Delivered from Danger by the Power of Prayer

News story from CBN TV

A heart malfunction caused Steve DeMoss to go into a coma from which he miraculously awakened after being anointed with oil by his pastor.

Doctors told Sharon DeMoss that Steve needed to wake up from the coma within 5 days, or he would suffer major brain damage. On the fourth day, he was showing no signs of recovery. She called a local church for prayer. “They came over immediately and they spent a long time,” Sharon said. “We worshipped. We prayed together. We held hands. We prayed over him. They anointed him with oil.”

By the next morning, Steve was awake and had no signs of brain damage. “When I woke up, my wife says, ‘Do you realize what just happened?’ I had all these tubes in me and everything. Then my kids came to me, my daughter and one of my sons, we huddled and we realized that the worst had passed.”

“I remember just being able to breathe after that,” Sharon said. “Like, it was going to be okay.”

“That was a pretty joyful realization that God’s restored what we had almost lost,” Steve said.

That same afternoon, Steve was walking around the hospital, and he was released just days later. “When I woke up, I heard that people were praying all over the world,” Steve said. “I had friends in Senegal, Uganda. I really believe that the prayers of the people is what brought me back. It was extremely touching for me. It just made me feel like, ‘I am so glad I am a part of the body of Christ.’”

***

"Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven."  (James 5:14-15)

Horrific Car Accident Leads to Angelic Encounter

News story from CBN TV

When Dann and Tracey Stadler's car was hit head-on by a drunk driver it burst into flames. With their lives in the balance, a series of miracles were set in motion to save the couple.

Pope declares John XXIII and John Paul II as saints of the Universal Church

News story from RomeReports.com

It's official. Pope Francis has declared John XXIII and John Paul II as saints of the Catholic Church.

Before a crowded square, Card. Angelo Amato presented the decree to elevate the two Popes to the altars. Pope Francis gave his approval through a brief proclamation. 

Afterwards, family members of John XXIII and the woman cured by John Paul II presented the relics of each Pope respectively. 

FULL TEXT OF PROCLAMATION

For the honor of the Blessed Trinity, the exaltation of the Catholic faith and the increase of the Christian life, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, and of the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and our own, after due deliberation and frequent prayer for divine assistance, and having sought the counsel of many of our brother bishops, we declare and define Blessed John XXIII and John Paul II be saints and we enroll them among the saints, decreeing that they are to be venerated as such by the whole church. In the name of the Holy Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Natalie's Easter Miracle

News from CBN TV

A bad car accident put Natalie Elders in a coma for ten days until she experienced a personal Easter Sunday resurrection.

Prayer Heals Man from Sinus Cancer

News story and video from CBN.com

By Tim Smith

Jacob Boger had severe headaches, watery eyes, and felt fatigued all the time. MRI tests showed a tumor in his nasal cavity, behind his eyes. A subsequent biopsy revealed even more… cancer. “I had ignored the symptoms for so long that the cancer had progressed through the 1st stage, the 2nd stage, and the 3rd stage. And by the time we did the biopsy, I was in the 4th stage, and given a less than 10% chance to live. The cancer was eating a hole in my skull and was heading toward my brain.”

Jacob needed immediate chemo and radiation. His doctor told him about the possible side effects. “’It’s going to make you sterile. Your saliva glands are going to be destroyed. Your taste buds are going to be destroyed. The radiation that’s going to go with this treatment is going to destroy your hair follicles. You’ll never have hair on the sides of your head again.’”

The tumor was 4 inches in diameter. Jacob started his treatments immediately. His doctor said he would live only 5 more years. “He said that for the 5 years I’d be battling the cancer. (He told me) even if it went into remission, that at the level that it’s at, stage 4 that it’s at, and the aggressiveness that it’s at, it’s going to come back. One of the warning signs that he gave me was that if I ever wake up, or through the day, have cerebral fluid coming out of my nose, which was a clear, salty kind of fluid, he said, ‘Just rush to the hospital. You’re done at that point.’”

Jacob was a Christian, and believed God would heal him. “I was constantly listening to teachings on healing. I was constantly in my Bible, and I was in prayer. And I would tell God, ‘Your Word says, ‘By Your stripes, I am healed.’ And I believe Your Word. You tell me to stop taking these treatments; I’ll stop taking the treatments, because my faith is in Your Word.’”

Jacob says that’s exactly what happened. “I woke up in the middle of the night one night, and just as clearly as I’m speaking to you right now, I heard God tell me, ‘It’s over. It’s finished. It’s done. Stop taking the treatments.’ The peace of God was on me, and I said, ‘God, You told me to do it, so that’s exactly what I’m going to do.’”

“That day, I walked in and told him, ‘Doctor, I’m done.’ And he treated me with respect and I appreciated that. I said, ‘Yes, sir.’ He said, ‘Will you get one more MRI?’”
“I said, ‘I will.’ I got the MRI that day. He scheduled it that day. He wasn’t kidding around. Three days later, I go back into his office and he put the films up on the board and he says, ‘This is where the tumor was. This is the aggression. This is how big it was, and this is the new film. There’s no tumor. Your tumor vanished.’”

“Medically speaking, these cannot be the same person. Not ‘unlikely’ or not ‘It’s not very probable.’ They absolutely cannot be the same person. There was no scar tissue. The bone had been replaced. (It was) All fresh bone. No scar tissue there. There was absolutely no evidence that cancer had ever been in my body.”

“He said, ‘Nothing we did could have caused this. We don’t make tumors vanish. The bone that had eroded away has been replaced. It looks like you got your miracle.’”

“I said, ‘Yes, sir, I got my miracle.’”

Read more: Healing Miracle

Man Attributes Miracle Survival to Psalm 54

CBN News - CBN.com

Video of a man's miracle survival after being trapped underwater for three days has gone viral.

Harrison Okene, a Nigerian cook, is the lone survivor of a 12-member crew of an upended tug boat. He attributed his survival all to prayer.

Footage of his rescue, which happened more than six months ago, was just posted online this week.

During the time he was trapped, Okene found an air pocket in the boat and said he was praying to God the whole time, reciting Psalm 54, also called the prayer for deliverance.

That was the last Psalm his wife had sent him via text message. Okene said he believes his rescue after more than 60 hours at 100 feet underwater is a sign of divine deliverance.

How One Prayer Healed Autism

CBN TV

Gina and Brian witnessed their son Ethan experience victory over autism.

Countdown for Christmas: unique Advent calendar for the digital age

News excerpt from RomeReports.com

With Christmas just around the corner, there's a new Advent calendar to help prepare for the holidays. But this isn't your average calendar. It is high-tech, and it can be seen through a website or a smartphone.

It was launched by the Archdiocese of Sydney and it's called the 'Xt3 Advent calendar'. It truly is an online journey towards Christmas. Every day, a door virtually opens so that users from all over the world can have a unique yet shared experience. 

The website includes all kinds of interactive material like daily reflections, podcasts and even videos like this one, featuring children talking about the true meaning of Christmas. And all the way from Australia, it will also share Cardinal Pell's message for the holidays and a special surprise for Pope Francis' birthday on December 17th.

It's the fifth year the Archdiocese launches this project, and it's also available for iPhone and Android. A new way to count the days for Christmas in the online world.

The Divine Rescue on Highway Six

CBN TV

It’s been called The Miracle on Highway 6. After a fiery car crash and desperate prayers, witnesses say angels showed up and performed a miraculous rescue.

American Protestant-based group making inroads with Catholics

News from Reports.com

Founded nearly 200 years ago, the American Bible Society has always played a big part in spreading the Gospel within the United States.  

The non-profit organization was founded by Protestant leaders in the early times of the American nation. But in the past few decades they've begun reaching out to Catholics. 

MARIO PAREDES 

American Bible Society 

“The mission of the American Bible Society is to spread the Word of God, to make available to all people. And certainly, an important segment of Christianity is the Catholic Church. And so this inter-confessional organization called American Bible Society is opening the door to the Catholic Church and serving the Catholic communities.” 

This outreach has reached the top levels of Catholicism. The organization's president addressed the Synod of Bishops in 2012. And their latest effort is the book Pray With the Bible, Meditate With the Word. It was published in collaboration with the LEV, the Vatican's publishing house. 

The book is described as a manual on Lectio Divina, studying Christianity's Holy Book. It features a four step process: knowing the text, understanding the words, meditating on their message and putting them into action. 

MARIO PAREDES 

American Bible Society 

“The end goal of the Lectio Divina is to bring people back to the Bible, and to bring people back to praying with the Bible. It's to bring people to get to know the God of the Bible, and a relationship that can become a personal relationship between myself and the God of the Bible.” 

The book is available in three languages: English, Italian and Spanish. It's available at specialty bookstores. Over time, the American Bible Society has expanded its services beyond the United States. Keeping in line with their mission, this book is another resource they provide for Catholics worldwide to better understand the Gospel. 

Pope Francis ranks among Forbes' most powerful people

News from RomeReports.com

Who are the most powerful people in the world? According to Forbes magazine, first on the list is Russia's president, then the United States followed by China. Fourth on the list is Pope Francis.  

So Vladimir Putin takes the number one slot, then Barack Obama, followed by the Secretary General of the Chinese Communist Party, Xi Jinping. 

Forbes magazine explains that since Pope Francis was elected in March, a new wave of energy was given to Catholicism, the world's largest religion with over 1.2 billion people. The magazine notes that Pope Francis also has a presence in social media. On Twitter alone, he already has over 10 million followers. He's also the first Pope to have taken a picture of himself with a cell phone. 

The ranking places the Latin American pope above others political and financial leaders like Angela Merkel and Bill Gates.

ROME REPORTS releases a special program about John Paul II's miracle

News from RomeReports.com

There's a miracle behind this face. On April 8th 2011, Floribeth Mora woke up with a headache so strong she had to be taken to the emergency room.

FLORIBETH MORA 

“I was hospitalized. They told me I had a brain hemorrhage.” 

The doctors didn't have good news for Floribeth's husband. They told him her days were limited. But that was before John Paul II came into the picture. Now, in a special program produced by ROME REPORTS, they share the human drama they went through and the unexpected outcome of their story. A heartwarming and emotional story that saved her life and paved the way towards John Paul II's canonization.  

EDWIN ARCE, Floribeth's husband

“I try not to remember those difficult moments because they were filled with pain.” 

FLORIBETH MORA 

“Then, I suddenly hear a voice in my room that tells me: 'Rise.' I got up and went into the kitchen, where my husband asked me what I was doing. I told him: 'I feel fine.'” 

Now, TV channels from around the world will be able to air the emotional story of John Paul II's miracle narrated by those who were directly affected. 

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

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

▶Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. - I Have a Dream

August 28, 1963 [FULL SPEECH] - YouTube

Fifty years later, and still the most famous speech (I Have a Dream) of the 20th century by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Wednesday, August 28, 1963, at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC.

'Angel' priest visits Missouri accident scene

News excerpt from USA.com

A mystery priest who suddenly appeared at a Mo. accident scene is being called an angel.

Emergency workers and community members in eastern Missouri are not sure what to make of a mystery priest who showed up at a critical accident scene Sunday morning and whose prayer seemed to change life-threatening events for the positive.

Even odder, the black-garbed priest does not appear in any of the nearly 70 photos of the scene of the accident in which a 19-year-old girl almost died. No one knows the priest and he vanished without a word, said Raymond Reed, fire chief of New London, Mo.

"I think it's a miracle," Reed said. "I would say whether it was an angel that was sent to us in the form of a priest or a priest that became our angel, I don't know. Either way, I'm good with it."

Carla Churchill Lentz, mother of the teen (Katie Lentz) who was critically injured, said emergency workers have told her there is no way her daughter should have lived inside such a mangled car. Of the priest, she said, "I do believe he certainly could have been an angel dressed in priest's attire because the Bible tells us there are angels among us."

Read More: Angel Priest

Pope to politicians: You have a responsibility with society, but above all else, with God

News story reprinted from RomeReports.com

As an orchestra played the official World Youth Day Hymn, Pope Francis walked onto the stage at Rio's city theater, to address Brazilian political and cultural leaders. There, he reminded them that they should embrace dialogue with one another, despite their political differences.

POPE FRANCIS

“Between selfish indifference and violent protest there is always another possible option: that of dialogue. Dialogue between generations, dialogue with the people, the capacity to give and receive, while remaining open to the truth."

When it comes to making laws, the Pope said they should not forget that they have moral responsibility with society and with future generations. This too, said the Pope, has a religious dimension. 

POPE FRANCIS 

“To act responsibly is to see one’s own actions in the light of other people’s rights and God’s judgment. To preserve this ethical sense appears today as an unprecedented historic challenge. Beyond scientific and technical competence, the present situation also demands a sense of moral obligation expressed in a social and deeply fraternal exercise of responsibility.”

Towards the end of his speech, there were some endearing moments. A group of girls, who take dancing classes, surrounded the Pope. Moments later, a young girl, walked up to him, and gave him a bouquet of flowers, as the crowd cheered. 

Twenty political and cultural leaders got to greet the Pope personally afterward. Among the group, he blessed a pregnant mother and her unborn child. Then, he greeted a group of indigenous people, who seemed very moved. One of them, even gave him his decorative hat, which the Pope briefly wore. 

What Religion are Spiderman, Hulk and Batman?

News from RomeReports.com

A new American website has categorized comic characters and superheroes according to their religion. This is based on the attitude and beliefs they express in their stories.

According to www.comicbookreligion.com, the incredible Hulk, aka Bruce Banner, for example, is a Christian. In fact, his marriage with Betty Ross, is celebrated by a Catholic priest. But within the Marvel universe, the green giant is not the only Christian.

Hulk's fellow hero against evil, the Night Crawler, is another devout Christian. He may be one of the least attractive X-Men characters, but he has a heart of gold.

Among Protestants, the list includes the likes of Spiderman and Captain America. Superman, on the other hand, is listed as a Methodist. His latest movie, 'Man of Steel', seems to underline his religious beliefs with striking analogies. In it, he is a 33 year old man who sacrifices himself for the good of humanity.

Comic-based movies will never run out of style. Despite telling entertaining stories of an extravagant and surreal world, where good overcomes evil, their true goal is to give mankind hope for a better future.

Álvaro del Portillo: Couple talks about the miracle that will pave the way towards his beatification

News excerpt from RomeReports.com

July 11, 2013 - Pope Francis has approved a miracle attributed to the intercession of Alvaro del Portillo. This means Del Portillo will be recognized as a blessed in the coming months.

The story of this miracle is striking. It all started in Chile, where young José Ignacio Ureta Wilson, a young boy from Santiago, was declared clinically dead. 

The events took place back in 2003. Just two days after José Ignacio was born, he underwent surgery for a serious malformation in both his abdomen and his heart. But  suddenly his health worsened.

SUSANA WILSON
Mother“We were at my in-laws' house. At about 2pm they called us from the clinic and told us to go there immediately because José Ignatio wasn't well.”

The young boy's heart stopped beating and he went into cardiac arrest. The doctors tried to resuscitate him. But no matter how hard they tried, the boy was declared dead shortly after.

JOSÉ IGNACIO RODRÍGUEZ
Pediatrician“We kept on resuscitating him, we kept on and on. After 30 minutes we simply saw nothing was happening, so we started reducing our efforts.”

But the child's mother, never lost hope. In her desperation, she turned to Alvaro del Portillo in prayer.

FRANCISCO JAVIER URETA
Father“I saw her praying in an incredible way. She was praying with extreme fervor and faith.”

That's when she says, something really incredible happened. Young José Ignacio's pulse rhythm began to grew faster and steadier, until the boy's heart regained its normal function. That's something the doctors still can't explain.

JOSÉ IGNACIO RODRÍGUEZ
Pediatrician“Without an any... without any explanation José Ignatio's heart regained its rhythm, progressively and with a quick pace. And now he is here with us.”

Today he is alive and well. He loves soccer, tennis and is a big fan of dancing. His parents say they have no doubt, it all happened through the intercession of Alvaro del Portillo. 

It's Official. Pope Francis to canonize John Paul II and John XXIII

News excerpt from Rome Reports.com

Pope Francis has cleared John Paul II for sainthood. On Friday morning, he signed a decree that attributes a miracle to the intercession of the late Polish Pope. This gives the green light for the Polish Pope to be declared a saint of the Catholic Church.

The Pope also approved the canonization of Blessed John XXIII, who is remembered for calling the Second Vatican Council. A special consistory has been called by the Pope, to set a date for his canonization, even without the required miracle.

FR. FEDERICO LOMBARDI
Vatican Spokesperson

“The road is open for the canonization of John XXIII, but a decree on a miracle has not yet been approved by the Pope. The Vatican's Causes for Saints has presented the situation to the Pope, so that a canonization can take place even without the second miracle.”
A decree approving a miracle by Alvaro del Portillo, former prelate of Opus Dei, has also been approved, paving the way towards his future beatification.

The Pope also approved additional beatifications and over 40 martyrs who will be recognized for their heroic virtues.

SEE FULL LIST OF DECREES: 

MIRACLES, attributable to the intercession of:

-Blessed John Paul II, Polish (ne Karol Josef Wojtyla), Supreme Pontiff, (1920-2005);

-Venerable Servant of God Alvaro del Portillo y Diez de Sollano, Spanish, bishop and prelate of the personal prelature of Santa Cruz and Opus Dei, (1914-1994);

-Venerable Servant of God Esperanza de Jesus (nee Maria Josefa Alhama Valera), Spanish, foundress of the Congregations of the Handmaids of Merciful Love and the Sons of Merciful Love, (1893-1983).

MARTYRDOM

-Servant of God Jose Guardiet y Pujol, Spanish, diocesan priest; born in 1879 and killed in hatred of the faith in Spain on 3 August 1936;

-Servant of God Mauricio Iniguez de Heredia, Spanish, and 23 companions from the Order of Hospitallers of St John of God, killed in hatred of the faith in Spain between 1936 and 1937;

-Servant of God Fortunato Velasco Tobar, Spanish, and 13 companions from the Congregation of the Mission, killed in hatred of the faith in Spain between 1934 and 1936;

-Servant of God Maria Asuncion (nee Juliana Gonzalez Trujillano) and 2 companions, Spanish, professed nuns of the Congregation of Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood, killed in hatred of the faith in Spain in 1936.

HEROIC VIRTUES

-Servant of God Nicola D'Onofrio, Italian, professed priest of the Order of the Clerks Regular Ministers to the Sick (Camillians), (1943-1964);

-Servant of God Bernard Philippe, French (ne Jean Fromental Cayroche), professed monk of the Institute of Christian Schools, founder of the Hermanas Guadalupanas de La Salle, (1895-1978);

-Servant of God Maria Isabel da Santissima Trinidade, Portuguese, (nee Maria Isabel Picao Caldeira viuda de Carneiro), foundress of the Congregation of Conceptionist Nuns, (1889-1962).

-Servant of God Maria del Carmen Rendiles Martinez, Venezuelan, foundress of the Servants of Jesus, Venezuala, (1903-1977);

-Servant of God Giuseppe Lazzati, Italian, consecrated layperson, (1909-1986).

Finally, the Holy Father approved the votes in favour the canonisation of Blessed John XXIII (Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli) from the Ordinary Session of the Cardinal Fathers and bishops, and decided that a consistory would be convoked, to consider also the canonisation of Blessed John Paul II (Karol Jozef Wojtyla).