The 2007 Devotion is now closed. God bless
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Monday, December 4, 2006
PRAYER TO THE
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
O God, who by the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, did prepare a worthy dwelling place for Your Son, we beseech You that, as by the foreseen death of this, Your Son, You did preserve Her from all stain, so too You would permit us, purified through Her intercession, to come unto You.Through the same Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end.
Amen.
Day Five
O Lord, who, by the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, did prepare a fitting dwelling for your Son, we beseech you that as by the foreseen death of your Son, you did preserve her from all stain of sin, grant that through her intercession, we may be favored with the granting of the grace that we seek for at this time...
(State your intention here...)
O Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Mother of Christ, you had influence with your Divine Son while upon this earth; you have the same influence now in heaven. Pray for us and obtain for us from him the granting of my petition if it be the Divine Will. Amen.
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
O God, who by the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, did prepare a worthy dwelling place for Your Son, we beseech You that, as by the foreseen death of this, Your Son, You did preserve Her from all stain, so too You would permit us, purified through Her intercession, to come unto You.Through the same Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end.
Amen.
Day Five
O Lord, who, by the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, did prepare a fitting dwelling for your Son, we beseech you that as by the foreseen death of your Son, you did preserve her from all stain of sin, grant that through her intercession, we may be favored with the granting of the grace that we seek for at this time...
(State your intention here...)
O Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Mother of Christ, you had influence with your Divine Son while upon this earth; you have the same influence now in heaven. Pray for us and obtain for us from him the granting of my petition if it be the Divine Will. Amen.
Sunday, December 3, 2006
PRAYER TO THE
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
O God, who by the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, did prepare a worthy dwelling place for Your Son, we beseech You that, as by the foreseen death of this, Your Son, You did preserve Her from all stain, so too You would permit us, purified through Her intercession, to come unto You.Through the same Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end.
Amen.
Day Four
O Mary, Mother of God, endowed in your glorious Immaculate Conception with the fullness of grace; unique among women in that you are both mother and virgin; Mother of Christ and Virgin of Christ, we ask you to look down with a tender heart from your throne and listen to our prayers as we earnestly ask that you obtain for us the favor for which we now plead...
(State your intention here...)
O Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Mother of Christ, you had influence with your Divine Son while upon this earth; you have the same influence now in heaven. Pray for us and obtain for us from him the granting of my petition if it be the Divine Will. Amen.
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
O God, who by the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, did prepare a worthy dwelling place for Your Son, we beseech You that, as by the foreseen death of this, Your Son, You did preserve Her from all stain, so too You would permit us, purified through Her intercession, to come unto You.Through the same Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end.
Amen.
Day Four
O Mary, Mother of God, endowed in your glorious Immaculate Conception with the fullness of grace; unique among women in that you are both mother and virgin; Mother of Christ and Virgin of Christ, we ask you to look down with a tender heart from your throne and listen to our prayers as we earnestly ask that you obtain for us the favor for which we now plead...
(State your intention here...)
O Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Mother of Christ, you had influence with your Divine Son while upon this earth; you have the same influence now in heaven. Pray for us and obtain for us from him the granting of my petition if it be the Divine Will. Amen.
The Mass = the re-presentation of the Sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross as the Eucharist (Communion) is truly Jesus Christ! We need to hope for better catechism in the future. A lot of these dropouts do not understand what a wonder they are truly missing! We don't go to Mass to get something out of it; we go to praise the King of Kings.DISILLUSIONMENT with the Catholic Church in the wake of sexual abuse scandals has contributed to a steady decline in Mass attendance, a report to the church's 43 bishops says [regarding Australia].
It also cites the restricted roles of women in the church, and a feeling that its leaders are "not intelligent, not vibrant and not relevant" as reasons for the decline.
Those who have stopped going to Mass who were interviewed for the church project Disconnected Catholics, published yesterday, complained of the silencing of prominent theologians and other Catholic thinkers, decisions being made without consultation and a church focused on rules, not compassion.
Some said their parish priest promoted an anti-intellectual environment where "his word was law and critical thinking discouraged". Others pointed to their priest's problem with alcohol, sexual indiscretions or abuse as a key reason for not attending Mass.
For some Catholics, faith no longer provided meaning or made sense. However, this was not driven by better education or widening scientific knowledge but a questioning of church teachings, the role of religion in world conflicts and a sense of uncertainty about the meaning of life and the existence of God, the study said.
"They spoke about fear and guilt, saying that these things prevented them from being able to trust in God and reach a more mature faith. Even after they had stopped going to Mass, they continued to feel guilt and to be conscious of a fear of going to hell."
Catholic bishops promised yesterday to learn from the study's findings and use it to form pastoral strategies to reach out to those Catholics who had ceased practising their faith and "chart a way forward".
The bishops noted that many of the study's participants were still open to returning to Mass. Half said they still attended Mass occasionally, and almost one-third said they might return to weekly Mass attendance.
Attendance has been falling in all age groups under 75 but, worryingly for the church, it has identified up to 60,000 young Catholics between the 1991 and 2001 censuses who no longer identified themselves as such.
"The research project is part of our deep and ongoing desire to connect with people who have left the church and to listen to their experiences, so that we might identify ways to reach out to them and welcome them back," the bishops said.
The research on Disconnected Catholics was carried out by the Pastoral Projects Office of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference and involved interviewing 41 Catholics aged between 29 and 74. Other reasons given for non-attendance included time clashes with sport, work or family, people not feeling welcomed, sheer laziness and unkind gossip.
So, the First Sunday of Advent has arrived and with it the hope of the Second Coming of Christ. As we prepare to celebrate Christmas and remember the Birth of Christ, we prepare in Advent for the Second Coming of Our Lord. While His birth was known only by a few such as the shepherds and wisement, the whole world shall see His Glory when He returns to "judge the living and the dead." Today we light the first candle on the Advent Wreath.
Yesterday night, Pope Benedict XVI celebrated the First Solemn Vespers of Advent. Last year, Pope Benedict XVI said, "I ask you all to prepare for Advent with spiritual fervor, drawing from the word of God and the Eucharist interior energy for welcoming the Lord who comes" (Source) Photo Source: REUTERS/Giampiero Sposito (ITALY)
This first week of Advent is themed on hope. This hope is entirely in Our Savior - no where else can we have hope. As the homily I heard today described, this world will pass away, but the Lord and all eternity will remain (Mark 13:31). We must be ready for His coming. I was out in the Christmas rush Friday and enjoyed the shopping; the sales were great. But, we must never let our lives secularize Christmas that we focus completely on "Santa" and presents but forget about our Lord's Birth. Christmas is the Birth of our Lord, the greatest hope of the human race. He chose to be born in a manager, in the cold instead of all the glory He deserved. Meditate on that love of Christ this week, He chose poverty. Let's pray that He may be our hope and we will chose Him.
Advent is like a mini-Lent, a time of penance and preparation. May this period of penance and preparation make you worthy to celebrate Christmas. Ask yourself this question now and then at the end of Advent, "Are you prepared now to stand before the Son of Man?"
For some Advent resources see the Advent & Christmas Compilation Post.
Fr. Lawrence Smith said:
Traditional Propers:
INTROIT
Psalms 24: 1-3
To Thee, O Lord, have I lifted up my soul: in Thee, O my God, I put my trust; let me not be ashamed. Neither let my enemies laugh at me: for none of them that wait on Thee shall be confounded. Ps. Show, O Lord, Thy ways to me, and teach me Thy paths. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. To Thee...
COLLECT - Bestir, O Lord, Thy might, we pray Thee and come; That, defended by Thee, we may deserve rescue from approaching dangers brought on by our sins, and being set free by Thee, obtain our salvation. Who livest and reignest with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.
EPISTLE
Romans 13:11-14
Brethren, knowing the time, that it is now the hour for us to rise from sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we believed. The night is past, and the day is at hand; let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and impurities, not in contention and envy; but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ.
Gradual
Psalms. 24: 3-4
None of them that wait on Thee shall be confounded. Show, O Lord, Thy ways to me, and teach me Thy paths.
LESSER ALLELUIA - ALLELUIA, alleluia. V. Ps. 84, 8. Show us, O Lord, Thy mercy: and grant us Thy salvation. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
Luke 21:25-33
At that time, Jesus said to His disciples: There shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, by reason of the confusion of the roaring of the sea and of the waves: men withering away for fear and expectation of what shall come upon the whole world. For the powers of heaven shall be moved; and then they shall see the Son of man coming in a cloud with great power and majesty. But when these things begin to come to pass, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is at hand. And He spoke to them a similitude: See the fig tree, and all the trees; when they now shoot forth their fruit, you know that summer is nigh; so you also, when you shall see these things come to pass, know that the kingdom of God is at hand. Amen I say to you, this generation shall not pass away till all things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away.
OFFERTORY
Psalms 24:1,-3
To Thee have I lifted up my soul: in Thee, O my God, I put my trust, let me not be ashamed: neither let my enemies laugh at me: for none of them that wait for Thee shall be confounded.
SECRET - May, O Lord, these Sacred Rites enable us, whom by Thy mighty power Thou hast cleansed from sin, to come pure in heart before Thee who art their author. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.. .
PREFACE (Preface of the Most Holy Trinity) - It it truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God; Who, together with Thine only-begotten Son, and the Holy Ghost, art one God, one Lord: not in the oneness of a single Person, but in the Trinity of one substance. For what we believe by Thy revelation of Thy glory, the same do we believe of Thy Son, the same of the Holy Ghost, without difference or separation. So that in confessing the true and everlasting Godhead, distinction in persons, unity in essence, and equality in majesty may be adored. Which the Angels and Archangels, the Cherubim also and Seraphim do praise: who cease not daily to cry out, with one voice saying:
COMMUNION
Psalms 84: 13
The Lord will give goodness: and our earth shall yield her fruit.
POST COMMUNION - May we in the midst of Thy holy temple, O Lord, receive of Thy mercy, who seek with fitting honour to welcome the coming festival of our Redemption. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.
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Yesterday night, Pope Benedict XVI celebrated the First Solemn Vespers of Advent. Last year, Pope Benedict XVI said, "I ask you all to prepare for Advent with spiritual fervor, drawing from the word of God and the Eucharist interior energy for welcoming the Lord who comes" (Source) Photo Source: REUTERS/Giampiero Sposito (ITALY)
This first week of Advent is themed on hope. This hope is entirely in Our Savior - no where else can we have hope. As the homily I heard today described, this world will pass away, but the Lord and all eternity will remain (Mark 13:31). We must be ready for His coming. I was out in the Christmas rush Friday and enjoyed the shopping; the sales were great. But, we must never let our lives secularize Christmas that we focus completely on "Santa" and presents but forget about our Lord's Birth. Christmas is the Birth of our Lord, the greatest hope of the human race. He chose to be born in a manager, in the cold instead of all the glory He deserved. Meditate on that love of Christ this week, He chose poverty. Let's pray that He may be our hope and we will chose Him.
Advent is like a mini-Lent, a time of penance and preparation. May this period of penance and preparation make you worthy to celebrate Christmas. Ask yourself this question now and then at the end of Advent, "Are you prepared now to stand before the Son of Man?"
For some Advent resources see the Advent & Christmas Compilation Post.
Fr. Lawrence Smith said:
Advent is the time to make ready for Christ to live with us. Lent is the time to make us ready to die with Christ. Advent makes Lent possible. Lent makes salvation possible. Advent is the time when eternity approaches earth. Lent is the time when time reaches consummation in Christ's eternal Sacrifice to the Father. Advent leads to Christ's life in time on earth. Lent leads to Christ's eternal Life in Heaven. The Cross -- through the Mass, penance, and mortification -- is the bridge connecting Advent and Lent, Christ and His Church, man and God.
Each of the Church's penitential seasons is a dying to the world with the goal of attaining new life in Christ.
Traditional Propers:INTROIT
Psalms 24: 1-3
To Thee, O Lord, have I lifted up my soul: in Thee, O my God, I put my trust; let me not be ashamed. Neither let my enemies laugh at me: for none of them that wait on Thee shall be confounded. Ps. Show, O Lord, Thy ways to me, and teach me Thy paths. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. To Thee...
COLLECT - Bestir, O Lord, Thy might, we pray Thee and come; That, defended by Thee, we may deserve rescue from approaching dangers brought on by our sins, and being set free by Thee, obtain our salvation. Who livest and reignest with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.
EPISTLE
Romans 13:11-14
Brethren, knowing the time, that it is now the hour for us to rise from sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we believed. The night is past, and the day is at hand; let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and impurities, not in contention and envy; but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ.
Gradual
Psalms. 24: 3-4
None of them that wait on Thee shall be confounded. Show, O Lord, Thy ways to me, and teach me Thy paths.
LESSER ALLELUIA - ALLELUIA, alleluia. V. Ps. 84, 8. Show us, O Lord, Thy mercy: and grant us Thy salvation. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
Luke 21:25-33
At that time, Jesus said to His disciples: There shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, by reason of the confusion of the roaring of the sea and of the waves: men withering away for fear and expectation of what shall come upon the whole world. For the powers of heaven shall be moved; and then they shall see the Son of man coming in a cloud with great power and majesty. But when these things begin to come to pass, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is at hand. And He spoke to them a similitude: See the fig tree, and all the trees; when they now shoot forth their fruit, you know that summer is nigh; so you also, when you shall see these things come to pass, know that the kingdom of God is at hand. Amen I say to you, this generation shall not pass away till all things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away.
OFFERTORY
Psalms 24:1,-3
To Thee have I lifted up my soul: in Thee, O my God, I put my trust, let me not be ashamed: neither let my enemies laugh at me: for none of them that wait for Thee shall be confounded.
SECRET - May, O Lord, these Sacred Rites enable us, whom by Thy mighty power Thou hast cleansed from sin, to come pure in heart before Thee who art their author. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.. .
PREFACE (Preface of the Most Holy Trinity) - It it truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God; Who, together with Thine only-begotten Son, and the Holy Ghost, art one God, one Lord: not in the oneness of a single Person, but in the Trinity of one substance. For what we believe by Thy revelation of Thy glory, the same do we believe of Thy Son, the same of the Holy Ghost, without difference or separation. So that in confessing the true and everlasting Godhead, distinction in persons, unity in essence, and equality in majesty may be adored. Which the Angels and Archangels, the Cherubim also and Seraphim do praise: who cease not daily to cry out, with one voice saying:
COMMUNION
Psalms 84: 13
The Lord will give goodness: and our earth shall yield her fruit.
POST COMMUNION - May we in the midst of Thy holy temple, O Lord, receive of Thy mercy, who seek with fitting honour to welcome the coming festival of our Redemption. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.
Here are all of my posts and other links relating to Advent and Christmas. I put them in this compilation to make it easier for others to use."Rejoice and be glad that so great and good a Lord, on coming into the Virgin's womb, willed to appear despised, needy, and poor in this world, so that men who were in dire poverty and suffering great need of heavenly food might be made rich in Him" (St. Clare of Assisi).
Advent Information:
- What is Advent?
- Advent: Beginning of the Liturgical Year and Source of Rich Liturgical Meditations
- Advent Traditions
- Advent Resolution Sheet
- Jesus' Birthday Present: Go to Confession
- O Antiphons
- The Rorate Mass: A Dawn Mass Said Only By Candlelight
- St. Martin's Lent and the Advent Fast
- Midnight Mass & The Traditional Eucharistic Fast
- Mass Propers: Mass of Midnight, Mass of Dawn, Mass of the Day
- The Comites of Christ (Dec 26, 27, and 28) as Former Holy Days of Obligation
- Indulgences for Praying the Divine Office on Christmas Day
- The Twelve Days of Christmas Song
- St. John Chrysostom's Christmas Homily
Feastdays / Fast days During Advent/ & Christmastide:
- November 30: St. Andrew
- December 6: St. Nicholas
- December 7: St. Ambrose & the Vigil of the Immaculate Conception
- December 8: Immaculate Conception
- December 12: Our Lady of Guadalupe
- December 13: St. Lucy
- Date Varies: Advent Embertide
- December 15: Octave Day of the Immaculate Conception
- December 18: Expectation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Mass in Some Places)
- December 21: St. Thomas the Apostle
- December 24: Vigil of the Nativity
- December 25: Christmas
- December 26: St. Stephen the Martyr
- December 27: St. John the Apostle
- December 28: Holy Innocents
- December 29: St. Thomas Becket
- December 31: St. Sylvester I
- Date Varies: Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity
- Jan 1st Feast of the Circumcision of Jesus
- Jan 2nd Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus; Octave Day of St. Stephen Protomartyr
- Jan 3rd Octave Day of St. John
- Jan 4th Octave Day of the Holy Innocents
- Jan 5th Vigil of the Epiphany
- Jan 6th The Epiphany of Our Lord
- Jan 13th Octave Day of the Epiphany / Baptism of the Lord
- Blessings for Advent Wreath
- St. Andrew Christmas Novena (Nov. 30 - Dec. 24)
- Immaculate Conception Novena (Nov. 30 - Dec. 8)
- Christmas Novena (Dec. 16 - 24th)
- Traditional Prayer of Blessing for a Christmas Tree
- Traditional Blessing for the Nativity (Creche) Scene
- Novena to the Magi
- Pray for the Souls in Purgatory (Dec. 25)
- Holy Family Prayer
- Epiphanytide
Saturday, December 2, 2006
I have posted the Catholic Community Forum's December Rosary Intentions. Please pray for those intentions. Please also pray for the prayer request on Our Divine Inheritance. Also here are Pope Benedict XVI's intentions for the month of December:
General: That Christ, meek and humble of heart, may inspire those responsible for nations to use power wisely and responsibly.
Missionary: That in every part of the world missionaries may live out their vocation with joy and enthusiasm, faithfully following in Christ's footsteps.
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General: That Christ, meek and humble of heart, may inspire those responsible for nations to use power wisely and responsibly.
Missionary: That in every part of the world missionaries may live out their vocation with joy and enthusiasm, faithfully following in Christ's footsteps.
PRAYER TO THE
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
O God, who by the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, did prepare a worthy dwelling place for Your Son, we beseech You that, as by the foreseen death of this, Your Son, You did preserve Her from all stain, so too You would permit us, purified through Her intercession, to come unto You.Through the same Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end.
Amen.
Day Three
O Blessed Virgin Mary, glory of the Christian people, joy of the universal Church and Mother of Our Lord, speak for us to the Heart of Jesus, who is your Son and our brother. O Mary, who by your holy Immaculate Conception did enter the world free from stain, in your mercy obtain for us from Jesus the special favor which we now so earnestly seek...
(State your intention here...)
O Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Mother of Christ, you had influence with your Divine Son while upon this earth; you have the same influence now in heaven. Pray for us and obtain for us from him the granting of my petition if it be the Divine Will. Amen.
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
O God, who by the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, did prepare a worthy dwelling place for Your Son, we beseech You that, as by the foreseen death of this, Your Son, You did preserve Her from all stain, so too You would permit us, purified through Her intercession, to come unto You.Through the same Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end.
Amen.
Day Three
O Blessed Virgin Mary, glory of the Christian people, joy of the universal Church and Mother of Our Lord, speak for us to the Heart of Jesus, who is your Son and our brother. O Mary, who by your holy Immaculate Conception did enter the world free from stain, in your mercy obtain for us from Jesus the special favor which we now so earnestly seek...
(State your intention here...)
O Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Mother of Christ, you had influence with your Divine Son while upon this earth; you have the same influence now in heaven. Pray for us and obtain for us from him the granting of my petition if it be the Divine Will. Amen.
Yesterday, Pope Benedict XVI celebrated a very beautiful votive Mass for the Holy Spirit in the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Turkey before leaving the country. The languages used at the Mass included Latin, Turkish, French, German, Syriac, Arabic and Spanish. Also, the ritual sequences represented the presence of various Eastern Rites.
According to Zenit, "The Armenians chanted the entrance song and the Sanctus; the Chaldeans chanted the responsorial Psalm and the offertory song, in Aramaic. And the Syrians chanted the Gospel in accordance with their own ritual usage." Before the Mass, the Holy Father released four doves, a symbol of peace.
At the airport, he said goodbye to the Turkish Catholic bishops, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, Armenian Patriarch Mesrob II, and Syrian Orthodox Metropolitan Filuksinos Cetin.
Photos:
According to Zenit, "The Armenians chanted the entrance song and the Sanctus; the Chaldeans chanted the responsorial Psalm and the offertory song, in Aramaic. And the Syrians chanted the Gospel in accordance with their own ritual usage." Before the Mass, the Holy Father released four doves, a symbol of peace.
At the airport, he said goodbye to the Turkish Catholic bishops, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, Armenian Patriarch Mesrob II, and Syrian Orthodox Metropolitan Filuksinos Cetin.
Photos:
REUTERS/Osservatore Romano (TURKEY)
Friday, December 1, 2006
Blog Readers,I ask all of you to go over to Our Divine Inheritance and read a very poignant prayer request for a child with only 2-3 weeks to live. Please offer your prayers for these next few weeks for the child's soul and comfort for the family, who probably will arrive on Christmas morning without their child. Please visit the post. Perhaps you can even write letters to the family of the child and post them over there. Hopefully, the letters can be passed on from the blogger at Our Divine Inheritance to the person that asked for prayers.
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