself in readiness for May 31st" (May 23, 1963). "The Holy Father will proclaim Her Co-Redemptrix, Mediatrix, and Advocate" (May 31, 1979). "He has but to command and it will happen" (December 3, 1949). "First, however, let the Church and the nations invoke Mary under the new title and say Her prayer" (October 11, 1953). "...You will have to help him to achieve this [by signing the petition and saying the prayer]. Make no mistake about it" (May 31, 1954).
"I have chosen this day: on this day (May 31) the Lady will be crowned!" ("The Lady of All Nations: Coredemptrix, Mediatrix and Advocate" on May 31, 1954.)
From the dreams and visions of St. John Bosco and Ida Peerdeman it is clear that the moment of victory for the Church over the opposing forces of evil will only come through TRUE DEVOTION TO MARY, OUR MOTHER, THE MOTHER OF ALL NATIONS and TRUE DEVOTION TO OUR LORD IN THE MOST HOLY EUCHARIST!
This victory will come through Pope John Paul II who "guides 'the ship of the Church' through the storm of persecutors 'turning the helm to the right' by proclaiming Mary, the Lady of All Nations and thereby anchoring the Church to the Twin Pillars of Victory! "SHE will lead the nations to 'HER LORD!'" (August 15,1979)
"The Holy Father [Pope John Paul II] will proclaim Her Co-Redemptrix, Mediatrix and Advocate" (The voice of Our Lord on May 31, 1979)!
Butterflies, too, are an apt symbol of the day's meaning. Beginning life as lowly humble caterpillars, they "entomb" themselves in cocoons only to emerge with jewel-colored wings and the ability to soar. What better symbol of the Resurrection -- except maybe for eggs, which had always been symbols of Spring and were items of wonderment to all -- an inanimate object out of which comes life. For Christians, they became the perfect symbol of the tomb Christ conquered, and Jews used (and used) them on their Passover, too, as the Haggadot specifically calls for it as a symbol of rebirth (this is a rabbinical command, not a Scriptural one).
common in the United States). Eggs used only for decorative purposes may have their contents blown out and their shells turned into highly ornamental works of art ("Longshanks" -- King Edward I of England, 1239-1307 -- paid to have 450 eggs decorated with gold leaf to give out to the members of his household). Or the "eggs" may be wooden or ceramic and used to adorn the Easter table. The exquisite pysanky of Eastern Europe, made by subsequent applications of wax and dipping in dyes, are one of Easter's treasures, and the forty-nine ceramic, bejewelled eggs created -- only one or two each year at Eastertime -- for the Russian royal family by master jeweller, Peter Carl Fabergé (1846-1920), are museum pieces. 
