Thursday, March 11, 2010

Hearts Aflame: Reaching for Eternity with God's Love



 
By Loci B. Lenar

Reaching for Eternity with God's Love

Hearts Aflame is a Catholic youth magazine published during the 1990's by the World Apostolate of Fatima, USA. The apostolate is located in Warren County on Mountain View Road, Washington, New Jersey. The focus of the magazine included the message of Our Lady of Fatima as well as Christian and Catholic themes related to teenagers.

In the early 1990's while visiting the National Blue Army Shrine, which is located on the grounds of the World Apostolate of Fatima, I had the opportunity to meet Sr. Mary Celeste, A.M.I., editor of the publication. In our conversations regarding Christianity and the Catholic faith, she became aware of my experience in promoting art and agreed to have my article regarding artist Benny Andersson published in Hearts Aflame. The article focuses on Andersson's source of inspiration in creating contemporary Chistian paintings. The magazine cover, The Light of Eternity is painted by artist Benny Andersson.

Benny's artwork is timeless and is relevant today as it was in the 1990's. 

The following excerpt is from my article published in the Summer 1992 issue of Hearts Aflame:

Aspiration is a repeated theme in Benny Andersson's paintings.  In The Holy Family, which presents the modern Christian family suspended in the center of the universe protected by God's Guardian Angels, God's light shedding its love, a constant in the vastness of the universe.

The Holy Family by Benny Andersson
  
As he begins each work, Benny says, "God is very much in my mind, and somewhere just beyond is the idea of glorifying the Creator." As he paints, he says, "There are moments when an enlightenment comes, when the ideas are presented to me begin to take shape."

These are not in any way predictable, and sometimes, he adds, "I can leave a painting unfinished because the idea is incomplete, or I have not the present perspective to see it through to fulfillment. In this kind of instance, I put aside the work and go on to another."

"And the really surprising thing is that at a later time, when I have thought or believed my way to the conclusion, I will return to the unfinished painting and know exactly what it needs."

"I do know that with the moments of enlightenment my perspective brings, there is a deep, uplifting feeling that is just about impossible to put into words. Perhaps it is the Holy Spirit energizing me."

He says, "The act of painting gives me a feeling of wonder and love. This is God's greatest gift to me, and I see my career as an artist as a unique opportunity to share these Christian ideas with others."

Benny believes that is true not only of himself, but of other artists whose inspiration comes from religious belief. His paintings he sees as being "like visual prayers. Paint and brushes are sacred tools."

"They serve me in order that I might share the dreams that pour into my soul. There must be an eternal source of beauty that dwells within the sphere of God, waiting to be unveiled."

"I feel artists have a sacred quest to reach toward the source of life with their art."

Copyright 1992 and 2010 Loci B. Lenar
Christian-Miracles.com

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Wednesday, March 10, 2010

St Ann Novena

Photograph by Loci B. Lenar



O glorious St. Ann, you are filled with compassion for those who invoke you and with love for those who suffer! Heavily burdened with the weight of my troubles, I cast myself at your feet and humbly beg of you to take the present intention which I recommend to you in your special care.

Please recommend it to your daughter, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and place it before the throne of Jesus, so that He may bring it to a happy issue. Continue to intercede for me until my request is granted. But, above all, obtain for me the grace one day to see my God face to face, and with you and Mary and all the saints to praise and bless Him for all eternity. Amen.

Our Father . . .

Hail Mary . . .

O Jesus, Holy Mary, St. Ann, help me now and at the hour of my death.

Good St. Ann, intercede for me.

FIRST DAY

Dear St. Ann, though I am but a prodigal child, I appeal to you and place myself under your great motherly care. Please listen to my prayers and grant my requests. See my contrite heart, and show me your unfailing goodness.

Deign to be my advocate and recommend me to God’s infinite mercy. Obtain for me forgiveness of my sins and the strength to begin a new life that will last forever.

Blessed St. Ann, I also beg of you the grace to love, to serve, and to honor your daughter, the most holy Virgin Mary. Please recommend me to her and pray to her for me. She refuses none your requests but welcomes with loving kindness all those for whom you intercede.

Good Jesus, be merciful to the faithful servants of Your grandmother St. Ann.

SECOND DAY

From the depths of my heart, good St. Ann, I offer you my homage this day and ask you to shelter me under the mantle of your motherly care. You know, good mother, how much I love you, how gladly I serve you, how happy I am to praise you, how eager I am to call on you in time of distress.

Good St. Ann, be pleased to extend your helping hand in all my wants. Listen to my prayers, for I place my trust in your gracious bounty. Make all my thoughts and desires worthy and righteous.

Jesus, I thank You for all the graces which in Your infinite goodness You have lavished upon St. Ann; for having chosen her, among all women, to be Your grandmother on earth and exalted her in heaven with such great and miraculous powers. In the name of her merits, I humbly recommend myself to Your infinite mercy.

THIRD DAY

Hail, good St. Ann, who first responded to the needs of Mary, Mother of our Savior and Queen of Angels. Hail to you and to your husband St. Joachim, who watched over her infancy, presented her to the Lord in the temple and, according to your promise, consecrated her to the service of God.

Hail St. Ann, good mother! I rejoice in the marvels you continually perform, because they encourage all to seek your intercession.

Good St. Ann, by the great power that God has given you, show yourself my mother, my consoler, my advocate. Reconcile me to the God I have so deeply offended. Console me in my trials; strengthen me in my struggles. Deliver me from danger in my time of need. Help me at the hour of death and open to me the gates of paradise.

FOURTH DAY

Good St. Ann, you offered your pure and holy daughter Mary in the temple with faith, piety and love. By the happiness which then filled your heart, I beg you to present me to your Grandson Jesus. Offered by you, I will be agreeable in His sight.

Kind St. Ann, take me forever under your protection. Deliver me from the temptations which continually assail me. Above all, attend me in my last hour. As I lie on my deathbed, be present with your daughter to console and strengthen me.

Holy Mary and good St. Ann, show yourselves to be mothers indeed by obtaining for me the grace of a good death. When my soul goes forth, lead it to God’s tribunal so that, by your powerful help and intercession, it may obtain a favorable judgment.

FIFTH DAY

Hail, all-powerful Lady. By God’s special favor, grant consolation to those who invoke you. Procure for them the eternal riches of heaven, and like a good mother, success in their temporal affairs as well.

Good St. Ann, obtain my deliverance from the punishment which my sins deserve. Obtain for me success in my temporal affairs; especially see to the salvation of my soul.

St. Ann, by your influence with Mary’s son Jesus, you have won the gift of conversion for many sinners. Will you then abandon me, who have chosen you as my mother? No, St. Ann. Your name alone, which signifies grace, assures me of the help of your prayers, and these prayers will surely procure pardon and mercy from Jesus. You will pray for me now and at the hour of my death.

SIX DAY

Good St. Ann, do not allow my soul, a masterpiece of God’s creative power, to be lost forever. Free my heart of pride, vanity, self-love. May I know myself as I really am and learn meekness and simplicity of heart.

God’s great love for me leaves me cold and unresponsive. I must reflect this love through works of mercy and charity toward my neighbor.

In your boundless charity, good St. Ann, help me to merit the glorious crown which is given to those who have fought the good fight against the world, the devil and the flesh. Assist me to preserve purity of heart and body. With Mary and her divine Son, protect me always.

SEVENTH DAY

Once again, Good St. Ann, I choose you for my advocate before the throne of God. By the power and grace that God has placed in you, extend to me your helping hand. Renew my mind and my heart.

Dear St. Ann, I have unbounded confidence in your prayers. To your blessed hands I entrust my soul, my body and all my hopes for this world and the next. Direct my actions according to your goodness and wisdom. I place myself under your motherly care.

Receive me, good mother. Cover me with the mantle of your love. Look kindly on me. By your powerful intercession, may I obtain from God grace and mercy. Obtain for me remission for sin and release from the punishment my offenses have deserved. Pray that I may receive grace to lead a devout life on earth and that I may obtain the everlasting reward of heaven.

EIGHTH DAY

Hail, St. Ann! I rejoice at your exalted glory. You gave birth to Mary, whose divine Son brought salvation to our lost world by conquering death and restoring life and hope to sinners. Pray to Him who, for love of us, clothed Himself with human flesh in the chaste womb of your daughter.

Glorious St. Ann, with your blessed daughter, deliver me from everything that is displeasing in the sight of God. Pray to your gentle and powerful Grandson that He may cleanse my soul in His precious blood, that He may send His Holy Spirit to enlighten and direct me in all that I do, always obedient to His holy inspirations.

Good mother, keep a watchful eye on me. Help me bear all my crosses. Give me the fullness of your bounty and sustain me with courage.

NINTH DAY

Good St. Ann, I have reached the end of this novena in your honor. I have asked and ask again. Good mother, let not your kind ear grow weary of my prayers, though I repeat them so often.

Bounteous Lady, implore for me from divine Providence all the help I need through life. May your generous hand bestow on me the material means to satisfy my own needs and to alleviate the plight of the poor.

Good St. Ann, fortify me by the sacraments of the Church at the hour of my death. Admit me into the company of the blessed in the kingdom of heaven, where I may praise and thank the adorable Trinity, your grandson Christ Jesus, your glorious daughter Mary, and yourself, dear St. Ann, through endless ages.

The prayer can be found on the websites of 


***

The stained glass window detail of St. Ann can be seen inside of
the Church of St. Michael in Netcong, NJ, USA.

Photograph Copyright 2010 Loci B. Lenar

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