Thursday, April 02, 2009

'Miracle' Recovery of Man from Gunshot Wound Reported by ABC News


A Rosary blessed by Pope John Paul II is being attributed to the miraculous recovery of Jory Aebly from a gunshot wound to the head.

Shortly after the shooting of February 21, 2009, hospital chaplain, Father Art Snedeker, gave Jory Aebly the rosary. In a press conference, Father Snedeker said "The first night that Jory arrived and I performed the sacrament of the sick, I also asked asked Pope John Paul to pray for Jory and to protect him." Through intercessory prayer, it is believed that Pope John Paul II was helpful in Jory's recovery. Jory also gives credit to family members and everyone that prayed for him.

The Vatican is said to be investigating cases of miracles that are connected to Pope John Paul II since his passing. The Vatican is also considering possible Sainthood for Pope John Paul by examining various stories of reported miracles according to ABC News.

Hebrews 13:7 states, "Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith."

With respect to Pope John Paul II, I am reminded of Wisdom 3: 7 and 9, which states, "In time of their visitation, they shall shine, and shall dart about as sparks through stubble. Those who trust in him shall understand truth, and the faithful shall abide with him in love; Because grace and mercy are with his holy ones, and his care is with the elect."

For additional details regarding the recovery of Jory Aebly, please visit the following link: Vatican Investigates 'Miracle' Recovery of Man

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Healing Mass Celebration Continues throughout 2009 at World Apostolate of Fatima, USA

Fatima - Our Lady of Fatima - World Apostolate of Fatima, USA - Blue Army Shrine

The World Apostolate of Fatima, USA, will celebrate a Healing Mass every month throughout 2009 with Father Paul Ruge. The next scheduled Mass will begin with Divine Mercy Prayer at 3:00 pm on Sunday, April 26, in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel. Healing Mass will also include the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick. The National Blue Army Shrine is located in Warren County on 674 Mountain View Road, Washington, New Jersey.

In 2007 and 2008, the Catholic Shrine generated attention as a result of visitors witnessing the Miracle of the Sun on two occasions. For further details on the story, please visit Christian-Miracles.com.

Please join Father Paul as he celebrates a Healing Mass at 3:00 pm in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel on the following dates:

Sunday, April 26th
Sunday, May 3rd
Sunday, June 7th
Sunday, July 12th
Sunday, August 9th
Sunday, September 6th
Sunday, October 4th
Sunday, November 1st
Sunday, December 6th

I would recommend calling the shrine at (908) 689-1700 for any changes or updates on the healing mass schedule.

Photograph © 2009 Loci B. Lenar

Saturday, February 07, 2009

God's Divine Mercy aboard Flight 1549

TheDivineMercy.org has an inspirational story regarding Fred Berretta, a passenger who was on flight 1549. In January, the aircraft made what can be described as a miraculous landing in the Hudson River. If you believe that God performs miracles today, then I encourage you to read the article by Felix Carroll.

Is it a result of providence that Fred Berretta recited a day earlier the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy before boarding Flight 1549 on the very next day? Mr. Berretta's story is recounted with events that influenced him to pray the chaplet. Please visit the following link to read the entire story, 'God Be Merciful to Us.' Fred Berretta's testimony is a reminder of how miracles are still being performed today by Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

In a revelation that occurred in the 1930s, Our Lord and Savior Jesus gave St. Maria Faustina Kowalska a prayer to be recited for God's mercy and requested that it be released to the whole world. The prayer became known as the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy and now is recited by many throughout the Catholic church.

During a revelation, Jesus said to St. Faustina, "I desire to grant unimaginable graces to those souls who trust in My mercy. Through the Chaplet you will obtain everything, if what you ask for is compatible with My will." (Diary of St. Faustina 687 and 1731)

One cannot underestimate the power of prayer, especially in time of difficulty.




Thursday, January 29, 2009

Healing Mass at World Apostolate of Fatima, USA

Our Lady of Fatima - World Apostolate of Fatima, USA - Blue Army Shrine

The National Blue Army Shrine of the Immaculate Heart of Mary is celebrating a Healing Mass on February 1, and on Sunday, March 8, 2009 in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel at 3:00 PM. The Healing Mass will be celebrated with Father Paul and include the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. The Catholic shrine is located in scenic Warren County on 674 Mountain View Road, Washington, New Jersey.

Matthew 4:23-24 reminds us of the healing power of Jesus. The scripture states that "He went around all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the Kingdom, and curing every disease and illness among the people. His fame spread to all of Syria, and they brought to him all who were sick with various diseases and racked with pain, those who were possessed ... and paralytics, and he cured them."

In time of sickness, it’s prudent to visit a physician for medical treatment. However, scripture tells us in James 5, Verse 14-15 that during times of illness, we should focus on the Word of God and also seek help from our minister or priest by "summoning 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."

© 2009 Loci B. Lenar

Monday, January 19, 2009

Miracle on the Hudson - US Airways Flight 1549

Survivors seek meaning, new purpose after 'miracle'

Charlotteobserver.com - David Sanderson (center) and Don Norton (right), who were passengers on US Airways Flight 1549, pray with Pastor Rob Singleton (left) on stage at Southbrook Community Church in Weddington during the Sunday morning service. (Photo and caption by Robert Lasher)

According to the article posted on CharlotteObserver.com, many of the passengers prayed before the aircraft 'landed' in the Hudson and believe a miracle was responsible for everyone surviving. Passenger, Lori Lightner, who turned 36 on Sunday, said it was a miracle.

In my opinion, the Lord saved the passengers and crew of Flight 1549 by answering their prayers. Clearly the pilot’s actions were heroic and his experience cannot be disputed for making a brave decision to land the jet into the Hudson River. However, in scripture, we read about God’s divine hand in changing circumstances into our favor. Isaiah 65:24 states, “Before they call, I will answer, while they are yet speaking, I will hearken to them.”

Friday, January 02, 2009

Caught By an Angel | Joan Wester Anderson

Caught By an Angel - Joan Wester Anderson

Krisellen Lang had lost her first three babies at early stages in her pregnancies. So when she found herself expecting yet again, it was hard to work up any enthusiasm. Why should she begin to love this child when it might never live long enough to be born? But Krisellen’s pregnancy was a result of in vitro fertilization, with four embryos transferred—and the hope that one would implant. When she went to her obstetrician for her first checkup and ultra-sound, she discovered that all four embryos had implanted! “It was as if God was giving me all my lost children back,” she says. The pregnancy proceeded normally, and her quadruplets, two boys and two girls, were born robust and healthy.

It was a hectic time, and eventually Krisellen’s marriage faltered. “Our divorce was mutual and amicable, and he is, and always has been, a wonderful father,” Krisellen says. But she was understandably fearful. How would she raise four children alone? She prayed as she never had before. God had heard her once, she knew, and brought her joy after suffering. Would He do so again?

She found a part-time job at a construction company, and her extended family pitched in to help care for the quads. It seemed as if she might just make it—until one morning when she stopped at a job site to measure the rooms in a house. Of course her four three-year-olds were with her, so she brought them into the house to “help.”

One of the rooms had a large hole in the center of the floor. Krisellen eyed it nervously. Giving daughter Addison one end of the tape measure, Krisellen directed the other three to stand up against the wall. They obeyed right away, and Krisellen started for the far corner. But when she looked back, Addison was dancing on her tippy toes, a recently-acquired skill. “Addison, stop, you’re going to trip…” Krisellen said, and then screamed. Addison had stumbled and was falling backwards through the hole!

Krisellen ran to the hole and looked down. Her daughter had fallen eight feet, and was lying face down on the concrete basement floor. Addison was completely still. The other children burst into tears. “Hurry!” Krisellen told them. “We have to get down there!” They rushed out of the house and clattered down the basement stairs. When they reached Addison, she still seemed lifeless. But as Krisellen gently lifted her head, the little girl began to vomit. “Her eyes were staring off to the side, and I couldn’t bear to look at them,” Krisellen recalls. “So I closed them and held her head so she wouldn’t choke.”

Krisellen called for the paramedics on her cellphone, and sent the other children outside to wait for them. When they arrived, they fitted Addison with a cervical collar and sped away, as Krisellen herded the children into her car to follow. Later, the paramedics told her that her daughter was completely unresponsive all the way to the hospital.

In the emergency room, Addison was examined, then whisked off for tests. “Are you sure she landed on her face?” the emergency room physician asked, puzzled. “Although that’s lucky—since she might be spared brain damage—she doesn’t seem to have any facial injuries.”

Krisellen would never forget the sight of her unconscious daughter, face down. And yet Addison had fallen backwards into the hole…

Something else was odd too. When the radiologist came out to give Krisellen the results of Addison’s scans and x-rays, he was baffled. “There are no signs of any injuries,” he told her, “not even a concussion. She may have some bruising later, and you can give her Tylenol for that. Otherwise, she’s fine. You can take her home now.”

Home? Krisellen was stunned. How could her daughter have sustained such a terrible fall, with no injuries? But here she was, walking down the hall with a nurse, smiling and chattering, looking completely…herself. How could this be?

It wasn’t until that evening that Krisellen learned the answer. She and the quads were saying their night prayers together, and they all thanked God for keeping Addison safe. Krisellen started to get up off her knees.

“Mommy,” Addison looked up. “Aren’t we going to thank the angel too?” “The angel?” Krisellen asked.“Uh huh. She was with me in the hole,” Addison said matter-of-factly. Krisellen started to cry.“Don’t cry, Mommy,” Addison told her. “The angel was very happy. She was all sparkly!”

Addison never did develop any bruises, but she did make sure that everyone she loved heard about her beautiful angel. And when she eventually moved into another bedroom, Addison asked for angel wallpaper. (Her sister, Blythe, wanted Barbie.)

Today Krisellen still recalls the event with awe. “I never should have exposed the children to such danger,” she says. “But I think everything happens for a reason. Perhaps God wanted me to know that I would never raise the children alone, that He would send all the help I needed.” And she believes.

© 2002 Joan Wester Anderson

See more of Joan’s stories at http://joanwanderson.com

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Throughout the bible we read about angelic visitations. Psalm 91:11-12 states, "For God commands the angels to guard you in all your ways. With their hands they shall support you, lest you strike your foot against a stone."

Joan Wester Anderson is gifted and blessed for her wonderful work in writing inspiring stories of faith. She has published over thousand inspirational articles and short stories in various periodicals, including Womans Day, Modern Bride, Virtue, Reader's Digest, and the New York Times Syndicate.

She has published 15 books including, WHERE ANGELS WALK, TRUE STORIES OF HEAVENLY VISITORS.

Anderson has also appeared on Good Morning America, Oprah, 20/20, NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw, and Mother Angelica Live, and was featured in documentaries such as “Angels–Beyond the Light” (NBC), “Angel Stories” and “Stories of Miracles” (The Learning Channel), and many videos. She was a story consultant for the television series, IT’S A MIRACLE, lectures in cities across the country, and has been interviewed on hundreds of radio talk shows.