Military chaplain being considered for medal of honor and sainthood

Military chaplain being considered for medal of honor and sainthood

The following excerpt is from RomeReports.com:

From the wheat fields of Kansas to a prisoner of war during the Korean Conflict in 1951, this is the story of military chaplain Father Emil Kapaun.

He is currently being considered to receive the Medal of Honor as well as a being candidate for sainthood by the Catholic Church.

He is the subject of a documentary called “The Miracle of Father Kapaun”. It follows the life of this Catholic martyr, with interviews from many of the men who served alongside the chaplain in the war. They tell how he refused to leave injured soldiers which led to his capture and eventual death in a prison camp.

Through many personal letters written to his family, one is given an idea of what it was like to serve as a clergyman on the battlefield. In the last letter he is believed to ever have written he notes that “we do have a few laughs in spite of the evils of war”.

The Vatican is now looking at possibly beatifying Kapaun, while the Pentagon may award him the country's highest military honor: the medal of honor.

Miracles of Faith: Fr. Richard Tartaglia Validates Sign of Cross Appearing in Mine Hill, NJ

Miracles of Faith: Sign of Cross Appears in Mine Hill, NJ - YouTube

With respect to miracles, Jesus said, "Unless you people see signs and wonders you will never believe." John 4:48

By Loci B. Lenar

Since 2005 a cross with an outline of a shield has appeared annually on my property in Mine Hill, New Jersey.

Similar phenomena with cross of lights have appeared elsewhere and are noted in the video.

I contacted my spiritual advisor and parish priest, Fr. Richard Tartaglia on Holy Thursday, April 5, 2012, regarding the cross appearing on the backyard fence.

Fr. Richard Tartaglia Validates Cross of Light
Appearing in Mine Hill, New Jersey

In order to provide an assessment of the matter, Fr. Tartaglia came to my residence and examined the cross of light and photographed the image on Good Friday, April 6, 2012.

I left for work at 7:00 AM, so I didn't see or speak to Fr. Richard until Tuesday, April 17th after dropping off two large stacks of prayer requests for Thursday's prayer service held at St. Mary's Catholic Church on April 19th.  With prudence Fr. Tartaglia validated the image as a visible sign.

This image first appeared in 2005 while my family was encountering some adversity. I must emphasize that with prayer the issues were resolved.

Through prayerful discernment, the image of the cross is a reminder from Our Lord Jesus of his spiritual presence in my family. The image appeared while praying for God's assistance as well as for help from St. Michael the Archangel. This sign is also meant to encourage others to return to their faith and to pray for God's help and mercy during times of need. Please do share this video with others.

To read my testimony on the matter, please visit the following links: Signs of Angels  and A Miracle Cross  

During the Thursday prayer service held on April 19th, Fr. Tartaglia discussed these signs as related to scripture in his Homily at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Myers Avenue, Denville, New Jersey, USA.

For more information and news updates, please visit the following link: http://www.christian-miracles.com

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Peace of Divine Mercy

Peace of Divine Mercy by Stephen B Whatley

Peace of Divine Mercy 2012 by Stephen B Whatley | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

By Stephen B. Whatley

Today, Sunday April 15, 2012, is the Feast Day of The Divine Mercy. After attending a beautiful Mass celebrating this special Sunday and Catholic devotion at the Roman Catholic Church of St Ignatius in North London, I felt what I call a 'divine push' to pay tribute to the Divine Mercy; with this drawing created today in prayer. I have felt compelled to paint several expressions of this devotion since 2002 ( all to be viewed in my "Christian Set" with a detailed history beneath the images) - which originates from miraculous instructions in the 1930s from Christ to a Polish nun, Sister Faustina (1905-1938); canonised in 2000 by Pope John Paul II.

Peace to all Christians and agnostics alike.

Pastel on paper
23.4 x 16.5in x 59 x 42cm

Buddhist attributes cancer healing to Jesus

Allan Huang with husband

Buddhist attributes cancer healing to Jesus | UCAN India

No trace of cancer was found in Allan Huang after her visit to Marian shrine at Vellankanni in Tamil Nadu.

The photograph and following excerpt can be read on UCNA India:

Kolkata: A Chinese Buddhist woman has attributed miraculous healing from cancer to her devotion to Divine Mercy.

Giving witness, Allan Huang said this at the feast of the Divine Mercy at Auxilium Church in Kolkata yesterday.

“In December 2007, I was diagnosed for Lymphoma and after prolonged treatment I was well again. But in October last year when I had a relapse my daughter Juliana gave me a picture of the Divine Mercy to pray,” said Huang standing before a large picture of Jesus the Divine Mercy venerated in the church.

Revealing the secret of her courage, Huang said that she did not loose hope during the four cycles of chemotherapy in Apollo Hospital, Kolkata.

“It was the love, care and prayers of my family, priests and so many good people that brought the healing,” she said after placing a bouquet of 50 red roses in thanksgiving.

She was accompanied by her husband Patrick, three sisters, children, five grand children.

Seven priests and some 500 faithful participated at the solemn afternoon Eucharist marking the Divine Mercy Sunday celebrations and also thanksgiving for the miraculous cure.

Narrating the incident of her miraculous cure during the prayer, parish priest Fr. K.K. Sebastian said, “when doctors refused Allan permission to travel with her son Dominic to Seoul (South Korea) to meet his in-laws, she went with her another son Stephen to the historic Marian shrine at Vellankanni in Tamilnadu last month.”

During a routine test after her pilgrimage to Vellankanni, the doctors who treated her at Apollo were amazed to see the test results which showed no trace of cancer, he said.

The Divine Mercy image is a depiction of Jesus based on the devotion initiated by Polish saint Sister Faustina Kowalska (1905-1938) of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy.

Read more: Divine Mercy

Did prayer to wartime priest lead to East Bay man’s cancer recovery?

Father Franz Stock, center, is pictured with Archbishop Angelo Roncalli
the future Pope John XXIII – at a German prisoner of war camp, Sept. 18, 1945.

Report on case sent to Rome in sainthood investigation of German Father Franz Stock

The photograph and following excerpt is from the website of Catholic San Francisco:

By Valerie Schmalz

If the Vatican authenticates the 1997 healing of an East Bay man diagnosed with incurable gastric cancer days before his wedding, then the Catholic Church will beatify Father Franz Stock, a German Army chaplain to Paris prisoners of the Nazis.

Father Stock was “the last human face” hundreds, perhaps thousands, saw before their execution.

He is a symbol of reconciliation in France and Germany, where streets and schools are named for him and national leaders have honored him. A French postage stamp commemorating Father Stock was issued in 1998 for the 50th anniversary of his death from pulmonary edema on Feb. 24, 1948, at age 43.

The Metropolitan Tribunal of the Archdiocese of San Francisco investigated the 1997 medical case and sent its report to the Vatican’s Congregation for the Causes of Saints on March 16. If the Vatican authenticates the miracle, Father Stock would be declared blessed. He would be canonized if a second miracle is verified.

Three months after doctors said a 33-year-old East Bay resident had at most three months to live, he was declared cancer-free in October 1997. Medical tests continue to show no traces of cancer.

“The doctors were flabbergasted because he was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer and they sent him home to get his affairs in order and die,” said Robert Graffio, canon lawyer for the Archdiocese of San Francisco and notary for the investigation.

The man married his fiance a couple of weeks later than they had planned. The couple has two children, 7 and 9.

“This is yet another assurance that the Lord is with us still, to this day, working miracles in our midst,” said Msgr. Michael Padazinski, chancellor and judicial vicar in the Archdiocese of San Francisco who oversaw the investigation as episcopal delegate.

The man who recovered unexpectedly became the object of prayers to Father Stock through family members who knew of the priest’s story.

A Franciscan priest who wrote the only English-language biography of Father Stock was pastor of a New Jersey parish where the stricken bridegroom’s older brother, his wife and children attended Mass. When Mary G. – her full name is withheld by request – called to place her brother-in-law on the parish prayer list in 1997, Franciscan Father Boniface Hanley said, “Pray, pray to Father Franz Stock,” she said, and made up a holy card for them to use.

“We kept praying the whole time. He had his whole stomach removed. He had lymph nodes that were positive,” said Mary G., who as a nurse cared for her brother-in-law as he recovered instead of dying. “It’s 15 years later and he is still cancer free.”

Read more: Father Franz Stock

Are Cross of Lights a Miracle from God?

Cross Appears on Holy Thursday 2012, Mine Hill, NJ - Photo by Loci B. Lenar

Signs and Wonders of Christianity

Regarding miracles Jesus said, "Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will never believe."  John 4:48

Brooke Kayal Examining Cross that Appeared on March 27, 2011 in Mine Hill, NJ
Photo by Loci B. Lenar

***

Megan Elliott writes on April 10, 2012:  Today I saw on Spirit Daily an image of a miraculous photo that links to your website (Christian-Miracles.com). You will see that the cross of light on your website looks the same as the image in the photo I sent to you! When I saw those photos this morning I cried with joy. 

Cross of Light - Photo by Megan Elliott

Everyday for seven years I have thought of that miraculous image I saw and now here is someone else (Loci B. Lenar) with such an experience!!! I just cannot fathom such things! Actually, it is so providential, as of today (I am now in teacher's college at University of Toronto) I had to do a presentation on a possible resource that religion teachers could use in the classroom. I really wanted to present on the Spirit Daily website, but I was afraid of the reaction I would get by less 'orthodox' or liberal individuals. But this morning I said I would not shy away from my spirituality and my beliefs. So I presented the Spirit Daily website to my class and also showed your website (www.Christian-Miracles.com) as well. I was almost in tears!

I took the picture in 2005 in Ottawa, Ontario, (coincidentally during this summer I had a 'conversion of heart'). It is also the day before my birthday. I have only seen it that day and the day after for maybe 30 minutes each. This morning I praised God and as I did so, two bright flashes quickly illuminated (my already brightly lit) bedroom.

***

Cross Appears on Easter Sunday in 2008, Pitman, NJ
March 25, 2008 Front Page Story of Gloucester County Times, Woodbury, NJ

Commentary by Loci B. Lenar

Incidentally, in 2008, by coincidence or perhaps I should say by providence, the Gloucester County Times, Woodbury, NJ, reported a story of a cross photographed by 9 year old Gwynna Crawford on Easter Sunday in Pitman, New Jersey. The cross appeared on a neighbor's house. The article indicated that Gwyanna's mother and the neighbor were unable to find the source of the sun reflection. To read the story, please visit the following link: NJ.com.

Feast of Divine Mercy is Celebrated on Sunday, April 15



Jezu Ufam Tobie by Stephen B Whatley

Divine Mercy Sunday - Saint Micheal Center

The following excerpt regarding the Feast of Divine Mercy is from the Saint Michael Center:

The Importance of the Feast of Mercy

The first revelation of Jesus in His message of Divine Mercy to St. Faustina on 22nd February 1931 was to say how much He desired mankind to avail of the infinite mercy of God on earth and this was why He was establishing the Feast of His Mercy. So, the Feast of Mercy was the first revelation in the message of Divine Mercy and is considered the first and most important element of the whole devotion.

Jesus devoted fourteen revelations in all, more than He devoted to any other element of this devotion because of the importance of the extraordinary graces He desired to give to all souls on this holy day.
In fact, He attached such importance to the Feast of Mercy that in the 43rd revelation, He stated, “I desire that My mercy be worshiped, and I am giving mankind the last hope of salvation; that is, recourse to My mercy. My Heart rejoices in this Feast”. (Diary 998)

First Sunday After Easter

Jesus said it was to be celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter. The selection of this day was to indicate that Jesus shows a special close connection between the paschal mystery of our redemption, and the Feast of Mercy and it is partly designed so that we contemplate, on this day, the mystery of our Redemption as the greatest act of Divine Mercy toward mankind.

Saint Faustina also noted this, when in 1935 she wrote: "I see now that the work of Redemption is bound up with this work of Divine Mercy that the Lord desires". (Diary 89)

A Second Baptism

Jesus said, "The soul that will go to confession in preparation for this day and receive Holy Communion on the day, shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment" (Diary 699) What exactly does this mean? Canon Rozycki, who was appointed by the Pope John Paul II to analyse the promises of Our Lord in the revelations of Divine Mercy states, “The extraordinary grace promised by Jesus in connection with the Feast of Mercy is something greater by far than a plenary indulgence. A plenary indulgence consists only in the forgiveness of temporal punishment due to sins already forgiven; it is never the forgiveness of sins themselves”.

He also went on to say, “The remarkable grace promised by our Lord on the Feast of Mercy is the same as a second Baptism. Now the Sacramental grace of Baptism if received by an adult, is not only the removal of original sin from their soul, but also the removal of all personal sins committed since birth, and any punishment due to them”.

So the soul who receives this special grace on the Feast of Mercy is the same as an adult who is baptised for the first time and receives the grace of having their soul cleansed through the sacrament of Baptism.

Read more: Feast of Divine Mercy

Life Changing Miracles through the Power of Prayer

Experiencing the Rock of Ages - CBN TV - Video

The video and following excerpt from CBN.com is an illustration of how Jesus can transform your life through the power of prayer.

By Christine McWorter

Sex, drugs, and rock n' roll summed up the life of musician Bobby Hayden, but it soon turned into addiction, despair and hopelessness.

Every penny he earned from gigs went to heroin. He became unstable, neglecting his bills in favor of his next high. Eventually Bobby lost his home and ended up living on skid row. The dream was over, and he was all alone.

“By the time the 90’s got here, I was so sick of Bobby Hayden, I wanted to be anybody- anybody else but Bobby Hayden,” Bobby said. “I was one of the worst down there. I injected heroin probably five to fifteen times a day. I absolutely remember going a year without a bath. I knew that I was down there to die. I really felt I was down there to die. Because in skid row, that’s why a lot of people go there - it’s your last hurrah.”

For seven years, Bobby lived on skid row panhandling for drug money. One day, another homeless man had a message for him. “’Bobby, your body is full of poison. Your legs are all chewed up with injections. You go no veins left. You’ve blown out your neck. You’re not going to be with us much longer,’”

Bobby remembers, “And I’m laying there without a chance in the world, clothes I’ve had on for a year, and my skin was darkened with dirt and soot and toxins from the air. And he said that I had to maybe start praying in the name of Jesus.”

With nothing to lose, Bobby took his advice and started to pray and read the Bible. “When I was walking the streets homeless, I had a little light on in the back of my head that somehow I was going to walk away from it.’

Bobby was right - his life was about to change. One of his old friends sent him a bus ticket to Phoenix and some methadone- a drug that helps addicts quit by stopping withdrawal symptoms. “Then it kinda hit me that I had been praying in Jesus’ name and all of a sudden I got a way out,” said Bobby. “So by this time I know that something is really leading me down that road and I knew this Jesus thing had to be for real.”

Bobby weaned himself off methadone. After about a year, he didn’t need it or any other drug. When a family member invited him to church, he was happy to attend. Soon, he began building a relationship with God.

“Jesus is everything. He’s just- He’s virtually everything - or I would still be in that cardboard box or probably not on this earth. So once I got out of the way and realized that Someone Else was calling the shots, that’s when it really started. I started to tick on all 8 again.”

Bobby has been free from drugs for over 3 years. He is a worship leader at his church, and is able to do what he loves - write and perform music. He says Jesus helped him see that a life in Christ is the best life possible.

He says, “I am so thankful to be a human being again and be in touch with Jesus, because now I really understand that Jesus lives inside of me.”

Frescos At Macedonia Orthodox Church Mystify Christian Worshippers

St. Dimitrija Orthodox church in Macedonia's capital Skopje,
Monday, April 9, 2012. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)  

Saint Dimitrija: Changing Frescos At Macedonia Orthodox Church Mystify Christian Worshippers

The photograph and following excerpt is on HuffingtonPost.com:

SKOPJE, Macedonia -- Thousands of Orthodox Christian worshippers from across Macedonia are lining up to visit a church where a cleric says frescoes of saints have begun to appear brighter in color without any obvious explanation.

Father Zoran of Saint Dimitrija church in Skopje, the capital, said Monday that the murals, long obscured by the residue of candle smoke, began to appear clearer over the weekend, with red and gold colors becoming more noticeable.

That has prompted worshippers to flock to the church ahead of Orthodox Easter next Sunday.

Read more: Saint Dimitrija

Shadow at Ursuline chapel is a sign of faith to many

Photo by Eliot Kamenitz - The Times-Picayune

Shadow at Ursuline chapel is a sign of faith to many | NOLA.com

Photo Caption: On Monday, April 2, 2012 more than 2,000 pilgrims have come to the Shrine of Our Lady of Prompt Succor at Ursuline Academy (New Orleans, LA) since late last week to see an unusual image projected on a pillar near the shrine’s altar. Many see the image as the face of Jesus bearing a crown of thorns. Although it is pretty clearly a shadow cast by an overhead chandelier, it seems to have escaped public notice until now. Miraculous or not, many say the image helps them focus their prayers at the threshold of Holy Week, the most solemn week of the Christian year.

Wishing all Visitors a Blessed and Happy Easter!

The Resurrection of Jesus - Photo by Loci B. Lenar

The Resurrection of Jesus

And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you.”  Matthew 28:2-7

The stained glass window of the Resurrection of Jesus can be seen inside Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church, Verona, New Jersey.

Cross Appears on Holy Thursday

Cross Appears on April 5, 2012

Miracles of Faith - Signs, Wonders, and Miracles

By Loci B. Lenar

On the morning of Holy Thursday, I photographed a cross which appears annually on my property and backyard fence. Rays of sunlight is creating an image of a cross that is surrounded by a shield. This phenomenon first began in 2005 at my residence in Mine Hill, NJ, USA.

It usually happens during Lent and sometimes on other occasions. I believe it's a sign from Our Lord to share with others in order to help lead people back to God and their Christian faith.

For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.  Psalm 84:11

Scripture tells us that the day before Jesus was crucified he shared his Last Supper with his disciples on a Thursday, celebrating Passover.

Holy Week is an important time to reflect and renew our spiritual life through the gospels of Jesus Christ and the Eucharist (Communion). Easter and the resurrection is a testament to God's love because we share in the redemptive power of the cross through Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”  John 8:12

Cross Appears on Holy Thursday in 2012

It's interesting to note that the cross first appeared in 2012 on St. Patrick’s Day which by the way is celebrated on March 17th. The above photos are from Holy Thursday.

From Last Year: Brooke Kayal examines Cross which appeared on March 27, 2011

On Wednesday, April 4th, I went to St. Mary's Rectory and sat down with my spiritual advisor, Fr. Richard Tartaglia and shared the photographs from St. Patrick’s Day and discussed spiritual matters as well. St. Mary's Catholic Church is located on Myers Avenue, Denville, New Jersey.

Further details regarding the cross and my testimony can be read in the article, ‘Cross Appears during Lent and Holy Week as Sign of God’s Love,’ or by visiting the website of http://www.christian-miracles.com/.

Copyright 2012 Loci B. Lenar

Illiterate man’s body healed, then God gave him ability to read Scripture

The following excerpt is from GodReports.com:

By Mark Ellis

A mysterious disease left him unable to walk or speak for years. Then God brought a missionary into his life who prayed for healing, and the man received even more than he could have hoped.

Yilma Gudini lived in a rural area without access to education. Most of his childhood was spent herding cattle for his family and he never learned to read. While he enjoyed good health, a mysterious neurological ailment struck him in young adulthood that left him unable to walk or speak.

“Our goal is to raise up a prayer movement,” says Dr. Howard Folz, the president of AIMS. “We also want to see missionaries go to unreached peoples,” he says. “One of these missionaries in Ethiopia reached a man named Yilma.”

One day a missionary visited his village and began to pray for his healing. There was no sign of any improvement after he prayed, but the missionary wanted to return the next day to pray again.
Several days passed and there was no sign of any change in Gudini’s condition. But the young missionary persisted in prayer, as he continued to come back, and by faith to call on God to move with power.

On the eighth day, God answered. “The demons left me, and I could walk and speak again,” Gudini says. “It was a miracle.”

Without any prodding, the joy-filled young man surrendered to Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. Shortly after that, he experienced another miracle.

“God told me to fast and pray for 15 days,” Gudini says. On the tenth day, God approached him in the middle of the night while he slept.

He had one of the most vivid dreams he could recall. “I saw the Word of God written on the wall,” he says. But as Gudini stared at the strange symbols lighted on the wall, something unusual happened. He could actually read the words – they made perfect sense. In his dream, he read Scripture for many hours.

When Gudini awakened, something even more unusual happened. He ran to get a Bible and when he opened the pages, he could read! Gudini praised and glorified God after this second great miracle in his life.

He ran excitedly to tell a friend — to confirm that what he thought was happening was real. The friend verified his newfound reading ability, supernaturally derived.

Read more: God Reports

Image of Jesus draws faithful to Ursuline chapel

Faithful say image of Jesus draws them to Ursuline chapel | wwltv.com New Orleans

The following excerpt is from WWLTV.com:

NEW ORLEANS – The Ursuline chapel in Uptown New Orleans is home to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Prompt Succor, but for the past 12 days, it has also been home to hundreds of faithful who are coming in to see what they say is a vision of Jesus on a pillar.

Read more: Image of jesus

Our Lady's Annual Message to Mirjana Soldo

Mary, Mother of Peace by Stephen B. Whatley

The Medjugorje Web - Apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Medjugorje

Our Lady of Medjugorje's Message of April 02, 2012 to Mirjana Soldo:

 "Dear children, As the Queen of Peace, I desire to give peace to you, my children, true peace which comes through the heart of my Divine Son. As a mother I pray that wisdom, humility and goodness may come to reign in your hearts – that peace may reign – that my Son may reign. When my Son will be the ruler in your hearts, you will be able to help others to come to know Him. When heavenly peace comes to rule over you, those who are seeking it in the wrong places, thus causing pain to my motherly heart, will recognize it. My children, great will be my joy when I see that you are accepting my words and that you desire to follow me. Do not be afraid, you are not alone. Give me your hands and I will lead you. Do not forget your shepherds. Pray that in their thoughts they may always be with my Son who called them to witness Him. Thank you."