tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71440468042236668762024-02-07T04:17:34.701-02:00PATRON SAINT OF THE YEAR DEVOTION 2014Participating In And Having A Heavenly Intercessor To Walk With You On Your JourneyMariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18303551144508569513noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144046804223666876.post-50953775256814409232014-12-31T14:18:00.000-02:002014-12-31T14:18:29.245-02:00<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The Patron Saint of the Year blog is continuing so please don't be discouraged or impatient! I have been in and out of the hospital for the last few months and have not kept up with the blog like I should have. I hope you accept my apology for that. I am currently working on the new blog page for 2015 but in the meantime, am accepting requests for a Patron Saint of the Year 2015. I will keep your email after sending your your saint(s) et al and then let you know when the new site is up. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I hope your Christmas was one of joy and am wishing and praying that 2015 will be full of much love, happiness and continued blessings!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I look forward to hearing from you soon!!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">God bless you always!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Marianne</span></div>
Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18303551144508569513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144046804223666876.post-36843127105207794822014-07-12T12:00:00.000-02:002014-07-12T12:00:46.232-02:00<div align="center" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: navy;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Father's Love Letter</span></span></b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">My Child,</span></b><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">You may not know me, but I know everything about you…Psalm 139:1</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
</div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I know when you sit down and when you rise up…Psalm 139:2</span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></b><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /><b>I am familiar with all your ways…Psalm 139:3</b></span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b> </b><br /><b>Even the very hairs on your head are numbered…Matthew 10:29-31 </b></span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /><b>For you were made in my image…Genesis <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1346365942" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">1:27</span></span> </b></span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /><b>In me you live and move and have your being…Acts <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1346365943" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">17:28</span></span> </b></span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /><b>For you are my offspring…Acts <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1346365944" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">17:28</span></span> </b></span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /><b>I knew you even before you were conceived…Jeremiah 1:4-5 </b></span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /><b>I chose you when I planned creation…Ephesians 1:11-12 </b></span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /><b>You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book…Psalm 139:15-16</b></span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /><b>I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live…Acts <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1346365945" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">17:26</span></span> </b></span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /><b>You are fearfully and wonderfully made…Psalm 139:14 </b></span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /><b>I knit you together in your mother's womb…Psalm 139:13 </b></span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /><b>And brought you forth on the day you were born…Psalm 71:6</b></span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b> </b><br /><b>I have been misrepresented by those who don't know me…John 8:41-44</b></span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /><b>I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love…1 John <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1346365946" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">4:16</span></span> </b></span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /><b>And it is my desire to lavish my love on you…1 John 3:1</b></span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b> </b><br /><b>Simply because you are my child and I am your father…1 John 3:1</b></span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b> </b><br /><b>I offer you more than your earthly father ever could…Matthew <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1346365947" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">7:11</span></span></b></span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b> </b><br /><b>For I am the perfect father…Matthew <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1346365948" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">5:48</span></span> </b></span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /><b>Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand…James <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1346365949" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">1:17</span></span></b></span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b> </b><br /><b>For I am your provider and I meet all your needs…Matthew 6:31-33</b></span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b> </b><br /><b>My plan for your future has always been filled with hope…Jeremiah 29:11</b></span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b> </b><br /><b>Because I love you with an everlasting love…Jeremiah 31:3</b></span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b> </b><br /><b>My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore…Psalm 139:17-18</b></span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b> </b><br /><b>And I rejoice over you with singing…Zephaniah <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1346365950" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">3:17</span></span></b></span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b> </b><br /><b>I will never stop doing good to you…Jeremiah 32:40</b></span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b> </b><br /><b>For you are my treasured possession…Exodus 19:5</b></span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b> </b><br /><b>I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul…Jeremiah 32:41 </b></span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /><b>And I want to show you great and marvelous things…Jeremiah 33:3</b></span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b> </b><br /><b>If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me…Deuteronomy <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1346365951" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">4:29</span></span></b></span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b> </b><br /><b>Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart…Psalm 37:4</b></span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b> </b><br /><b>For it is I who gave you those desires…Philippians <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1346365952" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">2:13</span></span></b></span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b> </b><br /><b>I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine…Ephesians <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1346365953" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">3:20</span></span></b></span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b> </b><br /><b>For I am your greatest encourager…2 Thessalonians 2:16-17</b></span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b> </b><br /><b>I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles…2 Corinthians 1:3-4 </b></span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /><b>When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you…Psalm 34:18</b></span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b> </b><br /><b>As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart…Isaiah 40:11</b></span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b> </b><br /><b>One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes…Revelation 21:3-4</b></span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b> </b><br /><b>And I'll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth…Revelation 21:3-4</b></span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b> </b><br /><b>I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus…John <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1346365954" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">17:23</span></span> </b></span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /><b>For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed…John <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1346365955" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">17:26</span></span></b></span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b> </b><br /><b>He is the exact representation of my being…Hebrews 1:3 </b></span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /><b>He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you…Romans <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1346365956" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">8:31</span></span></b></span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b> </b><br /><b>And to tell you that I am not counting your sins…2 Corinthians 5:18-19</b></span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /><b>Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled…2 Corinthians 5:18-19</b></span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b> </b><br /><b>His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you…1 John <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1346365957" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">4:10</span></span></b></span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b> </b><br /><b>I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love…Romans 8:31-32</b></span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b> </b><br /><b>If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me…1 John <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1346365958" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">2:23</span></span></b></span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b> </b><br /><b>And nothing will ever separate you from my love again…Romans 8:38-39</b></span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b> </b><br /><b>Come home and I'll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen…Luke 15:7 </b></span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /><b>I have always been Father, and will always be Father…Ephesians 3:14-15 </b></span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /><b>My question is…Will you be my child?…John 1:12-13 </b></span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /><b>I am waiting for you…Luke 15:11-32 </b><br /><b><br /></b></span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>Love, </b></span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>Your Father, Almighty God</b></span></b></div>
Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18303551144508569513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144046804223666876.post-71659627533820371422014-06-12T16:00:00.001-02:002014-06-12T16:00:53.318-02:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhheykOYpip5Y5cmKmfWOJCEjAvl2o4T369DYAf34p1skREBJDeycnNV-RX44HPDDRHCGUod0d-rP5GR4Ct9nqjXwUNlv1MAjHfH7IT11edX-OWjk24DZD-46BGHDtRzreodZnhDS1GK_E_/s1600/holy+spirit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhheykOYpip5Y5cmKmfWOJCEjAvl2o4T369DYAf34p1skREBJDeycnNV-RX44HPDDRHCGUod0d-rP5GR4Ct9nqjXwUNlv1MAjHfH7IT11edX-OWjk24DZD-46BGHDtRzreodZnhDS1GK_E_/s1600/holy+spirit.jpg" height="105" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 29px; margin-bottom: 26px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">The Gift of Gifts, the Paraclete, the Counselor and Consoler, Friend, Sanctifier, Third Person of the Blessed Trinity</strong>—all of these are different titles given to the Person of the Holy Spirit. The power of the Holy Spirit is to transform sinners into great saints—as we saw in the Apostles, and especially Simon Peter. Saint John XXIII actually said: “The saints are the masterpieces of the Holy Spirit.” <i><u>A future saint can be you and me. (HURRAY!!)</u></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 29px; margin-bottom: 26px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
Here are ten specific ways that we can deepen our knowledge, love, intimacy and union with the Holy Spirit and thereby allow Him to do the work of transforming us from sinners into saints. It can be done if we become docile instruments in the hands of God who is the Holy Spirit! “Come Holy Spirit, come, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary!”</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 29px; margin-bottom: 26px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
1. <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">Prayer</em>. Form the habit if praying to the Holy Spirit on a frequent basis. You could pray the traditional prayer to the Holy Spirit: “Come Holy Spirit fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle within us the fire of your divine love.” If you like the hymn in Latin: “Veni Creator”; or the Sequence prayed on Pentecost “Veni, Sancte Spiritus.” Or you might sing the classical hymn to the Holy Spirit, “<em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">Come Holy Ghost.”</em><em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"> </em> Or it might appeal to you to pray the <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">Litany of the Holy Spirit.</em> Never forget, you can pray and talk to the Holy Spirit using your own words, simply speak to Him from your heart.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 29px; margin-bottom: 26px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
2. <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">Acts of the Apostles</em>. Read the book from the Bible, “The Acts of the Apostles”. Written by the Evangelist Saint Luke, this book clearly shows the powerful working of the Holy Spirit in the Apostles—especially Saint Peter and St. Paul—as well as the formation of the primitive church. As you read be keenly attentive to the presence and workings of the Holy Spirit and beg Him to work powerfully in your own personal life! “Come Holy Spirit come….”</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 29px; margin-bottom: 26px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
3. <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">Gifts of the Holy Spirit</em>. Get to know the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. You received the Gifts of the Holy Spirit the day of your Baptism. These Gifts were fortified the day of your Confirmation. However, these Gifts must be used and exercised. If these Gifts are not used then they become rusty, dormant, and inactive. Memorize them and study them. Here they are: Wisdom, Knowledge, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Piety and Fear of the Lord. These gifts, according to St. Thomas Aquinas, perfect our intellect and our will—so that we can know God more clearly and love Him more ardently.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 29px; margin-bottom: 26px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
4. <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">Silence</em>. We must cultivate zones of silence in our daily lives, even though many of us have to combine the Martha and Mary (The Active and the Contemplative) in a harmonious balance. Still the danger is to launch ourselves into a frenetic activism whereby there is little time for prayer and much less for silence. The Holy Spirit speaks to a heart that is ready to listen in silence. With Samuel in the temple we should pray: “Speak O Lord for your servant is listening.”</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 29px; margin-bottom: 26px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
5. <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">Docility</em>. Silence is a prerequisite to move on to the next step—docility to the Holy Spirit. A person who is living in the state of grace, honestly pursuing a life of holiness and seeking perfection will be exposed to heavenly inspirations that come from the Holy Spirit. The key is an ability to listen to these gentle but insistent inspirations, discern them coming from God and then the most difficult is to follow and obey these inspirations. The Holy Spirit is so to speak a “Gentleman” and will never force Himself upon anybody. Rather, He waits patiently for us to respond and then He can work very powerfully only if we are silent, humble and obedient.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 29px; margin-bottom: 26px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
6. <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">Spiritual Readings</em>. Highly to be recommended, with respect to learning to be docile to the Holy Spirit, is the reading of a spiritual masterpiece <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">“The School of the Holy Spirit”,</em><em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"> </em>written by the French spiritual master Jacques Philippe. The essence of this book is very clear and simple. If we want to arrive at sanctity of life we must get to know the Holy Spirit, love the Holy Spirit and manifest this knowledge and love by being docile to His heavenly inspirations.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 29px; margin-bottom: 26px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
7. <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">Be Careful and Alert</em>. The work of the devil is to discourage us, make us sad and to push us into desolation and then despair. Be aware of the workings of the Holy Spirit. The workings of “The sweet Guest of the soul” are the direct opposite of the devil. How does the Holy Spirit work? St. Ignatius of Loyola in his rules for discernment specifies how the Good Spirit works. He strengthens our resolve to follow Jesus and fortifies our faith, hope, charity. He infuses peace and joy and energy to follow the Lord. He encourages us to lift our mind to heaven. He consoles us with the thoughts of the eternal salvation of our soul. Therefore, do not allow the devil to discourage you, but let the Holy Spirit encourage and strengthen you.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 29px; margin-bottom: 26px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
8. <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">Prayer, Penance, Power, Perseverance, & Perfection</em>. Try to connect these “5 P’s” to union with the Holy Spirit; all are necessary for a constant and growing union with the Holy Spirit. We must pray to the Sanctifier. Also, as Mary and the Apostles acted in the Cenacle for this powerful novena, we must practice penance or self-denial. This will give our will power— or if you like “Will-power” to do good. However, the journey can be long and cumbersome, we must persevere and if we fall bounce back. Then if we are faithful to the first 4’P’s the Holy Spirit will bring us to perfection in the following of Jesus.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 29px; margin-bottom: 26px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
9. <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">Loneliness? Problems?</em> If you experience loneliness and are weighed down by many problems then never forget to enter into the depths of your soul and speak to the Holy Spirit whose name is “Sweet Guest of the soul”. You will recognize that you are really not alone and that your problems and crosses are not as heavy as you think. Rather, the Holy Spirit can help you to resolve your problems or at least help you to cope with them.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 29px; margin-bottom: 26px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">10.Mary and the Holy Spirit.</em> Mary is the Daughter of God the Father, the Mother of God the Son, and she is the Mystical Spouse of the Holy Spirit. St. Maximilian Kolbe has written brilliantly on the intimate relationship between Mary and the Holy Spirit. Also Saint Louis de Montfort has gone so far in saying: “Those who love Mary, the Holy Spirit flings Himself into that soul,” if you like, as a powerful Frisbee cutting through the air going from one hand to the next. If you want to have a powerful invasion in your heart of the Holy Spirit, a personal Pentecost experience in your life, then why not turn to Mary. As the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles the day of Pentecost through Mary’s prayers and presence, He can descend into your soul through the prayers and presence of Mary. “Come Holy Spirit, come, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary.”</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 29px; margin-bottom: 26px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<br /></div>
Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18303551144508569513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144046804223666876.post-46383226281447733122014-06-08T15:41:00.000-02:002014-06-08T15:41:32.177-02:00<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>HAPPY PENTECOST SUNDAY!</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>LET'S GO SPREAD THE GOSPEL!</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii80H6utunzp1zkDw_YXMMz-56JM4ZCJ1I_bG5ztg0ZXlAfntnpB8MXaju4RO6oO56aBk5JQHDhgpaWJ4x0mNCa-WkAZumPs0-MDXIB_-sAEdW40GLsgqa_6oL9OhNY36Ft6CAHiDFx2df/s1600/pentecost.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii80H6utunzp1zkDw_YXMMz-56JM4ZCJ1I_bG5ztg0ZXlAfntnpB8MXaju4RO6oO56aBk5JQHDhgpaWJ4x0mNCa-WkAZumPs0-MDXIB_-sAEdW40GLsgqa_6oL9OhNY36Ft6CAHiDFx2df/s1600/pentecost.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18303551144508569513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144046804223666876.post-74816561414715900952014-05-30T12:13:00.003-02:002014-05-30T12:13:59.442-02:00<table id="yiv8333708556itemcontentlist" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; word-break: break-word;"><tbody id="yui_3_16_0_1_1401459036794_2213" style="width: 692px;">
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1401459036794_2212"><td id="yui_3_16_0_1_1401459036794_2211" style="border-spacing: 2px; line-height: 1.4em; margin-bottom: 0px;"><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1401459036794_2266" style="margin-bottom: 3px; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;">
<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/silentinsight/CcHN/~3/UFGam5EgwFY/daily-meditation-wisdom-for-living.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1401459036794_2267" name="1" rel="nofollow" style="background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); color: #000099; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Meditation - </a></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1401459036794_2266" style="margin-bottom: 3px; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1401459036794_2250" style="margin: 0px;">
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1401459036794_2265" style="padding: 0px;">
<em id="yui_3_16_0_1_1401459036794_2283"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1401459036794_2282" style="font-weight: 700;">Some daily wisdom</span></em></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1401459036794_2265" style="padding: 0px;">
<em><span style="font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></em></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1401459036794_2251" style="padding: 0px;">
1) Pray / be silent (15 Min.) each day and if you are really busy do it for an hour.</div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1401459036794_2249" style="padding: 0px;">
2) Exercise a little each day</div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1401459036794_2284" style="padding: 0px;">
3) Read a little each day - something that challenges your mind.</div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1401459036794_2285" style="padding: 0px;">
4) Do something just because you want to each day.</div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1401459036794_2286" style="padding: 0px;">
5) Eat & drink in moderation</div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1401459036794_2288" style="padding: 0px;">
<em id="yui_3_16_0_1_1401459036794_2287">Source: Adapted from a March 2000 retreat talk by the late Fr. Jim Babb, SJ - St. Ignatius House, </em><em>Atlanta </em><em>, </em><em>GA</em></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1401459036794_2289" style="padding: 0px;">
______________________________________________________</div>
</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18303551144508569513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144046804223666876.post-89719270453444463392014-04-27T19:31:00.000-02:002014-04-27T19:31:03.762-02:00<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>May My Faith NEVER Falter</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYigeQSFav_UqTtWBKZAmbp0hdz6yxVZ7wyFQxIMFGQ0zXeUnIgQ4jEBgod6sa1EPTosGvlKETu91t3ouUtnNFfI1WoNxn-9Wgy_umlEsiiMdc-NhBUVNPhkZEThhG1hJNyPS1qV2Thu5-/s1600/divine+mercy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYigeQSFav_UqTtWBKZAmbp0hdz6yxVZ7wyFQxIMFGQ0zXeUnIgQ4jEBgod6sa1EPTosGvlKETu91t3ouUtnNFfI1WoNxn-9Wgy_umlEsiiMdc-NhBUVNPhkZEThhG1hJNyPS1qV2Thu5-/s1600/divine+mercy.jpg" height="186" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18303551144508569513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144046804223666876.post-59309367527015887782014-04-27T19:08:00.000-02:002014-04-27T19:08:30.719-02:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>SAINT John Paul II</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq0nn3k9U8u51yE5rLvNYJ0oyEccnoNhk8xYCPnLWcc3a8XjlEEpg5cDKNpR08Jp33BQtN66vx4reCJhyRvYMnof4a6F8j1NK2X0yfXek1L0pt5IzIayavtQFAGG8ZHBJpXpnkwzw3x-ts/s1600/JohnPaulsaintly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq0nn3k9U8u51yE5rLvNYJ0oyEccnoNhk8xYCPnLWcc3a8XjlEEpg5cDKNpR08Jp33BQtN66vx4reCJhyRvYMnof4a6F8j1NK2X0yfXek1L0pt5IzIayavtQFAGG8ZHBJpXpnkwzw3x-ts/s1600/JohnPaulsaintly.jpg" height="320" width="207" /></a></div>
<br />Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18303551144508569513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144046804223666876.post-62462802463087055362014-04-27T19:06:00.002-02:002014-04-27T19:06:22.997-02:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>SAINT Pope John XXIII</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZQK8eWOEO-wnJkxnR5R8Hs7141ah2vMaFIH8lrh3p99WnO9fePpyqu8UePOlXKhyB8-dCtOyGoXMGYJzA6Y1zcYlVpe0swO576iYfMwyHa-VqkqoRHs722zMO86c27YgL23NC9Zr52wXm/s1600/John_XXIII_9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZQK8eWOEO-wnJkxnR5R8Hs7141ah2vMaFIH8lrh3p99WnO9fePpyqu8UePOlXKhyB8-dCtOyGoXMGYJzA6Y1zcYlVpe0swO576iYfMwyHa-VqkqoRHs722zMO86c27YgL23NC9Zr52wXm/s1600/John_XXIII_9.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18303551144508569513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144046804223666876.post-37899125704902662272014-04-13T12:37:00.001-02:002014-04-13T12:37:09.552-02:00Holy Week in Two Minutes<br />
<br />
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HugMM_3FfnIMariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18303551144508569513noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144046804223666876.post-1942160688168717642014-04-12T21:58:00.001-02:002014-04-27T19:35:14.531-02:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrNPyhiW1Q282To5c1XnSGSKPcXnqboRQ5SZe3odT7j3fic32JVU4qUYII1VnhFFF4o6mzQiRISwd0bGGo6aDE4D4_oqTanppr-HXmrTPd7ovu1g5E-b4pneGD_w2t16aCQcFZ14IsXw2P/s1600/holy+week.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrNPyhiW1Q282To5c1XnSGSKPcXnqboRQ5SZe3odT7j3fic32JVU4qUYII1VnhFFF4o6mzQiRISwd0bGGo6aDE4D4_oqTanppr-HXmrTPd7ovu1g5E-b4pneGD_w2t16aCQcFZ14IsXw2P/s1600/holy+week.jpg" height="200" width="190" /></a></div>
<br />Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18303551144508569513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144046804223666876.post-19466594288455887242014-04-09T15:06:00.000-02:002014-04-09T15:06:15.723-02:00<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;">Something to think about ... </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Many saints have become saints because of the teaching and example of a parent or grandparent. Thus, the power of a living example. Holiness and Christian living are taught chiefly by personal influence, and it is the living instruction that flows from a holy life that leads others to holiness. As the old Latin maxim has it: Verbum sonat; exemplum tonat </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;">("Words make a noise, but example thunders").</span></span></div>
Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18303551144508569513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144046804223666876.post-63970872975705835442014-04-06T17:34:00.002-02:002014-04-09T13:37:54.088-02:00<br />
<div id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396812481126_2101" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif;">
<div id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396812481126_2100">
<div id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396812481126_2099">
<div id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396812481126_2098" style="text-align: center;">
<u><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 20pt;">How the Apostles Died</span></u><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396812481126_2105" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif;">
<div id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396812481126_2104">
<div id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396812481126_2103">
<div id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396812481126_2102">
<span id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396812481126_2106" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396812481126_2110" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif;">
<div id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396812481126_2109">
<div id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396812481126_2108">
<div id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396812481126_2107">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><b><u><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Matthew</span></u></b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">: </span><span id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396812481126_2111" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Suffered martyrdom in Ethiopia ; killed by a sword wound.</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 7pt;"> </span><br />
<b><u><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></u></b>
<b><u><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Mark</span></u></b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">: </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Died in Alexandria , Egypt , after being dragged by Horses through the streets until he was dead.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></u></b>
<b><u><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Luke</span></u></b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">: </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Was hanged in Greece as a result of his tremendous Preaching to the lost.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></u></b>
<b><u><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">John</span></u></b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">: </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Faced martyrdom when he was boiled in huge Basin of boiling oil during a wave of persecution In Rome. However, he was miraculously delivered from death.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">John was then sentenced to the mines on the prison Island of Patmos . He wrote his prophetic Book of Revelation on Patmos . The apostle John was later freed and returned to serve As Bishop of Edessa in modern Turkey . He died as an old man, the only apostle to die peacefully.</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif;">
<br />
<b><u><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Peter</span></u></b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">: </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">He was crucified upside down on an x-shaped cross. According to church tradition it was because he told his tormentors that he felt unworthy to die In the same way that Jesus Christ had died.</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></u></b>
<b><u><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">James</span></u></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">: The leader of the church in Jerusalem was thrown over a hundred feet down from the southeast pinnacle of the Temple when he refused to deny his faith in Christ. When they discovered that he survived the fall, his enemies beat James to death with a fuller's club.<br />* This was the same pinnacle where Satan had taken Jesus during the Temptation.</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif;">
<br />
<b><u><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">James the Great</span></u></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">: Son of Zebedee, was a fisherman by trade when Jesus Called him to a lifetime of ministry. As a strong leader of the church, James was ultimately beheaded at Jerusalem . The Roman officer who guarded James watched amazed as James defended his faith at his trial. Later, the officer walked beside James to the place of execution. Overcome by conviction, he declared his new faith to the judge and Knelt beside James to accept beheading as a Christian.</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></u></b>
<b><u><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Bartholomew</span></u></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">: Also known as Nathaniel Was a missionary to Asia . He witnessed for our Lord in present day Turkey . Bartholomew was martyred for his preaching in Armenia where he was flayed to death by a whip.</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></u></b>
<b><u><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Andrew</span></u></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">: Was crucified on an x-shaped cross in Patras , Greece . After being whipped severely by seven soldiers they tied his body to the cross with cords to prolong his agony. His followers reported that, when he was led toward the cross, Andrew saluted it in these words: 'I have long desired and expected this happy hour. The cross has been consecrated by the body of Christ hanging on it.' He continued to preach to his tormentors for two days until he expired.</span><br />
<b><u><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></u></b>
<b><u><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Thomas</span></u></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">: Was stabbed with a spear in India during one of his missionary trips to establish the church in the Sub-continent.</span></div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396812481126_2093" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif;">
<div id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396812481126_2092">
<div id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396812481126_2091">
<div id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396812481126_2090">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></u></b>
<b><u><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Jude</span></u></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">: Was killed with arrows when he refused to deny his faith in Christ.</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396812481126_2089" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif;">
<div id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396812481126_2088">
<div id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396812481126_2087">
<div id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396812481126_2086">
<b><u><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></u></b>
<b><u><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Matthias</span></u></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">: The apostle chosen to replace the traitor Judas Iscariot, was stoned and then beheaded.</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396812481126_2085" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif;">
<div id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396812481126_2084">
<div id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396812481126_2083">
<div id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396812481126_2082">
<b><u><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></u></b>
<b><u><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Paul</span></u></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">: Was tortured and then beheaded by the evil Emperor Nero at Rome in A.D. 67. Paul endured a lengthy imprisonment, which allowed him to write his many epistles to the churches he had formed throughout the Roman Empire . These letters, which taught many of the foundational Doctrines of Christianity, form a large portion of the New Testament.</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396812481126_2081" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif;">
<div id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396812481126_2080">
<div id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396812481126_2079">
<div id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396812481126_2078">
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396812481126_2077" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif;">
<div id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396812481126_2076">
<div id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396812481126_2075">
<div id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396812481126_2074">
<span id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396812481126_2073" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Perhaps this is a reminder to us that our sufferings here are indeed minor compared To the intense persecution and cold cruelty faced by the apostles and disciples during their times for the sake of the Faith.</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake:</span></i></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396812481126_2072" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif;">
<div id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396812481126_2071">
<div id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396812481126_2070">
<div id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396812481126_2069" style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">{But he that endureth to the end shall be saved}</span></i></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396812481126_2064" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #009200; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396812481126_2064" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<b id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396812481126_2067"><span id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396812481126_2066" style="color: #009200; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">Faith is not believing that God can,<br />It is knowing that God WILL!</span></b></div>
Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18303551144508569513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144046804223666876.post-87416727339611191902014-03-31T14:53:00.000-02:002014-03-31T14:53:06.530-02:00<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Courier New', courier, monaco, monospace, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 9pt 0in 0pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16.5pt;">SAINT JOSEPH<u></u><u></u><u></u></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Courier New', courier, monaco, monospace, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Mirror of Patience, Lover of Poverty, Model of workmen, ornament of the domestic life, guardian of virgins, Pillar of families, Solace of the afflicted, hope of the sick, Patron of the dying, terror of demons, Protector of Holy Church--- these praises refer to the greatest saint in the catholic church—aside from Jesus and Mary, but related to both of them—the Glorious saint Joseph!</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Courier New', courier, monaco, monospace, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u> <u></u></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Courier New', courier, monaco, monospace, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU7TztZXjsfhtneS2clw4dmH20vIg90qWw7E7zTzc_FAUeKRm95VhcpHzZJy-yfQIusTeuQB2P-_kFRoyW4aEYsB0VneS9zOCwgvq8knoliGwziBbZoNAejJUaFO_Q1nQZL0ooanLrVsw/s1600/jos6.jpg" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2288bb; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none;"><u></u><u></u><u></u><u></u><u></u><u></u><u></u><u></u><u></u><u></u><u></u><u></u><u></u><u></u><u></u><u></u><u></u><u></u><u></u><u></u><u></u><u></u><u></u><u></u><u></u><u></u><u></u><u></u><u></u><u></u><u></u><u></u><u></u><u></u><u></u><u></u><u></u><u></u><u></u></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Courier New', courier, monaco, monospace, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;">
<b style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">To follow is a brief outline of the various “Titles” given to Saint Joseph, with the hope that you will get to know Joseph, pray to him, love him entrust your life to him and experience—like St. Teresa of Avila and many of the saints his powerful intercession.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Courier New', courier, monaco, monospace, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">First, <u>MASTER OF THE INTERIOR LIFE. </u> A title given to him by St Teresa herself. Meaning, that to grow in our interior life, our spiritual life, our intimate union with God, St. Joseph can play an indispensable role! A very interesting parallel is that the Catechism of the Catholic Church likewise gives another “Person” that same name: THE HOLY SPIRIT--- “Master of the interior life”. Hence, why not beg good St. Joseph for the grace to make huge strides in your interior life; he is waiting, ready and willing to grant you this excellent request!</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Courier New', courier, monaco, monospace, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEies5_DXRmLXhMh4p6zPElXAHNv7J3KLqlJQtY5mwrrI1omvOay6lHU9txIUKrvzPFlDeQ36SU7csxUKeP1Gy_5WPL4uJtGmVnO-7UMnuI7quHF1A1Xu4yhYwQPaRFR01g0JKBv6OzYecE/s1600/jos...1.jpg" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2288bb; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none;"><u></u><u></u><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><u></u><u></u></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Courier New', courier, monaco, monospace, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u> <u></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Courier New', courier, monaco, monospace, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Second, <u>TEACHER OF PRAYER. </u> Related to being the “Master of the Interior Life" is that of being the “Teacher of prayer”. Joseph acquired a most profound interior life of prayer and without a doubt lived the injunction of Jesus: “It is necessary to pray always, without losing heart. “ (Lk. 18:1). Prayers in the morning, prayers with Jesus before work, prayers before meals, prayers in the synagogue, prayers on the way to the Temple in caravan, prayers in family, the Psalms with Jesus and Mary, private and spontaneous prayer--- all of these were offered by good St. Joseph with fervor, humility and purity of intention. Mind-boggling, staggering the human imagination, ineffable and beyond words is the following: Joseph also taught Jesus to pray! In His Human nature Jesus grew in wisdom, age and grace before God and man. He learned to walk, eat, work, and speak. Therefore, it was both Mary and Joseph that taught Jesus human words by which he could speak to God the Father. “Abba”—meaning “Daddy” was most possibly one of the first words that St. Joseph taught Jesus so that he could begin to speak in human words to His Father and eventually teach the whole world to say, “Our Father, who art in heaven…”</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Courier New', courier, monaco, monospace, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCtwCH0odHFMwaIqZrcbOr60X081VAwkqiyHX4F2Pe2NZN4py1pQVtSYAZhQ_7LgqKNGR4q_ufMEBVMsSWVGDNVLNrgjFaYQwD6I_SWzD9nysojWkJgURcrW30tf1uQ5N1zMD-KMxVU80/s1600/Marriage+of+Joseph+and+Mary.png" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2288bb; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none;"><u></u><u></u><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><u></u><u></u></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Courier New', courier, monaco, monospace, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u> <u></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Courier New', courier, monaco, monospace, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Third, <u> PATRON OF SPOUSES (HUSBANDS). </u> In a world in which unfaithfulness is rampant and rapidly spreading its evil poison and wreaking havoc on the family that should be the “Basic building block of society”, the “Domestic church”, St. Joseph teaches husbands the extreme importance of being faithful to their wives and living out the vows that they made on their wedding day before God, the church and before his spouse. “I promise to be faithful to you in good times and in bad, health and in sickness, riches and poverty, until death do we part…” St. Joseph, help men to treasure and cherish their wives as the very “apple of their eye”.</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Courier New', courier, monaco, monospace, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtJZs3gYDz6SXO5g-gajElBqXa9oppOQUgGA8GmX32PegCLNcmo_tORNf09fP1w7elESBp8d4UjcjIqSiDEP14didcO5orv3bF9gFWDMNue0w5I0_RWdh895afU4FOgkCQdxoN0oRRwOs/s1600/jos5.jpg" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2288bb; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none;"><u></u><u></u><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><u></u><u></u></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Courier New', courier, monaco, monospace, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u> <u></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Courier New', courier, monaco, monospace, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Fourth, <u> PATRON OF FATHERS.</u> Equally important was the role that St. Joseph played as “Foster-Father” to Jesus, the “Son of the living God”. A true father should fulfill the test of the “Three (3) P’s!” What are the “3’P’s” Let’s see! First and foremost, Powerful-prayer warrior”. A true father, must have an intimate connection to the Heavenly Father. Actually, one of the primary roles of the earthly father is to reflect the love, compassion, presence, firmness and wisdom of the “Heavenly Father”. That mean, in concrete, that children should view the vision of God the Father reflected in their earthly father. No doubt a very challenging objective; that is why we turn to Joseph who reflected the loving presence of God the Father perfectly! May earthly fathers take good St. Joseph as their model! Also to provide for his family, as St. Joseph did by his constant and strenuous work. Finally, to protect the family from physical, moral, and spiritual dangers. Thus we admire, good St. Joseph, rising early and fleeing to Egypt, thereby, saving Jesus from being slaughtered by an insecure, jealous and bloodthirsty tyrant-- King Herod!</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Courier New', courier, monaco, monospace, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u> <u></u></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Courier New', courier, monaco, monospace, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9gc-MVekw4ZD88KcJeQAugKqDVK7kI0BCs596POkY67p15vCwL6D1LHdD1QUZnrAiXXH-EkQAc2-xTr96jUdgIrm1lsSqG_ST-vLms-l5iNqEzOVmGtcopjYaxMqx6AQKfFHlQM3e-T4/s1600/Jos9..jpg" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2288bb; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none;"><u></u><u></u><u></u><u></u></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Courier New', courier, monaco, monospace, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u> <u></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Courier New', courier, monaco, monospace, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Fifth,<u> PATRON OF WORKERS. </u> As a result of Original Sin, all must work and earn their bread by the sweat of their brow. (Gen. 3). Tedious, boring at times, demanding to the point of exhausting, grinding—all of these can be notes of daily work! St. Joseph, went through it all! Up before dawn, opening the shop, starting with prayer, working from dawn till dusk—this would be the daily rhythm of Joseph as well as Jesus! Enough for the schedule, but what about the tenor of the work? Hard, demanding, exhausting manual work of a Carpenter! Pounding nails, sawing wood pieces, sanding down to size, lifting heavy furniture, Saint Joseph did it all! At the end of the day, most likely he arrived home sore to the point of exhaustion, drenched with sweat, hair filled with sawdust, hands engraved with deep callouses—this would be the “hard-working” and faithful worker, Saint Joseph! May we rediscover the importance of hard, dedicated, concentrated work! Idleness is the workshop of the devil! None of that in Joseph’s workshop! Rather, our attitude should be the sober but motivating words of St. Paul: “Work out our salvation in fear and trembling!”</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Courier New', courier, monaco, monospace, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKpsSsEEZyYoLQG4rGhzHkKfq-Hkzx047w2KVaYLZcnqtC_J4qp5FjVOU55oPDX4PcK3741f3JIMTxjcu-8TxFR0brjvVF8N3We_4Nk-vMYxTJJo0xoj8L7V_jYptbEmgiO3HnMlrsa-M/s1600/joseph.12..jpg" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2288bb; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none;"><u></u><u></u><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><u></u><u></u></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Courier New', courier, monaco, monospace, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u> <u></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Courier New', courier, monaco, monospace, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Sixth, <u> PATRON OF FAMILIES.</u> Interconnected with Joseph’s role as spouse and “foster-father” is his pivotal importance, his hinge-work in the cohesiveness of “The Holy Family”. One practical point: the importance of the “Mere-presence” of Joseph to his family and the need of the father to be “present” to his family. Being present means, not simply physical presence—although this is key—but also emotional, moral, spiritual, psychological, joyful and concerned presence! Put simply, Good Saint Joseph was totally available to God at all times and at the same time, he was totally available for Mary and Jesus. Many families suffer due to”Drop-out Dads”. Either these “Dead-beat-Dads” have abandoned their families physically, have caved in to immorality such as drink porn or drugs, or prioritize friends, games and sports over the well-fare of their family! Not so with “The ornament of the Domestic life”, St. Joseph, his mere presence was total and all-encompassing. He was a cohesive glue that sustained the peace and unity and harmony of the “Holy Family.”</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Courier New', courier, monaco, monospace, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE7KGqREjJ6YxNxZDuUKog0ESk7UTLTIfJ93k5wpwJ-seKZqBDr2bkLTPSPitKrDJ6h_1ZC8bw_9qo7AGp0uThKFiW4S4C1v1YYUvnCwj7wIVPm-Rt2YRSNRuDfqPBBEfxN2Kon3kq43A/s1600/josdemon.jpg" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2288bb; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none;"><u></u><u></u><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><u></u><u></u></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Courier New', courier, monaco, monospace, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u> <u></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Courier New', courier, monaco, monospace, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Seventh, <u> TERROR OF DEMONS. </u> A striking tribute to Glorious Saint Joseph. St. Ignatius Loyola, in the two Standards, depicts a striking contrast, Jesus raising His Standard and inviting all to follow; then Satan, ugly, in Babylon, the city of confusion seated on a dunghill! In our battle against “the enemy of our salvation” (St. Ignatius); the roaring lion, seeking to devour us (St. Peter), Satan or Prince of this world (Jesus), we must muster as much ammunition in our arsenal to defeat the devil. St. Joseph can run quickly to our aid. In the official Rite of Exorcism, the holy name of St. Joseph is invoked! At the mere name of Powerful Saint Joseph, the leagues of God’s enemies take to their heels and disappear!</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Courier New', courier, monaco, monospace, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicRBCEGUCkuMsANTpWXUfuSSsbzU4VFnOfc3Pr2JuV0Y0TMAxsjjqfY_vj1wEY4XxfbBL1qEwhzjfggq_O5bLmsy0p1Da_atVoODbpqBfvhlUOq7tD-SifRHVtpeTREVQ-PhnY_A34t0U/s1600/jos.7.jpg" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2288bb; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none;"><u></u><u></u><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><u></u><u></u></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Courier New', courier, monaco, monospace, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u> <u></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Courier New', courier, monaco, monospace, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Eighth, <u> PATRON OF PURITY AND CHRISTIAN COURTSHIP. </u> Indeed, the most important decision in ones’ life is both profession and even more important vocation. In other words, the work-profession one will choose, and of greater importance, the future spouse that will be chosen. Sad to say, most in the modern society, choose the wrong mate, in the wrong time, in the wrong place and with the wrong intention. This amounts to disaster! From 50 to 60% of marriages end in divorce today for this reason! Parents as well as young people should beg earnestly of good St. Joseph, who chose the Blessed Virgin Mary to be his spouse, to enlighten them as to who will be the future spouse. The primary condition and intention should be to choose somebody who will be a bridge to heaven, both for the spouse as well as for the future children. Once chosen a future partner, the grace of purity should be implored, so that both will avoid any impurity in their courtship, so that the wedding day will indeed reflect the beautiful, radiant and unsullied roses that will be placed before the image of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. St. Joseph, pray for our youth, for purity and moral integrity!</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Courier New', courier, monaco, monospace, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVbWUKUPttU9pKE0bV-hY1QzIF1ZPJO23fZlEQtPboZ6MA9C11nCMU32OEHfMoRYcdq8lsw4jK7qsUZD2zfb3r4sEn-sZCf1LlAHydKBQOqa3HT3TYAKPfzJdxdX5ZQVGlgk13YYT7dBk/s1600/jos10.jpg" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2288bb; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none;"><u></u><u></u><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><u></u><u></u></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Courier New', courier, monaco, monospace, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u> <u></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Courier New', courier, monaco, monospace, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Ninth,<u> PATRON OF THOSE IN TRIBULATION. </u> Admirable to the highest degree, the great St. Joseph in his coping with and accepting trial after trial, due to this great Saint’s boundless and limitless confidence in God’s all-abiding and ever-present Providential Plan on him and his family. Contemplate these scenes: the long trek from Nazareth to Bethlehem with a pregnant woman mounted on a donkey, rejection—probably many times seeking for lodging for the night, “No room for you in the Inn", the birth in a poor, stinking, humid, abandoned animal refuge, a flight in the middle of the night to a foreign, alien, even hostile country where he had neither relatives, lodging, knowledge of the language, and finally losing his foster-Son for three interminable days--- these were among the many trials of St. Joseph. Instead of giving into despair, he humbly submitted his will to the will of Almighty God and God Himself, resolved problems that seemed almost impossible to resolve! May good Saint Joseph, strengthen our trust in God in the midst of life’s constant trials, tribulations, setbacks and failures! St. Joseph firmly believed: “The Lord is my Shepherd, there is nothing I shall lack."</span></b><u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Courier New', courier, monaco, monospace, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR29zwF9LlmQKKdaCpYJmc7tkPf5nVrQ1zhQem_NKGl6roBB-G-P9m1IxG4wH3jXAveFkrZZz9GNWiYtP4aVxKpW2-VPez50Ly0v3jx0ByuDcD4BpfGHEPrD5UC6ikg5FvJNMuOsWXVwQ/s1600/josdeath.jpg" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2288bb; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none;"><u></u><u></u><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><u></u><u></u></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Courier New', courier, monaco, monospace, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u> <u></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Courier New', courier, monaco, monospace, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Tenth, <u> PATRON OF A HOLY AND HAPPY DEATH. </u> The most important moment of our lives is the moment of our death, in which this will determine for all eternity our destiny: either up or down, heaven or hell and with that for all eternity, meaning forever and ever and ever!!!!!! Good St. Joseph can come to our rescue in this all too critical moment in our earthly pilgrimage! Why? For the simple reason that St. Joseph had the all-important grace to die in the arms of both Jesus and Mary. When? We do not know! But, having died in the arms of Jesus and Mary should spur us on to desire most ardently to do the same! May St. Joseph obtain for us the grace to die in the state of grace and to die in the arms of Jesus, Mary—and yes—the loving arms of good Saint Joseph!</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Courier New', courier, monaco, monospace, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Let us end by commending ourselves to Glorious Saint Joseph in this short, poetic but beautiful prayer. “ Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I give you my heart and my soul; Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, make my heart like unto thine; Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, assist me in my last agony; Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I breath forth my soul unto thee! O Sacrament most holy, O Sacrament Divine, all praise and all-thanksgiving, be every moment thine!”</span></span></b></div>
Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18303551144508569513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144046804223666876.post-43232192688224380692014-03-08T18:13:00.001-02:002014-03-08T18:13:56.096-02:00<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4b4b4b; font-family: myriad-pro, 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Here are 10 apps and a few ideas on how to use them to strengthen your Lenten journey.</span></div>
<ol style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4b4b4b; font-family: myriad-pro, 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif; line-height: 27px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em 20px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px;">
<li style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Laudate.</strong> This is a given. Known as the No. 1 Catholic app, it offers a wide variety of resources, from the daily readings to Vatican documents. Great resources for Lent include the Stations of the Cross, the Rosary, Liturgy of the Hours (although it has a different translation, and the days mix up on iPhones at times) and a daily examination of conscience. (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/laudate-1-free-catholic-app/id499428207?mt=8" style="border: 0px; color: #ab64c2; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">iOS</a>, <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.aycka.apps.MassReadings" style="border: 0px; color: #ab64c2; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Android</a>)</li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Truth & Life.</strong> This app is a dramatized audio rendition of the New Testament. For Lent, you can download the free version and study the book of Mark (the full version is $19.99). It still has study questions and other resources. (<a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/truth-life-dramatized-audio/id421230113?mt=8" style="border: 0px; color: #ab64c2; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">iOS</a>, <a href="https://market.android.com/details?id=com.futuresoft.truthandlife.free" style="border: 0px; color: #ab64c2; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Android</a>)</li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Rosary of the Hours. </strong>You can try a new way of praying the Rosary this Lent. It’s designed for using one decade for each hour of the day (from the Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful and Glorious mysteries), but you can simply use the Sorrowful. The app has Psalms, meditations and Scripture passages for each mystery. You could then transition to the full Rosary after Easter. It’s a great way to start a new spiritual habit. (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/the-rosary-of-the-hours/id495581966?mt=8" style="border: 0px; color: #ab64c2; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">iOS</a>)</li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Confession.</strong> Suggested by Bishop Conry, this app develops an examination of conscience based on age, sex and vocation and then walks you through the sacrament. With this tool, you can commit to more frequent confession throughout Lent. (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/confession-roman-catholic/id416019676?mt=8" style="border: 0px; color: #ab64c2; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">iOS</a>, <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.littleiapps.confession&hl=en" style="border: 0px; color: #ab64c2; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Android</a>)</li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Mary.</strong> Made by the creators of the popular Divine Mercy app, “Mary” is a great way to get to know the Blessed Mother. Journeying with her thought Lent is a beautiful way to approach her Son. The app includes information about dogma, doctrine, titles, apparitions and more, as well as prayers and devotions. (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mary/id483256944?mt=8" style="border: 0px; color: #ab64c2; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">iOS</a>)</li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Ignio. </strong>This is a more social option for spirituality. The app tracks your spiritual activities, and you can share your prayers and thoughts with your friends. I recommend identifying a group of friends to try this with, since you have to get started by “bumping” your device with someone else’s to have full access to features. This could be a great way to start a Lenten group. (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ignio/id449745152?mt=8" style="border: 0px; color: #ab64c2; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">iOS</a>, <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ignio.android&hl=en" style="border: 0px; color: #ab64c2; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Android</a>)</li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Mass Explained. </strong>While this is only available on the iPad, it looks like an incredible experience made for that platform. Lent is a great time to learn more about the Mass and fall deeper in love with Christ. (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mass-explained/id776867366?mt=8" style="border: 0px; color: #ab64c2; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">iPad</a>)</li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The Pope App.</strong> News, speeches, images, live feeds … you can follow Pope Francis every day. A good place to start could be to read (or watch) his general audiences or Sunday Angelus addresses throughout Lent. (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/the-pope-app/id593468235?mt=8" style="border: 0px; color: #ab64c2; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">iOS</a>, <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=va.news.thepopeapp" style="border: 0px; color: #ab64c2; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Android</a>)</li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">CRS Rice Bowl.</strong> This app from Catholic Relief Services is a great way to tap into almsgiving during Lent. You can set specific goals and track your progress. It also offers reflections, meatless recipes and personal stories. (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/crs-rice-bowl/id783579588" style="border: 0px; color: #ab64c2; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">iOS</a>, <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.littleiapps.crsricebowl&hl=en" style="border: 0px; color: #ab64c2; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Android</a>)</li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">UNICEF Tap Project. </strong>You may have heard of this one. It’s not Catholic, but it is a great way to give. By leaving your phone alone for 10 minutes, their sponsor will provide one day of clean water for a child in need. It is a great way to practice detachment without sacrificing the ability to evangelize throughout this great season. (<a href="http://www.uniceftapproject.org/" style="border: 0px; color: #ab64c2; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">visit website</a>)</li>
</ol>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4b4b4b; font-family: myriad-pro, 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px;">
One final tip? Keep it manageable. Try picking one or two apps with a specific purpose in mind. Have an “appy” Lent!</div>
Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18303551144508569513noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144046804223666876.post-82843837329347714562014-03-07T15:27:00.002-02:002014-03-07T15:27:37.467-02:00<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>WOW!</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>I Wonder If St. John Knew What We Would Be Facing Today!</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-center;">"Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God.” Therefore, according to the Gospel, any citizen can be a good Catholic – that is, side with Jesus Christ and the Pope, and do good to his fellow men – and at the same time side with Caesar, namely, observe the laws of the land, except when the rulers persecute religion or tyrannize the consciences and minds of citizens."</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-center;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-center;">-- St. John Bosco</span>Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18303551144508569513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144046804223666876.post-70206555091685037352014-03-07T14:50:00.000-02:002014-03-07T14:55:05.331-02:00<div class="post_content" itemprop="articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 29px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 26px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: large;">How is your Lent going so far?</span></strong></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 26px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">Here are ten simple Lenten practices</strong> so that indeed this Lent will be the best Lent in our lives. “If today you hear the voice of the Lord, harden not your hearts…”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">1. </span><i style="font-size: small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><b>Prayer</b></i><span style="font-size: x-small;">. Instead of being Martha this Lent why not try to imitate Mary of Bethany. What did Mary do, as Martha nervously and frenetically rushed to and fro? Mary simply sat at the feet of Jesus, looked at Jesus intently, listened attentively to His words, carried on a friendly and loving conversation, and simply loved Jesus. In Lent why not make the proposal- in imitation of Mary of Bethany—to pray a little bit more and better! Prayer delights the Heart of Jesus!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">2. </span><i style="font-size: small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><b>Reconciliation and Peace</b></i><span style="font-size: x-small;">. If it is such that there is some person in your life that you have bitterness towards, resentment, maybe even hatred, then Lent is a most propitious time to reconcile. Build a bridge and knock down the barrier! In marriage homilies I often say to those about to be married that the three most important shorts phrases that couples should learn are: “I love you!” “I am sorry!” and “I forgive you!” Lent is time to throw out the old and rotting yeast and to be renewed in our social relationships!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">3. </span><b style="font-size: small;"> </b><i style="font-size: small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><b>Penance</b>.</i><span style="font-size: x-small;"> Jesus said unequivocally: “Unless you do penance you will perish.” Give up something you like for love of God and for the</span><i style="font-size: small;"><u> salvation of souls</u></i><span style="font-size: x-small;">. By saying “No” to self, we say “yes” to the invasion of God in our hearts! Beg the Holy Spirit for light to give up what is most pleasing to God!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">4. </span><i style="font-size: small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><b>The Bible,The Word of God</b></i><span style="font-size: x-small;">. In the holy seasons of Advent and Lent the Church warmly exhorts us to have a real hunger for the Word of God. Jesus in response to the first temptation of the devil responded: “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.” May this Lenten season be motivated by a daily meditation of the Word of God! Use a prayer method suggested by Pope Benedict XVI called </span><i style="font-size: small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">Lectio Divina</i><span style="font-size: x-small;">: read, meditate, contemplate, pray, and action—put into practice the good insights you have received. This will result in a transformation of life; as St. Paul asserted: “It is no longer I who lives but Christ who lives in me.”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">5. </span><i style="font-size: small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><b>Almsgiving</b></i><span style="font-size: x-small;">. Lent is a time to give, especially to the poor, sick, marginalized and the rejected of society. Remember Pope Francis’ many gestures of loving the poor, kissing the repulsive and rejected of the world. “Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, that you do to me.”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">6. </span><i style="font-size: small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><b>The Three T’s</b></i><span style="font-size: x-small;">. Following up on almsgiving why not examine your life in these three areas and see where and how you can give, as Blessed Mother Teresa said: “Give until it hurts!” Time! Give of your time to others. Start at home because charity begins at home. Talents! We all have talents. Lent is time to conquer our laziness and work diligently to cultivate our God-given talents. “Better to wear out then rust out!” Treasures! If you have an excess of food, clothing, money and material possessions, give and give. You are giving to Jesus in the poor!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">7. </span><b style="font-size: small;"> <i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">Joy</i></b><span style="font-size: x-small;">. Be joyful! Try to implement this acronym: J. O. Y. J—stands for Jesus! O—stands for others; Y—stands for you! If we put Jesus first, then others second and finally ourselves as last then we will experience the joy of the Holy Spirit and it will overflow on the others we meet!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">8. </span><b style="font-size: small;"> <i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">Daily Mass and Communion</i></b><span style="font-size: x-small;">. By far the best way we could possibly live out the Holy Season of Lent is by drawing close to Jesus as possible. In Holy Mass and Holy Communion, not only do we draw close to Jesus, but we actually receive Him into the very depths of our being, our inner sanctuary which is our soul. However, go to Mass and Holy Communion with intentions, especially to repair for sin and prevent sin. Why did Jesus suffer so much in His bitter Passion? St. Ignatius of Loyola gives us the two fundamental reasons: 1) To show us the malice and evil of the reality of sin; 2) to show us the depths of His love for all of humanity and for each one of us individually. Offer your Mass and Holy Communion in reparation for your past sins as well as in reparation for the sins of your family. Morally speaking also our Holy Mass and Communion could and should be offered in reparation for the sins of abortion—shedding the blood of the most innocent and vulnerable.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">9. </span><i style="font-size: small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><b>Conquer Your Own Devil</b></i><span style="font-size: x-small;">. All of us have our own kryptonite— our weak point where we easily fall. But also we all have our own devil that attacks us— often going for our weak point. Check out where the devil attacks most. You might just go through the Capital sins and see where the devil has an opening. Gluttony? Lust? Greed? Sloth/Laziness? Anger? Envy? Pride? In Lent we are soldiers enlisted in the arm of Christ the King. Time to fight against our personal devil with the strength of Jesus the King. We are weak, but God is strong. Nothing is impossible for God!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">10. </span><i style="font-size: small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><b>Mary and Lent</b></i><span style="font-size: x-small;">. Try to live a strongly Marian Lent. Pray the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary as well as the Rosary dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows. View the movie of Mel Gibson, “The Passion of the Christ” where Mary’s role is significant. Make the Way of the Cross, walking with Our Lady of Sorrows. Strive in Lent to live these holy days through the eyes of Mary and with the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">In conclusion, my friends, if we can choose to live out these proposals with generosity of spirit, this will be the most holy of all our Lents. We will be able to live out the fullness of the Paschal Mystery—to suffer and die with Jesus so that we will rise with Him in the glory of the Resurrection!</span></div>
</div>
<div class="text_box" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 29px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style " style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<a class="addthis_button_facebook_like at300b" fb:like:layout="button_count" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="color: #ea0000; cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 2px; word-wrap: break-word;"></a><br />
<div class="fb-like fb_iframe_widget" data-action="like" data-font="arial" data-href="http://catholicexchange.com/ten-tips-best-lent" data-layout="button_count" data-ref=".Uxn3CVn6H-Y.like" data-send="false" data-show_faces="false" data-width="90" fb-iframe-plugin-query="action=like&app_id=465441243571781&font=arial&href=http%3A%2F%2Fcatholicexchange.com%2Ften-tips-best-lent&layout=button_count&locale=en_US&ref=.Uxn3CVn6H-Y.like&sdk=joey&send=false&show_faces=false&width=90" fb-xfbml-state="rendered" style="display: inline-block; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; word-wrap: break-word;">
<a class="addthis_button_facebook_like at300b" fb:like:layout="button_count" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="color: #ea0000; cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 2px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="display: inline-block; font-size: x-small; height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; vertical-align: bottom; width: 83px; word-wrap: break-word;"><iframe allowtransparency="true" class="" frameborder="0" height="1000px" name="f35e33414" scrolling="no" src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?action=like&app_id=465441243571781&channel=http%3A%2F%2Fstatic.ak.facebook.com%2Fconnect%2Fxd_arbiter%2F63KoCqPoniC.js%3Fversion%3D40%23cb%3Df2c0d806a4%26domain%3Dcatholicexchange.com%26origin%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fcatholicexchange.com%252Ff2381d9664%26relation%3Dparent.parent&font=arial&href=http%3A%2F%2Fcatholicexchange.com%2Ften-tips-best-lent&layout=button_count&locale=en_US&ref=.Uxn3CVn6H-Y.like&sdk=joey&send=false&show_faces=false&width=90" style="border-style: none; display: block; height: 20px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 83px; word-wrap: break-word;" title="fb:like Facebook Social Plugin" width="90px"></iframe></span></a></div>
<a class="addthis_button_facebook_like at300b" fb:like:layout="button_count" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="color: #ea0000; cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 2px; word-wrap: break-word;">
</a><a class="addthis_button_tweet at300b" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="color: #ea0000; cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 2px; word-wrap: break-word;"><iframe allowtransparency="true" class="twitter-share-button twitter-tweet-button twitter-count-horizontal" data-twttr-rendered="true" frameborder="0" id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets/tweet_button.1393899192.html#_=1394210573283&count=horizontal&counturl=http%3A%2F%2Fcatholicexchange.com%2Ften-tips-best-lent&id=twitter-widget-0&lang=en&original_referer=http%3A%2F%2Fcatholicexchange.com%2Ften-tips-best-lent&size=m&text=Ten%20Tips%20for%20the%20Best%20Lent%3A&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcatholicexchange.com%2Ften-tips-best-lent%23.Uxn3CbEtcb8.twitter" style="display: block; height: 20px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; width: 110px; word-wrap: break-word;" title="Twitter Tweet Button"></iframe></a><a class="addthis_button_pinterest_pinit at300b" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" pi:pinit:layout="horizontal" style="color: #ea0000; cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 2px; position: relative; word-wrap: break-word;"><iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" role="presentation" scrollbars="no" scrolling="no" src="http://ct1.addthis.com/static/r07/pinit017.html#url=http%253A%252F%252Fcatholicexchange.com%252Ften-tips-best-lent&media=http%3A%2F%2Fcatholicexchange.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2014%2F03%2F943px-Altar_cross_enshrouded_for_Lent.jpg&description=Ten%20Tips%20for%20the%20Best%20Lent&layout=horizontal&ats=imp_url%3D0%26url%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fcatholicexchange.com%252Ften-tips-best-lent%26title%3DTen%2520Tips%2520for%2520the%2520Best%2520Lent%26passthrough%3Dpinterest_share%253Dmedia%25253Dhttp%2525253A%2525252F%2525252Fcatholicexchange.com%2525252Fwp-content%2525252Fuploads%2525252F2014%2525252F03%2525252F943px-Altar_cross_enshrouded_for_Lent.jpg%252526url%25253Dhttp%2525253A%2525252F%2525252Fcatholicexchange.com%2525252Ften-tips-best-lent%252526description%25253DTen%25252520Tips%25252520for%25252520the%25252520Best%25252520Lent%26smd%3Drsi%253D%2526gen%253D0%2526rsc%253D%2526dr%253Dhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.spiritdaily.com%25252F%2526sta%253DAT-ra-52ee8d03576ba1af%25252F-%25252F-%25252F5319f709624af268%25252F1%26description%3DTen%2520Tips%2520for%2520the%2520Best%2520Lent&atc=username%3Dra-52ee8d03576ba1af" style="display: block; height: 25px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; width: 100px; word-wrap: break-word;"></iframe><img alt="Fr. Ed Broom" class="avatar avatar-75 photo" data-lazy-loaded="true" src="http://1mpkoh2uj7ew36r28p3t8kxt11gl.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Fr.-Ed-Broom_avatar-75x75.jpg" height="75" style="-webkit-box-shadow: black 0px 8px 6px -6px; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(181, 181, 181); box-shadow: none; clear: both; color: #222222; display: block; float: right; height: auto; margin: 0px 18px 3px 13px; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; width: auto; word-wrap: break-word;" width="75" /></a></div>
</div>
<div id="tl-author-box" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 29px; margin: 12px 0px; padding: 24px 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<div class="tl-author-info" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<h4 style="color: inherit; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 6px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
By <a href="http://catholicexchange.com/author/frfredbroom" rel="author" style="color: #ea0000; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" title="Posts by Fr. Ed Broom">Fr. Ed Broom</a></span></h4>
<div style="color: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 26px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Father Ed Broom is an Oblate of the Virgin Mary. He blogs regularly at </span><a href="http://fredbroom.blogspot.com/" style="color: #ea0000; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Fr. Broom'</span>s Blog</a>.</div>
</div>
</div>
Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18303551144508569513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144046804223666876.post-90591517432481847132014-03-07T14:41:00.000-02:002014-03-07T14:41:40.892-02:00<big style="background-color: white; color: #001572; font-family: Arial, Helvetica;"><b>Vatican medical experts OK reported miracle attributed to </b></big><br />
<big style="background-color: white; color: #001572; font-family: Arial, Helvetica;"><b>Archbishop Sheen</b></big><br />
<br />
<table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; width: 250px;"><tbody>
<tr valign="top"><td><img border="0" src="http://www.catholicnews.com/photos/14hp0104.jpg" width="240" /><br />
<span style="color: #777777; font-family: arial, helvetica;">With evidence of her son's alleged miraculous healing boxed and sealed in front of a portrait of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, Bonnie Engstrom gives a reading at a 2011 Mass at St. Mary's Cathedral in Peoria. (CNS/Tom Dermody, The Catholic Post)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #001572; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: x-small;">By </span><a href="http://www.catholicnews.com/index.html" style="background-color: white; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: small; text-decoration: none;" target="new"><span style="color: #990033;">Catholic News Service</span></a><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #001572; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: small;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #001572; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: x-small;">PEORIA, Ill. (CNS) -- A seven-member team of medical experts convoked by the Vatican reported there is no natural explanation for the survival of a child delivered stillborn and whose heart did not start beating until 61 minutes after his birth.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #001572; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: small;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #001572; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: x-small;">The survival of the child, James Fulton Engstrom, now 3 years old and developing normally, was credited by his parents to a miracle attributable to the intercession of Archbishop Fulton Sheen, a Peoria diocesan priest who gained fame for his 1950s television show "Life Is Worth Living" and his 16 years at the helm of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #001572; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: small;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #001572; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: x-small;">The medical experts' report was announced March 6 in Peoria by the Archbishop Fulton Sheen Foundation, which is headed by Bishop Daniel R. Jenky of Peoria.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #001572; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: small;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #001572; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: x-small;">"Today is a significant step in the cause for the beatification and canonization of our beloved Fulton Sheen," Bishop Jenky said in a statement. "There are many more steps ahead and more prayers are needed. But today is a good reason to rejoice."</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #001572; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: small;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #001572; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: x-small;">James' mother, Bonnie Engstrom, described what happened when she addressed a 2012 gathering of the Midwest region of the Catholic Press Association in Peoria.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #001572; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: small;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #001572; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: x-small;">When Engstrom was pregnant with James, a feeling came over her that "God wants this baby to exist," she said. "Maybe he's going to be the pope. We didn't know, but we were shooting high."</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #001572; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: small;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #001572; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: x-small;">During delivery, what caused James to be stillborn was that his umbilical cord had knotted itself, cutting off his blood flow and oxygen supply. The more he progressed through the birth canal, the tighter the knot became. "He was born stillborn," Engstrom said, remembering how "his arms flopped by his side" when she reached for him to hold him.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #001572; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: small;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #001572; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: x-small;">Others at the home birth did CPR and chest compressions for 20 minutes waiting for an ambulance to arrive. Engstrom said she had no pre-composed prayer asking for help from Archbishop Sheen. "I just kept repeating his name over and over in my head: Fulton Sheen, Fulton Sheen, Fulton Sheen," she recounted. "I didn't know what else to do."</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #001572; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: small;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #001572; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: x-small;">At the hospital, James was described as "PEA," for "pulseless electrical activity." Medics tried two injections of epinephrine. Neither worked. A nurse held one of James' feet in an effort to give him some measure of comfort, and Engstrom said she remarked later, "It was so cold, it was so cold. It was like in the saying 'cold and dead.'"</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #001572; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: small;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #001572; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: x-small;">Engstrom remembered that a doctor in the emergency room said, "We'll try for five more minutes, then call it," meaning recording the time of death. "If he had known about the previous 40 minutes" of efforts to revive him before arriving at the hospital, she said, "he would have just called it."</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #001572; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: small;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #001572; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: x-small;">She added, "They were just about to call it when his heart started beating -- 148 beats per minute, which is healthy for a newborn. And it never faltered."</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #001572; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: small;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #001572; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: x-small;">The case will next be reviewed by a board of theologians. With their approval, the case could move on to the cardinals and bishops who advise the pope on these matters. Finally, the miracle would be presented to Pope Francis, who would then officially affirm that God performed a miracle through the intercession of Archbishop Sheen. There is no timeline as to when these next steps might take place.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #001572; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: small;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #001572; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: x-small;">If the Engstrom case is authenticated as a miracle, Archbishop Sheen would be beatified, elevating his from "venerable" to "blessed." A beatification ceremony could conceivably take place in Peoria, according to the foundation, which promotes his sainthood cause. In general, a second miracle would need to be authenticated for canonization.</span>Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18303551144508569513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144046804223666876.post-44936889708459122862014-03-07T13:50:00.003-02:002014-03-07T13:51:18.250-02:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtS3c9wknhm6vvNFbEfUg9uuPg8OUq0eGBKYpivZx6oNd8yppN1Lg1W206moQ1fuESGx5K6AwLcckX2rj-d1tvXbt8pmMLBl_Ad02hFyDaIOWuwiMe_9TTm7N4RzXUchMzLg_cWE9qCeCw/s1600/praying+simply+and+powerfully.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtS3c9wknhm6vvNFbEfUg9uuPg8OUq0eGBKYpivZx6oNd8yppN1Lg1W206moQ1fuESGx5K6AwLcckX2rj-d1tvXbt8pmMLBl_Ad02hFyDaIOWuwiMe_9TTm7N4RzXUchMzLg_cWE9qCeCw/s1600/praying+simply+and+powerfully.jpg" height="185" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>PRAYING SIMPLY AND POWERFULLY</b></div>
Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18303551144508569513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144046804223666876.post-41257560054520464512014-02-28T13:46:00.001-02:002014-02-28T13:46:39.738-02:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLDVJVsHiLnIVR2MEqPSq-O4XONd6i71kCrFmZEmtTeklbaZjquM-SW-12bmex9k5L-AeGUyrugCj5GxW-pdjO3bvAjE4BlQUip0zGnWnMeulGSdTApBILkSxf7jinhnC1_4wCCMZQadu0/s1600/facebook_435504570_resized+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLDVJVsHiLnIVR2MEqPSq-O4XONd6i71kCrFmZEmtTeklbaZjquM-SW-12bmex9k5L-AeGUyrugCj5GxW-pdjO3bvAjE4BlQUip0zGnWnMeulGSdTApBILkSxf7jinhnC1_4wCCMZQadu0/s1600/facebook_435504570_resized+(2).jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18303551144508569513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144046804223666876.post-48390794478749147632014-02-17T12:44:00.001-02:002014-02-17T12:44:24.805-02:00<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Don't Ever Forget This!!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKy428ukXYSSx9_YhUUvhHHOjgO5SU06OYG_gDr5MoIN-GKjAaCeSvxnyc5FDARqcb1lQRmOaw6lJHSvxUWqfdme8SD9Gb7MSKZoN9FgorYq393EQA1XsMoVTxxBSMHpJvCdyMIfze5PI_/s1600/no+saint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKy428ukXYSSx9_YhUUvhHHOjgO5SU06OYG_gDr5MoIN-GKjAaCeSvxnyc5FDARqcb1lQRmOaw6lJHSvxUWqfdme8SD9Gb7MSKZoN9FgorYq393EQA1XsMoVTxxBSMHpJvCdyMIfze5PI_/s1600/no+saint.jpg" height="320" width="229" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18303551144508569513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144046804223666876.post-40202132539220084652014-02-13T01:13:00.002-02:002014-02-13T01:15:51.109-02:00<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<img alt="The Making of a Saint" src="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/fc/6c/75/fc6c754b709b016c31cb17c79e544b2c.jpg" height="148" width="200" /></div>
</div>
Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18303551144508569513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144046804223666876.post-10970993022687404992014-02-12T11:29:00.004-02:002014-02-12T11:29:51.585-02:00<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>HEY!!</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>THIS IS YOU AND ME!!</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="We need saints!" class="pinImage" height="640" src="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/7d/74/2e/7d742e93994af91a2199b38baabeed06.jpg" width="194" /></div>
Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18303551144508569513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144046804223666876.post-86164121209404591292014-02-10T15:32:00.001-02:002014-02-10T15:33:14.734-02:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixb9VB9stW7O0XjPdLvnuD4nKGD88b7HKT7VTrSNCQqMUNwnn5SuuMW4JqKF0_ZIsWsTzlBnVCxxRPtvWmRGzoK8NUhLntr0gvLggnAbo-txB9CquLL9GtE91rGA-Kh7juPmhcI72BbEke/s1600/todo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixb9VB9stW7O0XjPdLvnuD4nKGD88b7HKT7VTrSNCQqMUNwnn5SuuMW4JqKF0_ZIsWsTzlBnVCxxRPtvWmRGzoK8NUhLntr0gvLggnAbo-txB9CquLL9GtE91rGA-Kh7juPmhcI72BbEke/s1600/todo.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18303551144508569513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144046804223666876.post-56956594837271877892014-01-28T13:05:00.002-02:002014-01-28T13:05:50.589-02:00<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Feeling Stuck or</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Feeling Empty</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>In Your Prayer Life?</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Maybe this can help ... </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<h2 style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 22px; margin: 8px 0px 14px;">
Types of prayer</h2>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.899999618530273px;">
Here are some widely-used types of prayer:</div>
<ul style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.899999618530273px; margin: 0px 0px 8px 10px; padding-left: 40px;"><br />
<br />
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 8px 5px;"><b>Prayers of Praise</b> for the beauty and wonder of God's creation.<br />
<br />
</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 8px 5px;"><b>Prayers of Thanksgiving</b> for what God has done for you.<br />
<br />
</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 8px 5px;"><b>Prayers of Love</b> for the mercy He has shown to you.<br />
<br />
</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 8px 5px;"><b>Prayers of Sorrow</b> for the things you did, but should not have done. And for the things that you failed to do.</li>
</ul>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.899999618530273px;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.899999618530273px;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.899999618530273px;">
You don't need to say a lot of words or even use a book. Just let your words flow naturally. Your prayers can be said anywhere and at any time. Jesus is just that close to you.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.899999618530273px;">
</div>
<hr size="3px" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.899999618530273px; margin-left: 0px; width: 500px;" />
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.899999618530273px;">
</div>
<ul style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.899999618530273px; margin: 0px 0px 8px 10px; padding-left: 40px;">
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 8px 5px;"><b><i><u>Remember to pray for others.</u></i></b>.. the sick and the dying, those looking for work, those with family or financial problems, those who don’t know Jesus and those who have lost their way. This is a <b>Prayer of Request</b> or <b>Prayer of Petition</b>.</li>
</ul>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.899999618530273px;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.899999618530273px;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.899999618530273px;">
Each week pray for God's blessing for a special group.<br />For example:</div>
<blockquote style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.4; margin: 1em 2em;">
<ul style="margin: 0px 0px 8px 10px; padding-left: 40px;">
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 8px 5px;">priests and religious</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 8px 5px;">married and separated people</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 8px 5px;">children and young people</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 8px 5px;">unemployed people</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 8px 5px;">people with financial problems</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 8px 5px;">people who are sick or in hospital</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 8px 5px;">people in our armed forces</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 8px 5px;">people without Jesus in their life</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.899999618530273px;">
</div>
<h3 style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 8px 0px 14px;">
What should you ask?</h3>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.899999618530273px;">
If we could ask God for only one thing, what should it be?</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.899999618530273px;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.899999618530273px;">
Saint Theresa said we should ask to love God more than all other creatures and things.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.899999618530273px;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.899999618530273px;">
...more than all the pleasures and good times of this world.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.899999618530273px;">
This means we are to ask God for the grace to become holy... to keep <a href="http://www.comeaside.com/commandments-of-God.html" style="color: #0000ee;">His holy commandments.</a></div>
<hr size="3px" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.899999618530273px; margin-left: 0px; width: 500px;" />
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.899999618530273px;">
When you pray, your mind might wander. Talk out loud if it helps you.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.899999618530273px;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.899999618530273px;">
Some people like to keep a journal of their conversations with Jesus.</div>
Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18303551144508569513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144046804223666876.post-18221717289238837302014-01-23T19:48:00.002-02:002014-01-23T19:50:25.701-02:00<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Georgia, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-size: large;">Pope Francis marked Epiphany by making a surprise visit to a live nativity scene outside of Rome where he spoke with over 200 costumed participants. At one point the actors hoisted a baby sheep on the Pope’s shoulders.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Georgia, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjixcd8mc3C89aHpG8EztuVDf_HA46NL8Fd7VXZ6_46DAR5rKXYZKU1HiecepNz-CTY7qc8TpMD5MHigwSs6u2tNA1FlG5W8ws0Q0FrgbJSZecxeDL-y8iYsMay3IESwHqOqGqlSsLLOc-y/s1600/pope-francis-wears-a-sheep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjixcd8mc3C89aHpG8EztuVDf_HA46NL8Fd7VXZ6_46DAR5rKXYZKU1HiecepNz-CTY7qc8TpMD5MHigwSs6u2tNA1FlG5W8ws0Q0FrgbJSZecxeDL-y8iYsMay3IESwHqOqGqlSsLLOc-y/s1600/pope-francis-wears-a-sheep.jpg" height="152" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Georgia, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18303551144508569513noreply@blogger.com0