Embrace Me

As if shaken from my sleep

I woke with a start.

The darkness around me was all I could see.

The deafening silence called out my name,
As if it was playing with me.

My heart started pounding slowly at first,
Then faster and faster it ran.

Instinctively I felt all around me
Until the beads found their way to my hand.

Tightly I clutched on to them at first,
Like a child clings hold of her mother.


Then the comforting presence embraced me
Leaving no room for the fear of another.

Blessed Alan de la Roche, who restored the devotion of the Rosary, use to be horribly persecuted by devils and sometimes deep sadness and despair would fall upon him. But our Lady always comforted him by her presence, which banished the clouds of darkness from his soul. 1

1 St. Louis de Montfort’s True Devotion Consecration to Mary, by Fr. Helmuts Libietis


Oh Holy Mother, comfort us by your presence as we meditate on the mysteries of the most Holy Rosary, the life, death and resurrection of your son, Jesus.

The Power of Prayer

"Dear children! I call you to prayer. By means of prayer, little children, you obtain joy and peace. Through prayer you are richer in the mercy of God. Therefore, little children, let prayer be the life of each one of you. Especially I call you to pray so that all those who are far away from God may be converted. Then our hearts shall be richer because God will rule in the hearts of all men. Therefore, little children, pray, pray, pray! Let prayers begin to rule in the whole world. Thank you for having responded to my call." Our Lady of Medjugore August 25, 1989

Jesus speaks to us about the power of prayer in Matthews’s gospel:

When he was going back to the city in the morning, he was hungry.
Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went over to it, but found nothing on it except leaves. And he said to it, "May no fruit ever come from you again." And immediately the fig tree withered.

When the disciples saw this, they were amazed and said, "How was it that the fig tree withered immediately?"

Jesus said to them in reply, "Amen, I say to you, if you have faith and do not waver, not only will you do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, 'Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' it will be done.
Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive."

Reflection:

Prayer is by far the most common subject of Our Lady’s messages in Medjugore, as well as a primary teaching of Christ in the gospels. It is the root of joy and peace, as Mary reminds us today, and its power in unbounded, as Jesus teaches his disciples in the gospel. 1


May we find joy and peace through prayer as we begin a new day, a true gift from our Lord above.


1 Medjugorje Day by Day, Richard J. Beyer

Sheep Without a Shepherd

When Jesus saw the vast crowd, his heart was move with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them. Mark 6:34-35


Then, taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; he also divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied. Mark 6:41-42

In today’s reading Jesus refers to the crowd as sheep without a shepherd and then performs the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves to feed those gathered on the hill side that had come to hear his word and have their souls nourished.

This miracle of Jesus is seen in all four gospels and reminds us of our need for holy priests that preach the word of God and consecrate the blessed sacrament of the holy Eucharist. Today  I ask all to pray for the needs and protection of our priests, bishops, auxiliary bishops and our blessed Pope Benedict XVI; and may we always remember to thank and support them in their effort to bring Christ to us.

A Prayer for Priests

Lord Jesus, you have chosen your priests from among us and sent them out to proclaim your word and to act in your name. For so great a gift to your Church, we give you praise and thanksgiving. We ask you to fill them with the fire of your love, that their ministry may reveal your presence in the Church. Since they are earthen vessels, we pray that your power shine out through their weakness. In their afflictions let them never be crushed; in their doubts never despair; in temptation never be destroyed; in persecution never abandoned. Inspire them through prayer to live each day the mystery of your dying and rising. In times of weakness send them your Spirit, and help them to praise your heavenly Father and pray for poor sinners. By the same Holy Spirit put your words on their lips and your love in their hearts, to bring good news to the poor and healing to the brokenhearted. And may the gift of Mary your mother, to the disciple whom you loved, be your gift to every priest. Grant that she who formed you in her human image, may form them in your divine image, by the power of your Spirit, to the glory of God the Father. Amen. 1



 1 intercessionforpriests.org/

Calling on Angels

Adoration of the Shepherds, c.1638

It was a rough afternoon at the clinic. Within the short shift that I worked, two different young women came in for pregnancy testing and ultra sounds.

The first young woman, married with a 4 month old, had taken a pregnancy test at home. Her results had been positive, but she wanted to double check and talk with a nurse. After taking another urine test, the results concurred, she was definitely pregnant. She left the clinic surprised, but happy, and went home to share her news with her husband and family members.


The second young woman was unmarried .She had only been with her boyfriend for 3 months and they had just broke up. She was there with one thought in mind, and it wasn’t to parent. She took a pregnancy test, and while we waited for the nurse to come in, we began to talk.


Being a pro-life clinic, we talked to her about her options for parenting and adoption, but it was easy to see her mind was closed to this. As the client advocate I was working with spoke to her further, I began to pray, begging our Blessed Mother to intercede on this baby’s behalf. Surprisingly, I began to tell her about a crisis pregnancy that I had had when I was only 16, a story I have told few people. I told her that even though it was a very difficult time for me at the beginning; it turned out to be such a wonderful blessing because that beautiful son of mine is now a father of two himself, and they are all  joys of my heart. I also told her about my son in law, a big loveable guy, who had recently joined our family. He had been adopted and now, not only did my daughter get to experience the joy and love that his life offers, but  my entire family and I get to share the joy of his life too!


The staff nurse came in and greeted the young woman warmly, and she began to talk to her about her pregnancy, her family, and her thoughts on keeping her baby. After the young girl’s responses, the nurse answered all her questions in detail. Things did not look promising; but, she did agree to an ultra sound.


As she reclined on the table, the nurse began the procedure. The image on the screen was very clear and the precious little heart was beating away. The nurse asked her if she would like to take a look and with wide eyed curiosity she said,"Yes". As she looked at her child’s image on the screen she smiled and when she left, she took the picture with her, along with some prenatal vitamins.


I don’t know how this will turn out, but I'm calling on angels to pray for them both. Pray hard, please.

Beloved Soldier

Young and full of life’s promise, you chose to serve the country you loved.

You left all that was familiar and comfortable to you behind,
And with a heart full of courage you looked ahead; your mission was to serve.
You wanted to give back to those other brave heroes that had given to you;
It was your way to say thank you.
Who would have thought that here, on your own soil, amongst the people you trusted the most,
You would meet such a horrific fate.

The tragedy that transpired yesterday at Fort Hood, Texas, leaving 13 dead and 30 others injured,
has left their families shattered and our country both shocked and dismayed.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.


Promote the welfare of the city to which I have exiled you; pray for it to the Lord, for upon its welfare depends your own. (Jer 29,7)