Wow, I have not updated since April! Time is flying way too fast.
What does it mean when someone you have not thought of in a while suppenly pops into you thoughts? I always think it means they are in need of prayer, and God has prompted that thought.
This happened to me a few weeks ago. I was sitting at the computer lazily playing a game, when someone who had passed away a few years ago suddenly came to mind. We were not friends, but aquainted from church and school. Strange. Why think of this person? He must need prayer-- so I prayed for his soul and remembered what a nice person he was. A few days later, on Sunday, I was delayed in attending my usual Mass and went to a later Mass, and, wouldn't you know it? The Mass (at a time I never, ever go) was for the intention of this person. Coincidence? NO. It was the anniversary of his death, the date I didn't remember earlier in the week.
As I thought about how God works in these strange, confusing, and interesting ways, I thought about what the reason for all this was, and now, weeks later, why it won't leave my thoughts. We all need prayer, even after death, and it reminds me how I have become lax in praying for family and friends who have passed away. I am working on getting better at remembering them in my prayers. I hope you all remember your loved ones in prayer after they die.
It also reminds me that we can ask our departed loved ones to pray for us. If they are in heaven or even purgatory, they can pray for us. And souls in purgatory whom we have prayed for will be delighted to pray for us once they reach heaven.
There are many books out there on praying for the holy souls. I think I will look into some of them and find one to read.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010
Happy Anniversary Holy Father!
Today, April 19, is the anniversary of the election of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger to the office of Bishop of Rome, where he took the name Benedict XVI. Let us pray for his health, safety, protection and for his intentions. Here is a traditional prayer for the Pope:
V. Let us pray for our Pontiff, Pope Benedict.
R. May the Lord preserve him, and give him life, and bless him upon earth, and deliver him not to the will of his enemies.
Our Father... Hail Mary...
Let us pray.
O God, Shepherd and Ruler of all Thy faithful people, look mercifully upon Thy servant Benedict, whom Thou hast chosen as shepherd to preside over Thy Church. Grant him, we beseech Thee, that by his word and example, he may edify those over whom he hath charge, so that together with the flock committed to him, may he attain everlasting life. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
V. Let us pray for our Pontiff, Pope Benedict.
R. May the Lord preserve him, and give him life, and bless him upon earth, and deliver him not to the will of his enemies.
Our Father... Hail Mary...
Let us pray.
O God, Shepherd and Ruler of all Thy faithful people, look mercifully upon Thy servant Benedict, whom Thou hast chosen as shepherd to preside over Thy Church. Grant him, we beseech Thee, that by his word and example, he may edify those over whom he hath charge, so that together with the flock committed to him, may he attain everlasting life. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Novena for our Bishops
It seems that our bishops need some help defending their flock from wayward clergy. I am suggesting the Novena for the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, found here, to be prayed for our bishops that they may find the fortitude needed to do what needs to be done to protect the laity. Please join me.
The daily prayers below are followed by the prayers for the specific day, which are found at the above link. (the prayers are from EWTN)
ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE HOLY SPIRIT
On my knees before the great multitude of heavenly witnesses, I offer myself, soul and body to You, Eternal Spirit of God. I adore the brightness of Your purity, the unerring keenness of Your justice, and the might of Your love. You are the Strength and Light of my soul. In You I live and move and am. I desire never to grieve You by unfaithfulness to grace and I pray with all my heart to be kept from the smallest sin against You. Mercifully guard my every thought and grant that I may always watch for Your light, and listen to Your voice, and follow Your gracious inspirations. I cling to You and give myself to You and ask You, by Your compassion to watch over me in my weakness. Holding the pierced Feet of Jesus and looking at His Five Wounds, and trusting in His Precious Blood and adoring His opened Side and stricken Heart, I implore You, Adorable Spirit, Helper of my infirmity, to keep me in Your grace that I may never sin against You. Give me grace, O Holy Spirit, Spirit of the Father and the Son to say to You always and everywhere, "Speak Lord for Your servant heareth." Amen.
PRAYER FOR THE SEVEN GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
O Lord Jesus Christ Who, before ascending into heaven did promise to send the Holy Spirit to finish Your work in the souls of Your Apostles and Disciples, deign to grant the same Holy Spirit to me that He may perfect in my soul, the work of Your grace and Your love. Grant me the Spirit of Wisdom that I may despise the perishable things of this world and aspire only after the things that are eternal, the Spirit of Understanding to enlighten my mind with the light of Your divine truth, the Spirit of Counsel that I may ever choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining heaven, the Spirit of Fortitude that I may bear my cross with You and that I may overcome with courage all the obstacles that oppose my salvation, the Spirit of Knowledge that I may know God and know myself and grow perfect in the science of the Saints, the Spirit of Piety that I may find the service of God sweet and amiable, and the Spirit of Fear that I may be filled with a loving reverence towards God and may dread in any way to displease Him. Mark me, dear Lord, with the sign of Your true disciples and animate me in all things with Your Spirit. Amen.
The daily prayers below are followed by the prayers for the specific day, which are found at the above link. (the prayers are from EWTN)
ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE HOLY SPIRIT
On my knees before the great multitude of heavenly witnesses, I offer myself, soul and body to You, Eternal Spirit of God. I adore the brightness of Your purity, the unerring keenness of Your justice, and the might of Your love. You are the Strength and Light of my soul. In You I live and move and am. I desire never to grieve You by unfaithfulness to grace and I pray with all my heart to be kept from the smallest sin against You. Mercifully guard my every thought and grant that I may always watch for Your light, and listen to Your voice, and follow Your gracious inspirations. I cling to You and give myself to You and ask You, by Your compassion to watch over me in my weakness. Holding the pierced Feet of Jesus and looking at His Five Wounds, and trusting in His Precious Blood and adoring His opened Side and stricken Heart, I implore You, Adorable Spirit, Helper of my infirmity, to keep me in Your grace that I may never sin against You. Give me grace, O Holy Spirit, Spirit of the Father and the Son to say to You always and everywhere, "Speak Lord for Your servant heareth." Amen.
PRAYER FOR THE SEVEN GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
O Lord Jesus Christ Who, before ascending into heaven did promise to send the Holy Spirit to finish Your work in the souls of Your Apostles and Disciples, deign to grant the same Holy Spirit to me that He may perfect in my soul, the work of Your grace and Your love. Grant me the Spirit of Wisdom that I may despise the perishable things of this world and aspire only after the things that are eternal, the Spirit of Understanding to enlighten my mind with the light of Your divine truth, the Spirit of Counsel that I may ever choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining heaven, the Spirit of Fortitude that I may bear my cross with You and that I may overcome with courage all the obstacles that oppose my salvation, the Spirit of Knowledge that I may know God and know myself and grow perfect in the science of the Saints, the Spirit of Piety that I may find the service of God sweet and amiable, and the Spirit of Fear that I may be filled with a loving reverence towards God and may dread in any way to displease Him. Mark me, dear Lord, with the sign of Your true disciples and animate me in all things with Your Spirit. Amen.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Alleluia, He is Risen!
Easter Blessings to one and all! He is risen. He is our hope. Because Jesus has risen we have no need to fear death, or this life. Because of Him, this life has meaning. Because of Him we have a new life to look forward to after this one. Let's make this one the best one we can, and even then, our eternal life will be even better and beyond our imagination.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
He took our place
Here is one of those emails that goes around every once in awhile, that is, I think, appropriate for this Holy Saturday. It makes me think about Jesus, but also about myself. While I have not said what the people in this story do, I have thought it-- not a very welcoming thought towards a stranger, is it?
One day, a man went to visit a church. He got there early, parked his car and got out. Another car pulled up near the driver got out and said, 'I always park there! You took my place!' The visitor went inside for Sunday school, found an empty seat and sat down. A young lady from the church approached him and stated, 'That's my seat! You took my place!' The visitor was somewhat distressed by this rude welcome, but said nothing.
After Sunday school, the visitor went into the sanctuary and sat down. Another member walked up to him and said, 'That's where I always sit! You took my place!' The visitor was even more troubled by this treatment, but still he said nothing.
Later as the congregation was praying for Christ to dwell among them, the visitor stood up, and his appearance began to change.
Horrible scars became visible on his hands and on his sandaled feet. Someone from the congregation noticed him and called out, 'What happened to you?'
As his hat became a crown of thorns and a tear fell from his eye, the visitor replied,
"I took your place."
This is something to remember every day-- Jesus took our place. He took my place and he took your place. He paid a debt we could never, ever pay on our own. And he did something most of us could never do-- he suffered for us. It's hard enough to suffer for ourselves, let alone someone else. Let us take some time this Holy Saturday and say "Thank You, Jesus!"
May you have a blessed Holy Saturday.
One day, a man went to visit a church. He got there early, parked his car and got out. Another car pulled up near the driver got out and said, 'I always park there! You took my place!' The visitor went inside for Sunday school, found an empty seat and sat down. A young lady from the church approached him and stated, 'That's my seat! You took my place!' The visitor was somewhat distressed by this rude welcome, but said nothing.
After Sunday school, the visitor went into the sanctuary and sat down. Another member walked up to him and said, 'That's where I always sit! You took my place!' The visitor was even more troubled by this treatment, but still he said nothing.
Later as the congregation was praying for Christ to dwell among them, the visitor stood up, and his appearance began to change.
Horrible scars became visible on his hands and on his sandaled feet. Someone from the congregation noticed him and called out, 'What happened to you?'
As his hat became a crown of thorns and a tear fell from his eye, the visitor replied,
"I took your place."
This is something to remember every day-- Jesus took our place. He took my place and he took your place. He paid a debt we could never, ever pay on our own. And he did something most of us could never do-- he suffered for us. It's hard enough to suffer for ourselves, let alone someone else. Let us take some time this Holy Saturday and say "Thank You, Jesus!"
May you have a blessed Holy Saturday.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Holy Week
Lent has come and gone, and we are now in Holy Week, and I have written nothing.
That is how Lent has been this year-- empty. Sometimes we are spiritually empty so that we can learn something important. The message in this Lent has been forgiveness. We all have much to forgive and much to be forgiven of. We pray as Jesus taught us: "forgive us as we forgive others". Do we really understand what that means? I know I don't. I know I pray it out of habit and don't really get it. Today I got it. I don't want to be forgiven in the way I forgive because I am not very forgiving. I want to be forgiven in a much better way, a nicer way, a kinder way. I want God to be easier on me than I am on others. But that is not what I ask when I pray "as I forgive others" and that is a scary thing! This year it took all of Lent for me to get the message, and I pray I can remember it and not push it aside tomorrow.
Let us remember this message with every Lord's Prayer we pray.
Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Pray for our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, in this Holy Week and always.
Have a blessed Holy Week and Easter.
That is how Lent has been this year-- empty. Sometimes we are spiritually empty so that we can learn something important. The message in this Lent has been forgiveness. We all have much to forgive and much to be forgiven of. We pray as Jesus taught us: "forgive us as we forgive others". Do we really understand what that means? I know I don't. I know I pray it out of habit and don't really get it. Today I got it. I don't want to be forgiven in the way I forgive because I am not very forgiving. I want to be forgiven in a much better way, a nicer way, a kinder way. I want God to be easier on me than I am on others. But that is not what I ask when I pray "as I forgive others" and that is a scary thing! This year it took all of Lent for me to get the message, and I pray I can remember it and not push it aside tomorrow.
Let us remember this message with every Lord's Prayer we pray.
Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Pray for our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, in this Holy Week and always.
Have a blessed Holy Week and Easter.
Friday, January 22, 2010
More Haiti Info
A collaboration between a group of medical professionals, former Marines and former soldiers working in small teams forms Team Rubicon. Check out their very interesting blog. Lots of up-to-the-minute info. They could use lots of prayers along with donations.
(edited 01/25/10 to correct info)
(edited 01/25/10 to correct info)
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