Mary, Help of Christians

Mary, Help of Christians by Stephen B. Whatley

 

 

Mary, Help of Christians by Stephen B. Whatley | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

By Stephen B. Whatley

Christmas Blessings .....a drawing spontaneously made earlier this month, on December 4, 2011, taking its inspiration from one of my prayer cards, Mary, Help of Christians - a Catholic devotion that dates back to the 16th century; there is even mention of this title in 345 AD. 

The drawing in charcoal and pastel evolved with deep prayer; and in praying for peace, happiness, healing & relief of those in sorrow at this time, I include the prayer that is on my prayer card.

Mary, Help of Christians

"Most Holy Virgin Mary, Help of Christians,
how sweet it is to come to your feet
imploring your perpetual help.
If earthly mothers cease not to remember their children,
how can you, the most loving of all mothers forget me?
Grant then to me, I implore you,
your perpetual help in all my necessities,
in every sorrow, and especially in all my temptations.
I ask for your unceasing help for all who are now suffering.
Help the weak, cure the sick, convert sinners.
Grant through your intercessions many vocations to the religious life.
Obtain for us, O Mary, Help of Christians,
that having invoked you on earth we may love and eternally thank you in heaven."

By St. John Bosco

Just as Christ was born 2000 years ago, I pray that His love and peace will be born in more and more hearts.

Happy Christmas!

Charcoal and pastel on paper
23.4 x 16.5in/59 x 42cm

St Francis of Assisi - New Drawing by Stephen B. Whatley

St. Francis of Assisi by Stephen B. Whatley

St Francis of Assisi - New 2011 Drawing by Stephen B. Whatley - Flickr.com

By Stephen B. Whatley

Francis of Assisi (1282-1226) was an Italian Catholic friar and preacher. His faith became paramount over anything worldy and he is perhaps most known for his love of nature - feeling that all God's creations were part of his brotherhood; the humble sparrow as much his brother as the Pope.

I felt inspired to pay tribute through this spontaneous drawing, to this great Saint on his Feast Day, October 4th; looking intially at a small prayer card and studies of North American birds made on location at a nature reserve in New York State in February 2010.

Charcoal on paper
23.4 x 16.5in / 59 x 42cm

***

Prayer of St Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury,pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen

A GREAT DAY TO CALL ON ALL THE SAINTS (NOV 1) TO HELP US AND TO PRAY FOR ALL THE HOLY SOULS (NOV 2)

Solemnity of All Saints - Photo by Loci B. Lenar 

The Solemnity of All Saints Day and All Souls Day

The following excerpt is from the St. Michael Center:

The Solemnity of All Saints Day and All Souls Day are celebrated on November 1 and 2, respectively. On All Saints Day, the church celebrates all the saints: canonized or beatified, and the multitude of those who are in heaven enjoying the beatific vision that are only known to God. This day should inspire us with tremendous hope as the saints who have gone before us to the heavenly home call on us to follow them.

For more information on the All Saints and All Souls Day, please visit the following links:
 
Litany of the Saints
 
Litany of the Holy Souls

Prayers of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina

Statue of Padre Pio

Photo by Loci B. Lenar

Prayer for the Intercession of St. Pio of Pietrelcina

Dear God, You generously blessed Your servant,

St. Pio of Pietrelcina, with the gifts of the Spirit.

You marked his body with the five wounds

of Christ Crucified, as a powerful witness

to the saving Passion and Death of Your Son.

Endowed with the gift of discernment,

St. Pio labored endlessly in the confessional

for the salvation of souls.

With reverence and intense devotion

in the celebration of Mass,

he invited countless men and women

to a greater union with Jesus Christ

in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.

Through the intercession of St. Pio of Pietrelcina,

I confidently beseech You to grant me

the grace of (here state your petition). Amen.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son

and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning,

is now and ever shall be, world without end.

Amen (Say three times)

Statue of St. Pio of Pietrelcina

Photo by Loci B. Lenar

A Prayer for Trust and Confidence in God's Mercy

By St. Pio of Pietrelcina

O Lord,

we ask for a boundless confidence

and trust in Your divine mercy,

and the courage to accept

the crosses and sufferings

which bring immense goodness

to our souls and that of Your Church.

Help us to love You

with a pure and contrite heart,

and to humble ourselves beneath Your cross,

as we climb the mountain of holiness,

carrying our cross that leads to heavenly glory.

May we receive You

with great faith and love in Holy Communion,

and allow You to act in us as You desire

for your greater glory.

O Jesus, most adorable Heart

and eternal fountain of Divine Love,

may our prayer find favor before

the Divine Majesty of Your heavenly Father.

A Prayer

By Saint Pio of Pietrelcina

May Jesus comfort you

in all your afflictions.

May He sustain you in dangers,

watch over you always with His grace,

and indicate the safe path

that leads to eternal salvation.

And may He render you always

dearer to His Divine Heart

and always more worthy of Paradise.

Amen

For other daily prayers, please visit the following link:
Devotional Prayers

***

The life-like statue of Padre Pio is on display inside the Church of Saint Ann, which is located on 704 Jefferson Street in Hoboken, New Jersey.  Loci B. Lenar photographed the statue while attending Saint Ann's Italian Festival on July 25, 2010.

Photographs Copyright 2010 Loci B. Lenar
Christian-Miracles.com 

The Shrine of Saint Jude

Ascension of Jesus Christ

News Story by Loci B. Lenar

The Shrine of Saint Jude has a beautiful array of statues on display with lovely stained glass window art. The shrine is located on the premises of Our Lady of Victories Catholic Church.  The church is also a short distance from Route 80 and can be found on 100 Fair Street in Paterson, New Jersey.  The church pastor is Msgr. Thomas Coletta.

The Virgin Mary

My visit to the shrine on Thursday, February 11, began inside with photographing some eye-catching works of art including a sculpture of the Virgin Mary and a large window which shows the Ascension of Jesus Christ. The same window has a depiction of St Jude on the lower half.  In order to appreciate the artwork, I photographed the top and bottom of the window separately. 

  

Saint Jude

The stained glass shown below combines the Ascension of Jesus Christ and Saint Jude into an exquisite window of art.  Anyone visiting the church will be delighted with the lovely interior.

St. Jude Heals King Abgar of Edessa

After taking some photographs, I knelt down in the church pew and prayed to Our Lord Jesus Christ for the needs of all who were visiting the church. Mass began at 12:00 noon and was followed by novena prayers.

Everyone in attendance joined together in prayer for the nine week Winter Solemn Novena in Honor of Saint Jude and Our Lady of Fatima.  The novena is prayed every week on Thursday.  The novena began on January 21st and will conclude on March 18th.

I mailed my petitions to the shrine in advance of the nine week novena and also requested a devotional candle to be lit for the nine week period. My novena included a request for an era of peace and for violence to be mitigated and extinguished throughout the world. 

   

Our Lady

After the church service, I walked outside and photographed an interesting statue of Our Lady.  On the prior day, New Jersey was covered with snow from a storm that had passed through the tri-state era.  A small amount of snow from Wednesday's inclement weather covers part of the statue. 

However, what I found to be remarkable is the beautiful blue eyes of Our Lady, which I payed no attention to while photographing the icon.  It wasn't until I arrived at home and examined the photos that I truly recognized the beauty of the artwork.  The statue is also showing some signs of aging with paint beginning to peel off in areas. 

Our Lady of Victories Church - Side Entranceway

In any event, the shrine's website indicates that Our Lady of Victories Church had been completed in 1892.  With that in mind, perhaps the church is now in need of some exterior restoration, specifically with the statues of Our Lady, and Saint Jude.

If you do decide to visit the shrine, please check the church schedule by calling the rectory at 973-279-0487, since doors are closed immediately on completion of Mass and right after the recitation of novena prayers.

Copyright 2010 Loci B. Lenar

Christian-Miracles.com

Lenar@Christian-Miracles.com

Prayer to Christ the King

Prayer to Christ the King

Christ Jesus, I acknowledge You King of the universe.

All that has been created has been made for You.

Make full use of Your rights over me.

I renew the promises I made in Baptism,

when I renounced Satan and all his pomps and works,

and I promise to live a good Christian life

and to do all in my power

to procure the triumph of the rights of God

and Your Church.

Divine Heart of Jesus,

I offer you my efforts

in order to obtain that all hearts

may acknowledge your Sacred Royalty,

and that thus the Kingdom of Your peace

may be established throughout the universe.

Amen.

The prayer can be found on Catholic websites.

Stained glass window photographed inside The Church of Saint Michael, Netcong, NJ, USA.

Photograph Copyright 2009 Loci B. Lenar

Christian-Miracles.com

Prayer of Confidence to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Prayer of Confidence to the Sacred Heart Of Jesus

Oh Lord Jesus Christ, to Your most Sacred Heart I confide this intention (name petition).

Only look upon me, then do what Your love inspires. Let Your Sacred Heart decide. I count on You. I trust in You. I throw myself on Your mercy. Lord Jesus, You will not fail me.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in You.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I believe in Your love for me.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, Your kingdom come.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I have asked You for many favors, but I earnestly implore this one. Take it, place it in Your open Heart. When the Eternal Father looks upon it, He will see it covered with Your Precious Blood. It will be no longer my prayer, but Yours, Jesus. Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in You. Let me not be disappointed.  Amen.

The above prayer can be found on Catholic websites.

Stained glass window detail photographed inside The Church of Saint Michael, Netcong, NJ, USA.

Photograph Copyright 2009 Loci B. Lenar

Christian-Miracles.com

My Peace I Give to You

My Peace I Give to You

Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." -John 14:27

"I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, and become my disciples." -John 15:5 and 8

"As the Father loves me, so I love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and remain in his love." -John 15:9 and 10

"I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete. This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. You are my friends if you do what I command you. It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the father in my name (Jesus) he may give you. This I command you, love one another." -John:11, 12, 14, 16, and 17

The collage of images are photographs taken of stained glass window art inside of Saint Peter the Apostle Church, and Saint Christopher Church, both located in Parsippany, NJ, USA.

Copyright 2009 Loci B. Lenar
Christian-Miracles.com

Our Lady of Czestochowa

Our Lady of Czestochowa on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

The painting is a replica of Our Lady of Czestochowa. The picture is displayed behind the alter in Saints Peter and Paul Church, located on Route 46 in Great Meadows, New Jersey, USA.

Excerpt from CatholicTradition.org:

The miracles attributed to Our Lady of Czestochowa are many and most spectacular. The original accounts of them, some of them cures, are archived by the Pauline Fathers at Jasna Gora. Papal recognition of the miraculous image was made by Pope Clement XI in 1717.

For additional information regarding miracles associated with Our Lady of Czestochowa, please visit the following link:

http://www.sspx.ca/EucharisticCrusade/2002_October/Our_Lady_Czestochowa.htm

Photograph Copyright 2009 Loci B. Lenar

Christian-Miracles.com