Saturday, March 28, 2015

Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday




Prayer for Holy Week

Jesus my Lord, let me strengthen my courage by taking on the courage of all those people who have been "centurions" for me. Many have faced disasters and hard times with great constancy. The upper hand of evil never turned them against you. They kept going. Let me be like them, Lord. No matter what the cross, let me never stop declaring you to be "truly the Son of God, the source of my hope, the reason why... I will never quit on life. (Prayer from Catholic Online)

Saturday, March 21, 2015

Miracle: Blood of Saint Januarius liquifies during Francis’s visit to Naples




News excerpt and photo from CatholicHerald.co.uk

The blood of St Januarius liquified in the presence of a pope for the first time since 1848 on Saturday.

The blood of the patron saint of Naples, which is normally solid, partially liquified after Pope Francis kissed the relic during his day trip to the southern Italian city.

According to AFP, Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe of Naples showed the vial to the congregation in the city’s cathedral, saying: “The blood has half liquified, which shows that St Januarius loves our Pope and Naples.”

Pope Francis responded: “The bishop just announced that the blood half-liquified. We can see the saint only half loves us. We must all spread the word, so that he loves us more!”

The blood last liquified for a pope in the presence of Pius IX. The phenomenon did not occur when St John Paul II visited Naples in 1979 and Benedict XVI visited the city in 2007.

Read more: Saint Januarius Miracle


Saturday, March 14, 2015

Prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel for Protection




Saint Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle,
be our protection against the malice and snares
of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray;
and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly host,  
by the power of God,  
thrust into hell Satan and all evil spirits who wander through the world
seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen.

Saint Michael the Archangel is recognized in Christianity for being the guardian and protector of God's church and people. 

With those words in mind, the following biblical prophecy is connected to our current time: "At that time there shall arise Michael, the great prince, guardian of your people; It shall be a time unsurpassed in distress since nations began until that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. But the wise shall shine brightly like the splendor of the firmament, And those who lead the many to justice shall be like the stars forever. As for you Daniel, keep secret the message and seal the book until the end time; many shall fall away and evil shall increase."  Daniel 12:1, 3-4


***

Regarding St. Michael the Archangel, the following excerpt is from Wikipedia Encyclopedia:

The Prayer to Saint Michael is a prayer, used mainly by Catholics, which is addressed to Michael the Archangel.  (However, anyone can recite the prayer).

Pope Leo XIII added it in 1886 to the Leonine Prayers, which he had directed to be said after Low Mass two years earlier. The practice of reciting these prayers after Mass was suppressed in 1964.

However, Pope John Paul II referred to the St Michael prayer in his Regina Coeli address of 24 April 1994 as follows: "May prayer strengthen us for the spiritual battle that the Letter to the Ephesians speaks of: 'Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might' (Ephesians 6:10). The Book of Revelation refers to this same battle, recalling before our eyes the image of St Michael the Archangel (cf. Revelation 12:7). Pope Leo XIII certainly had this picture in mind when, at the end of the last century, he brought in, throughout the Church, a special prayer to St Michael: 'Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil...' Although this prayer is no longer recited at the end of Mass, I ask everyone not to forget it and to recite it to obtain help in the battle against the forces of darkness and against the spirit of this world."

Regarding intercessory prayers to angels and saints, scripture says the following: And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.  Revelation 8:3-4 (KJV)

Therefore, angels and saints both intercede before the throne of God on behalf of all who pray for the Lord's assistance.

Please visit the following link to view a miraculous Cross of Light photographed by Loci B. Lenar which he believes is connected to Saint Michael the Archangel's protection.

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

The stained glass window of Archangel Michael can be seen inside the entrance way of Saint Michael's Catholic Church, Netcong, New Jersey, USA.

Photograph by Loci B. Lenar - Flickr Photo Sharing!


Friday, February 27, 2015

Our Lady's Request: "Consecrate the World to Saint Michael the Archangel's Protection"



By Loci B. Lenar

On February 26, 2015, I received a locution/message from Our Blessed Mother regarding the violence being seen and reported by news services throughout the world, especially in the Middle East.

Through prayerful discernment, Our Lady is requesting that the Holy Father, (Pope Francis), Consecrate the World to Saint Michael the Archangel's Protection. Through prayer and the intercession of Our Lady and St. Michael the Archangel - Our Lord Jesus will mitigate lawlessness and violence in nations.

On July 5, 2013, Pope Francis consecrated Vatican City to St. Michael the Archangel's protection and to St. Joseph. Pope Francis said, "In consecrating Vatican City State to St. Michael the Archangel, I ask him to defend us from the evil one and banish him." 

Added note: On March 25, 1984, in St. Peter’s Square in Rome, Pope John Paul II consecrated the world and Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in accord with Our Lady of Fatima's request for world peace.

However, through prayerful discernment, I believe consecrating the world to Saint Michael's protection will help to move forward and hasten the era of peace as promised by Our Lady of Fatima.

Furthermore, the "period of peace" is clearly connected to Revelation 20:1-3. Moreover, I believe this is correct and should not be misconstrued.

Scripture says the following regarding God's reign of peace: Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and locked and sealed it over him, so that he would deceive the nations no more, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be let out for a little while. Revelation 20:1-3

In addition, I believe it's important for all church parishes to begin reciting the Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel either before or after mass. Recite the prayer with your families and for our world.  God will answer our prayers with his perfect timing.

For more information regarding this matter, please read my testimony: Miraculous Signs of Archangel Michael

I've shared this locution with my spiritual director, Fr. Richard Tartaglia of Saint Mary's Catholic Church, Denville, NJ, USA.

More News: www.Christian-Miracles.com

Post by "Christian-Miracles.com"



Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Join us at Saint Mary's Church for an Evening of Prayer



Please consider visiting St. Mary's Catholic Church for Mass and prayer services.

The church holds a monthly service for prayer with Fr. Richard Tartaglia including special prayer intentions which are submitted through the website of  http://www.christian-miracles.com/.

Previous services have included prayer for Christian Unity. However, prayers for world peace are always included.

The prayer service is held every third Thursday of each month with a new theme. February will focus on Lent.

Please join us in prayer with your own special intentions on February 19th between the hour of 7:30 and 8:00 PM.  However, if you cannot attend, you can still join in by praying in unity with St. Mary’s Church for all special prayer intentions.

Email your prayer requests to PrayerRequest@Christian-Miracles.com

If you live in the area or plan on visiting New Jersey, please consider attending and joining in the evening prayer service with Fr. Richard Tartaglia. The service begins with singing of hymns followed with reading of the gospels. After the reading, Fr. Tartaglia gives his homily which is followed with a prayer of intercession for Special Prayer Intentions (prayer requests). The Lord's Prayer is recited and there is a closing prayer with a blessing given by Fr. Tartaglia. The prayer service is concluded with a closing song.

St. Mary's Catholic Church is located on 15 Myers Avenue in Denville, New Jersey. Fr. Martin Glynn is the head pastor of the church.

Saint Mary's Monthly Prayer Service and Related Themes for 2015

Christian Unity and Peace - Thursday, January 15, 2015 at 7:30 PM
Lent - Thursday, February 19, 2015 at 7:30 PM
Saint Joseph - Thursday, March 19, 2015 at 7:30 PM
Easter Season - Thursday, April 16, 2015 at 7:30 PM
Ascension - Thursday, May 21, 2015 at 7:30 PM
Saint Romuald - Thursday, June 18, 2015 at 7:30 PM
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel - Thursday, July 16, 2015 at 7:30 PM
Saint Bernard - Thursday, August 20, 2015 at 7:30 PM
Saint Robert Bellarmine - Thursday, September 17, 2015 at 7:30 PM
Saint Teresa of Jesus - Thursday, October 15, 2015 at 7:30 PM
Thanksgiving - Thursday, November 19, 2015 at 7:30 PM

St. Mary's Weekly Mass Schedule
 
Sunday: 7:00, 8:30, 10:00, and 11:30 AM
Saturday: 5:00 PM
Weekdays: 8:00 AM and 12:05 PM - (Except June ~ Labor Day - No 12:05 PM)
First Fridays: 8:00 AM, 12:05 PM, 8:00 PM - (Except June ~ Labor Day - No 12:05 PM)
Holy Days: 7:00 AM, 8:00 AM, 12:00 noon, 7:00 PM
Eve of Holy Days: 5:00 PM

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Holy Peace: The Solemnity of The Blessed Virgin Mary

Holy Peace: The Solemnity of The Blessed Virgin Mary. 2015 by Stephen B Whatley


New painting by artist Stephen B Whatley | Flickr - Photo Sharing

Reprinted with permission from the website of artist Stephen B. Whatley:

Today, February 11 is the Feast Day of Our Lady of Lourdes - commemorating the miraculous visions to St. Bernadette in France in 1858, which have lead to numerous miraculous healings throughout the world.

This new painting commissioned by Catholic collectors in the USA was uniquely inspired by the recalling of a miraculous vision, evoking love and peace, of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Holy Spirit experienced in the past year.

Expressionist painter Stephen B. Whatley often selects significant dates to create his work and chose to begin this new tribute painting on January 1, the World Day of Peace and The Solemnity of The Blessed Virgin Mary; with a dependence on prayer, particularly to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

The collectors who commissioned the work of art were introduced to the artist's work through a 2014 feature about his art by Erin Brierley in the US magazine, Saint Anthony Messenger; and overwhelmed with the painting, wish the painting to be shared publicly.

Stephen B. Whatley's work is in collections worldwide and public collections including The Royal Collection, BBC Heritage, the London Transport Museum & Westminster Cathedral - in which his exhibition, 'Paintings From Prayer' including his painting of Our Lady of Lourdes was shown in 2013.

His commission of 30 paintings for the Tower of London is reproduced permanently throughout Tower Hill Underpass that leads from Tower Hill Station to the historic Tower.

Holy Peace: The Solemnity of The Holy Spirit. 2015
Oil on canvas
32 x 24in/81 x 61cm

Private collection, North Carolina, USA.

Website: www.stephenbwhatley.com

Visit the following link to read Stephen B. Whatley the Praying Artist, a feature article first  published in 2011 by Catholic Life magazine. The article is reprinted on the website of www.Christian-Miracles.com.