Prayers Needed: For My Father and Emily

I ask for your prayers for my father, who was just admitted to the hospital. Please pray for him. Also please pray for Emily. I just got this email about her from a member of the Holy Souls Prayer Group:

I do have to beg you all for your prayers for my niece, Emily. She is an exceptional 12 year old girl who has cystic fibrosis. My brother just let us know that her lung functioning has not been good and she is going in for special treatment the week of 2/20, if hospital space is available.

Please, please storm heaven for this little girl that there will be a turnaround in her lung functioning. And pray for a miracle that a cure can be found for CF for Em, her sister Liz and everyone with this illness. With all the research the CF Foundation does, a breakthrough for CF would very likely benefit patients with many genetic illnesses. The CF Foundation does not do embryonic stem cell research. May God reward them for not harming innocents in their search for a cure.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Sharon

O, Lord, whose very touch healed, please save them and heal them from sin and illness of mind and body. My Lord, I place these requests in your Sacred Heart. Please hear me in your mercy. Amen

Prayer to St. Anthony:

Compassionate St. Anthony, you are called the "Miracle Worker" by those who have been blessed by your special friendship. I ask you to look with favor on (name the person) who is weak and failing.

Great St. Anthony, come to the assistance of (name). Obtain for him/her health in mind and body, and the strength to accept all suffering in union with Christ, our Savior through your intercession.

Loving St. Anthony, console all those who are afflicted, and guide them to the heart of the Divine Physician, where they will obtain compassion, mercy and hope. Please O loving, St. Anthony, may your prayers reach the Sacred Heart of Our Savior. Amen.

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What is the Catholic Mass?

In the words of St. John Vianney, "If we really understood the Mass, we would die of joy."


"The celebration of Holy Mass is as valuable as the death of Jesus on the cross." St. Thomas Aquinas. (Read more of the saint's words on the Mass)

The Holy Mass is the greatest sacrifice. I just can't explain the beauty of celebrating the life, death, and Resurrection of Our Savior. This is the perfect sacrifice and form of worship because Jesus Christ is truly there! His Real Presence is with us. The Mass is both a sacrifice and a Sacred Meal. It is a joy of the Heart.

Scott Hahn, a protestant who converted Catholics to protestantism, became a Catholic because of the Mass. He was a "Bible Christian" and during one of his evaluations of the Catholic faith he decided to go to a Mass. He took notes hoping to find and preach errors in our faith. But what he saw was a celebration based entirely on the Gospel. What he say lead to his conversion, which has brought about dozens of books and hundreds of lectures.

The Mass is so special. I was so blessed to have the day off today and be able to go to Mass. If you would like to understand this beautiful form of worship, please see my post on the Holy Mass. If you would like a guide to the Mass step-by-step please see the best Mass guide I've ever read.

Image Source: Images in the Public Domain. If you are interested in obtaining all of the images of this series in high resolution, please click here to visit my post to obtain them.

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Fifth Day of the Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes

Please join me in this novena asking for Our Lady's intercession. Today is the Fifth day of this Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes. Please join me in praying this novena even if you have not started yet. Is anyone praying along with me in this novena?

Novena (Feb 2-10):

O ever Immaculate Virgin, Mother of Mercy, Health of the Sick, Refuge of Sinners, Comfort to the Afflicted,you know my wants, my troubles, my sufferings. Deign to cast upon me a look of mercy.

By appearing in the Grotto of Lourdes, you were pleased to make it a privileged sanctuary, whence you dispense your favors; and already many sufferers have obtained the cure of their infirmities, both spiritual and corporal.I come, therefore, with the most unbounded confidence to implore your maternal intercession.

Obtain, O loving Mother, the granting of my requests.Through gratitude for favors, I will endeavor to imitate your virtues that I may one day share your glory.Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us. Amen.

(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.)

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The Five Types of Prayer

Preface: For a listing of hundreds of prayers with indulgences and special blessings attached to them, be sure to refer to a copy of the Raccolta often.  Click here to order one.





Adoration – In adoration we adore God as we rightfully should.  God is our Creator and Lord and by His divinity, He is worthy of praise and honor.  The angels who are before God’s throne unceasingly praise Him for His perfection and majesty.  If only we would devote a small fraction of our day to adoring Our God!

Contrition – As sinful creatures, we offend our Lord when we break His divine Law.  The be God’s friend and be in the state of grace, it is necessary to observe His Law – the Commandments.  Our Lord has said, “If you love me, keep My Commandments.”  We should regularly pray in reparation for our sins.  While only Sacramental confession can wash away the guilt of sin and restore us to God’s friendship, works of charity, indulgences, and prayers can make restitution to Divine Justice and pay the debt of our sins – thus saving us from prolonged trials in purgatory after death. If you do not, you should pray the Act of Contrition every single night before bed.  Start doing so tonight!

Thanksgiving - Giving God the thanks He deserves. We were created and redeemed by Him yet He continues to bless us and love us. God is deserving of all respect, yet this type of prayer is the least common one. What would happen if you one day you couldn't give thanks to God? What would happen if you suffered from a horrible condition and could no longer give God thanks? Remember to thank Your One God for His unexplainable love and blessings. The greatest expression of thanksgiving should be after one receives the Eucharist.

Petition - This is probably the most common type of prayer. We bring our requests before God for ourselves, our family, or our friends. At Mass petitions are read, but petitions can be said anytime or anywhere. Prayer doesn't have to be limited to one place. Some people do not believe in attending the Holy Mass. They say, "God is everywhere". Yes, but He is everywhere in different ways. God is truly present in the Eucharist - the most real presence of Our Lord on this earth. While we can pray anywhere the greatest prayers are those before the Eucharist, where the veil between Heaven and earth is at its thinnest.



The above are the four kinds of prayer known as the ACTS.  There is also a fifth sometimes considered called: 

Supplication (known also as intercession) - These prayers are very similar to those of petition, but there is a distinct difference. In prayers of intercession we are asking praying for others. These are the one type of prayer that includes the saints. We can ask these servants of God already in Heaven to pray for us just as we ask our friends on earth to pray for

We also need to be aware of a few other kinds of prayer:

Persevering Prayer - These are the prayers for the deepest intentions of our heart. If we pray night and day for this intention then this is persevering prayer. Job persevered in his prayers as illustrated in the Old Testament. I will go as far to say that all persevering prayers are answered as our Lord said, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you" (Matthew 7:7)

Meditative prayer - This is the simplest of prayers. In these we don't say anything. We simply meditate on God's love and mercy. These prayers are very common in those quiet moments of Eucharistic Adoration. Just being one with Our Lord is the greatest gift.

Note: This post is sponsored by CatechismClass.com and specifically is featured in their course: Prayer and Spirituality. 

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Memorial of St. Paul Miki

Memorial (1969 Calendar): February 6

Today is the Memorial of St. Paul Miki and Companions, martyrs. These saints were murdered for their faith in Christ.

St. Paul Miki (1562-1597) was a Jesuit and felt a calling to religious life. He was converted to Christianity by St. Francis Xavier, and St. Paul Miki preached the Gospel throughout Japan and for that he was condemned to death. He, along with his companions, were marched 600 miles so they could be abused along the way. The entire time, the saints sung the Te Deum, one of my favorite prayers.

His preaching lead to many converting to Christianity. His last sermon was from the Cross he was crucified on. Here is an account of his martyrdom:

The crosses were set in place. Father Pasio and Father Rodriguez took turns encouraging the victims. Their steadfast behaviour was wonderful to see. The Father Bursar stood motionless, his eyes turned heavenward. Brother Martin gave thanks to God’s goodness by singing psalms. Again and again he repeated: “Into your hands, Lord, I entrust my life”. Brother Francis Branco also thanked God in a loud voice. Brother Gonsalvo in a very loud voice kept saying the Our Father and Hail Mary.

Our brother, Paul Miki, saw himself standing now in the noblest pulpit he had ever filled. To his “congregation” he began by proclaiming himself a Japanese and a Jesuit. He was dying for the Gospel he preached. He gave thanks to God for this wonderful blessing and he ended his “sermon” with these words: “As I come to this supreme moment of my life, I am sure none of you would suppose I want to deceive you. And so I tell you plainly: there is no way to be saved except the Christian way. My religion teaches me to pardon my enemies and all who have offended me. I do gladly pardon the Emperor and all who have sought my death. I beg them to seek baptism and be Christians themselves”.

Then he looked at his comrades and began to encourage them in their final struggle. Joy glowed in all their faces, and in Louis’ most of all. When a Christian in the crowd cried out to him that he would soon be in heaven, his hands, his whole body strained upward with such joy that every eye was fixed on him.

Anthony, hanging at Louis’ side, looked toward heaven and called upon the holy names – “Jesus, Mary!” He began to sing a psalm: “Praise the Lord, you children!” (He learned it in catechism class in Nagasaki. They take care there to teach the children some psalms to help them learn their catechism).

Others kept repeating “Jesus, Mary!” Their faces were serene. Some of them even took to urging the people standing by to live worthy Christian lives. In these and other ways they showed their readiness to die.

Then, according to Japanese custom, the four executioners began to unsheathe their spears. At this dreadful sight, all the Christians cried out, “Jesus, Mary!” And the storm of anguished weeping then rose to batter the very skies. The executioners killed them one by one. One thrust of the spear, then a second blow. It was over in a very short time.

"The only reason for my being killed is that I have taught the doctrine of Christ. I thank God it is for this reason that I die. I believe that I am telling the truth before I die. I know you believe me and I want to say to you all once again: Ask Christ to help you become happy. I obey Christ. After Christ's example, I forgive my persecutors. I do not hate them. I ask God to have pity on all, and I hope my blood will fall on my fellow men as a fruitful rain." - Saint Paul Miki

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To those Non-Catholic Visitors

With several non-Catholic comments, I wanted to create a welcoming post to those non-Catholics visiting and commenting on this blog. I know how different our faiths are. I know that we don't agree with many different aspects of the truth. But, we are nonetheless united in baptism and the hope of our Savior Crucified. We may be different, but let us work to love, love, and love. Through the example of the saints, may love be the foundation for all of our lives. For love makes the world go around. Our Lord Himself gives us the Cross - an instrument of torture turned into the greatest example of love. To harbor hatred and resentment for each other is to be a slave of the devil. Let us respectful debate and discuss but not hate.

For those new comments. Would you please take this poll and leave the answers in the comment box. I just wanted to know a little more about you.

1) What denomination/religion are you?
2) Were you ever Catholic or did you ever attend a Catholic Mass?
3) Please describe your faith and beliefs
4) Are you pro-life?
5) Has this blog helped you understand more about Catholicism?

Thank you and God Bless.

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On Scripture and the Eucharist

The Eucharist is truly the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ. Any statement that downplays this Real Presence is a lie. The Real Presence of Jesus Christ is the center of our faith. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church states, the Eucharist is "the source and summit of the Christian life" (CCC 1324)

The Real Presence of Jesus was taught by Christ Himself and has been passed down through the apostles and the centuries. At the Holy Mass we take part in the Sacrifice of Christ at Calvary and receive this Sacred Food. In Eucharistic adoration we pray before the true King of Glory. The Eucharist is God! It is that beautiful.

“We should consider those moments spent before the Blessed Sacrament as the happiest of our lives.” - St. John Vianney

For a multitude of scripture passages on the Eucharist, please see the Real Presence Association.

Image Source: Images in the Public Domain. If you are interested in obtaining all of the images of this series in high resolution, please click here to visit my post to obtain them.

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Fourth Day of the Novena

Please join me in this novena asking for Our Lady's intercession. Today is the Fourth day of this Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes. Please join me in praying this novena even if you have not started yet.

Novena (Feb 2-10):

O ever Immaculate Virgin, Mother of Mercy, Health of the Sick, Refuge of Sinners, Comfort to the Afflicted,you know my wants, my troubles, my sufferings. Deign to cast upon me a look of mercy.

By appearing in the Grotto of Lourdes, you were pleased to make it a privileged sanctuary, whence you dispense your favors; and already many sufferers have obtained the cure of their infirmities, both spiritual and corporal.I come, therefore, with the most unbounded confidence to implore your maternal intercession.

Obtain, O loving Mother, the granting of my requests.Through gratitude for favors, I will endeavor to imitate your virtues that I may one day share your glory.Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us. Amen.

(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.)

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Saint for the Year Devotion Continues

I'm so overwhelmed with joy on the Saint for the Year devotion. Over 300 people have requested special patron saints for 2006. I've just posted a few more results on the results page.

If you would like a special saint to grow closer to God with this year, please just see my original post on this devotion and just ask.

Thank you!

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World Sick Day Indulgence

Pope Benedict XVI has declared a plenary indulgence for February 11th, World Sick Day. This is only his third plenary indulgence granted so far (after the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and World Youth Day).

Here is the information:

"The indulgence will be granted, under the usual conditions, to those who participate in the Mass for the World Day of the Sick, to be held this year in Adelaide, Australia, and to those who participate in a similar ceremony that day "at any other place decided by the ecclesiastical authorities." (The "usual conditions" for a plenary indulgence are sacramental Confession, Communion, prayer for the Pope's intentions, and the absence of attachment to sin.)

The indulgence is also granted to health-care personnel whose duties make it impossible for them to attend ceremonies for the World Day of the Sick, and to sick people who cannot attend the ceremonies, if they pray for the welfare of the sick on that day, and fulfill the ordinary conditions as soon as they are able. A partial indulgence is granted to anyone who prays for the sick on the days surrounding the World Day of the Sick, February 9 to 11."

(Source: Catholic World News)

If you would like general information on indulgences please see my post on Indulgences.

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