Friday, September 06, 2013

Pray for Peace in Syria, the Middle East, and the World


Pope Francis


United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

Pope Francis has called for a Day of Fasting and Prayer for Peace in Syria, the Middle East, and the world to be held on September 7, 2013, the vigil of the birth of Mary, Queen of Peace. The Holy Father reminds us that "peace is a precious gift, which must be promoted and protected" and that "all men and women of good will are bound by the task of pursuing peace."

A Prayer for the People of Syria

Almighty eternal God, source of all compassion, the promise of your mercy and saving help fills our hearts with hope. Hear the cries of the people of Syria; bring healing to those suffering from the violence, and comfort to those mourning the dead. Empower and encourage Syria’s neighbors in their care and welcome for refugees. Convert the hearts of those who have taken up arms, and strengthen the resolve of those committed to peace.

O God of hope and Father of mercy, your Holy Spirit inspires us to look beyond ourselves and our own needs. Inspire leaders to choose peace over violence and to seek reconciliation with enemies.  Inspire the Church around the world with compassion for the people of Syria, and fill us with hope for a future of peace built on justice for all. We ask this through Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace and Light of the World, who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

Petition:
For the people of Syria, that God may strengthen the resolve of leaders to end the fighting and choose a future of peace. We pray to the Lord…

Wednesday, September 04, 2013

Pope Francis invites world to take part in day of fasting and prayer for peace



News from RomeReports.com

Pope Francis strongly reaffirmed his calls for peace. During the first general audience after his summer vacation, he invited the world to take part in a day of fasting and prayer for peace, including a prayer vigil he will lead at St. Peter's Square on Saturday, September 7, 2013.

 POPE FRANCIS
“This coming Saturday we will live together a special day of fasting and prayer for peace in Syria, the Middle East, and throughout the world. But also for the peace in our hearts, because peace begins in our hearts. I renew the invitation to the whole Church to live this day intensely, and even now I express gratitude to the other Christian brothers and sisters, to the brothers and sisters of other religions and to the men and women of good will who desire to join in this initiative, in places and ways of their own.” 
 
Read More: Pray for Peace

Tuesday, September 03, 2013

Join the 54-Day Rosary Novena in Support of Pope Francis!


Our Lady of Fatima

News release from the World Apostolate of Fatima, USA

Pope Francis is consecrating the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on October 13, 2013.

Accompanying the Holy Father as he leads Marian devotions leading up to the consecration is the statue of Our Lady that stands on the site of the apparitions in the Capelinha in Fatima shipped to Rome to mark the occasion.

In support of the Holy Father, all members and friends of the World Apostolate of Fatima USA and people throughout the world are invited to participate in a 54-day Rosary Novena, beginning on September 16th and ending on November 8th.

The first 27 days of the novena will serve as a time to petition Our Lady leading up to the consecration. The following 27 days will be days of thanksgiving for all the blessings given to us through Her intercession.

The apostolate’s intention for the novena is:

That Pope Francis’ consecration will bring mercy from God the Father for the salvation of souls; grace from God the Son for the conversion of sinners; enlightenment from God the Holy Spirit as we pray for world peace; an increase in practice of the First Saturday Communions of Reparation; and an increase in devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary as we approach the 2017 Centennial of the apparitions of Our Lady at Fatima.

If you already have a novena booklet you’re ready to go.

Novena booklets are available from our gift shop: 866-513-1917

If you don’t have a novena booklet, complete prayers and instructions can be found at:
Prayerflowers.com

Monday, September 02, 2013

Prayer for World Peace

Photograph by Loci B. Lenar

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 Copyright © 2005 Loci B. Lenar
Registration number TXU1-224-853

The prayer is posted at the following link: http://www.christian-miracles.com/millenniumprayerforpeace.htm

Prayer for World Peace is written with inspirational words to pray daily to Our Heavenly Father for peace and unity.  I was spiritually inspired by Our Lord Jesus Christ to write a prayer as a result of witnessing several spiritual signs and wonders.  ~Loci B. Lenar

***

The stained glass window detail of Jesus can be seen inside St. Teresa of Avila Church, 306 Morris Avenue, Summit, NJ, USA.

www.Christian-Miracles.com

Sunday, September 01, 2013

Pope Benedict XVI saved boy from cancer, says family



News excerpt from ksdk.com 

By Dave Delozier  

DENVER (KUSA) - The world viewed Pope Benedict XVI as the leader of more than a billion Catholics world-wide. He was regularly seen speaking to thousands in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican.

But Peter Srsich saw a different side of the pope.

When Peter was just 17-years-old he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer.

"He had a chest x-ray and it revealed a softball sized tumor in his chest," Laura Srsich, Peter's mother said. "It was determined that it was stage four non-Hodgkin's lymphoma."

While doctors at Children's Hospital Colorado worked to save Peter's life, the Make-a-Wish Foundation granted him his wish.

"First thing Peter said, 'I'd love to go meet the Pope in Rome,'" Laura said.

On a sunny day in May Peter got his chance to meet Pope Benedict XVI in St. Peter's Square.

 "When I got up to actually talk to him I was struck by how human he was," Peter said. "It was a humbling experience for me to see how humble he was."

Pope Benedict XVI listened as Peter told him about his journey with cancer. Peter presented the pope with a lime green wristband that had printed on it, "Praying for Peter." In return the pope offered a blessing for Peter.

 "Then he blessed me. He put his hand right on my chest where the tumor had been. He didn't know where the tumor was, but he put his hand right there," Peter said.

Nearly a year later, Peter is now cancer free and a sophomore at Regis University.

He is hoping one day to become an ordained priest.

Read More: Peter Srsich

Secretary Kerry asks Iran to release American pastor

News Excerpt from Catholic News Agency (CNA)

- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has renewed calls for the Iranian government to release American citizen Saeed Abedini, a Christian pastor serving an eight-year sentence on religion-related charges.

“The United States respectfully asks the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to work cooperatively with us in our efforts to help U.S. citizens,” Secretary Kerry asked in an Aug. 29 press release, to “return to their families after lengthy detentions.”

“These men belong at home with those who love them and miss them.”

In his statement, Kerry also asked for the release and location of Amir Hekmati and Robert Levinson, who are detained and missing in the country as well.

The secretary of state explained that as of September 26, “Mr. Abedini will have spent a year in detention in Iran. He was sentenced to eight years in prison on charges related to his religious beliefs.”
Born in Iran, Abedini converted to Christianity in 2000 and obtained U.S. citizenship after marrying a U.S. citizen. The pastor lived with his wife and their two children in Idaho. He was arrested in 2012 during a visit to Iran to work with non-religious orphanages in the country.

Following his arrest, Abedini was charged with posing a threat to national security for his earlier work with the churches. He is now serving an eight-year sentence in Iran’s Evin Prison, and has reportedly been faced with brutal beatings, attempts to make him renounce his faith, and insufficient medical attention.

On Aug. 26, it was announced that Abedini’s appeal for a reduction in his sentence’s length was denied.

Kerry noted that Hassan Rouhani, the newly-elected Iranian president who took office Aug. 3, “has shared in his speeches and interviews over the past few months his hope and vision to improve the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s relationship with the world.”

Kerry asked that in light of this wish, Rouhani urge the government to release the prisoners “so that they may be reunited with their families as safely and as soon as possible.”

Naghmeh Abedini, Saeed’s wife, said in a statement that she is “very thankful for the statement that Secretary of State John Kerry made to Iran regarding Saeed's immediate return to our family.”

Read More: Release American Pastor