The Great Event of Advent - from HLI

Spirit & Life®

"The words I spoke to you are spirit and life." (Jn 6:63)

Human Life International e-Newsletter

Volume 03, Number 43

Friday, November 21, 2008

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The Great Event of Advent
One of the less appealing characteristics of American culture is that it doesn't seriously prepare for many things. We are an instantaneous culture. We don't like to wait for things: we have fast food, fast delivery, fast cash and on-demand banking. We have Fed Ex "when it absolutely has to be delivered overnight" and instant just-about-everything. Patience is not a virtue in this culture because we can have it all and have it now - or at least we think so.

But God isn't that way.

He has a time for everything under the sun, and no one rushes Him to meet deadlines. His Plan has been stored up for an eternity and presses on to completion with divine serenity. All things operate in their proper order and arrive at their completion in His time. Most importantly, God prepared this Plan of salvation with divine foresight. The Archangel Gabriel told Zechariah with utter certitude, "All I have said will come true in due course." But the question is always the type of reception God's Plan will find in our world. As the Virgin Mary and Joseph prepared a manger with swaddling clothes to receive the Son of God into the world, so every man must prepare his heart to receive the Son spiritually.The Church gives us the great event of Advent to help us get over the cultural sloth and make our hearts ready for Christ. Here are three simple but effective ways to prepare the throne of your heart to better welcome the King on the great Feast of Christmas:

• Walk with Mary: the best preparation for the feast of the Son is to live well the feasts of the Mother. Ah, if we would only treat the Immaculate Conception (this coming Monday) not as a day of dutiful "obligation" but as a chance to bind ourselves to this pregnant mother in purity and faith. We need to see the sublime Mystery of Christ through Her eyes. Next Friday is the feast of the Virgin of Guadalupe, the evangelizer of the Americas. How we need Her zeal for Christ to conquer our culture of death just like She did for the Aztec culture in the 16th century! Let us walk with Her this Advent, and She will help us in the preparation of our hearts. Show your desire for preparation by praying the Rosary regularly or making a consecration to the Virgin this Advent.

• Pray more: there is no better antidote to cultural lethargy than to admit to ourselves that we are not spiritual enough. Yes, we have to live in this world but often we are too much of this world! Prayer pulls us out of the work-a-day world of instant everything and places us before the serene Plan of God to see that all reality is not material. Faith grows, hope strengthens and charity inflames when we are prayerful. We just need to pray more in Advent, and we will be more spiritually prepared to receive Him. Why not make special visits to the Blessed Sacrament or, lacking that, dedicate a time each day for silent prayer.

• Devotion to duty: finally, and not least, is the need to do what God has asked us to do with deepest fidelity and zeal. Are there natural responsibilities that you have been neglecting? Now is the time to renew your fervor for them. Have you been apathetic or cowardly towards the difficult dimensions of your Christian duty? Has your family suffered because you have been involved in too many trivial matters that put family in second place? Return with all your heart and increase your enthusiasm toward those things He asks you to do for His Kingdom. A season of grace and favor awaits those who dedicate themselves with blessed ardor to their God-given callings.

Thank God for Advent! We are purified and challenged by the message of salvation preached to us by the Church in this great season. If we live it well and prepare our hearts to receive Him, we will know the Truth in a new way at Christmas and beyond, and the Truth will set us free.

Sincerely Yours in Christ,
Rev. Thomas J. Euteneuer,

President,

Human Life International

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Our Lady of America

Dearest Readers of Hannah's Tears,

Did any of you know that the patroness of the America's is the Immaculate Conception? Our Lady of America desires us to practice "Purity of Heart". She leads us to bring the sanctity of the family to our homes on this earth.

The ministry of Hannah's Tears has been unfolding through the graces of the Holy Spirit and the Immaculate Conception. During the last nine months that this blog site has been running it has come to my heart that this ministry is to serve and support each Catholic couple and family in support of the sanctity of family and married life. We give thanks to the Lord for His promptings of love as we seek His eternal will for our lives today. May we all grow in love with the words Our Lady of America has for us all today.

Here are a few words Our Lady of America told Sister Mildred:

I desire that my children honor me, especially by the purity of their lives. . . . I wish [America] to be the country dedicated to my purity. . . . I desire that they be children of my Pure Heart. I desire, through my children of America, to further the cause of faith and purity among peoples and nations. Let them come to me with confidence and simplicity, and I, their Mother, will teach them to become pure like to my Heart that their own hearts may be more pleasing to the Heart of my Son.

(Diary 6-7).

Our Lady of America Site:

www.ourladyofguadalupe.org/OLAprayers.htm

Miracles of Saint Nicholas

Recent Miracles of St Nicholas the Wonderworker through his myrrh-streaming icon - 2000

http://web.archive.org/web/20010221174537/orthodox.net/stnicholas/stnicholas3miracles.html

Miraculous Myrrh-streaming Icon of St. Nicholas

http://www.visionsofjesuschrist.com/weeping84.htm

courtesy of CulturalUniverse at en.wikipedia

courtesy of CulturalUniverse at en.wikipedia

Check out "Devotion and Use of the Manna of Saint Nicholas"

http://www.stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=42

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Nicholas

The Gift of Life

Here's a note I would like to share with all of you from my our friend Barbara Curtis. Thanks Barbara for this beautiful note of life!



Dear Friends:

(I've been sending this out in small bursts because my email list is large and because Tripp's recovery from his knee replacement and subsequent infection has been so complex and demanding. You may have already seen it. And I'm not sending it to toot my horn but because I was so amazed at the main theme the reporter pursued - that babies with Down syndrome don't have to be aborted)

This article - with the picture of the Curtis and Li families saying grace at dinner - appeared on the front page of the early edition of the Washington Post on November 9, and on the front page of the Metro Section in subsequent editions.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/08/AR2008110802462.html?sub=AR

The first interview for this was done October 7, the day before Tripp went back to the hospital the first time. The second was done the next day, when Justin's birth parents arrived from Taiwan to visit and the photos were taken.

I thank God that perhaps some baby with Down syndrome might be saved to live a full life and to increase the fullness of all the surrounding lives. That's the beauty of God's work - I don't even know how or when it happens. I just know it will.

Love,
Barbara


Barbara Curtis
www.mommylife.net
www.barbaracurtis.com
www.mommyteachme.net

More Stories on the Miraculous Medal

The Medal and the MI Movement

In January 1917, while at the Conventual Franciscan Friars' seminary in Rome, young Maximilian Kolbe heard the Miraculous Medal conversion story of Alphonse Ratisbonne. This wonderful account inspired him to recognize the powerful role that God had given Mary in the work of leading people to conversion and growth in holiness. He understood that the Miraculous Medal symbolized her active presence in the Church as Mediatrix of all the graces that flow from the Heart of Christ. For the next nine months Maximilian meditated upon the Miraculous Medal, the apparition of Our Lady to St. Catherine Laboure and the marvel of Ratisbonne's conversion.

On the evening of October 16, 1917, the seminarian was ready to put these Marian insights into a concrete plan of action. He gathered six Franciscan companions in a room at the seminary on Rome's Via San Teodoro to establish the Militia of the Immaculata (whose members are called MIs). This movement, which now numbers millions worldwide, would bind people together around one compelling and fruitful spiritual union with Mary Immaculate. The MI would embrace all ages and all vocations in the church-clergy, religious, lay men and women stirring each to form a person-to-person relationship with Mary by means of the "Act of Total Consecration."

St. Maximilian made the Miraculous Medal the insignia of the MI movement. He recommended that people wear it as an external sign of their consecration to Jesus Christ through his mother. Mindful of Mary's promise to St. Catherine that "all who wear it will receive great graces," St. Maximilian saw the medal as a means of safeguarding the consecration.



Daily Miraculous Medal Prayer of St. Maximilian Kolbe

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you, and for all who do not have recourse to you, especially the enemies of the Church and those recommended to you.

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We pray that these beautiful stories about the Miraculous Medal will draw you ever closer to Our Lady who is the Immaculate Conception. Wearing the Miraculous Medal is a beautiful devotion of love and devotion to Our Blessed Mother.

The Miracoulous Conversion of Alphonse Ratisbonne

Father Marie-Alphonse Ratisbonne & The Miraculous Medal

The conversion of Alphonse Ratisbonne is truly a remarkable and beautiful testimony to the power of the Blessed Virgin Mary, through whom it pleases Our Lord to give all graces to humanity, and well worth reading.

Alphonse Ratisbonne was an agnostic Jew. He was a virulent anti-Catholic as well and blamed the Catholic Church for the suffering of the Jewish people.

Ratisbonne was given a Miraculous Medal as a test by a Catholic friend and asked to pray the Memorare of St. Bernard.

Here is a brief description of the events which caused Alphonse Ratisbonne to agree to wear the Miraculous Medal:

"Since you abhor superstition and espouse such liberal views," he asks Alphonse, "would you consider submitting to a simple test?"

"What test?"

"To wear something I'm going to give you. It's a medal of the Holy Virgin. It appears quite ridiculous to you, no doubt. But as for me, I attach great importance to it." And he shows Alphonse the Miraculous Medal attached to a cord.

Alphonse is dumbstruck. He can scarcely believe the baron's impertinence. But as a man of the world, he doesn't want to seem to be making too much of a trifle. So he consents, breezily quoting a line from The Tales of Hoffman: "If it does me no good, at least it will do me no harm.

"This is too much. "Laissons ces sottises!" exclaims Alphonse -- "Let's stop this foolishness!" For the mention of St. Bernard has reminded him of his brother, Abbe' Théodore Ratisbonne, author of a biography of the Cistercian saint. Anything that reminds Alphonse of his traitor-brother arouses his rage. [Note: Théodore Ratisbonne, Alphonse's older brother, had converted to Catholicism]

However, the baron persists. If Alphonse refuses to pray this short prayer, he insists, he'll thereby render the whole "test" null and void. So, Alphonse consents. At the Baron's behest, he even agrees to copy out the Memorare. Then he pockets it and leaves, greatly amused at the entire absurd episode.

But later that night, when he mechanically copies the prayer, something happens. He can't get the words of the Memorare out of his mind. They haunt him, he recounts later, like an annoying tune one can't dislodge from one's head. Over and over again, with mounting irritation, he murmurs this obtrusive prayer of St. Bernard.

Our Lady appeared to Ratisbonne at the church of Sant' Andrea delle Fratte in Rome in 1842. After the vision of Our Lady, Ratisbonne was instantly converted to the Catholic faith.

You can find the whole story here: The Miraculous Conversion of Alphonse Ratisbonne

Learning of Ratisbonne's conversion through this medal was one of the events that inspired St. Maximilian Kolbe to found the Militia Immaculata.

Fr. Alberto Arzilli, OFM Conv., a fellow friar with St. Maximilian, related the story on April 26, 1942:

"Fr. Maximilian . . . was convinced of what he had to do [regarding the founding of the MI] on the [75th] anniversary day of the apparition of Our Lady to Alphonse Ratisbonne, January 20, 1917. The inspiration came to him during the morning meditation conducted by the . . . Father Rector Ignudi. In the meditation Father Ignudi told the story of Ratisbonne's miraculous conversion and commented on it."

"With a face beaming and bubbling with joy at the power of Our Lady shown in the conversion of Ratisbonne, Friar Max spoke to me of his inspiration. Smiling, he told me we had to crush the Devil and all heresies, and especially the error of Masonry."

The Heart of Jesus never ceases to love us in heaven. He sanctifies us through the Sacraments. These are inexhaustible fountains of grace and holiness which have their source in the boundless ocean of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Poor Clare Colettine's TMD ~ Feast of St. Barbara

Dear Little hearts,

Tomorrow is the feast of Saint Barbara, please join us, we do this every year!!!! and its something the children young and old will enjoy too!!!!

A blessed Advent, with love

Feast of Saint Barbara December 4th

The Feast of Saint Barbara falls on December 4th, during the first week of Advent. The day before her feast we collect bunches of suitable twigs/branches from various trees and bushes, namely, Pear, Apple, Chestnut, Poplar, Birch, Forsythia etc, bind 4 -5 branches together and place in individual jam jars filled with water. These so called, "Barbara branches" are distributed the following day on her feast, after the Legend of Saint Barbara has been read.If the twigs are placed in a warm room, everyone hopes that, her branches will the the first to burst into leaf on Christmas day, thus celebrating the birthday of life, Jesus Christ our Saviour.Children of all ages would enjoy this, and it is another good object lesson of having to wait patiently until its, "Time has come".......until the branches burst into leaf and life. Perhaps you would like to read the legend of Saint Barbara, celebrate this feast as a family or within a prayer group context, or even just with a friend.

The Legend of Saint Barbara

A long, long time ago in Syria there lived a rich merchant who had a very beautiful daughter called Barbara. The Merchants name was Diokurus. He lived alone in a magnificent house with his daughter. He was fiercely protective and possessive of his daughter Barbara, and no one was allowed to speak to her, communicate with her, without his prior permission. He organised her meal times, her daily life, and bought all her clothing.

One day he made it known that he had to go on a long business journey, and as he was wont to do, in his absence Barbara was led and bidden to exist in a very great tower, her accommodation was on the very top floor, only Barbara and Diokurus possessed a key for the tower.

The room had two windows out of which Barbara could contemplate the view. "Barbara", he said, " This time I will be away longer than usual, but you will be quite safe, time will pass and I will bring you something back from my travels which will bring you joy for the rest of your life." "What is it Father?", enquired Barbara. But Diokurus only laughed.

But as it so happened one day, Barbara heard the good News of Christ Jesus being preached in the market place below, she quickly learnt of the birth of Jesus, his wonders, his suffering , death and his return to his Father in heaven. Barbara was secretly baptised into the Christian faith. And because she always wanted to have the Holy Trinity before her eyes, she had an additional window set in her flat at the top of the tower. So that whenever the light broke through the window she gave praise and thanks to the Trinity.

After some time her father returned from his journey, and on seeing the alterations and the addition of the third window his face fell, who had been in the tower in his absence and what was the meaning of the third window? Diokurus was furious when he heard that Barbara was a Christian and adoring the Blessed Trinity. He fell into a rage and commanded her to end such nonsense and that she was to marry the suitor that he had brought back with him, and with that he locked the door, imprisoning her in the tower.

Diokurus thought quite wrongly that his beautiful daughter would change her mind, but Barbara remained fast in her choice. For four weeks her father held her a prisoner in the tower allowing her only bread and water, demanding that she abandon Christ and promising her all the riches and blessings of the world. Barbara refused.

Outraged the father had Barbara thrown into prison, he handed her over into the power of the executioner. The Executioner tried with sweet words of persuasion to win Barbara back to her fathers will, but she would not yield.One day within the precincts of the prison, Barbara's dress became entangled around a little pear tree and a small twig caught in her dress, on returning to her cell, she placed the twig in a container of water, then after some days the twig developed buds, and a little longer still, it blossomed. Barbara was overjoyed she clasped the twig in her hands and exclaimed, "I thought you were a dead twig, but out of your wood new life has sprung."

On this very day, Barbara was dragged out by the executioner and beheaded by the sword. We know in faith that the appearance and the reality were something different, she appeared dead, but in reality her soul had flown before the throne of God, for she had been faithful to Christ until the end.

So make plans now, locate the trees from which you will be able to obtain your branches, and share this beautiful feast with us all.

Advent Ideas

From the Poor Clare Colettines TMD

Dear Little hearts,

I am pleased to be able to share with you that the Advent section is up on the Boston Journal if you are looking for ideas, enjoy it all......and if any of you have ideas to share we would love to hear about them too !!!!

With love to you all http://www.boston-catholic-journal.com:80/

Advent

Our hope is in the Lord who made Heaven and Earth, come let us adore Him who is the Light of our Faith...

The Miraculous Conversion Story of Prisoner Claude Newman (1944)

Here is another beautiful story of a miracle and conversion, through Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal.

Our wonder and awe must touch the heart of Our Lady that she draws us ever near to her.

http://www.angelfire.com/ms/seanie/BVM/claudenewman.html

Catherine Laboure and My Story of Healing

Saint Catherine Laboure is remembered on various calendars, the old calendar of the Church was remembered on November 25, and the new calendar she is celebrated on November 28th. No matter what day she is remembered, we should never forget the vision she was given of Our Lady and the Miraculous Medal. This medal can be a treasure to help you in moments of struggle for we are to wear this medal with faith, and also a heart of prayer. My thoughts of St. Catherine Laboure, bring me a sence of joy as she has become someone very close to my heart. As Saint Catherine received the vision of the Miraculous Medal, which is powerful and miraculous as I can personally attest to.

Why is she so special to me you ask?

Well I'll tell you, three years ago on this Thanksgiving day, November 27, which is also a day in memory of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. I experienced a healing which I will never forget! For about one month I endured an episode which took half of my vision. My left eye wondered away from focus, so in that sense all I was seeing was double vision. I wondered throughout my home and life with one good eye and a pirates patch over the other. I had to rely on everyone for help, as I was unable to drive myself anywhere. This was a challenge for such an independent soul.

I had many people praying for me (whom I thank so very much still) and with each new day, I kept hearing a prompting from the Lord to begin a Novena to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, which I continued until the day I was healed, November 27, 2005. This event would change my whole life as well as my husband's, as he was the one that told me that my eye was back and focused... this was our personal miracle as he was by my side each day supporting me in my struggle.

As I was prompted to pray this novena a few years ago, I am now feeling that same prompting to share this story with you all. I must tell you in the grief of loosing your physical vision, the worst possible thing that can ever happen to a soul is loosing the vision of faith, hope and love. No, matter what you may be struggling with today, please give thanks to the Lord and seek Him in every way possible. As I struggled through this time and continued to pray, the Lord showed me through prayer and silence that He would use everything for His good! and He has and still is today.

This experience has taught me that God himself has a vision for each one of us, for He loves us as individuals. You are precious in His sight! Never forget that!!! He did not lie to me, his gift to me was to restore my sight on the feast of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. I continue to praise Him for this gift and I feel this is also a gift that I must share with you all. Please continue to seek the Lord, even if life seems dry and barren. This is when He is closest to you! Remember in your sufferings, you are not alone!!!

If any of you have a personal story to share with us about the Miraculous Medal, please feel free to share it with us in the comments section of this post. We look forward to hearing from you.

Please continue to place your trust in Him who is our all! I feel this event is what has truly brought the vision of Hannah's Tears, for the Lord has a plan in each of our lives, and it is unfolding with each new day. Remember the power of prayer works wonders!!!

God bless you,

Hannah's Tears

Intercessor and Founder

Happy Thanksgiving!

O Mary Conceived Without Sin Pray for Us Who Have Recourse to Thee.

Meditations:

The Miraculous Medal shows Mary with arms outstretched and open. In many ways this image shows what Mary said to the Angel Gabriel – “Behold the handmaid of the Lord”. This could be another image of her great openness to God, her great “Fiat” – “Let it be done to me according to your word.”

Prayer of St. Catherine Laboure

Whenever I go to the chapel, I put myself in the

presence of our good Lord, and I say to him

"Lord, I am here.Tell me what you would have me do."
If he gives me some task, I am content and I thank him.
If he gives me nothing,

I still thank himsince I do not deserve to

receive anything more than that.
And then, I tell God everything that is in my heart.

I tell him about my pains and my joys,and then I listen.
If you listen, God will also speak to you,

for with the good Lord, you have to both speak and listen.
God always speaks to you

when you approach him plainly and simply.

Christ the King

Feast of Christ the King ~ message from the Poor Clare TMD

Dear Little hearts,

Happy Feast of Christ the King!!!! I just want to share wwith you a much loved favourite for many many years the imagery is superb! Have a blessed day, with love!

Te Deum

Great God of my life, I will praise Thee on the three shores of Thy one light.

I will plunge with my song into the sea of Thy glory:

with rejoicing into the waves of Thy power.

Golden God of thy stars, loud God of Thy storms, flaming

God of Thy fire-spewing mountains,

God of Thy streams and of thy seas, God of all beasts, God of all the cornfields and of wild roses,

I thank Thee for having awakened us, Lord, I thank Thee to the choirs of Thine angels.

Be praised for all that lives.

God of thy Son, great God of Thine eternal compassion, great God of thine erring humanity,

God of all them who suffer, God of all them who die,

brotherly God on our dark spoor:

I thank Thee that Thou hast delivered us, I thank Thee to the choirs of thine angels.

Be praised for our blessedness!

God of Thine own Spirit, flooding in Thy depths from love to love,

Seething down into my soul,

Rushing through all my chambers, bringing fire to every heart,

Holy Creator of thy new earth:

I thank Thee that I may thank Thee, Lord, I thank Thee to the choirs of Thine angels.

God of my psalms, God of my harps, God of my organs, and of my mighty music,

I will sing Thy praises on the three shores to Thy One Light.

I will plunge with my song into the sea of Thy glory:

with shouts of joy into the waves of Thy power.

Gertrude von le Fort, Hymns to the Church

A commentary of Saint Augustine on Psalm 32

Sing to God with songs of joy

Praise the Lord with the lyre, make melody to him with the harp of ten strings! Sing to him a new song. Rid yourself of what is old and worn out, for you know a new song. A new man, a new covenant; a new song. This new song does not belong to the old man. Only the new man learns it: the man restored from his fallen condition through the grace of God, and now sharing in the new covenant, that is, the kingdom of heaven. To it all our love now aspires and sings a new song. Let us sing a new song not with our lips but with our lives.

Sing to him a new song, sing to him with joyful melody. Every one of us tries to discover how to sing to God. You must sing to him, but you must sing well. He does not want your voice to come harshly to his ears, so sing well, brothers!

If you were asked, “Sing to please this musician,” you would not like to do so without having taken some instruction in music, because you would not like to offend an expert in the art. An untrained listener does not notice the faults a musician would point out to you. Who, then, will offer to sing well for God, the great artist whose discrimination is faultless, whose attention is on the minutest detail, whose ear nothing escapes? When will you be able to offer him a perfect performance that you will in no way displease such a supremely discerning listener?

See how he himself provides you with a way of singing. Do not search for words, as if you could find a lyric which would give God pleasure. Sing to him “with songs of joy.” This is singing well to God, just singing with songs of joy.

But how is this done? You must first understand that words cannot express the things that are sung by the heart. Take the case of people singing while harvesting in the fields or in the vineyards or when any other strenuous work is in progress. Although they begin by giving expression to their happiness insung words, yet shortly there is a change. As if so happy that words can no longer express what they feel, they discard the restricting syllables. They burst out into a simple sound of joy, of jubilation. Such a cry of joy is a sound signifying that the heart is bringing to birth what it cannot utter in words.

Now, who is more worthy of such a cry of jubilation than God himself, whom all words fail to describe? If words will not serve, and yet you must not remain silent, what else can you do but cry out for joy? Your heart must rejoice beyond words, soaring into an immensity of gladness, unrestrained by syllabic bonds. Sing to him with songs of joy.

~ Saint Cecilia ~

Here's a beautiful site in honor of Saint Cecilia

Prayer to St. Cecilia

St. Cecilia, glorious Virgin and Martyr of Jesus Christ, I admire the courage with which you professed your faith in the face of severe persecution, and the generous love with which you offered your life in witness to your belief in the Blessed Trinity. I thank God with you for the wonderful graces He had bestowed upon you to make your life holy and pleasing to Him even in the midst of the wealth that was yours. I thank Him for the privilege offered to you of receiving the glorious crown of martyrdom. Saint Cecilia, I also admire the purity of love that bound you to the Savior, which was greater in your eyes than any human affection, so that you declared yourself before the enemies of the Church, "I am the bride of my Lord Jesus Christ". Pray for me that in imitation of you I may keep my body pure and my soul holy, and that I may love Jesus with all my heart.

In these times so full of pleasure seeking and so lacking in faith, teach us to profess our faith courageously and to be willing to sacrifice ourselves in practicing it, so that our good example may lead others closer to Christ and the Church He as founded.

In thanksgiving to God for the graces he bestowed on St Cecilia: Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory be. St. Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr of Jesus Christ, pray for us. Amen.

**********************************************************************************

Happy feast day to all who have Saint Cecilia as their patron saint in this life, may the music of heaven fill your hearts today and always.

If anyone has a beautiful link to share with us, please feel free to attach them.

~ Presentation of the Virgin Mary ~

The Presentation of the Virgin Mary

Zechariah 2:14-17 (2:10-13 RSV)

Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion; for lo, I come and I will dwell in the midst of you, says the Lord. And many nations shall join themselves to the Lord in that day, and shall be My people; and I will dwell in the midst of you, and you shall know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you. And the Lord will inherit Judah as His portion in the holy land, and will again choose Jerusalem." Be silent, all flesh, before the Lord; for He has roused Himself from His holy dwelling.

Message from a friend

We received a recent email from a friend of Hannah's Tears, she would like to extend an invitation to pray together a novena to St. Gianna. If you would like to let her know that you are interested in joining as a community of prayer, please contact her email below.

Thank you Maria for sharing this great gift of prayer and community.

All for the glory of God!!!

Blessings,
Hannah's Tears

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On Mon, Nov 17, 2008 at 7:26 PM, <prayrosary4life@aol.com> wrote:

I read recently the following testimony in the February 2007 newsletter from "The Society of Saint Gianna Beretta Molla" with great interest:

"My daughter and her husband had much difficulty geting pregnant. One doctor told her it was almost impossible for her to conceive. Our parish priest touched corded rosaries to St. Gianna's gloves. My husband prayed the Rosary and the Divine Chaplet with it everyday. Well, my daughter just gave birth to a beautiful girl on October 5. They named her Emily Gianna."
-Susan, Michigan

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Note from Maria:

My question is this: would anybody like to join me in praying the rosary, divine mercy chaplet and the St. Gianna novena for the graces we need to be good and holy Catholic wives and mothers and for the grace of motherhood (especially for those of us who are having a difficult time being able to concieve, have conditions such as unexplained infertility, pcos, endometriosis, and secondary infertility, for those who can concieve and would love to have another baby, and for those newly pregnant ect? I just started praying this yesterday. I believe our prayers will be even more powerful if we pray the rosary, divine mercy chaplet, and the St. Gianna novena as a group.

What do you think?

Would anybody like to join in?

*******************************************************

St. Gianna Novena prayer:

God, our Father, you have granted to your church the gift of Gianna Beretta Molla. In her youth she lovingly sought you and drew other people to you, involving them, through apostolic witness and Catholic Action, in the care of the sick and aged, to help and comfort them. We thank you for the gift of this young woman, so deeply committed to you.

Through her example, grant us the grace to consecrate our life to your servce, for the joy of our brothers and sisters. May we become generous Christians at the service of our brothers and sisters, especially those with whom you design to share your Cross. We beg you to grant to our families the serene and Christian presence of mothers committed to transform their families into cenacles of faith and love, rich with generous activity and santifying service.

Grant us the grace we seek...and the joy to find an isnpiration in Saint Gianna who, as a model spouse and mother, after the example of Christ, gave up her life for the life of others.

We offer this Novena for the sanctity of all life and for the intentions of all those who are praying with us.

One Our Father
One Hail Mary
One Glory Be

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Let me know and thank you to everyone willing to pray this!

We really do appreciate it!
May God Bless you.

Love,
Maria

Fertility treatments linked to certain birth defects....

Please notice this "Health Report" and warning to all those seeking help with their fertility.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/conditions/11/18/fertility.treatment.defects/


If you are seeking doctors that will give you wise advice, please seek out a list from "One More Soul" or the Pope Paul VI Institute for those who practice natural family planning.

New gadget added

Hi everyone, I pray that you are having a blessed day! I just wanted to let you know that we have added a new google translater at the top right side of this blog site...

Spread the hope and love of our beautiful faith, God bless you.

Peace and Hope to all!

Saint Gertrude the Great

Gertrude's life is another reminder that the heart of the Christian life is prayer: private and liturgical, ordinary or mystical, always personal.

The Life and Revelations of Saint Gertrude the Great

click here to read her book on-line

"Lord, you have granted me your secret friendship by opening the sacred ark of your divinity, your deified heart, to me in so many ways as to be the source of all my happiness; sometimes imparting it freely, sometimes as a special mark of our mutual friendship. You have so often melted my soul with your loving caresses that, if I did not know the abyss of your overflowing condescensions, I should be amazed were I told that even your Blessed Mother had been chosen to receive such extraordinary marks of tenderness and affection" (Adapted from The Life and Revelations of Saint Gertrude).

Save Lives ~ Petition to Fight FOCA

Hello everyone!



I'm writing to let you know about a terrible piece of legislation called "The Freedom of Choice Act" (FOCA).

FOCA would establish the right to abortion as a fundamental right (like the right to free speech) and wipe away every restriction on abortion nationwide.

It will eradicate state and federal abortion laws that the majority of Americans support and prevent states from enacting similar protective measures in the future.

Please read the expert analysis by Americans United for Life (AUL) and sign the Fight FOCA petition at: http://www.FightFOCA.com


--
"Many people are concerned with children of India, with the children of Africa where quite a few die of hunger, and so on. Many people are also concerned about the violence in this great country of the United States. These concerns are very good. But often these same people are not concerned with the millions being killed by the deliberate decision of their own mothers. And this is the greatest destroyer of peace today- abortion which brings people to such blindness." "And if we can accept that a mother can kill her own child, how can we tell other people not to kill one another?" -- Mother Teresa

Look at the eyes!

More meditations

Some depictions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Great Heart of our God are very strong and forceful in their execution and some are tender, gentle, and yet most powerful, I think this is one of them.

This Christos has a most appealing face and gesture which says, Come to my Heart, do not focus merely on my miracles and wonders but gaze on love!!!!

The eyes are compassionate and full of love...Christ's robe is blue the symbol of Hope, and we can always hope in his promises for he is faithful and he will always honour what he has promised us.

We do not always need new and innovative methods to feed our faith but we do well to deepen our existing knowledge and love of what we have within our beautiful catholic tradition and pictures certainly fall into this category. And did mankind ever need to know more that God is and that he loves us, poor and sinful as we are.

Mary's Image in art...

Meditations from the Poor Clare Colettine TMD

Here we have another comparatively simple artists reproduction as to how he/she perceives Mary the Mary of God to be.... the picture on a dark background is divested of any superfluities in order that its message may be clearly seen.Mary draws us to the true heart of the matter of all life and existence.. LOVE... for without love we have nothing. The right hand of Mary lays across her Immaculate heart, what is she doing ? surely she is communing with her God, with her Father and Son, in the Holy Spirit.As I have looked at various pictures of Mary there is one lesson that I think everyone can learn and certainly I myself and that is a greater humility.

Appreciation of art is often very subjective and precisely for this reason when we encounter religious art that does not appeal to us or even that we might find rather distasteful, providing the work is not deliberately morally erosive or wrong we may think what we like, but be very prudent in sharing our negative views.For this reason, to someone this piece of art, that drawing, those statues may have been and are means of grace, love, communion and consolation, for the Holy Spirit can use what he wills. Look at all through the eyes of a child.

Act of Consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary

I.

I venerate thee with all my heart, O Virgin most holy, above all Angels and Saints in paradise, as the daughter of the Eternal Father, and to thee I consecrate my soul with all its powers.
Hail Mary...

II.

I venerate thee with all my heart, O Virgin most holy, above all Angels and Saints in paradise, as the Mother of the only begotten Son, and to thee I consecrate my body with all its senses. Hail Mary...

III.

I venerate thee with all my heart, O Virgin most holy, above all Angels and Saints in paradise, as the beloved Spouse of the Spirit of God, and to thee I consecrate my heart and all its affections, imploring thee to obtain for me from the Most Holy Trinity all the means of salvation.
Hail Mary...

New blog for those who love apologetics....

If any of you are interested in what's new with Patrick Madrid, check out his new blog...

http://patrickmadrid.blogspot.com

Mary's Sweet Perfume

I am using this picture of Mary to illustrate a point, and that is the fascinating and beautiful manifestations of 'a heavenly perfume' often recorded in the lives of Saints and in appearances of the Holy Mother of God.

Although it is true that we live by faith, God can also touch us, communicate with us, through our senses. I think the manifestation of heavenly perfumes is a very lovely and beautiful grace that will only be understood by those who have the hearts of Children.

The Picture of Mary above is intended to depict her Immaculate and perfect heart of love, but see that the artist has done so by placing roses in her heart, and so her heart is truly an open rose, exuding all sweetness and drawing men to her beauty. Note also the sword! for it is a truly suffering love for Christ that makes the human person beautiful.

I have sent you an account of recently approved appearances of Mary at Laus, Our Lady of Laus (Praise), it is situated high up in the alps and what touched me was that the place is known, although they cannot say expressly why, to exude sweet perfume, and in this months St. Anthony's Messenger the Bishop of Laus himself states that he has perceived it. It is a very simple story reminiscent of Saint Bernadette and Lourdes.

Spend some time today thinking of the Divine perfume that accompanies Mary, it is a breath of heaven.

Written by a Poor Clare Colettine Nun TMD

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To read more about Our Lady of Laus, please go to this site: http://www.catholictradition.org/Mary/laus.htm

Seeking Prayer Warriors

I would like to invite all of you to join us in the mission of Hannah's Tears. Please feel free to join our mission of prayer as we seek to support one another each day lifting high the cross!

Please take notice that prayers and devotions have been added to this site as part of our mission for Hannah's Tears.

I pray you have enjoyed the meditations and thoughts from the Poor Clare Colettine Nuns, they are a great support to this ministry.

May Our Lord bless and keep you in his loving care.

Hannah's Tears

Poor Clare Colettine ~ thoughts, prayers, meditations...November 10

Dear Little hearts,

There are many ways in which we can come into communion with our God, there are many ways of praying and focusing on God and his Kingdom.... being human we need that focus, that word, that picture, sound, fragrance that will touch us from another world.... and it is through our senses that we so often perceive him.

The world of Christian art is one that we would do well to explore, we are bombarded with so many images of violence, decadence and horror, we can see it daily in our papers and on cyberspace, we need to make our contribution in redeeming this as it were by our own turning to the good, the beautiful, the divine.

If we look around at the world of art there are literally thousands of religious images, paintings etc.... of varying degrees of beauty, much may not be to our personal taste, but if we look for good we will find it, if we seek we will find and even the poorest presentation can speak to us simply because the Holy Spirit can use anything in this world for good.

I have thinking that if one were involved in an earth tremor and everything fell around one, the world closing in on us like a box, or if we were caste into a prison camp or other evil experience, the very poorest of presentations of God, Jesus, Mary, the angels would in fact speak to us... this would not be a time for the great and beautiful pictures of say the renaissance or a work of a great master.... but we could have to hand the cheapest, poorest of images... and it would speak!!!

All religious paintings can speak if we allow them too.

The point I am trying to make is let there be room for all in our appreciation, for God can speak through all and in fact He often does.

There are for instance if we explore the matter thousands of images of Mary the Mother of God, no one picture can fully capture her beauty, indeed the sum of them all can only ever captivate a slight reflection of all she is, and this is certainly true of images of Our Lord, but they can sew good seeds in our minds and they can be a very good point of mediation.

Especially when we are tired and not terribly able for one reason or the other to attend to the written word, or even the silence because we are restless and unfocused. At such times take a picture, and just rest in its presence. Note the content, the form, the colours, and see how it relates to you now.

I am going to share some pictures with you over the next few days, they may well not be pictures I am personally initially attracted to but that is besides the point.... lets see what we will find.

God bless you all.

The picture below is a depiction of the Sacred heart of Jesus, the very first thing one notices is the beautiful red garment of love, the Robe of Christ, not only is the garment a luminous red, but the whole image seems to be drenched in light. The light emulating not only from the symbol of Gods heart but from above as the forehead of Christ is crowned with light. Not only is Christ holding his heart out to you, irrespective of who you are or where you are on your journey, but he is drawing attention to the fact it is a crucified heart and if we too are going to be his followers and lovers we too will know suffering. The Blue green of the background is a symbol of Hope and Life and through his love he came to give us life in abundance. May God grant you some blessing through this image and if anything in it speaks to you, do feel free to share it.

This was sent to us by the Poor Clare Colettine Nuns from Wales, be sure to look them up on the internet, they are very faithful prayer warriors for anyone in need. Thank you dear sisters for all of your support!

Josepha Naval Girbes

Josepha Naval Girbes was born at Algemesi in the Archdiocese of Valencia, Spain, on December 11, 1820. As a very young woman she consecrated herself to the Lord by a perpetual vow of chastity. Josepha's life was simple. She stood out for her ardent love, and she made progress along the way of prayer and evangelical perfection while dedicating herself generously to apostolic works in her parish community. In her own home she opened a school where she taught needlework, prayer, and the evangelical virtues. She formed many young girls and women and shared with them her wisdom and spiritual understanding. She was a member of the Third Order Secular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St. Teresa of Jesus and had a special love for the Virgin Mother of God. Her holy death took place on February 24, 1893. She is buried in her parish church of St. James in her native city.

Opening Prayer

O God,
through the new leaven of the Gospel,
You call men and women and empower them
to serve You faithfully in secular life.
Grant that they may fervently imitate
the example of Blessed Josepha,
and, through her intercession,
work tirelessly as true Christians to build up Your kingdom
by fulfilling their duties in the world.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord,
we see the wonder of Your love
in the life of the virgin Josepha
and her witness to Christ.
Accept our gifts of praise
and make our offering pleasing to you.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.

Communion Antiphon
The bridegroom is here; let us go out to meet Christ the Lord.

Prayer after Communion

Lord God,
may this Eucharist renew our courage and strength.
May we remain close to You like Bl. Josepha
by accepting in our lives
a share in the suffering of Jesus Christ,
Who lives and reigns with You for ever and ever.

First Reading
Corinthians 1: 26-31
For consider your call, brethren; not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth; but God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong, God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom, our righteousness and sanctification and redemption; therefore, as it is written, "Let him who boasts, boast of the Lord."

Responsorial Psalm
R/. Keep my soul in peace before You, O Lord.
Psalm 130

Gospel
Matthew 11:25-30
At that time Jesus declared, "I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes; yea, Father, for such was thy gracious will. All things have been delivered to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and any one to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

Our Lady Who Brings Victory!

http://www.maryundoerofknots.com/novena.htm

Prayer to the Virgin Mary as Untier of Knots

Holy Mary, full of the presence of God during your life you accepted with great humility the Holy Will of the Father and the legacy of your Son Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Evil never dared to entangle you with its confusion. Since then you have interceded for all of our difficulties. With all simplicity and patience you have given us example on how to untangle the knots in our complicated lives. By being our Mother forever, you arrange and make clear the path that unites us to Our Lord. Holy Mary, Mother of God and ours, with your maternal heart untie the knots that upset our lives. We ask you to receive in your hands ( mention who or prayer request) and deliver us from the chains and confusions that have us restrained. Blessed Virgin Mary, through your grace, your intercession and by your example, deliver us from evil and untie the knots that keep us from uniting with God, so that once free of every confusion and error, we may find Him in all things, have Him in our hearts and serve him always in our brothers and sisters. Mother of Good Counsel pray for us . Amen

All Souls Day

Let Him Guide You!

"Jesus Christ, the true light that enlightens everyone"

Merciful Father,

hear our prayer and console us.

As we renew our faith in Your Son,

whom You raised from the dead,

strengthen our hope that all

our departed brothers and sisters

will share in His resurrection,

who lives and reigns with

You and the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.

Amen

"Be Not Afraid"

Jesus carries You!

"Be Not Afraid"

What Pope John Paul II taught us.

http://www.nationalreview.com/kudlow/kudlow200504041030.asp

Although this article was written in 2005, I feel that this is what we all need to be reminded of, "Be Not Afraid!" We must place our entire trust in Our Lord and in his mother, who is our mother. This is so important that we turn our minds and hearts to our family in Heaven, Jesus, Mary all the Saints and Souls that have gone before us. There is so much fear and distress these days, let us lift our hearts and minds to Christ who is our hope, our eternal hope.

As we waite for the elections in the U.S., let us turn our hearts to Jesus and Mary in our prayers. We ask those that are not U.S. citizens to please pray for Americans these next few days, please lift us in prayer, that we have hope in the Lord and a faithful trust. Let the act of our very will unite our heart and our sufferings to the body and blood of Christ in holy Eucharist.

If you are interested in reading "Splendor of Truth", please go to the vatican web site and click here http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_06081993_veritatis-splendor_en.html .

Something else that I would like to share is the song (click here) "Be Not Afraid", these lyrics have been ringing in my heart for many months, I felt they were important to share with you.

"Be Not Afraid"

1. You shall cross the barren desert, but you shall not die of thirst. Youshall wander far in safety though you do not know the way. You shall speakyour words in foreign lands and all will understand. You shall see the faceof God and live.

R. Be not afraid. I go before you always. Come follow me, and I will giveyou rest.

2. If you pass through raging waters in the sea, you shall not drown. Ifyou walk amid the burning flames, you shall not be harmed. If you stand before the pow'r of hell and death is at your side, know that I am with youthrough it all.

3. Blessed are your poor, for the kingdom shall be theirs. Blest are youthat weep and mourn, for one day you shall laugh. And if wicked men insultand hate you all because of me, blessed, blessed are you!

May God bless you!