We are all a Thought of God

What really bothers me is hearing people say "Why must I follow Jesus"? But, why wouldn't you. Jesus Christ, our God, created us out of nothing. He gave us the gift of life, and so that we might one day enter His presence in Heaven, Our Savior laid down His life to the last drop of His Blood.

As Our Lord carried His Cross with His body being ripped apart with beatings, He was thinking of you. All the time, as nails were slammed into his skin, He was offering to the Father His own death so that you might be redeemed for your sins. He died so that we might not have to go to eternal death.

With that said, I wanted to share some words by Pope Benedict XVI:

"The purpose of our lives is to reveal God to men. And only when God is seen does life truly begin. Only when we meet the living God in Christ do we know what life is. We are not some casual and meaningless product of evolution. Each of us is the result of a thought of God. Each of us is willed, each of us is loved, each of us is necessary."

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Seventh Day of the Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes

Please join me in prayer to Our Lady of Lourdes for her intercession. Since she appeared in Lourdes many suffers have been healed through her intercession there. Please join me in praying for the sick. I was so pleased when several visitors posted that they will be praying along.

Today is the Seventh 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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Let It All Be for Jesus

Blessed Mother Teresa - "All glory and honor are His. We must let Jesus use us as He sees fit."

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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Update on Fr. McKenna's condition

On January 15, 2006, I asked for prayers for Fr. McKenna. Here is an update I got today:

"Thank you sooo much for all your prayers for Reverend Emeritus Father Jim McKenna. He is still taking the chemotherapy and radiation to the brain and he is managing with his condition We get a weekly update and he thanks everyone for their prayers and asks that we continue to pray for him. Don't stop! He needs and deserves all he can get. He has a very strong faith and he is very happy to know that you are all praying for him. I sent him a mass card and let him know that he is being supported by all our prayer warriors around the world through the internet. This pleased him very much. Thanks again for all your time and efforts. Will keep you informed."

Please keep praying

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Blessed Pope Pius IX

Today the Church remembers, the longest reigning pope after St. Peter, Blessed Pope Pius IX. He lived from 1792 to February 7, 1878. Pope Pius IX was born Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti as the son of Italian nobles. He was elected Pope on June 16, 1846, and he took the name Pius IX.

Pius IX is best known for declaring the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception, which is about the sinlessness of Mary. During his life, Pius IX was known for unconditional love for the Church, missionaries, and the priesthood.

His beatification process took many years until the miraculous cure of a French nun was attributed to him. Pope John Paul ll declared him blessed on September 3, 2000. His canonization is still pending.

Image Source: Photo believed to be in the Public Domain

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James 2:14-26

Tell me what is your opinion when you read James 2:14-26. I get the impression that works and faith are both very important. I don't know how someone can read this and say that works are not important to remain in grace.

What shall it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, but hath not works? Shall faith be able to save him? And if a brother or sister be naked, and want daily food: And one of you say to them: Go in peace, be ye warmed and filled; yet give them not those things that are necessary for the body, what shall it profit? So faith also, if it have not works, is dead in itself. But some man will say: Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without works; and I will shew thee, by works, my faith. Thou believest that there is one God. Thou dost well: the devils also believe and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

Was not Abraham our father justified by works, offering up Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou, that faith did co-operate with his works; and by works faith was made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled, saying: Abraham believed God, and it was reputed to him to justice, and he was called the friend of God. Do you see that by works a man is justified; and not by faith only? And in like manner also Rahab the harlot, was not she justified by works, receiving the messengers, and sending them out another way?

For even as the body without the spirit is dead; so also faith without works is dead.

James 2:14-26

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Fr. Andrea's last letter

This is an update to the post about Fr. Andrea, who was recently murdered in Turkey. Zenit recently published the 60-year-old priest's last letter. Read the whole letter at Zenit.

Here is an excerpt:

Jesus said: "I am the light of the world, he who follows me will not walk in darkness." If his light illuminates us, not only will it illuminate every situation, even the most tragic, but in addition we too, as He always said, will be light. The tenuous light of a candle illuminates a house, an extinguished lamp leaves everything in darkness. May he shine in us with his Word, with his spirit, with the sap of his saints. May our life be the wax that is consumed willingly.

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Sixth Day of the Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes

Please join me in prayer to Our Lady of Lourdes for her intercession. Since she appeared in Lourdes many suffers have been healed through her intercession there. Please join me in praying for the sick.

Today is the Sixty 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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Hospital Update

I just got back from the hospital. My father is admitted and will be undergoing tests tomorrow, and my sister is now very ill with apparently a case of the flu. It's been a horribly stressful day. Please pray for me and my whole family that we might be well.

Thank you. I'll be able to post more tomorrow.

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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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