It's Time to Take a Step Toward Christian Unity

Metropolitan Filaret of Minsk and Sluck

The following article and photograph appeared on Catholic Online:

Orthodox Metropolitan Filaret: It's Time to Take a Step Toward Unity - International News - Catholic Online

By Jesús Colina

The time is now for the Orthodox and Catholic Churches to take a step toward unity, and for Benedict XVI and the Orthodox patriarch of Moscow to meet, says the Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus.The Orthodox leader added that both Churches seek to establish full unity, and stressed that he has come to this conclusion based on the fraternal dialogue and the meetings that they have held with representatives of the Catholic Church.

VATICAN CITY (Zenit.org) - The time is now for the Orthodox and Catholic Churches to take a step toward unity, and for Benedict XVI and the Orthodox patriarch of Moscow to meet, says the Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus.

Metropolitan Filaret of Minsk and Sluck said this Tuesday at the international conference held in Rome on "The Poor Are the Precious Treasure of the Church: Orthodox and Catholics Together on the Path of Charity."

During the conference, which was promoted by the Sant'Egidio Community, participants reflected on the reception of the most frail in our societies, the testimony of the Fathers of the Church, and the challenges dictated by new social problems.

According to Metropolitan Filaret, the time has come to take decisive steps toward unity, reported the country's Catholic news service.

The Orthodox leader added that both Churches seek to establish full unity, and stressed that he has come to this conclusion based on the fraternal dialogue and the meetings that they have held with representatives of the Catholic Church.

If Benedict XVI and Orthodox Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia were to meet, it would be a first for the two pastors of Rome and Moscow.

Metropolitan Filaret's statements coincide with the announcement of the "Days of Russian Culture and Spirituality in the Vatican," which will be held May 19-20, and which will culminate with a concert offered to Benedict XVI by Kirill I.

The musical event will include compositions of Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, president of the Department for Foreign Relations of the Patriarchy of Moscow.

On Wednesday, Metropolitan Filaret visited the Holy Shroud of Turin and Cardinal Severino Poletto, archbishop of Turin.

"The impression is so profound that one cannot express the joy one feels," commented the Orthodox representative after seeing the Shroud.

Metropolitan Filaret, in this post since 1978, received the recognition of "Hero of Belarus" in 2006, by decision of president Alexander Lukashenko, in recognition of the service to the spirituality of his country.

Duane Andrews: A Time for Believing in the Power of Prayer

View the inspiring story of Duane Andrews and his miraculous recovery from all his medical conditions!

Whatever difficulty you may be facing, hand it over to Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Believe in the power of prayer!  Trust that God will answer you!

Duane Andrews: A Time for Believing

By Audra Smith

CBN.com – Duane Andrews was relaxing at home when he suddenly began having severe stomach cramps. What started as pancreatitis became something more severe, and Duane wound up in a coma for a month and a half. In the face of grim reports, his wife Sharon decided it was time to pray.

Signs and Wonders: Incorruptible Catholic Saints

From YouTube: History of over 250 Incorruptible Catholic Saints

The following information regarding the incorrupt bodies of saints can be read on CatholicApologetics.com:

The incorrupt bodies of these saints are simply a living witness or proof to the truth of the Catholic religion as the one true faith from God, who has confirmed the testimony of the Church in the great miracles he has worked through it's saints.

The Council of Trent:

"The bodies of holy martyrs and others now living with Christ, bodies which were His members and temples of the Holy Spirit, which one day are to be raised up by Him and made glorious in everlasting life, are to be venerated by the faithful; God gives men many benefits through them."

The Bodies of the saints for us are like great and holy relics, which move us to honor the saints who God has chosen to honor by preserving them incorrupt.

In scripture we read that the use of the bones of Elisha brought a dead man to life: "So Elisha died, and they buried him. Now bands of Moabites used to invade the land in the spring of the year. And as a man was being buried, lo, a marauding band was seen and the man was cast into the grave of Elisha; and as soon as the man touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood on his feet." (2 Kgs. 13:20-21).

A woman was cured of a hemorrhage by touching the hem of Christ's cloak (Matt. 9:20-22). The sick were healed when Peter's shadow passed over them (Acts 5:15-16). "And God did extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that handkerchiefs or aprons were carried away from his body to the sick, and diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them" (Acts 19:11-12).

The Power of the relics to work miracles doesn't come from the object itself but from God, who confirms the faith of the person who is healed by means of them as to testify to the holiness of His saints.

Prayers of St. Francis Xavier

Photograph by Loci B. Lenar

Prayers of St. Francis Xavier - Liturgies.net

Prayer to St. Francis Xavier
Preacher and Miracle Worker

O God, You who were pleased
to gather into your Church the peoples of the East
by the preaching and miracles of St. Francis Xavier,
grant that we, who honor his glorious merits,
may also imitate the example of his virtues.
This we ask through Christ our Lord.

Amen.


Prayer to St. Francis Xavier
Herald of the Gospel

Almighty and everlasting God,
we thank you for your Servant Francis,
whom you called to preach the Gospel
to the peoples of Asia.
Raise up, we pray,
in this and every land
heralds and evangelists of your kingdom,
that your Church may proclaim
the unsearchable riches
of our Savior Jesus Christ;
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

Amen


Prayer to St. Francis Xavier

Creator God
Inspired by the example of St. Francis,
We pray to you for the courage to be missionaries,
Reaching out and leading others to Jesus.
Like St. Francis
May we help those in need,
May we live a life rooted in prayer and
May we bring Christ to all those we meet.
This we ask through your Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Amen.

For additional prayers, please visit the following link: Devotional Prayers 

The miniature stained glass window of St. Francis Xavier can be seen inside of Saint Jude's Catholic Church, located on 40 Maxim Drive in Hopatcong, NJ, USA.

Photograph Copyright 2010 Loci B. Lenar
Christian-Miracles.com

O Mary Bright Dawn Of The New World

Photograph by Loci B. Lenar

O MARY BRIGHT DAWN OF THE NEW WORLD - Catholic Online

O Mary bright dawn of the new world, Mother of the living, to you do we entrust the cause of life: Look down, O Mother, upon the vast numbers of babies not allowed to be born, of the poor whose lives are made difficult, of men and women who are victims of brutal violence, of the elderly and the sick killed by indifference or out of misguided mercy. Grant that all who believe in your Son may proclaim the Gospel of life with honesty and love to the people of our time. Obtain for them the grace to accept that Gospel as a gift ever new, the joy of celebrating it with gratitude throughout their lives and the courage to bear witness to it resolutely, in order to build, together with all people of good will, the civilization of truth and love, to the praise and glory of God, the Creator and lover of life.

The beautiful miniature stained glass window can be seen inside of Saint Jude's Catholic Church, located on 40 Maxim Drive in Hopatcong, NJ, USA.

For other prayers, please visit the following link: Devotional Prayers

Photograph Copyright 2010 Loci B. Lenar
Christian-Miracles.com

Sign of Cross Draws Crowds

Photo by Lora Schraft

The photographs and video, including the following excerpt is from Morgan Hill Times which reported a story about a cross that continues to appear in a window of home in Watsonville, CA.

The original story first was reported on April 2, 2010 by Pajaronian.com.  An excerpt can be found on this blog at the following link: Apparition of Cross Appears in Window.
                                                                                                                



Morgan Hill Times.com - Apparition draws crowds

By Jonathan Partridge

Sylvia Torres recalls being skeptical when she traveled to a home in Watsonville a couple of weeks ago to see a cross in the house's window that was purported to be a miracle.

Then crosses of refracted light began appearing in the front window of her family's own house on Swaner Drive last week.

Now, she is a believer.

"I've been here eight years, and this has never happened," she said.

At least 200 people have stopped by the home at 1288 Swaner Drive since Friday, when a young boy first spotted the image.

Neighbor Jesus Gonzalez, 10, was the first person to see the image while hanging out with the Torres children last week.

"I was right here waiting for my friend, and I said hey, 'Doesn't that look like a cross?'" Jesus recalled.

Sylvia said she did not know what to think when she first heard about it. The Torreses have used various light sources since that time, including light bulbs, candles and flashlights. The result is always the same: a luminous cross of refracted light with a diamond-like aura behind it. The usual light bulb the Torreses use inside the house creates an image that's nearly three feet tall, while the candles create smaller crosses of light that are only several inches.

The Torreses said they are Christians, but they are not "practicing," and they do not attend church anywhere in town.

"We're gonna start," Torres said with a laugh.

Photo by Lora Schraft

People gradually have been finding out about the cross through word of mouth, she said. They come from all walks of life - different ethnicities, different faith backgrounds, even different towns, Torres said. Some people have traveled from Morgan Hill and Watsonville to see the apparition.

People generally come en masse about 5 or 6 p.m., after they finish work, said Horacio Torres, Sylvia Torres' husband. In addition, about 10 people show up per hour throughout the day.

"It's like their coming like ants," Horacio said with a laugh.

It's even gotten to the point that the family is planning to set up visiting hours from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

A priest from the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Jose stopped by this week to see the cross, and told the family that it was a blessing, Sylvia said.

One man, who was passing out Christian literature in front of Arteaga's Super Save market on First Street, stopped by and also told the family it was a sign from God.

"He said, 'You have a great responsibility'," Sylvia said. "'It's to tell people to repent of their sins.'"

Practicing Roman Catholics tend to believe the cross' veracity right away, but some people who are logically minded are more skeptical, Sylvia said.

Yet, even some of the skeptics said they have been convinced.

Kern Avenue resident Jackie Velazquez was among the throngs of people who were amazed at the image.

"It's incredible!" Velazquez said. "We went inside the house, and it's not a trick. I'm not even a believer, and it made me cry."

Family members say it has become a bit wearisome to contend with all the onlookers.

"It takes privacy away from my home," Sylvia said.

Still, she and Horacio said they have felt a sense of peace come over their house since crosses began appearing in the window.

Their young daughter, Lucila, said she is not sure what to think of it all.

"I'm kind of scared," she said.

The family plans to have a recital of a rosary at the house at 5 p.m. Monday.

They said they are not trying to attract attention from outsiders, but they are also not refusing those who want to take a look.

"It's a blessing," Sylvia Torres said. "God said, 'If you don't come to visit me, we're going to visit you.'"