Prayer: The Lord is My Shepherd

Stained Glass Window Detail of Jesus
Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Hackettstown, New Jersey
Photo by Loci B. Lenar

Prayer: The Lord is My Shepherd

Lord, we are Your people, the sheep of Your flock.
Heal the sheep who are wounded,
touch the sheep who are in pain,
clean the sheep who are soiled,
warm the lambs who are cold.
Help us to know the Father's love
through Jesus the Shepherd and through His Holy Spirit.
Help us to lift up that love, and show it all over this land.
Help us to build love on justice and justice on love.
Help us to believe mightily, hope joyfully, love divinely.
Renew us that we may renew the face of the earth.
Amen.

Daily Devotional Prayers

St. Teresa of Avila Church: Inspirational Window Art

Jesus Christ (window detail)
Photo by Loci B. Lenar

By Loci B. Lenar

While driving through Summit, New Jersey, I came across and stopped at the St. Teresa of Avila Church. The beautiful Catholic Church is located on 306 Morris Avenue.

Since I had my camera in hand, it was a perfect opportunity to take some photographs of the stained glass windows. The photos are posted here for your enjoyment. I've added scripture to some photos to illustrate the image.



St. Joseph (window detail)
Photo by Loci B. Lenar



Angel of the Lord (window detail)
Photo by Loci B. Lenar

The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."   -Matthew 28:5-7

Sacred Heart of Jesus (window detail)
Photo by Loci B. Lenar

Assumption of Mary into Heaven
Photo by Loci B. Lenar



Baptism of Jesus (window detail)
Photo by Loci B. Lenar

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented.

As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."  
-Matthew 3:13-17

More of Lenar's Photos: Stained Glass Window Gallery

Photographs Copyright 2010 Loci B. Lenar

Christian-Miracles.com

A Peek Inside St. Virgil's: Photographer Captures the Beauty of Stained Glass

St. Virgil Catholic Church - Photo by Loci B. Lenar



A Peek Inside St. Virgil's: Photographer Captures the Beauty of Stained Glass - Morris Township - Morris Plains, NJ Patch

Thousand-year-old art form continues to provide spiritual inspiration

By Kathy Shaskan

When Loci Lenar is on the move, he usually packs his camera. That's how he captures so many inspiring photos of religious art, a longtime hobby that he says expresses his strong spiritual beliefs. A series of photographs Lenar shot of the stained glass windows in St. Virgil Roman Catholic Church in Morris Plains (NJ), displays both his creative eye and the unique play of light and color that has made stained glass a popular art form for over a thousand years.

St. Virgil Church - Photo by Loci B. Lenar


"I'm in a family business," the Mine Hill resident said.  "In my travels, I'll often stop at a church and say a prayer." If he is inspired by the religious art he encounters, "I'll photograph it."

St. Virgil Church - Photo by Loci B. Lenar

Shooting stained glass windows is a challenge. "It's difficult. You have to take the lighting into account. You can't use a flash because you would lose a lot of the color."  Lenar said. The wonder of shooting these colorful panes, though, is that they glow as if lit from within. "The exterior light enhances the colors."

Asked to explain his attraction to stained glass windows, Lenar replied, "They make reference to the gospels and they're helpful during prayer. You can reflect on an image and it gives you inspiration."

To see more photographs by Loci Lenar, visit his Stained Glass Window Gallery.

The Birth of Jesus

Merry Christmas!

The Birth of Jesus - Luke 2:1-20

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

The Shepherds and the Angels

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

The upper stained glass window detail was photographed inside St. Rose of Lima Church. The Catholic Church is located in East Hanover, NJ.  The lower stained glass window was photographed inside St. Virgil Church, Morris Plains, NJ, USA.

Photograph Copyright 2009 Loci B. Lenar
Christian-Miracles.com

Devotional Prayers

The following prayers are posted on Christian-Miracles.com and can be used in daily devotions. Please click on the links listed below in order to read the prayer. Periodically new prayers will be added to the list.

Devotional Prayers

The Miracle Prayer

Prayer of Confidence to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Novena to the Infant Jesus of Prague

Prayerful Healing for Children

Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel

The Memorare: Intercessory Prayer to the Blessed Mother

Unfailing Prayer to St. Anthony

Prayer to St. Jude

Prayers of St. Pio of Pietrelcina

Millennium Prayer to World Peace

Prayer to Christ the King

Prayer before a Crucifix

The Chaplet of Divine Mercy

The Holy Rosary

The stained glass window detail was photographed inside St. Virgil Church, Morris Plains, New Jersey, USA.

Photograph Copyright 2009 Loci B. Lenar

Christian-Miracles.com

Prayer to Christ the King

Prayer to Christ the King

Christ Jesus, I acknowledge You King of the universe.

All that has been created has been made for You.

Make full use of Your rights over me.

I renew the promises I made in Baptism,

when I renounced Satan and all his pomps and works,

and I promise to live a good Christian life

and to do all in my power

to procure the triumph of the rights of God

and Your Church.

Divine Heart of Jesus,

I offer you my efforts

in order to obtain that all hearts

may acknowledge your Sacred Royalty,

and that thus the Kingdom of Your peace

may be established throughout the universe.

Amen.

The prayer can be found on Catholic websites.

Stained glass window photographed inside The Church of Saint Michael, Netcong, NJ, USA.

Photograph Copyright 2009 Loci B. Lenar

Christian-Miracles.com

The Canticle of Mary

The Canticle of Mary - Luke 1:46-55

The Magnificat - (Also known as the Song of Mary)

And Mary said,

"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;

my spirit rejoices in God my savior.

For he has looked upon his handmaid's lowliness;

behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed.

The Mighty One has done great things for me,

and holy is his name.

His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him.

He has shown might with his arm,

dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart.

He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones

but lifted up the lowly.

The hungry he has filled with good things;

the rich he has sent away empty.

He has helped Israel his servant,

remembering his mercy,

according to his promise to our fathers,

to Abraham and to his descendents forever."

The stained glass window detail photographed inside St. Christopher Church, Parsippany, NJ, USA.

 

Photograph Copyright 2009 Loci B. Lenar
Christian-Miracles.com

My Peace I Give to You

My Peace I Give to You

Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." -John 14:27

"I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, and become my disciples." -John 15:5 and 8

"As the Father loves me, so I love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and remain in his love." -John 15:9 and 10

"I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete. This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. You are my friends if you do what I command you. It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the father in my name (Jesus) he may give you. This I command you, love one another." -John:11, 12, 14, 16, and 17

The collage of images are photographs taken of stained glass window art inside of Saint Peter the Apostle Church, and Saint Christopher Church, both located in Parsippany, NJ, USA.

Copyright 2009 Loci B. Lenar
Christian-Miracles.com