Family credits Virgin Mary statue for saving their house from wildfire

Family credits Virgin Mary statue for saving their house from wildfire – CNN Belief Blog - CNN.com Blogs

From CNN.com:

Wildfires are raging in Texas. At the Garcia's home in Montgomery County, Texas the fire line comes right up to a statue of the Virgin Mary.  The family tells CNN affiliate KTRK they believe the statue helped saved their home.

Prayer Support for Families Affected by Hurricane Irene and Flooding

Photo by Loci B. Lenar

By Loci B. Lenar

Your Prayer Support is Requested

With so many families affected by Hurricane Irene on the east coast and from devastating flooding, including New Jersey, I am requesting your prayer support.  Please pray to Our Lord to help all the families to recovery and also to mitigate storms and natural disasters.

I wrote the following prayer in 2010 as a result of the earthquake in Haiti. While praying for the victims and their families, the Lord inspired my heart to compose a prayer in order to petition God to mitigate earthquakes and natural disasters.

Prayer to Mitigate Natural Disasters

God the Father,

we join together in prayer and

petition heaven for divine intervention

to mitigate earthquakes and natural disasters.

We invoke the powerful name of Jesus

to calm the storms of time

and to bring forth a millennium

of peace and tranquility.

We pray to the Virgin Mary

to intercede on behalf of humanity

for God's hand of mercy to bless us

with divine protection.

We ask this and thank thee

in the name of Jesus.

Amen

A copy of the prayer is available at the following link: 
http://www.christian-miracles.com/prayertoenddisasters.htm

Thank you very much for your thoughtful prayer support!


A Reminder Regarding Monthly Prayer Service at St. Mary's Church

St. Mary's Catholic Church holds a monthly service for prayer including special prayer intentions which are submitted through the website of Christian-Miracles.com.

Previous services have included prayer for Christian Unity. However, prayers for world peace are always included.

The next prayer service is scheduled for Thursday, September 15, 2011 at 7:30 PM (EST) with Fr. Richard Tartaglia. The prayer service is held every third Thursday of each month with a new theme.  September will focus on the birth of Mary, Our Blessed Mother.

St. Mary's Church is located on 15 Myers Avenue, Denville, New Jersey.

There is great power through the Holy Spirit when people join together in agreement while praying for God’s help and intervention. However, if you cannot attend, you can still join in by praying with St. Mary's Church between the hours of 7:30-8:00 PM on September 15th for all special prayer intentions.

Prayer request can posted directly on Christian-Miracles.com at the following link: http://www.christian-miracles.com/apps/prayers/

May Our Lord have mercy and bless your prayer requests with divine favor.

David Garibaldi: Jesus Painting

David Garibaldi: Jesus Painting from Thriving Churches on Vimeo.


David Garibaldi: Jesus Painting on Vimeo

Commentary by Loci B. Lenar

David Garibaldi is one extraordinary artist that will captivate you as he paints the face of Jesus on canvas.  He surprises the viewer with bold strokes of paint which at first appear abstract and then suddenly flips the painting over (bottom reversed to top) to reveal the face of Jesus.  Stunning work of art!

Paintings Inspired by Dreams of Mother Mary

Painter Mona Buencamino - Photo by ABS-CBN

A Filipina's Marian Paintings - ABS-CBN News - Latest Philippine Headlines, Breaking News, Video, Analysis, Features

The following excerpt is from ABS-CBNnews.com:

By Mika Barrios

MANILA, Philippines – In 1989, Mona Buencamino dreamt of the Lady of Guadalupe urging her to paint despite not having any painting background at all.

As her dreams of Mother Mary recurred, which she routinely ignored, she finally gave in through her husband's advice.

She started with a small canvas but didn't find her work satisfying. After three hours of practice, she made her first masterpiece of Mother Mary, one of the paintings on display in the San Beda Alabang Museum today.

By June this year, she had finished 27 paintings, enough for the required 30 pieces for the San Beda Museum exhibit in commemoration of Mother Mary's birthday this September 8.

Entitled "Ave Maria", the Marian paintings of Buencamino will be at the Gallery II of the San Beda Museum and open to the viewing public until October 31.

Buencamino's works have found their places around the world, ranging from various provinces in the Philippines, Colombia and Italy. To date, she has made a total of 150 Marian paintings.

Read more: Mona Buencamino

Catholic Life: Stephen B. Whatley the Praying Artist

The Praying Artist: New Feature on the Art of Stephen B Whatley. September 2011

Commentary by Loci B. Lenar

Stephen B. Whatley is a gifted and talented artist that paints with spiritual inspiration, which flows from his heart and soul on to the canvas in a contemporary flair of abstract colors. 

Stephen's Christian art is featured in the September 2011 issue of Catholic Life magazine.

I am very grateful to Stephen for allowing me to post his beautiful work on this blog.

His artwork is also on the homepage of Christian-Miracles.com and can be seen throughout our site with corresponding devotional prayers, including The Chaplet of Divine Mercy and Prayers to Our Lady of Lourdes.

***

By Stephen B. Whatley

Blessed with my biggest interview and feature to date about my work and faith in Catholic Life magazine (September 2011) which has honoured me with the cover and a 6-page feature that includes 10 pictures.

Tony Glacius who interviewed me in July has written a powerful and hard hitting feature that covers my life experiences and career - all aspects including my expressions of my faith. From early tragedy, to the solace and trials of working with my art. The feature includes details on one of the spiritual experiences during one of my portrait sittings with a TV personality; my Royal commissions; and the profound reactions of American nuns, who discovered my work.

Catholic Life is available in the UK, USA and Canada. Deep gratitude to Tony Galcius and editor Brendan Gilligan who presented this feature so beautifully.

Prayers to St. Raphael the Archangel



Saint Raphael the Archangel by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo
 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia



Prayer for Healing to St. Raphael the Archangel

Glorious Archangel Saint Raphael, great prince of the heavenly court, you are illustrious for your gifts of wisdom and grace. You are a guide of those who journey by land or sea or air, consoler of the afflicted, and refuge of sinners. I beg you, assist me in all my needs and in all the sufferings of this life, as once you helped the young Tobias on his travels. Because you are the "medicine of God," I humbly pray you to heal the many infirmities of my soul and the ills that afflict my body. I especially ask of you the favor (mention your petition) and the great grace of purity of prepare me to be the temple of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Saint Raphael of the glorious seven who stand before the throne of Him who lives and reigns, angel of health, the Lord has filled your hand with balm from heaven to soothe or cure our pains. Heal or cure the victim of disease, and guide our steps when doubtful of our ways. Amen


Prayer to St. Raphael the Archangel

Blessed Saint Raphael, Archangel, We beseech you to help us in all our needs and trials of this life, as you, through the power of God, didst restore sight and gave guidance to young Tobit. We humbly seek your aid and intercession, that our souls may be healed, our bodies protected from all ills, and that through divine grace we may become fit to dwell in the eternal Glory of God in heaven. Amen.


St Raphael Prayer: Patron of Travelers and Bearers of Good News

St. Raphael, archangel, you protected young Tobiah as he journeyed to a distant land. Protect all travelers and most especially those who go about near and far preaching the Gospel. Guide and inspire modern apostles who use the communications media to bring the Good News of Christ to many souls. You also brought healing and joy to all you met. Help those who bring the Word of God to souls, that they may be as instruments in God's Hands to draw many to lives of Christian holiness. We ask this through Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

 
Prayer to Saint Raphael Before a Trip

Dear St. Raphael, your lovely name means "God heals." The Lord sent you to young Tobias to guide him throughout a long journey. Upon his return you taught him how to cure his father's blindness. How natural, therefore, for Christians to pray for your powerful help for safe travel and a happy return. This is what we ask for ourselves as well as for all who are far from home. Amen.


Prayer to St. Raphael: For the Choice of a Good Spouse

St. Raphael, you were sent by God to guide young Tobiah in choosing a good and virtuous spouse. Please help me in this important choice which will affect my whole future. You not only directed Tobiah in finding a wife, but you also gave him guidelines which should be foremost in every Christian marriage: "Pray together before making important decisions." If through prayer we keep God as the "third Partner" in our marriage, we will have the strength and grace we need to always accept and do His will. Amen.

Pray 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, 1 Glory be


Prayer to Saint Raphael, Angel of Happy Meetings

O Raphael, lead us towards those we are waiting for, those who are waiting for us! Raphael, Angel of Happy Meetings, lead us by the hand towards those we are looking for! May all our movements, all their
movements, be guided by your Light and transfigured by your joy.

Angel guide of Tobias, lay the request we now address to you at the feet of Him on whose unveiled Face you are privileged to gaze. Lonely and tired, crushed by the separations and sorrows of earth, we feel the need of calling to you and of pleading for the protection of your wings, so that we may not be as strangers in the Province of Joy, all ignorant of the concerns of our country.

Remember the weak, you who are strong--you whose home lies beyond the region of thunder, in a land that is always peaceful, always serene, and bright with the resplendent glory of God.

Amen.


The following excerpt about St. Rapheal the Archangel can be read on CatholicOnline.com:

St. Raphael is one of seven Archangels who stand before the throne of the Lord.

He was sent by God to help Tobit, Tobiah and Sarah. At the time, Tobit was blind and Tobiah's betrothed, Sarah, had had seven bridegrooms perish on the night of their weddings. Raphael accompanied Tobiah into Media disguised as a man named Azariah. Raphael helped him through his difficulties and taught him how to safely enter marriage with Sarah.

Tobiah said that Raphael caused him to have his wife and that he gave joy to Sarah's parents for driving out the evil spirit in her. He also gave Raphael credit for his father's seeing the light of heaven and for receiving all good things through his intercession.

Raphael, Michael and Gabriel are the only Archangels mentioned by name in the bible. Raphael's name means "God heals." This identity came about because of the biblical story which claims that he "healed" the earth when it was defiled by the sins of the fallen angels in the apocryphal book of Enoch. Raphael is also identified as the angel who moved the waters of the healing sheep pool. He is also the patron of the blind, of happy meetings, of nurses, of physicians and of travelers.

His feast day is celebrated on September 29th.

More Devotional Prayers