Robert Valderzak Regains Hearing After Earthquake (VIDEO)

Man Regains Hearing After Earthquake: MyFoxDC.com

The video and following excerpt is from Huffingtonpost.com:

While Washington, D.C. reeled from a 5.8 earthquake, Robert Valderzak, 75, reveled in a miracle. He got his hearing back.

Valderzak had lost his hearing after falling on Father's Day, according to My Fox DC, and had been recovering at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Northwest D.C. While seated in his hospital bed on Aug. 23, surrounded by his kids, the family felt the rumblings and then heard Valderzak speak for the first time in months.

"I said, you know, my hearing is back," Valderzak told his family. "I can hear everything,"

"To me, it was a miracle, a blessing from God up above," Valderzak said. "Couldn’t ask for a better day."

Pope says God can be seen through art

Pope says God can be seen through art

The following excerpt is from RomeReports.com:

August 31, 2011- During the general audience, Benedict XVI explained that through artwork mankind seeks to find a relationship with God. “Today we reflect on the need to draw near to God through the experience and appreciation of artistic beauty. Art is capable of making visible our need to go beyond what we see and it reveals our thirst for infinite beauty, for God,” said Benedict XVI.

The pope also made note that artwork not only adds to the culture of society but also serves as a means of communication with the heavens.

Read more: Art

Cradle Catholics haven't done enough to evangelize, pope says

CNS NEWS BRIEFS Aug-29-2011

The following excerpt is from Catholic News Service:

VATICAN CITY (CNS) - Cradle Catholics haven't done enough to show people that God exists and can bring true fulfillment to everyone, Pope Benedict XVI told a group of his former students. "We, who have been able to know (Christ) since our youth, may we ask forgiveness because we bring so little of the light of his face to people; so little certainty comes from us that he exists, he's present and he is the greatness that everyone is waiting for," the pope said. The pope presided at a Mass Aug. 28 in Castel Gandolfo, south of Rome, during his annual meeting with students who did their doctorates with him when he was a professor in Germany. Austrian Cardinal Christoph Schonborn of Vienna, a regular participant in the Ratzinger Schulerkreis (Ratzinger student circle), gave the homily at the Mass, but the pope made remarks at the beginning of the liturgy. The Vatican released the text of the pope's remarks August 29.

Read more: CNS

Prayer for the Immaculate Queen of Peace

Queen of Peace - Photo by Loci B. Lenar

Prayer for the Immaculate Queen of Peace - Prayers - Catholic Online

Most holy and immaculate Virgin, Mother of Jesus and our loving Mother, being his Mother, you shared in his universal kingship. The prophets and angels proclaimed him King of peace. With loving fervor in our hearts we salute and honor you as Queen of peace.

We pray that your intercession may protect us and all people from hated and discord, and direct our hearts into the ways of peace and justice which your Son taught and exemplified. We ask your maternal care for our Holy Father who works to reconcile the nations in peace. We seek your guidance for our President and other leaders as they strive for world peace.

Glorious Queen of peace, grant us peace in our hearts, harmony in our families and concord throughout the world. Immaculate Mother, as patroness of our beloved country, watch over us and protect us with your motherly love. Amen.

Miracles of the Saints

Padre Pio  

Miracles of the Saints

Excerpt from MiraclesoftheSaints.com:

This website MiraclesoftheSaints.com is devoted to the extraordinary miracles of God in the lives of the Saints including examples of Stigmata, Prophecy, Remarkable Cures, Bilocation, Heavenly voices from the afterlife, Prolonged Fasts, Mystical Knowledge, Crown of Thorns, Speaking in Tongues, Incorrupt Bodies, and Miracles over nature along with many others.

Martin Luther King Jr. Niece to Tout Pro-Life View at Memorial

King Memorial - Photo LifeNews.com

Martin Luther King Jr. Niece to Tout Pro-Life View at Memorial - LifeNews.com

The photograph and following excerpt is from LifeNews.com:

In conjunction with Sunday’s dedication of the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial, his niece, Alveda King, will present the pro-life message at an event at the offices of the Family Research Council.

King, who is the full-time director of African-American Outreach for Priests for Life, a Catholic pro-life group, will host a panel discussion and video presentation on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. “Redeem the Dream: The State of the Quality of Life in the 21st Century,” will present a frank assessment of how far African-Americans have come since Martin Luther King gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech on August 28, 1963, and how the dream has been imperiled by the abortion industry.

“He was unequivocally pro-life, and it would break his heart to know that so many African-American leaders endorse freedom of choice over the right to life.”  King said in a statement to LifeNews.

“As people gather in the nation’s capital to remember and celebrate the life of my Uncle Martin, it is an opportune moment to declare that were he here today, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. would be standing with those working to stop the violence of abortion against children in the womb and restore them to equal protection under the law,” King said.

The memorial to King is a four acre site that includes a towering granite sculpture of the civil rights leader and visitors to the King memorial filter through two pieces of granite carved to resemble the sides of a mountain. The 30-foot tall statute was sculpted by Chinese artist Lei Yixin and it shows King appearing to emerge from a mountain. The statute is placed facing southeaster towards the Tidal Basin to the Jefferson Memorial.

(The memorial to Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. is between the Jefferson and Lincoln memorials on the National Mall in Washington.)
Read more: King Memorial

Pope to Pilgrims as World Youth Fest Ends: Spread the faith!

Pope to pilgrims as youth fest ends: Spread the faith - USATODAY.com

The following excerpt is from USATODAY.com:

MADRID (AP) — Pope Benedict XVI urged more than a million young people to become missionaries for the faith Sunday, giving them words of encouragement as he concluded the church's youth festival and announced that the next edition will be in Rio de Janeiro in 2013.

Benedict told the crowd at a Madrid airfield hosting World Youth Day that they should not keep their faith private but participate fully in the life of their parishes and remain in communion with the church.

"So do not keep Christ to yourselves! Share with others the joy of your faith," he said.

This is Benedict's third World Youth Day, the gathering of young Catholics from around the world once every three years that was launched a quarter-century ago by Pope John Paul II in a bid to reinvigorate and spread the faith among the young. It has the feel of a weeklong rock concert and camping trip, with bands of flag-toting pilgrims roaming through Madrid's otherwise empty streets to take part in prayer and education sessions, Masses, cultural outings and papal events.

Read more: World Youth Day

World Youth Day Madrid: Pope arrives to “Cuatro Vientos” aerodrome to start vigil

WYD Madrid: Pope arrives to “Cuatro Vientos” aerodrome to start vigil

From RomeReports.com (Video Only):

August 20, 2011 - With almost 2 million people expecting his arrival, the pope made it to Madrid's Cuatro Vientos aerodrome to take part in Saturday's World Youth Day vigil. Young adults from more than 190 countries will take part in the celebration.

Prayer Leads to Healing through the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick

Fr. Richard Tartaglia of St. Mary's Catholic Church, originally uploaded by Loci Lenar.

By Loci B. Lenar

More than fifteen years ago, one of the most important health issues in my life was a request to receive the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick for a heart disorder. I contacted Fr. Richard Tartaglia and requested the sacrament of healing from St. Mary's Catholic Church, Denville, NJ.

I had an on-going heart ailment known as Atrial Fibrillation and also suffered with daily headaches. God's spiritual remedy for treating my medical condition was the Anointing of the Sick. Through daily prayer and recitation of the rosary, the Blessed Mother guided me to Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for God's perfect timing in blessing me with His healing grace.

After requesting church assistance, I was anointed with oil by Father Richard Tartaglia with the healing sacrament.  However, Our Lord encouraged me to receive the sacrament of healing more than once before I was finally healed. With that in mind, I thank the Lord for working his healing power through Fr. Richard and Saint Mary's Church.

Through the blessings and grace of God, I was healed of my heart arrhythmia. The medical condition is treated with Lanoxin, a cardiac medicine. However, I've not used any of the medication for over fifteen years. During that time frame, I was treated for the medical disorder by my family physician, Dr. Gilbert Mandel from Denville Associates of Internal Medicine. The medical group is located on Pocono Road, Denville, NJ. Additionally, as a consolation, I was healed from years of suffering painful headaches after countless visits to medical specialists with treatments that went to no avail. With the power of prayer and the Anointing of the Sick, God's healing grace cured me. The sacrament is administered through the church.

I was guided to this wonderful scripture by Our Lady before receiving the Anointing of the Sick from Fr. Tartaglia: "Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven."  (James 5:14-15)

God calls us to share our faith and blessings in order to provide encouragement and hope for others. In doing so, we spread the gospels to those in need of our Lord's love and mercy which in turn helps to build the Kingdom of God here on earth.

So what does scripture convey regarding answered prayer and events that change our lives for the better as a result of God's blessings?

Oh give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples. Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; Speak of all His wonderful acts. (1Chronicles 16:8-9)

I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation. (Psalm 118:21)

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

It is my hope that by reading my testimony, God the Father will bless you with His grace to use the sacraments of the church and encourge everyone to return to weekly celebration of the Mass.

May Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ bless you on the pathway to salvation and healing!

Read more: Fr. Richard Tartaglia: Spiritual Advisor at St. Mary's Parish

Copyright 2011 Loci B. Lenar
www.christian-miracles.com

Lenar's Website and Blog Nominated for 2011 Catholic New Media Awards

Lenar's Website and Blog Nominated for 2011 Catholic New Media Awards

Reaching out for evangelization with Fr. Richard Tartaglia of St. Mary's Catholic Church, Loci B. Lenar designed and released in 2008 the Signs, Wonders and Miracles website, where Catholics and Christians including other religious denominations can connect with the gospels and find miracles of faith by visiting the site at www.Christian-Miracles.com.

Fr. Richard Tartaglia is one of several pastors at St. Mary's and Mr. Lenar is a parishioner of the church which is located on 15 Myers Avenue, Denville, New Jersey.

Mr. Lenar is very grateful that his website has the distinction of being nominated for 2011 Catholic New Media Awards in several categories, including Best Overall Catholic Website, Best Catholic News Website, Most Spiritual Podcast, and Most Informative Podcast. 

Christian-Miracles.com is built on the foundation of Christianity and the gospels, designed as a public ministry of faith and hope with spiritual news for the community.

For additional information including a large selection of devotional prayers, please visit www.Christian-Miracles.com.

In addition, Lenar's blog: Angels, Wonders and Miracles of Faith is nominated in catergories of Best Blog by a Man, Most Informative Blog, Most Spiritual Blog, People's Choice Blog, Best Podcast by a Man, and Most Spiritual Podcast.

The blog is designed for the free exchange of information and news, especially for anyone wishing to renew their faith by reading life changing stories.

Lenar's website and blog had the honor of being nominated in several categories in 2009 as well.

Please register in order to view the nominees, and cast your votes for the 2011 Catholic New Media Awards at the following link: http://www.catholicnewmediaawards.com/

Voting ends August 26, 2011.  Winners will be announced on August 28 at CatholiCon in Houston, Texas.

Thank you very much for your kind support in all the nominations and taking the time to vote.  Your vote indeed counts!

Hephzibah Agai: Jesus Fills the Empty Space

Hephzibah Agai: Jesus Fills the Empty Space - CBN TV - Video

Growing up with Islam, Hephzibah Agai shares her conversion to Christianity.

Our Lady of Medjugorje's Monthly Message to Mirjana Soldo

Stained Glass Window
Photo by Loci B. Lenar

Our Lady of Medjugorje's Message of August 2, 2011 to Visionary Mirjana Soldo

"Dear children; Today I call you to be born anew in prayer and through the Holy Spirit, to become a new people with my Son; a people who knows that if they have lost God, they have lost themselves; a people who knows that, with God, despite all sufferings and trials, they are secure and saved. I call you to gather into God's family and to be strengthened with the Father's strength. As individuals, my children, you cannot stop the evil that wants to begin to rule in this world and to destroy it. But, according to God's will, all together, with my Son, you can change everything and heal the world. I call you to pray with all your heart for your shepherds, because my Son chose them. Thank you."

Our Lady of Divine Providence

Our Lady of Divine Providence
By artist Stephen B. Whatley

Our Lady of Divine Providence by Stephen B Whatley - Flickr Photo Sharing!

By Stephen B. Whatley

The month of August is dedicated to The Immaculate Heart of Mary in the Catholic Calendar.  I felt compelled with an urgency as I often feel when expressing my faith through art - to pay tribute to another devotion to the Mother of God, Our Lady of Divine Providence. Everyone is aware from the current international news of the financial plight of so many in the world; and I personally know several people under this pressure, particularly in the USA.

I pray that my drawing will give peace, hope and bring relief through prayer to whoever views the drawing. I was overtaken as I drew- indeed 'charged' with prayerful energy, reciting Hail Mary repeatedly - particularly as the tender face of the Mother of God emerged through my drawing.

The history of this particular devotion to Our Lady dates back 400 years to 1611 in Rome; when Barnabites (clerics of St Paul) were unable to complete construction of their church due to financial problems. The pastor made a pilgrimage to Loreto to beg Our Lady for help and on his return was rewarded with the financial means to finish the church.

He ensured that Our Lady receive credit for the miracle by placing a factual account in the parish archives. In 1663, after an image of Our Lady was moved to the altar in the church and fell, breaking into pieces, the architect offered the Barnabites a painting of the Blessed Mother with the Child Jesus in her lap, by the artist Gaetan.

One of the Fathers found the Pastor's original writings about the miracle; resulting from devotion and trust in Our Lady, Mother of Providence.

Devotion passed to Spain where a shrine was built in Tarragona, Catalonia. A Catalan priest, named bishop of Puerto Rico, was assigned a diocese in ruin, plagued with financial problems. Putting everything in the hands of Our Lady - through prayer - the Cathedral was restored and the diocese re-established.

The way the hand of Jesus is wrapped around His Mother's hand is symbolic of Our Lady of Divine Providence..."Mother, I place in your hands the authority to act in my name. From my infinite treasure, you are to provide good things to all those who implore your aid".

I am particularly grateful to a dear American friend, James, who kindly sent me the Illustrated Book of Mary (published: William J. Hirton Co. 2010) in which I learned of this devotion; and the illustration became my starting point for this tribute.

Prayer to Our Lady of Divine Providence

God, Our Father, we give you thanks as we honour the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother Of Divine providence.

Through the power of the Holy Spirit, She became the mother of The Saviour. As queen sitting at the right hand of her Son, she aids the church with her needs and with maternal care provides the personal needs of her children who were entrusted to her at the Cross by Jesus, Our Lord

We implore Thee Father, through the prayers of our Lady, Mother Of Divine Providence, to remove from us whatever is harmful, and to bestow on us only that which will be helpful.

We ask Thee this through Christ Our Lord.

Amen.

"May there be great blessings of peace, relief, new empowerment and prosperity through the Grace of Our Lady of Divine Providence, throughout August and beyond." ~ Stephen B Whatley, August 1, 2011

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

To view Stephen's painting of The Immaculate Heart of Mary, click on the following link:  www.flickr.com/photos/stephenbwhatley/4711812117/

Copyright 2011 Stephen B. whatley