Friday, December 18, 2015

Pope recognizes miracle needed to declare Mother Teresa a saint


Excerpt from Catholic News Service (CNA)

Pope Francis has approved a miracle attributed to the intercession of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, thus paving the way for her canonization.

Pope Francis signed the decree for Blessed Teresa's cause and advanced three other sainthood causes Dec. 17, the Vatican announced.

Although the date for the canonization ceremony will be officially announced during the next consistory of cardinals in February, Archbishop Rino Fisichella, president of the Vatican office organizing the Holy Year of Mercy events, had said it would be Sept. 4. That date celebrates the Jubilee of workers and volunteers of mercy and comes the day before the 19th anniversary of her death, Sept. 5, 1997.

The postulator for her sainthood cause, Father Brian Kolodiejchuk of the Missionaries of Charity, said the second miracle that was approved involved the healing of a now 42-year-old mechanical engineer in Santos, Brazil.

Doctors diagnosed the man with a viral brain infection that resulted in multiple brain abscesses, the priest said in a statement published Dec. 18 by AsiaNews, the Rome-based missionary news agency. Treatments given were ineffective and the man went into a coma, the postulator wrote.

The then-newly married man's wife had spent months praying to Blessed Teresa and her prayers were joined by those of her relatives and friends when her dying husband was taken to the operating room Dec. 9, 2008.

When the surgeon entered the operating room, he reported that he found the patient awake, free of pain and asking, "What am I doing here?" Doctors reported the man showed no more symptoms and a Vatican medical commission voted unanimously in September 2015 that the healing was inexplicable.

St. John Paul II had made an exception to the usual canonization process in Mother Teresa's case by allowing her sainthood cause to be opened without waiting the usual five years after a candidate's death. He beatified her in 2003. 

The order she started -- the Missionaries of Charity -- continues its outreach to the "poorest of the poor."

Read more: Mother Teresa


Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Loci B. Lenar to share his journey of faith on Catholic radio


"Cause of Our Joy!" Radio Rosary Program, Broadcasting Each Sunday Morning at 7:00 am, on WACE 730 AM, Chicopee, MA – Hosted by Joe Ott

Denville, NJ - Dec. 16, 2015 - Prlog.org -- Loci B. Lenar, the founder of www.christian-miracles.com is scheduled to be interviewed on Sunday, December 20, 2015 on the Catholic radio show, "Cause of Our Joy," hosted by Joe Ott on WACE 730 AM, Chicopee, MA.

The radio program will focus on locutions/messages that Mr. Lenar has received from Jesus and Our Lady regarding lawlessness and violence seen around our world, including availability of prayer support for those who visit the website, as well as Mr. Lenar's testimony on his healing from the Anointing of the Sick, a sacrament of the Catholic Church. More information about Mr. Lenar is available by visiting http://www.christian-miracles.com/

Mr. Lenar is a parishioner of Saint Mary's Catholic Church and his spiritual director for over twenty years is Fr. Richard Tartaglia. The parish is located on Myers Avenue, Denville, New Jersey, USA.

With over 3.8 million visitors since its inception - www.Christian-Miracles.com is growing and helping to lead the way in the New Evangelization by reaching a global community with visitors coming from the USA, Canada, United Kingdom (UK), India, Australia, Philippines, Singapore, Germany, Brazil, United Arab Emirates, Ireland, and many other countries.

If you're unable to listen to the program in your area, a recording of the radio show will be available after December 20th on www.Christian-Miracles.com



Tuesday, December 08, 2015

Pope Francis Opens Doors to a Jubilee of Mercy



News from RomeReports.com: Discover the mercy and tenderness of God. That was the message Pope Francis sent from St. Peter's Square while shielded by heavy security.

As he has said since the early days of his pontificate, the Pope explained that those who believe God is a judge who punishes are mistaken. Rather, he elaborated, God waits ardently for his children to return to Him.

POPE FRANCIS
"To pass through the Holy Door means to rediscover the infinite mercy of the Father who welcomes everyone and goes out personally to encounter each of them...How much wrong we do to God and his grace when we speak of sins being punished by his judgment before we speak of their being forgiven by his mercy.”

The Pope also wanted to commemorate 50 years since the closing the Second Vatican Council. He said it should be remembered as a time when the Church ceased to seclude itself and rediscovered its missionary spirit.

POPE FRANCIS
"Before all else, the Council was an encounter. A genuine encounter between the Church and the men and women of our time.”

As he has for other special occasions, Pope Francis invited Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI to be present during the opening of the Holy Door. It was perhaps the most important moment of the ceremony.

With this grand gesture, the Jubilee of Mercy was opened. The Pope passed through the door first. He was then followed by his predecessor to much applause. The ceremony was concluded in the basilica, together with cardinals, bishops, and other concelebrants.

Read more:  Jubilee of Mercy 

Sunday, November 29, 2015

Saint Andrew Christmas Novena - November 30th until Christmas

Saint Andrew. 2012 by Stephen B Whatley
Saint Andrew by artist Stephen B. Whatley

Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, O My God! to hear my prayer and grant my desires, through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of His blessed Mother. Amen

It is piously believed that whoever recites the prayer fifteen times a day from the feast of St. Andrew (November 30th) until Christmas will obtain what is asked. 

The novena is not actually addressed to Saint Andrew but to God Himself, asking Him to grant our request in the honor of the birth of His Son at Christmas. 
  
(Imprimatur: +MICHAEL AUGUSTINE, Archbishop of New York, New York, February 6, 1897)


More Catholic Devotional Prayers

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Wishing You a Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving!


Thanksgiving Prayer

Father in Heaven, Creator of all and source of all goodness and love, please look kindly upon us and receive our heartfelt gratitude in this time of giving thanks.
Thank you for all the graces and blessings. You have betowed upon us, spiritual and temporal: our faith and religious heritage. Our food and shelter, our health, the loves we have for one another, our family and friends.

Dear Father, in Your infinite generosity, please grant us continued graces and blessing throughout the coming year.

This we ask in the Name of Jesus, Your Son and our Brother.

Amen.

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