Quebec's Brother Andre Canonized as Saint

Saint Andre Bessette, of Canada
(GREGORIO BORGIA / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Quebec's Brother Andre canonized as Canada's 1st saint of the 21st century - Winnipeg Free Press

The photograph and following excerpt is from Winnipeg Free Press:

By Nelson Wyatt and Melanie Marquis - The Canadian Press

MONTREAL - Brother Andre, the humble Quebec cleric who was credited with miracle healings before his death in 1937, became Canada's first saint of the 21st century Sunday in a moving ceremony at the Vatican.

People applauded and cheered in Montreal at the ornate St. Joseph's Oratory — which was founded by Brother Andre — when Pope Benedict bestowed the honour on him.

The Pope noted that Saint Andre was poorly educated but nevertheless understood what was essential to his faith.

"Doorman at the Notre Dame College in Montreal, he showed boundless charity and did everything possible to soothe the despair of those who confided in him," Benedict said.

Thousands packed St. Peter's Square for the event, including many Canadians who made the trip to Rome for the canonization. An official Canadian delegation was led by Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon and included Montreal Mayor Gerald Tremblay.

Francoise Bessette, whose grandfather was Brother Andre's first cousin, was among the thousands of Canadians in St. Peter's Square.

"I didn't think this would happen while I was alive," said Bessette, whose brother was named after the saint. "So to be here today is very special for me."

Alain Pilote, a 49-year-old pilgrim from Rougemont, near Montreal, who came for the mass, said, "I think all the people from Quebec are happy now."

He was declared "venerable" by Pope Paul VI in 1978, and beatified — declared "blessed" — by Pope John Paul II in 1982.

Benedict announced his canonization in February after recognizing a second miracle attributed to Brother Andre.

Read More: Quebec's Brother Andre Canonized as Saint

Mary MacKillop Officially Declared a Saint



Mary MacKillop - Australia's First Saint - AFP Photo


Mary MacKillop officially declared a saint - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

The photograph and following excerpt is from the Australian Boadcasting Corporation:

Mary MacKillop has officially been declared Australia's first Catholic saint - Saint Mary MacKillop of the Cross.

Pope Benedict XVI addressed over 50,000 pilgrims who gathered at the Vatican in Rome, of which about 9,000 were from Australia.

St Peter's Square was awash with Australian flags and gold balloons bearing Mary MacKillop's image, as pilgrims packed in to hear the pope's vital words.

Pope Benedict spoke about the achievements of Mary MacKillop.

"She attended to the needs of each young person entrusted to her without regard for station or wills, providing both intellectual and spiritual formation," he said.

The pope also canonised Canada's Brother Andre and four other saints from Italy, Poland and Spain and declared that "throughout the Church they be honoured devoutly among all the saints."

Born in 1842 in Fitzroy, Melbourne, after her mother and father migrated to Australia from Scotland, Mary MacKillop dedicated her early life to educating poor children in regional Penola, South Australia, and at the age of 25 founded the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart.

She was the first Australian nun to set up an order and the first to go outside the cities and administer to the poor.

In the early 1990s the Vatican accepted she was responsible for miraculously curing a woman who had leukaemia in 1961 and in 2009 Pope Benedict XVI confirmed her second miracle, which involved the healing of a woman with inoperable lung cancer during the mid-1990s.

Read More: Mary MacKillop Officially Declared a Saint

Testimony on how Padre Pio Cured Woman's Cancer



Statue of Padre Pio - Photograph by Loci B. Lenar


Minister's mother tells how Padre Pio cured her cancer - CI News

The following story is from Catholic Ireland News:

By Sean Ryan

The mother of Minister for Tourism and Sport, Mary Hanafin has told how she believes she would have died in her twenties if she hadn't been cured of cancer by Padre Pio.

Thurles native Mary Hanafin, who has one of Padre Pio's mittens in her possession, has revealed how she believes she 'is a walking miracle' after her illness disappeared following a visit to the Saint in Italy in 1963.

And she told a new BBC documentary, The Miraculous Mitten, that Padre Pio is the key to helping Ireland out of the recession. She said, “He has to offer hope and peace of mind to a modern Ireland that has gone astray in every way. We are losing what he had; simplicity, prayerful life and helping people.”

Mary Hanafin was just four years old when doctors gave her mother the grim prognosis of cancer. She said, “I had been diagnosed with cancer and the surgeon said I had to have an operation in September and I had to have a hysterectomy.”

“I decided if they couldn't do anything for me I would go to see Padre Pio and he would cure me. I was very ill when I got to San Giovanni.”

“I had the privilege of going to the mass he celebrated at 5 o'clock. I thought in my mind would you put your hand on my head and bless me and so he did.” She added, “I was very sick going home two days later. They gave me the last rites and said there was no hope. I came to the following day and there was no cancer. It had to be Padre Pio there was no other way.”

The Capuchin monk Padre Pio became known as the living saint until his death on September 3 1968.

He was beatified in 1999 and canonised in 2002.

Mary, Our Model in Prayer

Mother Mary and Infant Jesus
Photograph by Loci B. Lenar

Commentary By Loci B. Lenar

The photograph is a close-up of Mary and Infant Jesus. A soft glow in the photograph helps to highlight the face of Mary and Infant Jesus. The beautiful wood icon is part of a display of votive candles which are lit for prayers and petitions. The display is on the left side of the church as you enter into the Monastery of Our Lady of the Rosary. The Catholic church is located on 543 Springfield Avenue, Summit, NJ, USA.


Prayers - Catholic Online

Mary, Our Model in Prayer

All praise and glory are Yours, almighty Father:

You have given us Your Son Jesus to save us from sin.
We praise You for choosing Mary to be His mother,
for teaching her to believe Your message,
for helping her to accept Your holy will.

Strengthen us by Your Spirit to be like Mary:
to ponder Your word in our hearts,
to obey Your will,
to love Your Son,
to sing Your praises every day.

Father,
we praise You through Jesus Christ Your Son
in the love of Your Spirit,
for ever and ever.

Amen.


Mary's Consent

You have heard it said, O Virgin, that you will conceive and bear a son; you have heard that it will not be by man but by the Holy Spirit. The angel awaits an answer; it is time for him to return to God who sent him. We too are waiting, O Lady, for your word of compassion; the sentence of condemnation weights heavily upon us.

The price of salvation is offered to you. We shall be set free at once if you consent. In the eternal Word of God we all came to be, and behold, we die. In your brief response we are to be remade in order to be recalled to life . . . .

Answer quickly, O Virgin. Reply in haste to the angel, or rather through the angel to the Lord. Answer with a word, receive the Word of God. Speak your own word, conceive the divine Word. Breathe a passing word, embrace the eternal Word.

Why do you delay, why are you afraid? Believe, give praise and receive. Let humility be bold, let modesty be confident. This is no time for virginal simplicity to forget prudence. In this matter alone, O prudent Virgin, do not fear to be presumptuous. Though modest silence is pleasing, dutiful speech is now more necessary. Open your heart to faith, O blessed Virgin, your lips to praise, your womb to the Creator. See, the desired of all nations is at your door, knocking to enter. If he should pass by because of your delay, in sorrow you would begin to seek him afresh, the One whom your soul loves. Arise, hasten, open. Arise in faith, hasten in devotion, open in praise and thanksgiving. "Behold the handmaid of the Lord," she says, "be it done to me according to your word."

From a homily in Praise of the Virgin Mother by Saint Bernard, Abbot

For more daily prayers, please visit the following link: Devotional Prayers

Has God's Timing Arrived for Church Wide Healing and Reconciliation?

Our Lady of Fatima - Blue Army Shrine, Washington, NJ
Photograph by Loci B. Lenar

Commentary by Loci B. Lenar

On October 10, 2010, Orthodox Archbishop Hilarion Alfeyev of Volokolamsk is quoted as saying that "A Christian spring is just about to arrive. The 21st century will see the divisions between Christians healed and a rebirth of the faith, gift of God, just as it was preached by the Apostles and preserved by the Fathers."

(Read the complete news story on Catholic Online: Orthodox Archbishop Hilarion Predicts Christian Springtime, Healing of Divisions)

In reference to Orthodox Archbishop Hilarion Alfeyev's statement, I believe God's timing has arrived to move forward with a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit for an upsurge of church wide evangelization. This will not be limited to Catholics and the Orthodox Church, but all Christian denominations as well. My testimony regarding the matter is posted on Christian-Miracles.com.

In the 1990's, I had a spiritual locution which I shared with my spiritual director, Father Richard Tartaglia of St. Mary's Church, (Denville, NJ) regarding God's plan to move forward in our millennium by building a bridge of peace and unity between people and cultures, including reconciliation amongst religious denominations.

I believe the events are beginning to unfold, while Our Lady of Fatima's Message regarding an era of peace will come to fruition.

A sign from heaven with my testimony on the matter can be read by visiting the following link: Tribute to King: Signs from God's Heavenly Kingdom

Saint Michael the Archangel by Stephen B. Whatley

St. Michael the Archangel
By Artist Stephen B. Whatley

St. Michael the Archangel - Painted in 2010 by Artist Stephen B Whatley - Flickr Photo Sharing!

Commentary by Loci B. Lenar

The bright colors in the new painting by Stephen B. Whatley represent the mighty power of God and His authority working through Archangel Michael. The novena to St. Michael is a reminder of God's faithfulness in helping people during times of adversity.

The painting of Archangel Michael and the following information is from Stephen's website:

Saint Michael the Archangel - a new tribute painted by Stephen B Whatley on St Michael's Feast Day (September 29) and completed on the Feast Day of St Francis of Assisi. (October 4).

Saint Michael is seen as the Warrior Angel, fighting off Satan in heaven and protecting God's chosen people on earth from evil and enemies. St Michael occupies a special place in the church, appointed its protector; and his Intercession is encouraged to defeat the evil in the world - and for the protection from danger for anyone in their every day life.

"...as ever I prayed deeply for the strength and insight to express the power of St Michael; and while I looked at a variety of historic interpretations, this painting had its beginnings in my memory of the flickering flame that rose above a candle embossed with the image of St Michael, the evening before as my nervous and creative energy was building in praparation and determination to create this new tribute. Brushstrokes of warm yellows were felt from my heart; from where the defiant but graceful face of St Michael the Archangel would emerge.

I truly felt guided to paint a humble cross within his hand as his 'shield' - which maybe symbolises the power of faith, however big or small."

Singular prayers can be asked of St Michael; or 9 day prayers (Novenas) as below.


Novena Prayer to St Michael

Saint Michael the Archangel, loyal champion of God and His people, I turn to you with confidence and seek your powerful intercession. For the love of God, Who made you so glorious in grace and power, and for the love of the Mother of Jesus, the Queen of the Angels, be pleased to hear my prayer. You know the value of my soul in the eyes of God. May no stain of evil ever disfigure its beauty. Help me to conquer the evil spirit who tempts me. I desire to imitate your loyalty to God and Holy Mother Church and your great love for God and people. And since you are God's messenger for the care of His people, I entrust to you this special request: (Mention your request).

Saint Michael, since you are, by the Will of the Creator, the powerful intercessor of Christians, I have great confidence in your prayers. I earnestly trust that if it is God's holy will my petition will be greated.

Pray for me, Saint Michael, and also for those I love. Protect us in all dangers of body and soul. Help us in our daily needs. Through your powerful intercession, may we live a holy life, die a happy death, and reach heaven where we may praise and love God with you forever.

Amen.

Saint Michael the Archangel.
Oil on canvas, 36 x 24in/ 89 x 61cm
Copyright 2010 Stephen B. Whatley

For more about the artist, please visit the following link: Stephen B. Whatley