In the Midst of a Storm

Life is never without challenges.  It’s easy to be good and choose God when life is calm, and there are no storms to navigate.  Life is much easier if we are not being pelted by rain and dodging the fearful lightning strikes as we walk.  Our fears and anxieties  rage against us, unleashed by the storm.  Where is the peace God promised us?  How can we survive this onslaught of rage and violence?  What can we do?

We can pray.  Prayer is the primary and most effective weapon we have been given to battle any evil, any storm. 

Read More at:  His Unending Love. 

Excellent prayers: "Loving desire of our heart towards God, and . . . .

 . . . .suffering of things that displease us."  St. Jane de Chantal, 1572-1641

St. Jane had several great reflections captured in my copy of The New Jerusalem Bible: Saints Devotional Edition.  This one comes from a counsel of hers on dealing with distractions while praying, that was put alongside of Matthew 6:1-14. 

(Jesus taught them) "When you pray, go to your private room, shut yourself in, and so pray to your Father."  --Matthew 6:6

The rest of this post is written by St. Jane to counsel us in the way of prayer.  Emphasis was added in places by me.

"BLESSED DISTRACTIONS"

Prayer is the channel that unites our heart to the heart of God.  It draws waters from heaven that descend and rise from us to God and from God to us.  Prayer is the first act of our faith, and consequently what the apostle says of faith--that it is impossible to please God without it (see Hebrews 11:6)--we must say of prayer.  By it we ask God and Jesus Christ, who is our deliverer, to save us.  We feel so despoiled by our weakness that we should perish unless he sustained us every moment with new graces.
When we place ourselves in the presence of his divine goodness to speak to him alone, then our prayer consists in the presence of our spirit before his and of his Spirit before ours.  That's the case whether we have good thoughts and good sentiments or not.  We need only with all simplicity and without any violent spiritual effort to keep ourselves before him.  We should express our love for him and focus our attention on him without entertaining any voluntary distractions.

Then God will view the whole time we are on our knees as prayer.  He loves our humbly enduring the vain and involuntary thoughts that attack us as much as the best thoughts we have had at other times.  One of the most excellent prayers is the loving desire of our heart towards God, and the suffering of things that displease us.  Prayer is then united to patience, which is the premier virture.  And the soul that rises humbly from its distractions may believe that it has prayed as well as if it had not suffered from them at all.

Lenten Prayer

A Lenten Prayer

Fast from judging others; feast on Christ in them.

Fast from wanting more; feast on being thankful.

Fast from anger; feast on patience.

Fast from worry; feast on trust.

Fast from complaining; feast on enjoyment.

Fast from negatives; feast on positives.

Fast from stress; feast on prayer.

Fast from anger; feast on forgiveness.

Fast from self-concern; feast on compassion for others.

Fast from fear; feast on truth.

Fast from discouragement; feast on hope.

Fast from gossip; feast on silence.

Fast from fighting; feast on peace.

Gentle God, during this season of fasting and feasting, gift us with your presence

so we can be a gift to others in carrying out your work. 

Amen.

--Adapted from A Lenten Prayer by William Arthur Ward

I found this prayer over at Our Sunday Visitor.

Blessings,

Noreen

Novena to the Immaculate Conception

Today starts the first day of the Novena to the Immaculate Conception.  It goes from November 30, 2012 to December 7, the Vigil of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.  Pray this prayer once a day for nine days for your own personal intention.

Source

Immaculate Virgin! Mary, conceived without sin! Remember, thou were miraculously preserved from even the shadow of sin, because thou were destined to become not only the Mother of God, but also the mother, the refuge, and the advocate of man; penetrated therefore, with the most lively confidence in thy never-failing intercession, we most humbly implore thee to look with favor upon the intentions of this novena, and to obtain for us the graces and the favors we request of __________. Thou know, O Mary, how often our hearts are the sanctuaries of God, Who abhors iniquity. Obtain for us, then, than angelic purity which was thy favorite virtue, that purity of heart which will attach us to God alone, and that purity of intention which will consecrate every thought, word, and action to His greater glory. Obtain also for us a constant spirit of prayer and self-denial, that we many recover by penance that innocence which we have lost by sin, and at length attain safety to that blessed abode of the saints, where nothing defiled can enter.

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.

V. Thou are all fair, O Mary.
R. Thou art all fair, O Mary.
V. And the original stain is not in thee.
R. And the original stain is not in thee.
V. Thou art the glory of Jerusalem.
R. Thou art the joy of Israel
V. Thou art the honor of our people.
R. Thou art the advocate of sinners.
V. O Mary.
R. O Mary.
V. Virgin, most prudent.
R. Mother, most tender.
V. Pray for us.
R. Intercede for us with Jesus our Lord.
V. In thy conception, Holy Virgin, thou wast immaculate.
R. Pray for us to the Father Whose Son thou didst bring forth.
V. O Lady! aid my prayer.
R. And let my cry come unto thee.

Let us pray

Holy Mary, Queen of Heaven, Mother of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and mistress of the world, who forsakes no one, and despises no one, look upon me, O Lady! with an eye of pity, and entreat for me of thy beloved Son the forgiveness of all my sins; that, as I now celebrate, with devout affection, thy holy and immaculate conception, so, hereafter I may receive the prize of eternal blessedness, by the grace of Him whom thou, in virginity, did bring forth, Jesus Christ Our Lord: Who, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, live and reign, in perfect Trinity, God, world without end. Amen.
This novena was found at Fisheaters.

Blessings,
Noreen

Flower Petal Rosary

Monica from Equipping Catholic Families who is also the owner and creative force behind Arma Dei Shoppe, had asked me to review one of her Cathletics Craft Kits called Spiritual Bouquet of Prayer Petal Flowers.  This particular kit has 3 prayer crafts in 1.  You can use the provided templates to make either a Flower Petal Rosary, Rosary Garland or Divine Mercy Chaplet.  Once you purchase her kit, Monica will send you the file to download and print off of your own computer.  You can choose to print it on colored paper or white paper for coloring. I printed the templates first on white cardstock and then used them to make color copies.

I had a chance to use the Flower Petal Rosary over the weekend with my first graders.  I decided to informally test them on their prayers using this craft.  My class size is small so I had each student take 2 Hail Mary petals and sit in a circle.  I placed down the stem with the mysteries of the rosary and explained we would pray the first decade from the Joyful Mysteries.  My instructions were that as a group, we would pray the Our Father together and then each student would lead 2 Hail Mary's as we went around the circle. They could choose whether they wanted to recite it by memory or read it off of the petal.  As each student started their prayer, they placed the petal around the Our Father circle.  Then we would all say the Glory Be and Fatima Prayer together at the end.

Here are a few photos of our prayer circle:



By using this prayer craft which also felt like a game to the children, I could easily identify in a non-threatening way, if the children knew their prayers or not.  My conclusion~ we need more practice.  It's much easier to recite them in a group than to say it out loud on your own!

This kit can be used at home, school or religious education program at any time of the year.  Even though Divine Mercy Sunday is in April every year, I think I will teach the children that prayer early now that I have a fun and hands on way of doing it.  Thank you Monica for this opportunity to review your Spiritual Bouquet of Prayer Petal Flowers! 

Blessings,
Noreen

A Call to Prayer

An Urgent Appeal From Mother Regina Marie, OCD
  To All of Our Friends,

Praised be Jesus Christ!

This special e-mail is a Call to Prayer.  It concerns the recent HHS health insurance mandate. By now you have certainly heard about it. This mandate cannot be taken lightly. It violates our deepest ethical, moral values. We Catholics cannot in good conscience follow this mandate. Because of the seriousness of this threat to our religious freedom, the time has come to join together – all of us – in prayer. That is exactly what our Catholic Bishops of the United States are asking us to do.


FROM THE U.S. CATHOLIC BISHOPS:
“We call upon the Catholic faithful, and all people of faith, throughout our country to join us in prayer and penance for our leaders and for the complete protection of our First Freedom—religious liberty—which is not only protected in the laws and customs of our great nation, but rooted in the teachings of our great Tradition. Prayer is the ultimate source of our strength—for without God, we can do nothing; but with God, all things are possible.” (United for Religious Freedom, A Statement of the Administrative Committee of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, March 14, 2012).

The Carmelite Sisters invite all persons of good will to join with us in praying a novena beginning on March 25 and ending on April 2, 2012 in response to the Obama Insurance mandate which seriously threatens the religious freedom and conscience rights of United States citizens.  Together with many others throughout our country, the Carmelite Sisters are observing these nine days of prayer and fasting during the month of March, asking Our Lady to intercede for our country. We are asking Mary, Patroness of the United States of America, to implore God’s loving mercy on us at this critical time.  We ask you to join us in saying the following prayer every day for the nine days, together with some form of personal fasting. Thank you and God bless you.

---

Act of Consecration of the United States to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
      Most Holy Trinity: Our Father in heaven, who chose Mary as the fairest of your daughters; Holy Spirit, who chose Mary as your spouse; God the Son, who chose Mary as your Mother; in union with Mary, we adore your majesty and acknowledge your supreme, eternal dominion and authority.
      Most Holy Trinity, we put the United States of America into the hands of Mary Immaculate in order that she may present the country to you. Through her we wish to thank you for the great resources of this land and for the freedom, which has been its heritage. Through the intercession of Mary, have mercy on the Catholic Church in America. Grant us peace. Have mercy on our president and on all the officers of our government. Grant us a fruitful economy born of justice and charity. Have mercy on capital and industry and labor. Protect the family life of the nation. Guard the precious gift of many religious vocations. Through the intercession of our Mother, have mercy on the sick, the poor, the tempted, sinners - on all who are in need.
      Mary, Immaculate Virgin, our Mother, Patroness of our land, we praise you and honor you and give our country and ourselves to your sorrowful and Immaculate Heart. O Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, pierced by the sword of sorrow prophesied by Simeon, save us from degeneration, disaster and war. Protect us from all harm. O Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, you who bore the sufferings of your Son in the depths of your heart, be our advocate. Pray for us, that acting always according to your will and the will of your divine Son, we may live and die pleasing to God. Amen.

(Imprimatur, Patrick Cardinal O'Boyle, Archbishop of Washington, 1959, for public consecration of the United States to the Immaculate Heart of Mary; renewed by U.S. Bishops, November 11, 2006)

Love Him in Them

A prayer from My Other Self, by Clarence Enzler:

Dear Lord, may I always remember:  Whatever I do to them, I do also to You.

May I never forsake Your command, "Love one another as I have loved you."

May my thoughts of others be no longer my thoughts, but Your thoughts.

May my love of others be no longer my love, but Yours.

In my speech with others may my words be no longer my words, but Your words.

May I serve others as You served all men, seeking not to receive but to give.

May I see others no longer, but You in them.

May Your thoughts dwell in my mind, Your love in my heart, Your words on my lips- that I may learn to love all men even as You, dear Lord, love me.

 

 

 

Into the Desert

Lead me into the desert, oh Lord.
Make straight, my path.
Empty me of all that is self so that I may be filled with all that is You.
Purge me, gently break me, and rid me of pride, selfishness, arrogance, self-righteousness, laziness, vanity,
and doubt.

Lead me into the desert, oh Lord.
And, just as You did for Your Son, allow my angels to minister to me there.
As I come to You, on bended knee, to fast and pray.
Comfort me in my journey to the Cross.

Lead me into the desert, oh Lord.
Grant me strength to resist the wiles and snares that satan will lay before me.
Remind me that "men can not live by bread, alone".
Feed me on Your Sacred Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity; that my soul, my mind, and my body may be
nourished for all eternity.

I come to this Lenten Season with a heavy and troubled heart, my God.
Your beautiful and perfect Church is under attack in America.
Your beautiful and innocent babies in the womb are being left to killers' hands and their government will
not protect them, nor save them.
Your beautiful and precious Sacrament of Matrimony is being degraded and defiled and twisted in evil ways.
Those who profess their faith in you are being scorned, persecuted, mocked, and treated with disregard.

Oh, but You understand this, don't You?

For, before us, they did these things to YOU.

Breathe in me, Your words of comfort, (John 15:18) that before the world hated me, it first hated You.

And so, I ask You, oh Lord, my God...to lead me into the desert...for just as YOU were willing to suffer
at the hands of mere mortals for my sake; So, too, am I willing to suffer for YOU.

But, I beg of Thee, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit...let not my suffering be in vain.

Unite me to my Savior, Redeemer, and King, Jesus Christ, upon His holy Cross...that by HIS merit, by

HIS grace, and by HIS Passion, Death, and Resurrection, my humble offerings may be turned into blessings
to heal the sick, comfort the afflicted, love the unlovable, and save lost souls.

* The above is a meditation that came to my heart as I prepare and look forward to my own Lenten Journey, ahead. I share it with you, my brothers and sisters in Christ...here, in our wonderful Catholic Blogging Community, to let you know that I carry each and all of you with me "into the desert". I pray that Jesus will tend to you in the ways you need Him most and that these 40 days of prayer and fasting will draw you nearer to His Most Sacred Heart and bring you swiftly, and joyfully, to the glorious celebration of His miraculous RESURRECTION! I am blessed to be among you and I thank you all for your fellowship.

That Poor Man

At our recent Bible Study Class, we were discussing the many Scripture verses that are the basis for and connection to the Mass. The reading at Mass before our class had been about the man who was possessed by "Legion", the evil spirits that Jesus exorcised and sent "into the herd of swines".

Our discussion was a diversion from what we were actually studying at class, but our pastor was making note about the fact that MANY in the world today; albeit, even Christians, do not believe in evil or evil spirits!

One of our class members immediately drew the distinction that there were, it said in the Bible, THOUSANDS of swine in that herd. You will recall that when Jesus demands the evil spirit to reveal his name...he says that he is called "Legion...for there are many of us".

Never in my life did I make the connection...if there were thousands of swine and the spirits of Legion entered the swine...then, that means there were THOUSANDS of evil spirits in that poor, poor man.

My heart ached for him. My daughter lamented that it is a wonder he survived long enough to be healed.

And then, my thoughts turned to the current state of affairs in this nation. Today, I saw a video by Planned Parenthood, celebrating the recent decision by the Administration to force Catholic institutions to provide abortions and contraception in their health insurance packages. The woman at the center of the video...which was, essentially, a bunch of people from various ethnic backgrounds dancing in the streets; was dressed as a huge pack of birth control pills. We watch people petition for supposed "gay" marriages...I have received spam/emails from CATHOLICS regarding this topic...and more and more rights and freedoms are being stripped away each and every day.

I thought to myself, "This is Legion...or another group of evil spirits...that have loosed themselves upon our society". There are THOUSANDS, most likely.

I think of that poor, poor man...in fact, I always feel sorry for him at the end of that story, when he asks Jesus if he can go with Him and the Lord tells him no...that he must go back to his family.

My daughter says that, to her, this illustrates that each of us has a calling and not all are called to priests or religious...Jesus sends that man back to his "family" state in life. (Good point).

But, as I think of his tormented body...I think of the tormented bodies of the women who have had abortions and live to regret it...I think of all the women who are dying of breast cancers caused by their birth control pills...I think of all the tortured and confused souls who try to convince themselves that homosexuality lifestyles are not sinful...

...and I know that evil is real...and that evil spirits are real.

HOWEVER...GREAT is the mercy of CHRIST, JESUS...Lord and Savior!

And, just as He sent Legion fleeing in haste...He can heal the sinful souls of this modern world, as well.

We, who believe and trust in Him, must increase our prayers, fasting, penance, and devotions, so that those who are lost and those who are confused and those who are possessed...CAN BE HEALED.

An Old, Contemporary Prayer

O Jesus, supreme Goodness, I ask You to give me a heart so enamored of You that nothing on earth can distract it…a free heart, never seduced or enslaved, an upright heart which never goes astray. - St. Thomas Aquinas

Is it not wonderful that an 800 year old prayer is so fresh and real? The human condition never changes. We still need today what St. Thomas asked for so long ago, do we not?

Dawn in Suburbia

The alarm clock goes off, the bathroom light goes on, the dog yawns and my husband kisses me goodbye. It’s 4:50 a.m. and I am grateful that I have about twenty more minutes to lie here before I get out of bed.


The weekday morning routine seldom varies. The coffee pot is percolating and this quiet time alone with God is my favorite part of the day. Funny, I never thought of this before, but caffeine and the rosary are an awesome combination! The caffeine stimulates me, while the rosary strengthens me providing the grace I need to start the day.

Today, while praying the Sorrowful Mysteries, I think of Jesus carrying His cross, and wonder what the day will bring. Family and friends come to mind, and I entwine these thoughts of them between each small bead.

Dawn in suburbia brings hope and promise. Today is a gift to be used wisely.

“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5: 11).

Into the Sacred Heart of Jesus

I have been a pray-er all of my life.  I enjoy talking to God in many different forms.  I have found that my preferred forms of prayer have changed throughout my life. There are many constants, but I always have a fall back position, so to speak.

In recent years I have really loved Lectio Divina which basically is reading a piece of scripture, perhaps several times and reflecting on it.  For me, that reflection is usually with writing.  I have learned wonderful things and heard God's voice in Lectio Divina.  It is a conversational style of prayer.

But lately, I have been less drawn to that conversation with God, if you will.  Lately, I have been drawn to a prayer form that used to be really hard for me.  I have been drawn to comtemplation.  Specifically, as I was meditating upon the Sacred Heart of Jesus one day, I was drawn more and more into the Heart of Jesus.  I imagined myself inside the Sacred Heart of Jesus, washed by His precious blood.  I began to let myself go to that iamge, that place in prayer more and more. I can feel the pain and the joy as I am surrounded by the love of Christ.  My meditation is less words and more an experience, more of a feeling.  I can't even describe the peace and consolation that I feel while surrounded by the love of Christ.

Because this meditation/ comtemplation is so new to me, I discussed it with my Spiritual Director this week.  She encouraged me to continue with it.  Perhaps if I have a point in all of this, it is to try to experience God in new ways, at least sometimes.  It is an adventure in prayer.  It was just what I needed.

Pray Don't Worry - St. John Vianney

"God commands you to pray, but He forbids you to worry."
Saint John Mary Vianney, Priest

Today we remember St Jean-Baptiste Vianney, Curé of Ars (1786 - 1859).  The above is a quote that appeared in Catholic Prayer Book for Mothers that I purchased from the Spirit Daily bookstore.

St. Padre Pio has a similar quote:
“Pray, hope, and don’t worry! Worry is useless. God is merciful and will hear your prayer. Prayer is the best weapon we have; it is the key to God’s heart. You must speak to Jesus not only with your lips but with your heart. In fact, on certain occasions, you should speak to Him only with your heart.”

Where did these two saints get this wisdom?

I would suggest they found it in Scripture.

Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7

Cast all your anxieties on him, for he cares about you.
1 Peter 5:7

Still, isn't St. John Vianney's quote a bit strong of an interpretation of Phillipians 4:6?

I don't think so.  If we are worrying, are we trusting God?  Are we seeking first the Kingdom of God above all else if we are worried?

Jesus Christ our Savior wants us not to be anxious, or to worry, but to place our needs before our Father.

He tells us:
Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well.
Matthew 6:33

When we pray, we turn our hearts and minds to God.  In place of worry we put trust.  Jesus wants our trust.  God the Father wants our trust.  God is pleased at the faith we show when we follow the teachings of scripture and these two great saints to pray, to hope, and not to worry!

What happens when we worry, or are anxious, or take our anxieties someplace other than to him who cares about us?

Here's what I notice when I am anxious and worried and I don't turn first to God in prayer.

First, my focus is put somewhere other than God, his Kingdom, seeking first his righteousness, including being receptive to know, to accept God's will for me in the moment.

Second, my opportunity to find peace, and experience God's love and mercy is postponed until I do turn to him in prayer, in trust, in hope.

What is the benefit in delaying God's peace, love, and mercy?

For me, having experienced God's peace, love and mercy, i would say there is no benefit, only a waste of time.

Who benefits from this waste of time?  Not me.  And I would say it grieves and saddens God who gives so much to me in the Word, in the Eucharist, in the Church, in the Communion of Saints, in the Holy Spirit that came into my soul at Baptism.

There is another, the spirit of this world, the same spirit that was kicked out of heaven by St. Michael the Archangel, that is served by my worry and delay at turning to God in prayer.  Satan's agenda is to undermine and distract the saints from their one and only source of all good gifts:  Our God, glorious in the Holy Trinity - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

This is a reminder to me as well as to you the kind person reading this:

If you are worried or anxious, expect the temptation to turn inward, or turn to a Google search, or to an email, or a drink, or to the retail store.  Instead, act in faith, love, trust, and obedience to your Lord, and instead Pray!

A Prayer My 11 Year Old Son Wrote

This prayer was written by my son and he also picked out the pictures to accompany it.  It was originally posted on my blog, www.rosarymom.blogspot.com and we received a positive response so I thought I would post it here.

I hope you enjoy it!

Oh Lord, help us at every twist and turn, 

rise and fall, 

and protect us from all of the exiled angels and deceptions.  

 We thank you for our family, our friends, our pets, and are good times in life.

  

 You are our master, we are your servants, 

You are the king, we are the peasants, 

You are the shepard, we are the sheep.

  

You are the creator, we are the creations.

Amen.

The Beauty of Prayer

The power of prayer is unimaginable. Because we don't always see its immediate effects, many people, especially those who have just begun praying, don't understand the immensity of this gift from the Lord. The Lord hears every prayer, even the merest whisper of prayer - vocal prayer, wordless prayer, contemplative prayer, community prayer and the silent prayers of the heart that we are not even aware of - even the Holy Spirit within us prays. Prayer pierces heaven and we should have complete confidence that our prayers are heard and answered....every single one. I like to imagine prayer as beams of light which pierce the clouds of darkness around us. I came across this quote that really made me think of the power of prayer:

   "Prayer is the one thing that can conquer God. Christ has willed that it should work no evil, and has given it all power over good. Its only art is to call back the souls of the dead from the very journey into death, to give strength to the weak, to heal the sick, to exorcise the possessed, to open prison cells, to free the innocent from their chains. Prayer cleanses from sin, drives away temptations, stamps out persecutions, comforts the fainthearted, gives new strength to the courageous, bring travelers safely home, calms the waves, confounds robbers, feeds the poor, over-rules the rich, lifts up the fallen, supports those who are falling, sustains those who stand firm.
  All the angels pray. Every creature prays. Cattle and wild beasts pray and bend the knee...The birds rise and lift themselves up to heaven...
   What more need be said on the duty of prayer? Even the Lord himself prayed. To Him be honor and power for ever and ever. Amen."
                                        From the Treatise On Prayer by Tertullian (d. 259)

Yes, Tertullian, I think you've covered this nicely.