The Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Fr. Richard Tartaglia Celebrates Pentecost Sunday at St. Mary's Catholic Church,
Denville, New Jersey - Photo by Loci B. Lenar 

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Wisdom: We see God at work in our lives and in the world. For the wise, the wonders of nature, historical events, and the ups and downs of life take on deeper meaning. We see God as our Father, appreciate the dignity of others, and find God in all things.

Understanding: In understanding, we comprehend how we need to live as followers of Christ. A person with understanding is not confused by the conflicting messages in our culture about the right way to live. The gift of understanding perfects a person's speculative reason in the apprehension of truth. It is the gift whereby self-evident principles are known, Aquinas writes.

Counsel (Right Judgment): With the gift of counsel/right judgment, we know the difference between right and wrong, and we choose to do what is right. A person with right judgment avoids sin and lives out the values taught by Jesus.

Fortitude (Courage): With the gift of fortitude/courage, we overcome our fear and are willing to take risks as a follower of Jesus Christ. A person with courage is willing to stand up for what is right in the sight of God, even if it means accepting rejection, verbal abuse, or physical harm. The gift of courage allows people the firmness of mind that is required both in doing good and in enduring evil.

Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit - Photo by Loci B. Lenar

Knowledge: With the gift of knowledge, we understand the meaning of God. The gift of knowledge is more than an accumulation of facts.

Piety (Reverence): With the gift of reverence, sometimes called piety, we have a deep sense of respect for God and the Church. A person with reverence recognizes our total reliance on God and comes before God with humility, trust, and love. Piety is the gift whereby, at the Holy Spirit's instigation, we pay worship and duty to God as our Father, Aquinas writes.

Fear of the Lord (Wonder and Awe): With the gift of fear of the Lord we are aware of the glory and majesty of God. A person with wonder and awe knows that God is the perfection of all we desire: perfect knowledge, perfect goodness, perfect power, and perfect love. This gift is described by Aquinas as a fear of separating oneself from God. He describes the gift as a "filial fear," like a child's fear of offending his father, rather than a "servile fear," that is, a fear of punishment. Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Prov 1:7) because it puts our mindset in correct location with respect to God: we are the finite, dependent creatures, and He is the infinite, all-powerful Creator.

Bryan Clay's Path to Olympic Gold through Faith

Bryan Clay's Unlikely Path to Olympic Gold - CBN TV - Video

An anger problem almost derailed the career of this Olympic athlete, but a mother's prayers helped to turn things around.

Supporters Claim Miracle Led to Child's Survival

Faith helps Mexican girl battle life-threatening condition

The following excerpt is from The Compass News:

By Steve Wideman

APPLETON — As surgeons prepared to connect Alejandra Anacieto Gregorio to a maze of life-sustaining tubes and wires, one pair of gloved hands gently removed a child's rosary from around her neck, carefully avoiding a life-threatening lesion the size of a softball covering half the 14-year-old girl's face.

The rosary, its pink leather cord holding a brightly painted medallion of the Blessed Virgin, was then wrapped several times around Alejandra's wrist.

Over the next eight hours, as a medical team at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin in Milwaukee successfully removed the lesion from her face.

Alejandra, unaware the rosary was now on her wrist, would dream twice of meeting Jesus.

Leticia Santiago Geniesse of Appleton purchased the rosary for Alejandra months earlier during a visit to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe near Mexico City. The shrine marks the spot where the Virgin Mary appeared to peasant Juan Diego in 1531.

"Mexicans are very devoted to Our Lady of Guadalupe. And Alejandra is a girl of huge faith," Leticia said.
Leticia believes the visit to the basilica, and a Feb. 18, 2012, visit to the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help in Champion, Wisconsin, produced a medical miracle for Alejandra.

"There is no doubt in my mind God intervened when all the doors seemed closed to getting help for Alejandra. There is no doubt it was a miracle," Leticia said.

Alejandra, the lesion now all but invisible, expects to reunite in two weeks with her parents and nine siblings in their remote home in the Mexican village of Citlaltepec.

"Our Lady of Guadalupe helps everyone during the most difficult moments," Alejandra said six weeks after the surgery. Without the procedure, physicians had given her a year to live.

During her eight-plus hours on the operating table, Alejandra told Leticia she dreamed twice of seeing Jesus.

"In her first dream, Jesus was standing in front of her home under a tree. She heard birds singing and said everything looked so beautiful. She saw his image but didn't know who he was right away. He said 'Don't worry. Don't be afraid. I will take care of you,'" Leticia said. "As she told me of her dream her face was so beautiful. She was looking up like she wasn't really there. I don't know how to explain it."

In her second dream, Alejandra was joined by her siblings and parents inside her Citlaltepec home.

"She said everyone was very happy," Leticia said. "Alejandra was hiding behind her mom when her mom took her hand and said 'Alejandra. Come see this. This is the Almighty.' There was so much light behind the image, then he opened his arms and she wasn't afraid anymore."

Read more: Alejandra Anacieto Gregorio

Miracle Cross a Topic of Conversation on Radio Maria

Cross Appears on Easter Sunday 2012
Photo by Loci B. Lenar

Gloria.tv: Fr. Richard Tartaglia and Loci B. Lenar Discuss Miracle Cross on Radio Maria

Reaching out with evangelization, Fr. Richard Tartaglia and parishioner Loci B. Lenar of St. Mary's Church, Denville, NJ, were guest speakers on Sacred Treasures, a Catholic radio show hosted by Kathie Duggan.

If you missed hearing Fr. Tartaglia and Mr. Lenar on Radio Maria, we are happy to report that you can listen to the May 7, 2012 broadcast right here on our blog.



The topic of conversation focused on signs related to scripture and a Cross of Light which has appeared on the residence of Mr. Lenar in Mine Hill, New Jersey.  In the interview, Mr. Lenar shares his testimony and gives an explanation for the cross appearing during Lent through Holy Week and ending around Easter.  Mr. Lenar's spiritual advisor, Fr. Richard Tartaglia photographed the image on Good Friday, April 6, 2012 and validated the sign.

The first half of the show starts with Margarita Rodriguez, who was healed during a Rosary that she was leading when a seer, Ivan Dragicevic of Medjugorje, came to St. Brendan Catholic Church in Miami, Florida.




Documentation of similar signs of a cross appearing elsewhere is published in a video with Fr. Richard Tartaglia's homily about the miracle. The video is posted on Gloria.tv and on www.Christian-Miracles.com at the following link: Cross of Light Appears in New Jersey

Artwork of Stephen B. Whatley displayed at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in England

Archbishop Vincent Nichols and Stephen B. Whatley

The following excerpt from the website of Stephen B. Whatley:

On Sunday May 6, 2012, artist Stephen B. Whatley was invited by Fr. John Deehan of St. Thomas More RC Church, Eastcote, to a concelebrated Mass with Archbishop Vincent Nichols, Head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales; followed by the blessing by the Archbishop of the new church hall.

The Glory of Christ by Stephen B. Whatley

The church hall was adorned with new prints of Stephen's paintings purchased by St. Thomas More Church; at which the artist gave a lecture about his art and faith in July 2009.

On loan at the church is Stephen B Whatley's original painting, "The Glory of Christ" - pictured here with the Archbishop and the artist, after the blessing ceremony - in a photograph kindly taken by Parish secretary, Helen Howley.

Archbishop Vincent Nichols is a kind man who showed much interest in Stephen's work; humbly asking to take his own personal photograph of the painting on his mobile phone camera - which impressed the artist who is not so adept at using his own cell phone!

View more of Stephen B. Whatley's work at the following link: Christian Tributes

What the Arab Spring can learn from the history of the Catholic Church and democracy

What the Arab Spring can learn from the history of the Catholic Church and democracy

The following excerpt is from RomeReports.com:

In the long history of the Church, its embrace of democracy is still relatively new. David Forte is a historian and a professor of law, he says the Church's support of democracy helped to create many of Europe's modern political parties.

David Forte
Professor of Law, Cleveland State University (USA)

“One of the things that I've been researching is how Catholicism moved from an initial position against liberal democracy in the 19th century because of persecutions by Napoleon and the French Revolution to as not only embracing it but becoming one of it's great sponsors in Christian Democracy.”

Professor Forte met with members of Rome's Acton Institute, a conservative think tank that promotes individual freedoms with religious principles.

They say the Church's support of democracy can serve as an example to countries that are transitioning from autocratic regimes to a representative government. In Egypt, where elections have boosted the Muslim Brotherhood, observers say this could tension relations with neighboring Israel.

David Forte
Professor of Law, Cleveland State University (USA)

“So far as I know, all the presidential candidates have been supporters of Hamas, against Israel in the past. So the continuation of peace with Israel looks very iffy with the development of the Muslim Brotherhood's strength.”

Egypt is also home to a large population of Coptic Christians, that make up around 9% of Egypt's 80 million people. The protection of religious freedom and maintaining good relations with neighbors are two prescriptions that Professor Forte and other observers hope to see carried out in these emerging democracies.

Rock and Roll Priests get ready to perform in Latin America

Rock and Roll Priests

From RomeReports.com: After taking part in several World Youth Day concerts in Madrid, now a group of priests is getting ready to perform in Latin America. The group is called “La Voz del Desierto” which translates to “The Voice of the Desert.”

This coming August the group will perform in the Rock' n Rieles Festival in Costa Rica and Guatemala. The group was formed in Madrid, Spain. It consists of three priests and four lay people whose main purpose is to evangelize through music.

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day from ROME REPORTS

From RomeReports.com:

Every year, during the month of May, millions of people celebrate Mother's Day. In some countries the celebration takes place on the first weekend of May, in others the second. Regardless of the specific day, ROME REPORTS wants to congratulate all mothers on their special day!

Apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima started 95 years ago

Apparitions of Fatima started 95 years ago

The following excerpt is from RomeReports.com:

On May 13, 1917, the Virgin Mary appeared at the Cova da Iria in Fatima to the three shepherds Jacinta, Francisco and Lucia. It was an apparition that was repeated on the 13th of every month, for six consecutive months.

The Virgin asked them to pray the rosary for the conversion of sinners and revealed three messages.
In the first message she showed hell to them. In the second, the Virgin Mary said that Russia would be converted to Christianity which would bring peace.

The third message was the secret of Fatima, which was revealed by the pope in 2000. There they saw a bishop dressed in white that at the top of a mountain knelt at the foot of a cross where soldiers shot him. They also saw the death of bishops, priests, religious and laity.

Many say that the vision led toward the persecution of Christians, throughout the twentieth century, causing an estimated 45 million victims because due to their faith.

John Paul II was also the victim of an assassination attempt that took place in St. Peter's Square on May 13, 1981. He said he survived the shooting thanks to the intercession of the Virgin Mary. One year later, he even traveled to Fatima and placed in the crown the bullet that had struck him.

Today, Fatima is one of the most important pilgrimage sites in the world. The shepherd seers Francisco and Jacinta were declared blessed on May 13th in 2000. Lucia died in 2005 and a study on her life is under way that could lead to a possible beatification.

Benedict XVI officially declares Hildegard of Bingen a Saint

Benedict XVI officially declares Hildegard of Bingen a Saint

Commentary by Loci B. Lenar

In 2011 a DVD about the life of Hildegard von Bingen was released in the USA. Produced in Germany by Zeitgeist Films, Vision was originally released in 2009, but is available to purchase in a DVD format with English subtitles for the U.S. market.

My review of the film can be read at the the following link, Vision: From the Life of Hildegard von Bingen

***

The following excerpt is from Rome Reports.com:

Even though Hildegard of Bingen was already on the list of Catholic saints, she had not been officially canonized. So to remove all doubt, Benedict XVI extended the liturgical cult of St. Hildegard of Bingen, to the Universal Church, which automatically inscribes her in the catalogue of saints.

Hildegard of Bingen was from Germany. She's mostly known for her religious visions and prophecies. She lived in the XI and XII century, but even so, her message is still quite alive. The Pope has talked about her and her message in two general audiences.

Also, in coming months, the Pope is considering declaring her a Doctor of the Church for her high intelligence and feminine sensibility.

St. Hildegard was one of the most active women of her time. She wrote about theology and morals, but also about medicine and science. She even found the time to compose 78 musical pieces.

Fr. Richard Tartaglia and Loci B. Lenar to Speak Live on Radio Maria!

Fr. Richard Tartaglia - St. Mary's Catholic Church

Sacred Treasures with Kathie Duggan

Fr. Richard Tartaglia and Loci B. Lenar of St. Mary's Parish (Denville, NJ) are scheduled to speak live on the Catholic radio show, Sacred Treasures, on Monday, May 7, 2012.  The topic of conversation will focus on signs as connected to scripture and a Cross of Light which has appeared on the residence of Mr. Lenar in Mine Hill, NJ, during Lent and Holy Week of this year.

Other guests include Margarita Rodriguez who was healed during a Rosary that she was leading when a seer, Ivan Dragicevic of Medjugorje, came to St. Brendan Catholic Church in Miami, Florida.

Sacred Treasures is hosted by Kathie Duggan and is broadcasted live on Monday's by Radio Maria, US, between the hours of 2:00-3:00 PM (Central Time), and 3:00-4:00 PM (Eastern Time).  Fr. Tartaglia and Mr. Lenar are slated to speak during the second half of the show on Monday, May 7.

If the radio station is not available in your area, listeners can still tune into the Sacred Treasures broadcast through internet streaming by visiting the website of Radio Maria at the following link: http://radiomaria.us/

Radio Maria is a tool of evangelization which serves the Catholic Church in the United States and is a radio network committed to calling for conversion through programming which offers plenty of space for prayer, catechism and human development.

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Miracle Performed by God Through the Intercession of Sister Lucia

Sister Lucia - Photo Courtesy of the World Apostolate of Fatima, USA

Miracle Will be Investigated by Church Authorities

The following news report is supplied by the World Apostolate of Fatima, USA.

The Blue Army Shrine is part of the World Apostolate of Fatima and is located on 674 Mountain View Road East, Asbury, NJ 08802.

By Prof. Americo Pablo López-Ortiz
International President of the World Apostolate of Fatima

Sister Lucia, the third of the Little Shepherds of Fatima, who lived until the 13^th of February of 2005 as a Carmelite Nun in Coimbra, Portugal, and who wrote the famous MEMOIRS containing the Message of Fatima brought by Our Blessed Mother to the world, may have performed a sensational cure of a child four years old at the moment of the miracle at Salta, Argentina.

Rosario André was hospitalized for ten days with hemolytic-uremic syndrome, having a very serious infection with hemolytic-uremic syndrome, having a very serious infection that needed desperately antibiotics but at the same time could not receive them due to renal failure caused by her rare sickness, that affects blood, the central nervous system and the kidneys. She was close to death when her mother, Alexandra Maria took the book by Sister Lucia, MEMOIRS, and placed it in her child's breast, and embracing her, both prayed to Sister Lucia to cure little Rosario.

Immediately, the symptoms of fever, diarrhea and vomiting disappeared. Next day, the lab exams showed no infection as the bacteria was killed without antibiotics. The miraculous cure happened on the same day of Sister Lucia's death! Rosario was healthy again! And she has remained healthy afterwards. Medical evidence was forwarded to Church authorities.

THE NEXT ISSUE OF SOUL MAGAZINE WILL FEATURE A COMPREHENSIVE ARTICLE ON THIS TOPIC BY PROF. AMERICO PABLO LOPEZ-ORTIZ, WHO MET PERSONALLY THE ANDRE FAMILY AND ROSARIO AT THEIR HOME AT SALTA, ARGENTINA.

Military chaplain being considered for medal of honor and sainthood

Military chaplain being considered for medal of honor and sainthood

The following excerpt is from RomeReports.com:

From the wheat fields of Kansas to a prisoner of war during the Korean Conflict in 1951, this is the story of military chaplain Father Emil Kapaun.

He is currently being considered to receive the Medal of Honor as well as a being candidate for sainthood by the Catholic Church.

He is the subject of a documentary called “The Miracle of Father Kapaun”. It follows the life of this Catholic martyr, with interviews from many of the men who served alongside the chaplain in the war. They tell how he refused to leave injured soldiers which led to his capture and eventual death in a prison camp.

Through many personal letters written to his family, one is given an idea of what it was like to serve as a clergyman on the battlefield. In the last letter he is believed to ever have written he notes that “we do have a few laughs in spite of the evils of war”.

The Vatican is now looking at possibly beatifying Kapaun, while the Pentagon may award him the country's highest military honor: the medal of honor.

Miracles of Faith: Fr. Richard Tartaglia Validates Sign of Cross Appearing in Mine Hill, NJ

Miracles of Faith: Sign of Cross Appears in Mine Hill, NJ - YouTube

With respect to miracles, Jesus said, "Unless you people see signs and wonders you will never believe." John 4:48

By Loci B. Lenar

Since 2005 a cross with an outline of a shield has appeared annually on my property in Mine Hill, New Jersey.

Similar phenomena with cross of lights have appeared elsewhere and are noted in the video.

I contacted my spiritual advisor and parish priest, Fr. Richard Tartaglia on Holy Thursday, April 5, 2012, regarding the cross appearing on the backyard fence.

Fr. Richard Tartaglia Validates Cross of Light
Appearing in Mine Hill, New Jersey

In order to provide an assessment of the matter, Fr. Tartaglia came to my residence and examined the cross of light and photographed the image on Good Friday, April 6, 2012.

I left for work at 7:00 AM, so I didn't see or speak to Fr. Richard until Tuesday, April 17th after dropping off two large stacks of prayer requests for Thursday's prayer service held at St. Mary's Catholic Church on April 19th.  With prudence Fr. Tartaglia validated the image as a visible sign.

This image first appeared in 2005 while my family was encountering some adversity. I must emphasize that with prayer the issues were resolved.

Through prayerful discernment, the image of the cross is a reminder from Our Lord Jesus of his spiritual presence in my family. The image appeared while praying for God's assistance as well as for help from St. Michael the Archangel. This sign is also meant to encourage others to return to their faith and to pray for God's help and mercy during times of need. Please do share this video with others.

To read my testimony on the matter, please visit the following links: Signs of Angels  and A Miracle Cross  

During the Thursday prayer service held on April 19th, Fr. Tartaglia discussed these signs as related to scripture in his Homily at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Myers Avenue, Denville, New Jersey, USA.

For more information and news updates, please visit the following link: http://www.christian-miracles.com

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Peace of Divine Mercy

Peace of Divine Mercy by Stephen B Whatley

Peace of Divine Mercy 2012 by Stephen B Whatley | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

By Stephen B. Whatley

Today, Sunday April 15, 2012, is the Feast Day of The Divine Mercy. After attending a beautiful Mass celebrating this special Sunday and Catholic devotion at the Roman Catholic Church of St Ignatius in North London, I felt what I call a 'divine push' to pay tribute to the Divine Mercy; with this drawing created today in prayer. I have felt compelled to paint several expressions of this devotion since 2002 ( all to be viewed in my "Christian Set" with a detailed history beneath the images) - which originates from miraculous instructions in the 1930s from Christ to a Polish nun, Sister Faustina (1905-1938); canonised in 2000 by Pope John Paul II.

Peace to all Christians and agnostics alike.

Pastel on paper
23.4 x 16.5in x 59 x 42cm

Buddhist attributes cancer healing to Jesus

Allan Huang with husband

Buddhist attributes cancer healing to Jesus | UCAN India

No trace of cancer was found in Allan Huang after her visit to Marian shrine at Vellankanni in Tamil Nadu.

The photograph and following excerpt can be read on UCNA India:

Kolkata: A Chinese Buddhist woman has attributed miraculous healing from cancer to her devotion to Divine Mercy.

Giving witness, Allan Huang said this at the feast of the Divine Mercy at Auxilium Church in Kolkata yesterday.

“In December 2007, I was diagnosed for Lymphoma and after prolonged treatment I was well again. But in October last year when I had a relapse my daughter Juliana gave me a picture of the Divine Mercy to pray,” said Huang standing before a large picture of Jesus the Divine Mercy venerated in the church.

Revealing the secret of her courage, Huang said that she did not loose hope during the four cycles of chemotherapy in Apollo Hospital, Kolkata.

“It was the love, care and prayers of my family, priests and so many good people that brought the healing,” she said after placing a bouquet of 50 red roses in thanksgiving.

She was accompanied by her husband Patrick, three sisters, children, five grand children.

Seven priests and some 500 faithful participated at the solemn afternoon Eucharist marking the Divine Mercy Sunday celebrations and also thanksgiving for the miraculous cure.

Narrating the incident of her miraculous cure during the prayer, parish priest Fr. K.K. Sebastian said, “when doctors refused Allan permission to travel with her son Dominic to Seoul (South Korea) to meet his in-laws, she went with her another son Stephen to the historic Marian shrine at Vellankanni in Tamilnadu last month.”

During a routine test after her pilgrimage to Vellankanni, the doctors who treated her at Apollo were amazed to see the test results which showed no trace of cancer, he said.

The Divine Mercy image is a depiction of Jesus based on the devotion initiated by Polish saint Sister Faustina Kowalska (1905-1938) of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy.

Read more: Divine Mercy

Did prayer to wartime priest lead to East Bay man’s cancer recovery?

Father Franz Stock, center, is pictured with Archbishop Angelo Roncalli
the future Pope John XXIII – at a German prisoner of war camp, Sept. 18, 1945.

Report on case sent to Rome in sainthood investigation of German Father Franz Stock

The photograph and following excerpt is from the website of Catholic San Francisco:

By Valerie Schmalz

If the Vatican authenticates the 1997 healing of an East Bay man diagnosed with incurable gastric cancer days before his wedding, then the Catholic Church will beatify Father Franz Stock, a German Army chaplain to Paris prisoners of the Nazis.

Father Stock was “the last human face” hundreds, perhaps thousands, saw before their execution.

He is a symbol of reconciliation in France and Germany, where streets and schools are named for him and national leaders have honored him. A French postage stamp commemorating Father Stock was issued in 1998 for the 50th anniversary of his death from pulmonary edema on Feb. 24, 1948, at age 43.

The Metropolitan Tribunal of the Archdiocese of San Francisco investigated the 1997 medical case and sent its report to the Vatican’s Congregation for the Causes of Saints on March 16. If the Vatican authenticates the miracle, Father Stock would be declared blessed. He would be canonized if a second miracle is verified.

Three months after doctors said a 33-year-old East Bay resident had at most three months to live, he was declared cancer-free in October 1997. Medical tests continue to show no traces of cancer.

“The doctors were flabbergasted because he was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer and they sent him home to get his affairs in order and die,” said Robert Graffio, canon lawyer for the Archdiocese of San Francisco and notary for the investigation.

The man married his fiance a couple of weeks later than they had planned. The couple has two children, 7 and 9.

“This is yet another assurance that the Lord is with us still, to this day, working miracles in our midst,” said Msgr. Michael Padazinski, chancellor and judicial vicar in the Archdiocese of San Francisco who oversaw the investigation as episcopal delegate.

The man who recovered unexpectedly became the object of prayers to Father Stock through family members who knew of the priest’s story.

A Franciscan priest who wrote the only English-language biography of Father Stock was pastor of a New Jersey parish where the stricken bridegroom’s older brother, his wife and children attended Mass. When Mary G. – her full name is withheld by request – called to place her brother-in-law on the parish prayer list in 1997, Franciscan Father Boniface Hanley said, “Pray, pray to Father Franz Stock,” she said, and made up a holy card for them to use.

“We kept praying the whole time. He had his whole stomach removed. He had lymph nodes that were positive,” said Mary G., who as a nurse cared for her brother-in-law as he recovered instead of dying. “It’s 15 years later and he is still cancer free.”

Read more: Father Franz Stock

Are Cross of Lights a Miracle from God?

Cross Appears on Holy Thursday 2012, Mine Hill, NJ - Photo by Loci B. Lenar

Signs and Wonders of Christianity

Regarding miracles Jesus said, "Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will never believe."  John 4:48

Brooke Kayal Examining Cross that Appeared on March 27, 2011 in Mine Hill, NJ
Photo by Loci B. Lenar

***

Megan Elliott writes on April 10, 2012:  Today I saw on Spirit Daily an image of a miraculous photo that links to your website (Christian-Miracles.com). You will see that the cross of light on your website looks the same as the image in the photo I sent to you! When I saw those photos this morning I cried with joy. 

Cross of Light - Photo by Megan Elliott

Everyday for seven years I have thought of that miraculous image I saw and now here is someone else (Loci B. Lenar) with such an experience!!! I just cannot fathom such things! Actually, it is so providential, as of today (I am now in teacher's college at University of Toronto) I had to do a presentation on a possible resource that religion teachers could use in the classroom. I really wanted to present on the Spirit Daily website, but I was afraid of the reaction I would get by less 'orthodox' or liberal individuals. But this morning I said I would not shy away from my spirituality and my beliefs. So I presented the Spirit Daily website to my class and also showed your website (www.Christian-Miracles.com) as well. I was almost in tears!

I took the picture in 2005 in Ottawa, Ontario, (coincidentally during this summer I had a 'conversion of heart'). It is also the day before my birthday. I have only seen it that day and the day after for maybe 30 minutes each. This morning I praised God and as I did so, two bright flashes quickly illuminated (my already brightly lit) bedroom.

***

Cross Appears on Easter Sunday in 2008, Pitman, NJ
March 25, 2008 Front Page Story of Gloucester County Times, Woodbury, NJ

Commentary by Loci B. Lenar

Incidentally, in 2008, by coincidence or perhaps I should say by providence, the Gloucester County Times, Woodbury, NJ, reported a story of a cross photographed by 9 year old Gwynna Crawford on Easter Sunday in Pitman, New Jersey. The cross appeared on a neighbor's house. The article indicated that Gwyanna's mother and the neighbor were unable to find the source of the sun reflection. To read the story, please visit the following link: NJ.com.

Feast of Divine Mercy is Celebrated on Sunday, April 15



Jezu Ufam Tobie by Stephen B Whatley

Divine Mercy Sunday - Saint Micheal Center

The following excerpt regarding the Feast of Divine Mercy is from the Saint Michael Center:

The Importance of the Feast of Mercy

The first revelation of Jesus in His message of Divine Mercy to St. Faustina on 22nd February 1931 was to say how much He desired mankind to avail of the infinite mercy of God on earth and this was why He was establishing the Feast of His Mercy. So, the Feast of Mercy was the first revelation in the message of Divine Mercy and is considered the first and most important element of the whole devotion.

Jesus devoted fourteen revelations in all, more than He devoted to any other element of this devotion because of the importance of the extraordinary graces He desired to give to all souls on this holy day.
In fact, He attached such importance to the Feast of Mercy that in the 43rd revelation, He stated, “I desire that My mercy be worshiped, and I am giving mankind the last hope of salvation; that is, recourse to My mercy. My Heart rejoices in this Feast”. (Diary 998)

First Sunday After Easter

Jesus said it was to be celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter. The selection of this day was to indicate that Jesus shows a special close connection between the paschal mystery of our redemption, and the Feast of Mercy and it is partly designed so that we contemplate, on this day, the mystery of our Redemption as the greatest act of Divine Mercy toward mankind.

Saint Faustina also noted this, when in 1935 she wrote: "I see now that the work of Redemption is bound up with this work of Divine Mercy that the Lord desires". (Diary 89)

A Second Baptism

Jesus said, "The soul that will go to confession in preparation for this day and receive Holy Communion on the day, shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment" (Diary 699) What exactly does this mean? Canon Rozycki, who was appointed by the Pope John Paul II to analyse the promises of Our Lord in the revelations of Divine Mercy states, “The extraordinary grace promised by Jesus in connection with the Feast of Mercy is something greater by far than a plenary indulgence. A plenary indulgence consists only in the forgiveness of temporal punishment due to sins already forgiven; it is never the forgiveness of sins themselves”.

He also went on to say, “The remarkable grace promised by our Lord on the Feast of Mercy is the same as a second Baptism. Now the Sacramental grace of Baptism if received by an adult, is not only the removal of original sin from their soul, but also the removal of all personal sins committed since birth, and any punishment due to them”.

So the soul who receives this special grace on the Feast of Mercy is the same as an adult who is baptised for the first time and receives the grace of having their soul cleansed through the sacrament of Baptism.

Read more: Feast of Divine Mercy

Life Changing Miracles through the Power of Prayer

Experiencing the Rock of Ages - CBN TV - Video

The video and following excerpt from CBN.com is an illustration of how Jesus can transform your life through the power of prayer.

By Christine McWorter

Sex, drugs, and rock n' roll summed up the life of musician Bobby Hayden, but it soon turned into addiction, despair and hopelessness.

Every penny he earned from gigs went to heroin. He became unstable, neglecting his bills in favor of his next high. Eventually Bobby lost his home and ended up living on skid row. The dream was over, and he was all alone.

“By the time the 90’s got here, I was so sick of Bobby Hayden, I wanted to be anybody- anybody else but Bobby Hayden,” Bobby said. “I was one of the worst down there. I injected heroin probably five to fifteen times a day. I absolutely remember going a year without a bath. I knew that I was down there to die. I really felt I was down there to die. Because in skid row, that’s why a lot of people go there - it’s your last hurrah.”

For seven years, Bobby lived on skid row panhandling for drug money. One day, another homeless man had a message for him. “’Bobby, your body is full of poison. Your legs are all chewed up with injections. You go no veins left. You’ve blown out your neck. You’re not going to be with us much longer,’”

Bobby remembers, “And I’m laying there without a chance in the world, clothes I’ve had on for a year, and my skin was darkened with dirt and soot and toxins from the air. And he said that I had to maybe start praying in the name of Jesus.”

With nothing to lose, Bobby took his advice and started to pray and read the Bible. “When I was walking the streets homeless, I had a little light on in the back of my head that somehow I was going to walk away from it.’

Bobby was right - his life was about to change. One of his old friends sent him a bus ticket to Phoenix and some methadone- a drug that helps addicts quit by stopping withdrawal symptoms. “Then it kinda hit me that I had been praying in Jesus’ name and all of a sudden I got a way out,” said Bobby. “So by this time I know that something is really leading me down that road and I knew this Jesus thing had to be for real.”

Bobby weaned himself off methadone. After about a year, he didn’t need it or any other drug. When a family member invited him to church, he was happy to attend. Soon, he began building a relationship with God.

“Jesus is everything. He’s just- He’s virtually everything - or I would still be in that cardboard box or probably not on this earth. So once I got out of the way and realized that Someone Else was calling the shots, that’s when it really started. I started to tick on all 8 again.”

Bobby has been free from drugs for over 3 years. He is a worship leader at his church, and is able to do what he loves - write and perform music. He says Jesus helped him see that a life in Christ is the best life possible.

He says, “I am so thankful to be a human being again and be in touch with Jesus, because now I really understand that Jesus lives inside of me.”

Frescos At Macedonia Orthodox Church Mystify Christian Worshippers

St. Dimitrija Orthodox church in Macedonia's capital Skopje,
Monday, April 9, 2012. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)  

Saint Dimitrija: Changing Frescos At Macedonia Orthodox Church Mystify Christian Worshippers

The photograph and following excerpt is on HuffingtonPost.com:

SKOPJE, Macedonia -- Thousands of Orthodox Christian worshippers from across Macedonia are lining up to visit a church where a cleric says frescoes of saints have begun to appear brighter in color without any obvious explanation.

Father Zoran of Saint Dimitrija church in Skopje, the capital, said Monday that the murals, long obscured by the residue of candle smoke, began to appear clearer over the weekend, with red and gold colors becoming more noticeable.

That has prompted worshippers to flock to the church ahead of Orthodox Easter next Sunday.

Read more: Saint Dimitrija

Shadow at Ursuline chapel is a sign of faith to many

Photo by Eliot Kamenitz - The Times-Picayune

Shadow at Ursuline chapel is a sign of faith to many | NOLA.com

Photo Caption: On Monday, April 2, 2012 more than 2,000 pilgrims have come to the Shrine of Our Lady of Prompt Succor at Ursuline Academy (New Orleans, LA) since late last week to see an unusual image projected on a pillar near the shrine’s altar. Many see the image as the face of Jesus bearing a crown of thorns. Although it is pretty clearly a shadow cast by an overhead chandelier, it seems to have escaped public notice until now. Miraculous or not, many say the image helps them focus their prayers at the threshold of Holy Week, the most solemn week of the Christian year.

Wishing all Visitors a Blessed and Happy Easter!

The Resurrection of Jesus - Photo by Loci B. Lenar

The Resurrection of Jesus

And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you.”  Matthew 28:2-7

The stained glass window of the Resurrection of Jesus can be seen inside Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church, Verona, New Jersey.

Cross Appears on Holy Thursday

Cross Appears on April 5, 2012

Miracles of Faith - Signs, Wonders, and Miracles

By Loci B. Lenar

On the morning of Holy Thursday, I photographed a cross which appears annually on my property and backyard fence. Rays of sunlight is creating an image of a cross that is surrounded by a shield. This phenomenon first began in 2005 at my residence in Mine Hill, NJ, USA.

It usually happens during Lent and sometimes on other occasions. I believe it's a sign from Our Lord to share with others in order to help lead people back to God and their Christian faith.

For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.  Psalm 84:11

Scripture tells us that the day before Jesus was crucified he shared his Last Supper with his disciples on a Thursday, celebrating Passover.

Holy Week is an important time to reflect and renew our spiritual life through the gospels of Jesus Christ and the Eucharist (Communion). Easter and the resurrection is a testament to God's love because we share in the redemptive power of the cross through Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”  John 8:12

Cross Appears on Holy Thursday in 2012

It's interesting to note that the cross first appeared in 2012 on St. Patrick’s Day which by the way is celebrated on March 17th. The above photos are from Holy Thursday.

From Last Year: Brooke Kayal examines Cross which appeared on March 27, 2011

On Wednesday, April 4th, I went to St. Mary's Rectory and sat down with my spiritual advisor, Fr. Richard Tartaglia and shared the photographs from St. Patrick’s Day and discussed spiritual matters as well. St. Mary's Catholic Church is located on Myers Avenue, Denville, New Jersey.

Further details regarding the cross and my testimony can be read in the article, ‘Cross Appears during Lent and Holy Week as Sign of God’s Love,’ or by visiting the website of http://www.christian-miracles.com/.

Copyright 2012 Loci B. Lenar

Illiterate man’s body healed, then God gave him ability to read Scripture

The following excerpt is from GodReports.com:

By Mark Ellis

A mysterious disease left him unable to walk or speak for years. Then God brought a missionary into his life who prayed for healing, and the man received even more than he could have hoped.

Yilma Gudini lived in a rural area without access to education. Most of his childhood was spent herding cattle for his family and he never learned to read. While he enjoyed good health, a mysterious neurological ailment struck him in young adulthood that left him unable to walk or speak.

“Our goal is to raise up a prayer movement,” says Dr. Howard Folz, the president of AIMS. “We also want to see missionaries go to unreached peoples,” he says. “One of these missionaries in Ethiopia reached a man named Yilma.”

One day a missionary visited his village and began to pray for his healing. There was no sign of any improvement after he prayed, but the missionary wanted to return the next day to pray again.
Several days passed and there was no sign of any change in Gudini’s condition. But the young missionary persisted in prayer, as he continued to come back, and by faith to call on God to move with power.

On the eighth day, God answered. “The demons left me, and I could walk and speak again,” Gudini says. “It was a miracle.”

Without any prodding, the joy-filled young man surrendered to Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. Shortly after that, he experienced another miracle.

“God told me to fast and pray for 15 days,” Gudini says. On the tenth day, God approached him in the middle of the night while he slept.

He had one of the most vivid dreams he could recall. “I saw the Word of God written on the wall,” he says. But as Gudini stared at the strange symbols lighted on the wall, something unusual happened. He could actually read the words – they made perfect sense. In his dream, he read Scripture for many hours.

When Gudini awakened, something even more unusual happened. He ran to get a Bible and when he opened the pages, he could read! Gudini praised and glorified God after this second great miracle in his life.

He ran excitedly to tell a friend — to confirm that what he thought was happening was real. The friend verified his newfound reading ability, supernaturally derived.

Read more: God Reports

Image of Jesus draws faithful to Ursuline chapel

Faithful say image of Jesus draws them to Ursuline chapel | wwltv.com New Orleans

The following excerpt is from WWLTV.com:

NEW ORLEANS – The Ursuline chapel in Uptown New Orleans is home to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Prompt Succor, but for the past 12 days, it has also been home to hundreds of faithful who are coming in to see what they say is a vision of Jesus on a pillar.

Read more: Image of jesus

Our Lady's Annual Message to Mirjana Soldo

Mary, Mother of Peace by Stephen B. Whatley

The Medjugorje Web - Apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Medjugorje

Our Lady of Medjugorje's Message of April 02, 2012 to Mirjana Soldo:

 "Dear children, As the Queen of Peace, I desire to give peace to you, my children, true peace which comes through the heart of my Divine Son. As a mother I pray that wisdom, humility and goodness may come to reign in your hearts – that peace may reign – that my Son may reign. When my Son will be the ruler in your hearts, you will be able to help others to come to know Him. When heavenly peace comes to rule over you, those who are seeking it in the wrong places, thus causing pain to my motherly heart, will recognize it. My children, great will be my joy when I see that you are accepting my words and that you desire to follow me. Do not be afraid, you are not alone. Give me your hands and I will lead you. Do not forget your shepherds. Pray that in their thoughts they may always be with my Son who called them to witness Him. Thank you."

Fr. Higgins: The Man I Saw Brought Back to Life

Fr. John Higgins - Photo Courtesy of St. Peter's List

Fr. Higgins: The Man I Saw Brought Back to Life | St. Peter's List

(Reprinted with permission from HHAmbrose and St. Peter's List.)

By Fr. John Higgins

Who doesn’t enjoy a good BBQ with friends? When I was asked to a young couple’s home for a Young Adult Ministry Home Mass and BBQ I packed my Mass kit and off I went. I arrived about 6:00 pm with a hearty appetite and was greeted by about 15 young people. Then the phone rang and everything changed. I had to drive about 10 miles to a hospital where there was an emergency call.

I drove quickly, thinking that the nurse in charge of the ER, Anne, would be waiting for me. I knew her and her husband and children from the parish. When I walked in I could see paramedics at the foot of the only occupied gurney there, so I hurried and walked in. “Sorry, Fr. John, you’re too late. He’s gone.” Anne said, smiling. She had a lot of compassion, but also understood that I’d come as fast as I could. They were removing wires from an older man. I noticed that he was wearing a Brown Scapular, one of the old cloth ones. I reached and said “He’s wearing an old fashioned Scapular”. When I touched it there was a beep from a monitor, then another. The nurse, Anne, said “What did you do?” I said “Nothing!” She and another nurse jumped to work, reconnecting wires and calling for help. The Paramedics stood with their jaws dropped. The patient opened his eyes and said (in an Irish accent) “Oh, good, Father. I’ve been waiting for you. I want to go to Confession.” I nearly fell over. I’d done nothing but seen and touched his Scapular. The next thing I knew they were working on him. He didn’t get to go to Confession, but I gave him an emergency absolution as they worked. One of the Paramedics asked if I was OK and sat me in a chair.

A couple of weeks later the man came to me for Confession and told me that the doctor couldn’t figure out what happened and had to tear up the Death Certificate he’d already started to fill out. The Paramedics had come to see him in the hospital and shown him their notes. At the bottom of the page they’d written the time and place of his death and then in big bold letters had added “BROUGHT BACK TO LIFE BY GOD”.

Miracles still happen. And no, I didn’t do it. It just happened according to God’s will. Why does He intervene in some cases and not in others? I really don’t know. I haven’t figured that out yet. But I do know that God has worked miracles in my life, the most important for me not being what He did for someone else, but what He has done over and over to bring me back from sin and death, through the Sacraments into His Covenant Relationship.

That man still had to die a natural death to be raised from the dead into eternal life. The resurrection Jesus offers all of us is eternal too. And that’s what we look forward to at Easter.
***

Fr. John Higgins

Fr. Higgins was born in Indiana. His mother brought him to California when he was about three years old. They lived in South Gate, Covina, Lynwood and then in 1965 they moved to Downey. Fr. Higgins attended Downey High School for two years and graduated from there in 1967. He attended Cerritos Community College, worked in Downey, Bellflower, and Long Beach before entering the Seminary in 1974. He was ordained to the Priesthood in 1981, has served as Campus Minister and Religion Teacher at Bishop Garcia Diego High School in Santa Barbara, and worked in seven parishes before his assignment to St. Raymond Parish in 2003. He also currently serves as the Chaplain at Downey Fire Department – serving both firefighters and victims.

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Amazing Accounts of Muslims coming to Christ

God's "Miraculous Movement": Amazing Accounts of Scores of Muslims coming to Christ

The following excerpt is from breakingchristiannews.com:

What's even better than one Muslim coming to the Lord Jesus and being saved? A whole mosque-full of people receiving Christ!

As astonishing as it sounds, that is the report from a former church planter who worked among Muslims in West Africa.

Jerry Trousdale, now the director of International ministries for City Team International, has written a book, Miraculous Movements, that details some of the "unprecedented" events taking place currently among the Muslim population there.

Trousdale notes that there have been "multiple cases of entire mosques coming to faith" in Christ; "tens of thousands" of Christians with Muslim background who are now dedicated to fasting and praying as intercessors for the Muslim people; seemingly impossible achievements being done through ordinary people allowing God to use them, along with many other extraordinary happenings.

Trousdale told the Christian Post (CP), "This is just good news that God is in the same business as He was in the book of Acts. Disciples are multiplying greatly and even priests, imams and sheikhs are becoming obedience to the faith. So I no longer doubt that we can finish the task in this generation."

The CP article recounts one of the remarkable stories from Trousdale's book in which a man who'd been a respectable Muslim businessman had a dream that Jesus appeared to him telling him that He [Jesus] was the Light of the world—when he woke up he could no longer see. The dream and his loss of sight impacted him so much, he converted to Christianity, and—after attending Bible studies at a prayer camp—he became an effective witness and church-planter for the Lord among Muslim groups.

Read more: God's Miraculous Movement

Our Lady's Monthly Message to Marija Pavlovic

Photo by Loci B. Lenar

The Medjugorje Web - Apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Medjugorje

Our Lady of Medjugorje's monthly message to Marija Pavlovic

Message of March 25, 2012: "Dear children! Also today, with joy, I desire to give you my motherly blessing and to call you to prayer. May prayer become a need for you to grow more in holiness every day. Work more on your conversion because you are far away, little children. Thank you for having responded to my call."

The Power of Prayer

Photo by Loci B. Lenar

Prayer is the Key to God's Blessing and Grace

Jesus said, "I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive your trespasses."
-Mark 11:23-25

The beautiful stained glass window detail of Jesus can be seen inside the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Catholic church is located on High Street in Hackettstown, NJ, USA.

Read more: Devotional Prayers

Read more: Prayer is the Key to God's Blessings and Gifts

Read more: www.christian-miracles.com

St. Thomas More - Patron of Religious Freedom

St. Thomas More

 

Prayer to St. Thomas More

O God our Creator,
from your provident hand we have received
our right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
You have called us as your people and given us
the right and the duty to worship you, the only true God,
and your Son, Jesus Christ.

Through the power and working of your Holy Spirit,
you call us to live out our faith in the midst of the world,
bringing the light and the saving truth of the Gospel
to every corner of society.

We ask you to bless us
in our vigilance for the gift of religious liberty.
Give us the strength of mind and heart
to readily defend our freedoms when they are threatened;
give us courage in making our voices heard
on behalf of the rights of your Church
and the freedom of conscience of all people of faith.

Grant, we pray, O heavenly Father,
a clear and united voice to all your sons and daughters
gathered in your Church
in this decisive hour in the history of our nation,
so that, with every trial withstood
and every danger overcome—
for the sake of our children, our grandchildren,
and all who come after us—
this great land will always be “one nation, under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.


Copyright © 2012, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC. All rights reserved. Cover image, istockphoto.com