The Iveron Icon to visit Northeast Pennsylvania

The Iveron Icon

Religious icon to visit Northeast Pennsylvania - News - The Times-Tribune

BY SARAH HOFIUS HALL

An icon believed to be responsible for healing people of cancer and blindness will be making two stops in Northeast Pennsylvania this weekend.

The Iveron Icon of the Theotokos will be at St. Tikhon of Zadonsk Orthodox Monastery in South Canaan on Saturday, and at St. John the Baptist Russian Orthodox Cathedral in Mayfield on Sunday.

"We'll be able to have this great blessing with us," said the Rev. John D. Sorochka of St. John's. "Let's flock to it. Let it uplift us."

The icon of Virgin Mary holding the infant Jesus is a paper print mounted on wood, and is an exact replica of a famous icon from Montreal. The replica was manufactured in Russia and purchased in Toronto by a priest who gave it to a Russian Orthodox believer in Honolulu in 2007.

Believers say the icon streams myrrh, a fragrant resin that comes from certain trees in the Mideast, from the Virgin Mary's eyes. It also gives off the scent of roses, believers say.

In 2008, the icon was recognized by Archbishop Kyrill of the Russian Orthodox Church as genuine and given the blessing to travel to churches of Holy Orthodoxy.

The icon's visit to St. Tikhon is part of its 106th annual pilgrimage, which is expected to attract more than 1,000 people, said the Rev. Igumen Sergius, abbot of St. Tikhon.

"People come seeking a blessing from God," Rev. Sergius said. "We all have a need for healing for our souls. They might not even know what they need, but they know there's something else in this world."

Prayers and Poems of Saint Teresa of Avila

Stained glass window detail of St. Teresa of Avila

Photograph by Loci B. Lenar

Prayers and Poems of Saint Teresa of Avila

To Redeem Lost Time

O my God! Source of all mercy!

I acknowledge Your sovereign power.

While recalling the wasted years that are past,

I believe that You, Lord,

can in an instant turn this loss to gain.

Miserable as I am,

yet I firmly believe that You can do all things.

Please restore to me the time lost,

giving me Your grace,

both now and in the future,

that I may appear before You in "wedding garments."

Amen.

Stained Glass Window of St. Teresa of Avila

Photograph by Loci B. Lenar

God Alone is Enough

Let nothing upset you,

let nothing startle you.

All things pass;

God does not change.

Patience wins

all it seeks.

Whoever has God

lacks nothing:

God alone is enough

Let Nothing Trouble You

Let nothing trouble you.

Let nothing scare you.

All is fleeting.

God alone is unchanging.

Patience

Everything obtains.

Who possesses God

Nothing wants.

God alone suffices.

If, Lord, Thy Love is Strong

If, Lord, Thy love for me is strong

As this which binds me unto thee,

What holds me from thee Lord so long,

What holds thee Lord so long from me?

O soul, what then desirest thou?

Lord I would see thee, who thus choose thee.

What fears can yet assail thee now?

All that I fear is but lose thee.

Love's whole possession I entreat,

Lord make my soul thine own abode,

And I will build a nest so sweet

It may not be too poor for God.

A sould in God hidden from sin,

What more desires for thee remain,

Save but to love again,

And all on flame with love within,

Love on, and turn to love again.

A Love Song

Majestic sovereign, timeless wisdom,
your kindness melts my hard, cold soul.

Handsome lover, selfless giver,
your beauty fills my dull, sad eyes.

I am yours, you made me.

I am yours, you called me.

I am yours, you saved me.

I am yours, you loved me.

I will never leave your presence.

Give me death, give me life.

Give me sickness, give me health.

Give me honor, give me shame.

Give me weakness, give me strength.

I will have whatever you give. Amen.

***

The above prayers and poems can be found on Cathoic websites.

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

For biographical information on the saint, please visit the following link: St. Teresa of Avila

The stained glass window art can be seen inside of the Saint Teresa of Avila Mausoleum which is located on Passaic Avenue in Summit, NJ, USA.

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

Monthly Message from Our Lady of Medjugorje

Photo by Loci B. Lenar

Our Lady of Medjugorje's Monthly Message

On May 25, 2010, Our Lady conveyed the following message to Medjugorje visionary Marija Pavlovic:

"Dear children! God gave you the grace to live and to defend all the good that is in you and around you, and to inspire others to be better and holier; but Satan, too, does not sleep and through modernism diverts you and leads you to his way. Therefore, little children, in the love for my Immaculate Heart, love God above everything and live His commandments. In this way, your life will have meaning and peace will rule on earth. Thank you for having responded to my call."

***

The stained glass window detail of Our Lady can be seen inside the Gate of Heaven Mausoleum. The Catholic mausoleum is located on Ridegdale Avenue in East Hanover, NJ, USA.

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

Prayer for the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Photograph by Loci B. Lenar

PRAYER FOR THE SEVEN GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT - Catholic Online

O Lord Jesus Christ, Who, before ascending into heaven, didst promise to send the Holy Ghost to finish Thy work in the souls of Thy Apostles and Disciples, deign to grant the same Holy Spirit to me, that He may perfect in my soul the work of Thy grace and Thy love.

Grant me the Spirit of Wisdom that I may despise the perishable things of this world and aspire only after the things that are eternal,

the Spirit of Understanding to enlighten my mind with the light of Thy divine truth,

the Spirit of Counsel that I may ever choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining Heaven,

the Spirit of Fortitude that I may bear my cross with Thee, and that I may overcome with courage all the obstacles that oppose my salvation,

the Spirit of Knowledge that I may know God and know myself and grow perfect in the science of the Saints,

the Spirit of Piety that I may find the service of God sweet and amiable,

the Spirit of Fear that I may be filled with a loving reverence towards God, and may dread in any way to displease Him. Mark me, dear Lord, with the sign of Thy true disciples and animate me in all things with Thy Spirit.

Amen.

***

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

The above stained glass window detail can be seen on top of the far right entrance door which leads into the Gate of Heaven Mausoleum. The Catholic mausoleum is located on Ridegdale Avenue in East Hanover, NJ, USA.

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

Kamal Saleem: A Muslim Cries Out to Jesus - CBN.com

Kamal Saleem heard a voice call his name and saw a vision of Christ. This was miraculous, because up until then, Kamal was a Muslim. Watch the amazing interview from CBN.com and witness the miraculous transformation of Kamal Saleem.

A Medical Miracle: British girl's two newly grown kidneys now do the work of the ones that failed

It's highly unusual for an extra set of kidneys to grow,

but a miracle happened for one British child.

British girl's two newly grown kidneys now do the work of the ones that failed

By Rosemary Black
Daily News Staff Writer

Three years ago, doctors caring for a British girl facing surgery made an amazing discovery: she’d actually grown two new kidneys to replace the failed ones that had caused the health problems she’d suffered since birth.

Surgeons at Sheffield Children’s Hospital in England found that Angel Burton's new kidneys had started doing the work of the diseased ones, according to Sky News Online. The youngster, now 8, is no longer facing kidney failure.

The doctors apparently did not see the new kidneys that were perched above the originals. On scans, which had been done for five years, they appeared as one kidney.

"It’s a real miracle," Claire Burton, Angel’s mother, told Sky News Online. "We’re just so grateful to have Angel back to her happy, healthy self."

The little girl had a rare condition called duplex kidney that causes the organs to be fused in the center. Even rarer, in Angel’s case, was to have both organs be duplex, which means she actually had four kidneys and four ureters.

From the time she was born, Angel’s health got worse. Doctors diagnosed her with bilateral reflux, meaning that urine was leaking into her kidneys and infecting them. Tests showed that the kidneys had been severely affected.

During an operation to craft an artificial valve in October 2007, the extra kidneys were discovered. Nearly three years later, Angel’s looking at a bright future and is on track to recover fully.