Historic encounter with Pope Francis and Patriarch of Moscow

Historic encounter with Pope and Patriarch of Moscow: We are not competitors but brothers

News story from RomeReports.com

As is customary in Russian tradition, Patriarch Kirill and Pope Francis greeting each other with three kisses on the cheek. It is an embrace that has taken nearly a thousand years to occur.

"I am delighted to see you.”

"Thanks brother.”

Once seated, the Patriarch initiated the conversation with the help of translators.

"How was your flight your Holiness?”

"Very good, thank God, very good.”

They spent a few minutes chatting in front of journalists and the cameras were able to capture his first words.

"Nevertheless, we have the opportunity to talk heart to heart.”

"That's what I want to do. We are brothers, we have the same baptism, we are bishops.”

They signed this historic joint statement, two hours after their closed-door meeting.

Once again, with this embrace, both churches are much closer today than they were yesterday.

"The result of the conversation allows me to ensure that currently the two Churches can cooperate together to defend Christians around the world, with full responsibility, work together so that there is no war, that human life is respected worldwide.”

"We speak clearly without mumbling and I confess that I felt the consolation of the Spirit in this dialogue.”

The Pope thanked everyone involved in making this meeting with the Patriarch a possibility. Among them, their hosts, the people of Cuba and Raul Castro.

"I appreciate your active availability, if it continues, Cuba will be the capital of unity.”

In their joint statement, the two leaders demand the protection for persecuted Christians, especially in Syria and Iraq; They highlight the importance of the family based on marriage; Call to Protect the life of the unborn and even made an appeal for peace in the Ukraine. In addition, they stress that Catholics and Orthodox are not

"competitors but brothers.”

And with just one signature by Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill, they seal the end of a feud that lasted almost a thousand years ago. 

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Devotional Prayers include The Miracle Prayer, Novena to the Infant Jesus of Prague, Prayer to Our Mother of Perpetual Help, Novena for Impossible Requests, Unfailing Prayer to St. Anthony, Prayer to St. Jude for Impossible Cases, Prayers to Saint Rita, Prayers to Saint Joseph, Prayer to Saint Padre Pio, Prayers to St. Therese, Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel and many more!

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"For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." (John 3:17)

Meet the Catholic Chaplain going to Super Bowl 50 with the Carolina Panthers

Get Fed | A Solid Catholic Blog to Feed Your Faith

The Catholic players on the Carolina Panthers team won’t be missing their Sunday Mass obligation on Super Bowl Sunday. One Charlotte priest is heading to Super Bowl 50 after being invited to serve as their chaplain ahead of the big game.

Read More: The Catholic Company

Wishing you a Happy New Year in 2016

May all your prayers be answered in 2016 during the great Jubilee of Mercy.

Loci B. Lenar Shares His Journey of Faith on Public Radio

Loci B. Lenar, the founder of www.Christian-Miracles.com was interviewed on Sunday, December 20, 2015 on the Catholic radio show, "Cause of Our Joy," hosted by Joe Ott on WACE 730 AM, Chicopee, MA. 

The radio program focused on locutions/messages that Mr. Lenar received from Jesus and Our Lady regarding Revelation 20:1-3 and God's thousand year reign of peace, including his healing of a heart condition (A-Fib) from the Anointing of the Sick, a sacrament of the Catholic Church, as well as other interesting news worthy items.  

If you were unable to hear the program in your area, stay informed and listen to a recording of the radio show by visiting the homepage of www.Christian-Miracles.com.

The Virgin Mary's monthly message to Medjugorje visionary Marija

Our Lady of Medjugorje Messages - Medjugorje WebSite

December 25, 2015 Message to Marija Pavlovic-Lunetti

"Dear children! Also today I am carrying my Son Jesus to you and from this embrace I am giving you His peace and a longing for Heaven. I am praying with you for peace and am calling you to be peace. I am blessing all of you with my motherly blessing of peace. Thank you for having responded to my call."

Have a Blessed and Merry Christmas!

Wishing everyone a Holy and Merry Christmas as we celebrate the birth of Jesus!

Photograph by Loci B. Lenar
www.Christian-Miracles.com

Peace of The Holy Family - Christmas 2015

Peace of The Holy Family by Stephen B. Whatley | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

From the website of international artist Stephen B. Whatley:  

A new tribute to the first Christmas, 2000 years ago, by British expressionist artist Stephen B. Whatley, who often feels compelled by what he calls a 'Divine push' to create his Catholic tribute paintings and drawings, in prayer.

This work, in pastel, was partly inspired by a prayer card kindly sent to the artist from New York. 

The prayer reads: A Christmas Blessing

"May all the days of all the years that God has still in store be filled with every joy and grace to Bless you more and more; May hope of heart and peace of mind beside you ever stay, and that's the golden wish I have for you, this Christmas Day."

Peace, joy and gifts of healing this Christmas. 

Pastel on paper
23.4 x 16.5in/59 x 42cm
www.stephenbwhatley.com

Pope recognizes miracle needed to declare Mother Teresa a saint

Excerpt from Catholic News Service (CNA)

Pope Francis has approved a miracle attributed to the intercession of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, thus paving the way for her canonization.

Pope Francis signed the decree for Blessed Teresa's cause and advanced three other sainthood causes Dec. 17, the Vatican announced.

Although the date for the canonization ceremony will be officially announced during the next consistory of cardinals in February, Archbishop Rino Fisichella, president of the Vatican office organizing the Holy Year of Mercy events, had said it would be Sept. 4. That date celebrates the Jubilee of workers and volunteers of mercy and comes the day before the 19th anniversary of her death, Sept. 5, 1997.

The postulator for her sainthood cause, Father Brian Kolodiejchuk of the Missionaries of Charity, said the second miracle that was approved involved the healing of a now 42-year-old mechanical engineer in Santos, Brazil.

Doctors diagnosed the man with a viral brain infection that resulted in multiple brain abscesses, the priest said in a statement published Dec. 18 by AsiaNews, the Rome-based missionary news agency. Treatments given were ineffective and the man went into a coma, the postulator wrote.

The then-newly married man's wife had spent months praying to Blessed Teresa and her prayers were joined by those of her relatives and friends when her dying husband was taken to the operating room Dec. 9, 2008.

When the surgeon entered the operating room, he reported that he found the patient awake, free of pain and asking, "What am I doing here?" Doctors reported the man showed no more symptoms and a Vatican medical commission voted unanimously in September 2015 that the healing was inexplicable.

St. John Paul II had made an exception to the usual canonization process in Mother Teresa's case by allowing her sainthood cause to be opened without waiting the usual five years after a candidate's death. He beatified her in 2003. 

The order she started -- the Missionaries of Charity -- continues its outreach to the "poorest of the poor."

Read more: Mother Teresa

Loci B. Lenar to share his journey of faith on Catholic radio

"Cause of Our Joy!" Radio Rosary Program, Broadcasting Each Sunday Morning at 7:00 am, on WACE 730 AM, Chicopee, MA – Hosted by Joe Ott

Denville, NJ - Dec. 16, 2015 - Prlog.org -- Loci B. Lenar, the founder of www.christian-miracles.com is scheduled to be interviewed on Sunday, December 20, 2015 on the Catholic radio show, "Cause of Our Joy," hosted by Joe Ott on WACE 730 AM, Chicopee, MA.

The radio program will focus on locutions/messages that Mr. Lenar has received from Jesus and Our Lady regarding lawlessness and violence seen around our world, including availability of prayer support for those who visit the website, as well as Mr. Lenar's testimony on his healing from the Anointing of the Sick, a sacrament of the Catholic Church. More information about Mr. Lenar is available by visiting http://www.christian-miracles.com/

Mr. Lenar is a parishioner of Saint Mary's Catholic Church and his spiritual director for over twenty years is Fr. Richard Tartaglia. The parish is located on Myers Avenue, Denville, New Jersey, USA.

With over 3.8 million visitors since its inception - www.Christian-Miracles.com is growing and helping to lead the way in the New Evangelization by reaching a global community with visitors coming from the USA, Canada, United Kingdom (UK), India, Australia, Philippines, Singapore, Germany, Brazil, United Arab Emirates, Ireland, and many other countries.

If you're unable to listen to the program in your area, a recording of the radio show will be available after December 20th on www.Christian-Miracles.com

Pope Francis Opens Doors to a Jubilee of Mercy

News from RomeReports.com: Discover the mercy and tenderness of God. That was the message Pope Francis sent from St. Peter's Square while shielded by heavy security.

As he has said since the early days of his pontificate, the Pope explained that those who believe God is a judge who punishes are mistaken. Rather, he elaborated, God waits ardently for his children to return to Him.

POPE FRANCIS

"To pass through the Holy Door means to rediscover the infinite mercy of the Father who welcomes everyone and goes out personally to encounter each of them...How much wrong we do to God and his grace when we speak of sins being punished by his judgment before we speak of their being forgiven by his mercy.”

The Pope also wanted to commemorate 50 years since the closing the Second Vatican Council. He said it should be remembered as a time when the Church ceased to seclude itself and rediscovered its missionary spirit.

POPE FRANCIS

"Before all else, the Council was an encounter. A genuine encounter between the Church and the men and women of our time.”

As he has for other special occasions, Pope Francis invited Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI to be present during the opening of the Holy Door. It was perhaps the most important moment of the ceremony.

With this grand gesture, the Jubilee of Mercy was opened. The Pope passed through the door first. He was then followed by his predecessor to much applause. The ceremony was concluded in the basilica, together with cardinals, bishops, and other concelebrants.

Read more:  Jubilee of Mercy 

Saint Andrew Christmas Novena - November 30th until Christmas

Saint Andrew by artist Stephen B. Whatley

Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, O My God! to hear my prayer and grant my desires, through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of His blessed Mother. Amen

It is piously believed that whoever recites the prayer fifteen times a day from the feast of St. Andrew (November 30th) until Christmas will obtain what is asked. 

The novena is not actually addressed to Saint Andrew but to God Himself, asking Him to grant our request in the honor of the birth of His Son at Christmas. 

  
(Imprimatur: +MICHAEL AUGUSTINE, Archbishop of New York, New York, February 6, 1897)

Read More: History of St. Andrew

More Catholic Devotional Prayers

Wishing You a Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Prayer

Father in Heaven, Creator of all and source of all goodness and love, please look kindly upon us and receive our heartfelt gratitude in this time of giving thanks.
Thank you for all the graces and blessings. You have betowed upon us, spiritual and temporal: our faith and religious heritage. Our food and shelter, our health, the loves we have for one another, our family and friends.

Dear Father, in Your infinite generosity, please grant us continued graces and blessing throughout the coming year.

This we ask in the Name of Jesus, Your Son and our Brother.

Amen.

More Devotional Prayers: http://www.christian-miracles.com/devotionalprayers.htm

Saint Elizabeth of Hungary

New Catholic Tribute by international artist Stephen B. Whatley | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

A new painting by expressionist artist Stephen B. Whatley, created in pastel on November 17, 2015, the Feast Day of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary.

From Magnificat, November 2015: Saint Elizabeth of Hungary

As a young child Elizabeth, the daughter of Andrew, King of Hungary, was sent to the palace of Wartburg in Thuringia to be raised alongside her future husband, Ludwig. She was a prodigy of charity. From the age of fourteen, when she became queen, she served the poor with her own hands. It is said that on one occasion, Elizabeth hurried from the palace with her apron full of bread for the hungry, but was stopped by her angry husband. She opened the apron and a bunch of red roses tumbled out. After Ludwig's death in 1227, Elizabeth entered the Franciscan Third Order and gave herself wholly to nursing the sick. She died at the age of twenty-four.

Saint Elizabeth of Hungary is Patron Saint of many causes, including the homeless.

More about St Elizabeth:
www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=45
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_of_Hungary

Pastel on paper
23.4 x 16.5in/59 x 42cm
www.stephenbwhatley.com

Stephen B Whatley’s work has also been published in The Guardian, Guardian Weekend magazine, HELLO!, MAJESTY, Metro London, The New York Times, The Sunday Express, The Daily Telegraph, The Times and USA TODAY; and is listed in David Buckman’s dictionary, Artists in Britain Since 1945.

Pray for Peace

Prayer for World Peace

God the Father
Creator of the Heavenly Kingdom
We petition the Court of Heaven
And humbly pray for mercy and divine intervention.

Send forth blessings of spiritual deliverance—

Free nations from the strife of war—
Release cultures from the shackles of poverty—
Instill stability and prosperity—
Healing earth of suffering—
With saving grace for humanity—

We implore Heaven for miraculous signs
By altering the destiny of humankind
Into a glorious era of peace and harmony
Through divine love and prayerful unanimity—

Almighty Father we graciously thank thee
In granting our prayers through the name and power
Of your divine Son, Jesus.

Amen

Prayer and photograph by Loci B. Lenar

Stained glass window detail can be seen inside St. Virgil Catholic Church, Morris Plains, NJ, USA.

Share with others: Prayer for World Peace

More Catholic Prayers

Our Lady's Monthly Message to Mirjana

 

 

November 02, 2015 Apparition of Our Lady of Medjugorje and her Message to Mirjana Soldo

"Dear children, anew I desire to speak to you about love. I have gathered you around me in the name of my Son according to His will. I desire that your faith be firm, flowing forth from love. Because, those of my children who understand the love of my Son and follow it, live in love and hope. They have come to know the love of God. Therefore, my children, pray, pray so as to be able to love all the more and to do works of love. Because, faith alone without love and works of love is not what I am asking of you: my children, this is an illusion of faith. It is a boasting of self. My Son seeks faith and works, love and goodness. I am praying, and I am also asking you to pray, and to live love; because I desire that my Son, when He looks at the hearts of all of my children, can see love and goodness in them and not hatred and indifference. My children, apostles of my love, do not lose hope, do not lose strength. You can do this. I am encouraging and blessing you. Because all that is of this world, which many of my children, unfortunately, put in the first place, will disappear; and only love and works of love will remain and open the door of the Kingdom of Heaven. I will wait for you at this door. At this door, I desire to welcome and embrace all of my children. Thank you!" 

 

 

 

All Souls Day - November 2, 2015

All Souls Day is a Remembrance of all loved ones that have passed away.

Prayer for All Souls Day

Lord God,
you are the glory of believers
and the life of the just.
Your son redeemed us
by dying and rising to life again.
Since our departed brothers and sisters
believed in the mystery of our resurrection,
let them share the joys and blessings
of the life to come.

Read more at http://www.beliefnet.com/…/D…/Prayer-For-All-Souls-Day.aspx…

Photograph by Loci B. Lenar
www.Christian-Miracles.com

Saint Mary's Parish Celebrates Sister Mary Joan Phillips 70 Years of Service in the Catholic Church

Saint Mary's Parish celebrated Sister Mary Joan Phillips 70 years of service in the Catholic Church on Saturday, October 17, 2015 with Mass and a banquet in the school auditorium.

Sister Joan has dedicated her life to God's work with almost 50 years at Saint Mary's Catholic Church, Denville, New Jersey. We all congratulate Sister Joan for devoting her life to God's service. God bless you Sister Joan!

Photographs by Loci B. Lenar

The miracle behind the canonization of the parents of St Therese of Lisieux

Photograph and news excerpt from Catholic News Agency (CNA)

Seven-year-old Carmen has an extraordinary story. Because of her Blessed Louis Martin and Zelie Guerin, the parents of Saint Therese of Lisieux, will be canonized this Sunday in Saint Peter's Square.

The little girl was born prematurely in Spain in 2008 at just six months into pregnancy. She was fighting for her life for several weeks because of a cerebral hemorrhage and other severe ailments.

But her loved ones and many Carmelite sisters sought the miraculous intervention of the Martins. The Vatican recognized the baby’s healing as miraculous.

Little Carmen’s parents, her mother Carmen and her father Santos, have told her story in an exclusive interview with CNA.

Read more: The Miracle

The Spirit of St James's Church: 125th Anniversary Tribute

A new painting created in 2015 by international artist Stephen B. Whatley | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

A new painting focusing on the Sanctuary and interior of St. James's RC Church, Spanish Place, London; which opened on September 29, 1890. Its rich history and association with Spain stretches back to the 16th century and is contained in the link from the Parish website: www.sjrcc.org.uk/page7/parishhistory.html

Expressionist artist Stephen B. Whatley - whose Catholic tribute paintings have been exhibited at London's Westminster Cathedral - created the oil painting inspired by a series of drawings made on location inside the beautiful church, a jewel in Marylebone in central London. The painting was completed over several days - including the actual anniversary.

Oil on canvas
36 x 48in/91 x 122cm
www.stephenbwhatley.com

Several of Mr. Whatley's paintings are published on the website of www.Christian-Miracles.com including a feature article about the artist from Catholic Life Magazine. The article is reprinted with permission on the following link: http://www.christian-miracles.com/artofstephenbwhatley.htm