Saturday, February 07, 2009

God's Divine Mercy aboard Flight 1549

TheDivineMercy.org has an inspirational story regarding Fred Berretta, a passenger who was on flight 1549. In January, the aircraft made what can be described as a miraculous landing in the Hudson River. If you believe that God performs miracles today, then I encourage you to read the article by Felix Carroll.

Is it a result of providence that Fred Berretta recited a day earlier the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy before boarding Flight 1549 on the very next day? Mr. Berretta's story is recounted with events that influenced him to pray the chaplet. Please visit the following link to read the entire story, 'God Be Merciful to Us.' Fred Berretta's testimony is a reminder of how miracles are still being performed today by Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

In a revelation that occurred in the 1930s, Our Lord and Savior Jesus gave St. Maria Faustina Kowalska a prayer to be recited for God's mercy and requested that it be released to the whole world. The prayer became known as the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy and now is recited by many throughout the Catholic church.

During a revelation, Jesus said to St. Faustina, "I desire to grant unimaginable graces to those souls who trust in My mercy. Through the Chaplet you will obtain everything, if what you ask for is compatible with My will." (Diary of St. Faustina 687 and 1731)

One cannot underestimate the power of prayer, especially in time of difficulty.




Thursday, January 29, 2009

Healing Mass at World Apostolate of Fatima, USA

Our Lady of Fatima - World Apostolate of Fatima, USA - Blue Army Shrine

The National Blue Army Shrine of the Immaculate Heart of Mary is celebrating a Healing Mass on February 1, and on Sunday, March 8, 2009 in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel at 3:00 PM. The Healing Mass will be celebrated with Father Paul and include the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. The Catholic shrine is located in scenic Warren County on 674 Mountain View Road, Washington, New Jersey.

Matthew 4:23-24 reminds us of the healing power of Jesus. The scripture states that "He went around all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the Kingdom, and curing every disease and illness among the people. His fame spread to all of Syria, and they brought to him all who were sick with various diseases and racked with pain, those who were possessed ... and paralytics, and he cured them."

In time of sickness, it’s prudent to visit a physician for medical treatment. However, scripture tells us in James 5, Verse 14-15 that during times of illness, we should focus on the Word of God and also seek help from our minister or priest by "summoning the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven."

© 2009 Loci B. Lenar

Monday, January 19, 2009

Miracle on the Hudson - US Airways Flight 1549

Survivors seek meaning, new purpose after 'miracle'

Charlotteobserver.com - David Sanderson (center) and Don Norton (right), who were passengers on US Airways Flight 1549, pray with Pastor Rob Singleton (left) on stage at Southbrook Community Church in Weddington during the Sunday morning service. (Photo and caption by Robert Lasher)

According to the article posted on CharlotteObserver.com, many of the passengers prayed before the aircraft 'landed' in the Hudson and believe a miracle was responsible for everyone surviving. Passenger, Lori Lightner, who turned 36 on Sunday, said it was a miracle.

In my opinion, the Lord saved the passengers and crew of Flight 1549 by answering their prayers. Clearly the pilot’s actions were heroic and his experience cannot be disputed for making a brave decision to land the jet into the Hudson River. However, in scripture, we read about God’s divine hand in changing circumstances into our favor. Isaiah 65:24 states, “Before they call, I will answer, while they are yet speaking, I will hearken to them.”

Friday, January 02, 2009

Caught By an Angel | Joan Wester Anderson

Caught By an Angel - Joan Wester Anderson

Krisellen Lang had lost her first three babies at early stages in her pregnancies. So when she found herself expecting yet again, it was hard to work up any enthusiasm. Why should she begin to love this child when it might never live long enough to be born? But Krisellen’s pregnancy was a result of in vitro fertilization, with four embryos transferred—and the hope that one would implant. When she went to her obstetrician for her first checkup and ultra-sound, she discovered that all four embryos had implanted! “It was as if God was giving me all my lost children back,” she says. The pregnancy proceeded normally, and her quadruplets, two boys and two girls, were born robust and healthy.

It was a hectic time, and eventually Krisellen’s marriage faltered. “Our divorce was mutual and amicable, and he is, and always has been, a wonderful father,” Krisellen says. But she was understandably fearful. How would she raise four children alone? She prayed as she never had before. God had heard her once, she knew, and brought her joy after suffering. Would He do so again?

She found a part-time job at a construction company, and her extended family pitched in to help care for the quads. It seemed as if she might just make it—until one morning when she stopped at a job site to measure the rooms in a house. Of course her four three-year-olds were with her, so she brought them into the house to “help.”

One of the rooms had a large hole in the center of the floor. Krisellen eyed it nervously. Giving daughter Addison one end of the tape measure, Krisellen directed the other three to stand up against the wall. They obeyed right away, and Krisellen started for the far corner. But when she looked back, Addison was dancing on her tippy toes, a recently-acquired skill. “Addison, stop, you’re going to trip…” Krisellen said, and then screamed. Addison had stumbled and was falling backwards through the hole!

Krisellen ran to the hole and looked down. Her daughter had fallen eight feet, and was lying face down on the concrete basement floor. Addison was completely still. The other children burst into tears. “Hurry!” Krisellen told them. “We have to get down there!” They rushed out of the house and clattered down the basement stairs. When they reached Addison, she still seemed lifeless. But as Krisellen gently lifted her head, the little girl began to vomit. “Her eyes were staring off to the side, and I couldn’t bear to look at them,” Krisellen recalls. “So I closed them and held her head so she wouldn’t choke.”

Krisellen called for the paramedics on her cellphone, and sent the other children outside to wait for them. When they arrived, they fitted Addison with a cervical collar and sped away, as Krisellen herded the children into her car to follow. Later, the paramedics told her that her daughter was completely unresponsive all the way to the hospital.

In the emergency room, Addison was examined, then whisked off for tests. “Are you sure she landed on her face?” the emergency room physician asked, puzzled. “Although that’s lucky—since she might be spared brain damage—she doesn’t seem to have any facial injuries.”

Krisellen would never forget the sight of her unconscious daughter, face down. And yet Addison had fallen backwards into the hole…

Something else was odd too. When the radiologist came out to give Krisellen the results of Addison’s scans and x-rays, he was baffled. “There are no signs of any injuries,” he told her, “not even a concussion. She may have some bruising later, and you can give her Tylenol for that. Otherwise, she’s fine. You can take her home now.”

Home? Krisellen was stunned. How could her daughter have sustained such a terrible fall, with no injuries? But here she was, walking down the hall with a nurse, smiling and chattering, looking completely…herself. How could this be?

It wasn’t until that evening that Krisellen learned the answer. She and the quads were saying their night prayers together, and they all thanked God for keeping Addison safe. Krisellen started to get up off her knees.

“Mommy,” Addison looked up. “Aren’t we going to thank the angel too?” “The angel?” Krisellen asked.“Uh huh. She was with me in the hole,” Addison said matter-of-factly. Krisellen started to cry.“Don’t cry, Mommy,” Addison told her. “The angel was very happy. She was all sparkly!”

Addison never did develop any bruises, but she did make sure that everyone she loved heard about her beautiful angel. And when she eventually moved into another bedroom, Addison asked for angel wallpaper. (Her sister, Blythe, wanted Barbie.)

Today Krisellen still recalls the event with awe. “I never should have exposed the children to such danger,” she says. “But I think everything happens for a reason. Perhaps God wanted me to know that I would never raise the children alone, that He would send all the help I needed.” And she believes.

© 2002 Joan Wester Anderson

See more of Joan’s stories at http://joanwanderson.com

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Throughout the bible we read about angelic visitations. Psalm 91:11-12 states, "For God commands the angels to guard you in all your ways. With their hands they shall support you, lest you strike your foot against a stone."

Joan Wester Anderson is gifted and blessed for her wonderful work in writing inspiring stories of faith. She has published over thousand inspirational articles and short stories in various periodicals, including Womans Day, Modern Bride, Virtue, Reader's Digest, and the New York Times Syndicate.

She has published 15 books including, WHERE ANGELS WALK, TRUE STORIES OF HEAVENLY VISITORS.

Anderson has also appeared on Good Morning America, Oprah, 20/20, NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw, and Mother Angelica Live, and was featured in documentaries such as “Angels–Beyond the Light” (NBC), “Angel Stories” and “Stories of Miracles” (The Learning Channel), and many videos. She was a story consultant for the television series, IT’S A MIRACLE, lectures in cities across the country, and has been interviewed on hundreds of radio talk shows.

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Photo Captures Image of an 'Angel' in Hospital Hallway


CharlotteObserver.com reported a story on December 23, 2008 regarding fourteen year old Chelsea Banton of recovering miraculously from recurrent bouts of pneumonia. According to the news report, she was on a respirator for nearly eight weeks. Several attempts were made to wean her off the respirator without any success. However, some are saying that reports of an Angel supposedly seen on the surveillance camera at the hospital is responsible for her miraculous recovery. Fox News (Fox and Friends) reported the story with an inspirational interview with Dr. Ophelia Garmon-Brown. The story can be viewed at the following link: Caught on Camera


Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Prayerful Healing for Children

Jesus said, "Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them;
for the kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these."
Matthew 19:14


Prayerful Healing for Children

Heavenly father
from the moment of creation you've
predestined the salvation of your people
through the resurrection of your
divine Son Jesus
in order for all to believe.

Through his miraculous words,
Lazarus has risen,
eyesight is restored,
leprosy healed,
demons flee;
transformed drinking water into wine,
wonders for all to witness by God's design.

Merciful Father
We humbly petition thee to heal and save our children from illness
beseeching for the grace of deliverence on behalf of all who suffer
from infirmities of the mind, body, and soul.

Almighty God
We thank thee for hearing our pleas
and restoring our children to health
through tender mercy and healing grace
from your divine Son Jesus
Amen

© Loci B. Lenar

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Prayerful Healing is written for anyone in need of encouraging words, especially families with children. I was inspired to write the prayer as a result of what I believe is a miraculous healing through Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ of a heart ailment and from years of suffering painful headaches. Through the blessings and grace of God, I was healed of a heart arrhythmia known as Atrial Fibrillation. The medical condition is treated with Lanoxin, a cardiac medicine. However, I've not used the medication for over ten years. I was treated by Dr. Gilbert Mandel of Denville, NJ, for the disorder. Additionally, I was healed from years of suffering painful headaches after countless visits to physicians with treatments that went to no avail.

Through power of prayer and Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, God's healing grace cured me. The healing sacrament is administered through the church. I was anointed with the healing sacrament by Father Richard Tartaglia of Saint Mary's Church, Denville, NJ.

In James 5, Verse 14-15 the following is noted: "Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven."

I give praise, glory, and thanks to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit for all the spiritual gifts and blessings.

(The beautiful stained glass window of Jesus with children sitting on his lap was photographed in Saint Mary's Church. The window is small but very captivating when seen. The church is located on the corner of Route 46 and Myers Avenue, Denville, NJ).

© 2008 Loci B. Lenar