San Gennaro 'miracle' repeated in Naples

News excerpt and photo from GazzettaDelSud

Naples, September 19 - The Miracle of San Gennaro was repeated on Thursday when the blood of Naples' patron saint liquefied at 9:41 Italian. A huge crowd of faithful, who had been pouring into the city's cathedral and the square outside from the early hours of the day, greeted the announcement of the miracle recurrence with warm applause.

Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, the Archbishop of Naples, held up a phial containing the blood of the 3rd-century saint while a traditional white handkerchief was waved.

The miracle takes place on the anniversary of the martyrdom of San Gennaro (St. Januarius) in September 305 AD. The dried blood of the saint is preserved in two glass phials and traditionally liquefies three times a year, the Church says, thanks to the devotion and prayers of the faithful. Aside from the anniversary of the saint's beheading, the miracle also takes place on December 16 to commemorate the 1631 eruption of Mt. Vesuvius, believed to have been halted by the saint's intervention, and again on the Saturday before the first Sunday in May. On this occasion, there is a procession through the city's streets to recall the many times the relics have been moved over the centuries. 

A group of Italian scientists has analysed the contents of the phials, establishing that they do contain blood, but have been unable to explain the phenomenon.

Read More: San Genaro Miracle

Prayer for Those On Medication

Photo by Loci B. Lenar

Prayer of the Day - Catholic Online

Gracious God, You have given us many healing remedies that are a benefit to us when we are sick. Through the miraculous intercession of St. Anthony, we ask Your blessing upon the medication prescribed for (mention name) so that he/she may experience healing, and be restored to full health in mind and body.

Amen.

***

The stained glass window detail of St. Anthony and infant Jesus can be seen inside St. Bonaventure Catholic Church, Paterson, NJ.

A Tribute to Saint Cecilia

St. Cecilia

Saint Cecilia by Stephen B. Whatley | Flickr.com

News excerpt from the website of the artist:

A new tribute painting of Saint Cecilia, Patron Saint of Musicians and Church Music - painted by expressionist artist Stephen B. Whatley on the 48th anniversary of his baptism in London, September 5, 2013.

It is said Cecilia, born in Rome in the 2nd century AD, "sang in her heart to the Lord" as the musicians played at her wedding - which inspired the liveliness of this painting.

Peace, Joy of Hope and Blessings.

Oil on canvas
27.5 x 19.5in/70 x 50cm
www.stephenbwhatley.com

Pope Francis' homily during peace vigil: War is a defeat for humankind

News from RomeReports.com

“Leave behind the self-interest that hardens your heart, overcome the indifference that makes your heart insensitive towards others, conquer your deadly reasoning, and open yourself to dialogue and reconciliation.  Look upon your brother’s sorrow and do not add to it, stay your hand, rebuild the harmony that has been shattered; and all this achieved not by conflict but by encounter!”, asserted Pope Francis during this Saturday's peace vigil.

Read More: Peace Vigil

Pray for Peace in Syria, the Middle East, and the World

Pope Francis

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

Pope Francis has called for a Day of Fasting and Prayer for Peace in Syria, the Middle East, and the world to be held on September 7, 2013, the vigil of the birth of Mary, Queen of Peace. The Holy Father reminds us that "peace is a precious gift, which must be promoted and protected" and that "all men and women of good will are bound by the task of pursuing peace."

A Prayer for the People of Syria

Almighty eternal God, source of all compassion, the promise of your mercy and saving help fills our hearts with hope. Hear the cries of the people of Syria; bring healing to those suffering from the violence, and comfort to those mourning the dead. Empower and encourage Syria’s neighbors in their care and welcome for refugees. Convert the hearts of those who have taken up arms, and strengthen the resolve of those committed to peace.

O God of hope and Father of mercy, your Holy Spirit inspires us to look beyond ourselves and our own needs. Inspire leaders to choose peace over violence and to seek reconciliation with enemies.  Inspire the Church around the world with compassion for the people of Syria, and fill us with hope for a future of peace built on justice for all. We ask this through Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace and Light of the World, who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

Petition:

For the people of Syria, that God may strengthen the resolve of leaders to end the fighting and choose a future of peace. We pray to the Lord…

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

Join the 54-Day Rosary Novena in Support of Pope Francis!

Our Lady of Fatima

News release from the World Apostolate of Fatima, USA

Pope Francis is consecrating the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on October 13, 2013.

Accompanying the Holy Father as he leads Marian devotions leading up to the consecration is the statue of Our Lady that stands on the site of the apparitions in the Capelinha in Fatima shipped to Rome to mark the occasion.

In support of the Holy Father, all members and friends of the World Apostolate of Fatima USA and people throughout the world are invited to participate in a 54-day Rosary Novena, beginning on September 16th and ending on November 8th.

The first 27 days of the novena will serve as a time to petition Our Lady leading up to the consecration. The following 27 days will be days of thanksgiving for all the blessings given to us through Her intercession.

The apostolate’s intention for the novena is:

That Pope Francis’ consecration will bring mercy from God the Father for the salvation of souls; grace from God the Son for the conversion of sinners; enlightenment from God the Holy Spirit as we pray for world peace; an increase in practice of the First Saturday Communions of Reparation; and an increase in devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary as we approach the 2017 Centennial of the apparitions of Our Lady at Fatima.

If you already have a novena booklet you’re ready to go.

Novena booklets are available from our gift shop: 866-513-1917

If you don’t have a novena booklet, complete prayers and instructions can be found at:
Prayerflowers.com

Prayer for World Peace

Photograph by Loci B. Lenar

God the Father
Creator of the Heavenly Kingdom
We petition the Court of Heaven
And humbly pray for mercy and divine intervention.

Send forth blessings of spiritual deliverance—
Free nations from the strife of war—
Release cultures from the shackles of poverty—
Instill stability and prosperity—
Healing earth of suffering—
With saving grace for humanity—

We implore Heaven for miraculous signs
By altering the destiny of humankind
Into a glorious era of peace and harmony
Through divine love and prayerful unanimity—

Almighty Father we graciously thank thee
In granting our prayers through the name and power
Of your divine Son, Jesus. Amen

Prayer Copyright © 2005 Loci B. Lenar
Registration number TXU1-224-853

The prayer is posted at the following link: http://www.christian-miracles.com/millenniumprayerforpeace.htm

Prayer for World Peace is written with inspirational words to pray daily to Our Heavenly Father for peace and unity.  I was spiritually inspired by Our Lord Jesus Christ to write a prayer as a result of witnessing several spiritual signs and wonders.  ~Loci B. Lenar

***

The stained glass window detail of Jesus can be seen inside St. Teresa of Avila Church, 306 Morris Avenue, Summit, NJ, USA.

www.Christian-Miracles.com

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

Secretary Kerry asks Iran to release American pastor

News Excerpt from Catholic News Agency (CNA)

Washington D.C., - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has renewed calls for the Iranian government to release American citizen Saeed Abedini, a Christian pastor serving an eight-year sentence on religion-related charges.

“The United States respectfully asks the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to work cooperatively with us in our efforts to help U.S. citizens,” Secretary Kerry asked in an Aug. 29 press release, to “return to their families after lengthy detentions.”

“These men belong at home with those who love them and miss them.”

In his statement, Kerry also asked for the release and location of Amir Hekmati and Robert Levinson, who are detained and missing in the country as well.

The secretary of state explained that as of September 26, “Mr. Abedini will have spent a year in detention in Iran. He was sentenced to eight years in prison on charges related to his religious beliefs.”
Born in Iran, Abedini converted to Christianity in 2000 and obtained U.S. citizenship after marrying a U.S. citizen. The pastor lived with his wife and their two children in Idaho. He was arrested in 2012 during a visit to Iran to work with non-religious orphanages in the country.

Following his arrest, Abedini was charged with posing a threat to national security for his earlier work with the churches. He is now serving an eight-year sentence in Iran’s Evin Prison, and has reportedly been faced with brutal beatings, attempts to make him renounce his faith, and insufficient medical attention.

On Aug. 26, it was announced that Abedini’s appeal for a reduction in his sentence’s length was denied.

Kerry noted that Hassan Rouhani, the newly-elected Iranian president who took office Aug. 3, “has shared in his speeches and interviews over the past few months his hope and vision to improve the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s relationship with the world.”

Kerry asked that in light of this wish, Rouhani urge the government to release the prisoners “so that they may be reunited with their families as safely and as soon as possible.”

Naghmeh Abedini, Saeed’s wife, said in a statement that she is “very thankful for the statement that Secretary of State John Kerry made to Iran regarding Saeed's immediate return to our family.”

Read More: Release American Pastor

Are You Ready to Receive God's Blessing and Grace? If so, Take a Leap of Faith

Photo by Loci B. Lenar

 

Christian-Miracles.com is growing and helping to lead the way in 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.

Please consider answering the call by taking a leap of faith and opening the door for God to enter your life, and witness His divine love and mercy through news of life-changing miracles.

In a world which appears to be out of synchronization with gospel teachings, let Jesus change your life and make it better by attending Holy Mass or weekly church services. Make a personal effort and return to the sacraments of the church.

Regardless of your religious denomination, start reading the gospels and let Our Lord bless you, and set you free with His divine favor and peace!

If you're ready to step forward -- than allow Our Lord to guide you with words of wisdom:  "Do not conform to the pattern of the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is -- his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2

 

For timely updates, please follow "Christian-Miracles.com" on Facebook. 

 

With over 1.5 million visitors on Christian-Miracles.com, we are happy to announce that the website is approaching 20,000 likes on Facebook. 

▶ Modern Art by Stephen B. Whatley at Westminster Cathedral

August 2013 - YouTube

Exhibition of 'Paintings From Prayer' - including a new portrait tribute of Pope Francis by British expressionist painter Stephen B. Whatley, uniquely on show in the Chapels of St. Andrew and St. Patrick in Westminster Cathedral, London, UK, ( August 8- 22, 2013)

Whatley's work is in collections worldwide and public collections including BBC Heritage, the London Transport Museum and the Royal Collection. There is a permanent walkway of his 30 paintings for the Tower of London just outside Tower Hill Station, leading to The Tower.

▶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.

PRAYER FOR HEALING YOUR FAMILY TREE

Photograph by Loci B. Lenar

PRAYERS - Claretian Ministry

By Fr. John H. Hampsch, C.M.F 
 
Heavenly Father, I come before you as your child, in great need of your help; I have physical health needs, emotional needs, spiritual needs, and interpersonal needs. Many of my problems have been caused by my own failures, neglects, and sinfulness, for which I humbly beg your forgiveness, Lord. But I also ask you to forgive the... sins of my ancestors whose failures have left their effects on me in the form of unwanted tendencies, behavior patterns and defects in body, mind and spirit. Heal me, Lord, of all these disorders.

With your help I sincerely forgive everyone, especially livings or dead members of my family tree, who have directly offended me or my loved ones in any way, or those whose sins have resulted in our present sufferings and disorders. In the name of your divine Son, Jesus, and in the power of his Holy Spirit, I ask you, Father, to deliver me and my entire family tree from the influence of the evil one. Free all living or dead members of my family tree, including those in adoptive relationships, and those in extended family relationships, from every contaminating form of bondage. By your loving concern for us, heavenly Father, and by the shed blood of your precious Son, Jesus, I beg you to extend your blessings to me and to all my living and deceased relatives. Heal every negative effect transmitted through all past generations, and prevent such negative effects in future generations of my family tree.

I symbolically place the cross of Jesus over the head of each person in my family tree, and between each generation; I ask you to let the cleansing blood of Jesus purify the bloodlines in my family lineage. Set your protective angels to encamp around us, and permit Archangel Raphael, the patron of healing, to administer your divine healing power to all of us, even in the area of genetic disability. Give special power to our family members’ guardian angels to heal, protect, guide and encourage each of us in all our needs. Let your healing power be released at this very moment, and let it continue as long as your sovereignty permits.

In our family tree, Lord, replace all bondage with a holy bonding in family love. And let there be an ever-deeper bonding with you, Lord, by the Holy Spirit, to your Son, Jesus. Let the family of the Holy Trinity pervade our family with its tender, warm, loving presence, so that our family may recognize and manifest that love in all our relationships. All of our unknown needs we include with this petition that we pray in Jesus’ precious name.

Amen

St. Joseph, Patron of family life, pray for us.

The above prayer is posted on the website of Claretian Teaching Ministry: http://catholicbooks.net/

Our Lady's Monthly Message to Marija Pavlovic-Lunetti

The Medjugorje Web - Apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Medjugorje

Message of August 25, 2013 from Our Lady to Visionary Marija Pavlovic-Lunetti

"Dear children! Also today, the Most High is giving me the grace to be with you and to lead you towards conversion. Every day I am sowing and am calling you to conversion, that you may be prayer, peace, love - the grain that by dying will give birth a hundredfold. I do not desire for you, dear children, to have to repent for everything that you could have done but did not want to. Therefore, little children, again, with enthusiasm say: 'I want to be a sign to others.' Thank you for having responded to my call."

The image of Our Lady is from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Doctor Declares Miracle After Father, Dead for 45 Minutes, Wakes Up When Son Prays and Screams: 'You're Not Going to Die Today'

Lawrence Yahle

Excerpt from Christianpost.com

By Leonardo Blair , CP Reporter

A doctor at the Kettering Medical Center in Ohio pronounced a miracle this month after a man he had declared dead for 45 minutes came back to life after the man's 17-year-old son prayed over his lifeless body and screamed: "You're not going to die today."

"Well, they (doctors) were working on him for 45 minutes and all the doctors and nurses came into the room. They sent us into a counselling room. They didn't have to say anything, you just knew they were gonna pronounce him dead," the teenager told CNN about his father, Tony Yahle, 37, a diesel mechanic.

But something wasn't right with the way the doctors were reacting said Lawrence.

"They almost just looked at us and no emotion almost. Everyone in tears. For some reason, I just thought 'he's 37 years old, he's never had a heart problem. He's not dead in that room," he said in defiance while sporting a crucifix around his neck, surrounded by his father, mother and two sisters.

"I go back there, my pastor, he was there. We were praying next to the room. I was in the doorway and something came in me and got me to point at him and I said 'dad, you're not going to die today.'"

"When I said that, I stood there for a few more moments and then started walking back to the counseling room to comfort my sisters and my mom and anyone else. I took about three steps when my pastor called," he continued.

"He looked at me and said, 'Lawrence, Lawrence,' got my attention then he said 'your dad, he has a heartbeat. So I got the rest of the counselling room and cheered everyone with that news. So it was awesome!" he said.

Tony's cardiologist at Kettering Medical Center, Dr. Raja Nazir, told ABCNews.com that it was a "miracle."

"I'm calling it a miracle because I've never seen anything like it," said Nazir.

"When I looked at the electrical activity, I was surprised," Nazir said after Lawrence had prayed and screamed at his father. "I thought we'd better make another effort to revive him."

And when he did, said Nazir: "Very slowly, the heart rate was picking up."

The incident took place on Aug. 5 and doctors thought that Tony Yahle would need a heart transplant or would be in a vegetative state for the rest of the life, but everything he has done since he came back from the dead has defied all medical logic.

Read more: Doctor Declares Miracle