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Please Pray for Zimbabwe from Anne Seggerman - paul.kravitz@gmail.com

Please forward this to as many people as you can.

St. Martin de Porres Guild *

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

A beautiful Christmas greeting, sent to me by a dear friend, from Jesus, who said that in essence with the crass materialism of the Christmas season, He was not being invited to His own birthday party. Mother Theresa of Calcutta said that when she was taking care of the poor, hungry, neglected, mistreated; the poor of the streets of Calcutta, that she was taking care of Jesus.

Many of us are faithful sisters and brothers of St. Francis and so we have been exhorted to take care of these multitudes increasing at an alarming rate and now, particularly, with the unspeakable horrors of the genocide taking place in Zimbabwe.

It has been said that in these days, sometimes referred to as the Latter Days, satan has been set loose, for he knows his time is short. It has also been remarked that many of the people who are now found in positions of leadership have been taken over by satan himself or by one of his evil spirits. No one fills that description better than avowed communist Robert Mugabe, who for 28 years has inflicted the tortures of hell on his own people, now along with mass starvation culminating in a deadly epidemic of cholera killing hundreds a day.

In Medjugorje, we have been told that for some difficult situations prayer alone does not suffice, but prayer accompanied by fasting is required to be rid of grave evil.

Along with St. Martin de Porres, and all the saints in heaven, I plead with you, my sisters and brothers in Christ, to pray every day and fast however and whenever you can for the poor, sick and starving millions of victims in what was once the bread basket of Africa, a place once called Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe, and that the Lord God Almighty might rescue these people from the terrible scourge of the evil Mr. Mugabe.

Together, our prayers and fasting directed to the salvation of these people and of their nation can become the greatest birthday present we could offer to Our Savior on His birthday!

Anne C. Seggerman SFO DM

NOVENA TO SAINT MARTIN DE PORRES

For 9 days in a row, say:

Saint Martin de Porres,

your concern and charity embraced

not only your needy brethren,

but also the animals of the field.

You are a splendid example of charity;

we thank and praise you.

From above,

hear the requests of your needy brethren.

(Mention your request here...)

By modeling our lives after yours,

and imitating your virtues,

may we live content knowing that

God has looked favorably upon us.

Because this is so,

we can accept our burdens

with strength and courage

in order to follow

in the footsteps of our Lord

and the Blessed Mother.

May we reach the Kingdom of Heaven

through the intercession of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen.

A traditional Catholic fast, as recommended by the seers of Medjugorje, is on Wednesday or Friday or both days. During fast days a single simple meal is allowed after sundown so that one goes without food for 24 hours from the last evening meal to the meal the following evening closing the fast. Only water and plain bread if necessary is permitted during a fast. Only those persons considered well enough should fast. Check with your doctor before embarking on a fast.

* a committee of the Fourth World Foundation Inc.

Human Rights Day

A Call to All Franciscans to . . .
A Day of Prayer and Fasting
On Wednesday, 10 December 2008
World Human Rights Day
To Commemorate the 60th Anniversary
of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
To Be in Solidarity with Our Sisters and Brothers . . .
. . . In the DR Congo; Palestine / Israel; India
and Wherever People Are Suffering Violence
Let us use
“The Peace Prayer of Saint Francis” and/or
“The Canticle of Creatures”
to unite our voices in a cry for world peace
with universal justice and respect
for all of God’s creatures.

Prayers to the unborn Lord Jesus

Think about Jesus, as an unborn child within the circumstances that God placed him within our story of redemption. Thank you Lord for coming to us and being with us.


Lord, thank You for first coming among us as the Unborn Christ Child. Today, untold numbers of our tiny sisters and brothers have been abandoned by the world’s leaders, by the traditional defenders of justice, by the healing professions and even by their own parents. But You are their Savior—You have not forgotten them. Savior, rescue and protect these little ones from the neglect and violence of an uncaring world.

Merciful Lord, Your tiny infant heart, which was later emptied on the cross, offers this world its only hope. Forgive us our sins against the unborn, against their parents and against all Your children. Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us.

Prince of Peace, through Your healing Spirit, help us to lovingly accept every conceived child created in Your image and likeness, as a messenger of peace and goodwill towards all people. Amen.

Taken from : The Unborn Word Alliance

Getting Into Advent

A nice meditation to start Advent:

Advent Conspiracy

I have set the framework for Christmas this year.
It shall be a Holy Day like NONE OTHER.

Jesus is coming.

He has shown us the way.

We are blessed if we look upon it.

Join the conspiracy, look down the path. And know that the gift is here.

With us.

Every Day.

Waiting to be unwrapped. Waiting to be taken. Waiting to be given.

A day like none other is coming soon. Will you be ready?

http://www.adventconspiracy.org

A thought from St. Therese

St. Therese: 'Why should we defend ourselves when we are misunderstood and misjudged? Let us leave that aside. Let us not say anything. It is so sweet to let others judge us in any way they like. O blessed silence, which gives so much peace to the soul!'"

This theme reminds me of many of the Saints who faced persecution of all sorts. If we apply this to how faith is looked at in the country, and actively persecuted in other parts of the world, we should consider ourselves blessed to be called to bring the gospel to the marketplace.

Our joy goes far beyond what is visible in this world, for where is the Love of Christ in this world- it can not be seen in countries or buildings or programs or even prayers and devotions, but in the hearts of the followers of Christ.

So live your life as you are called to, for in the understanding and judgment of the Lord all will be brought to light, and for those who live in the light, darkness can no longer be.

Thnaks to Wendy and company for the quote.

Franciscan thought of the day 10/24/08

Keep on truckin', fellow travellers:

"'Let my Gospel be your Rule, and My life be your life, My cross your repose, My charity your life, My death your hope and resurrection, Let the reproaches, blasphemies, and mockery against Me be your honors, blessings, and commendations; let your life, joy, and glory be to endure death and torments for Me; let your portion and riches be to wish to have nothing under heaven; let your distinction, consolation, and triumph be to be humbled beneath all and to rejoice to be afflicted and vilified on account of My name.' (Angelo Clareno, The Book of Chronicles [Prologue, Christ Instructs Francis])"

Our True Face

Ghandi said:

I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.

It seems to me that Christ still suffers today.

If we have the spirit of Christ within us, and everyone who accepts Christ and eats his flesh and drinks his blood, Then the anonymous face on the street is not so anonymous. We will have to answer to the king when he asks us of we fed the hungry clothed the naked and all the meriful acts he REQUIRES of us as followers.

Anything less is lip service and brown nosing.

If the Christian (myself included) does not live up to this, yet insures that SELF is fed, SELF is clothed and we do not concern with the person next store or the person holding their hand out on the street, then we deny Christ. If we see Christ in ourselves but cannot see Christ in the Other, then we are missing the Christ He wants us to see.

No matter how hard we try, we cannot see our true face:
In a mirror, the image is reversed.
In a photo we are captured in a monment.
Though a video, we see what the lens (or person behind the lens) can see.

Yet a stranger walking the street would see our glance.
Our spouses can see the look of the emotion of the moment.
Nature can observe the joy.

Discipleship has a price....

PLEASE PRAY FOR CHRISTIANS IN INDIA
Christian Persecution India

From: persecution, 2 weeks ago

Christian Persecution India

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: india persecution)

Christan persecution India


SlideShare Link

A Call For Convention

Today, the Connecticut Supreme Courts approved "Same-Sex" Marriages as being legal. I am not surprised that Connecticut would do this, but I am saddened, and I hold up this state to Almighty God to continue showing His mercy towards us.

It seems we have turned our face away from him- again.

At first, I was not in favor of the vote to invoke a constitutional convention, which I saw as a waste of taxpayers money and pretty much a waste of time.

But Times (and opinions) change. I join the bishops of the state in calling for votes to support a convention.
I encourage you to do the same.

Perhaps this state can return to morals that are consistent to the Gospels, with a lot of prayer and a lot of votes.

Here is what the CCC had to say:

Connecticut Catholic Conference calls for Constitutional Convention

Vatican Official Simplifies Voting Guidlelines for American Catholics | Agnus Daily

Here is a simple explaination of why I support John McCain.

Vatican Official Simplifies Voting Guidlelines for American Catholics | Agnus Daily

If you support the respect of all human life, you will support him as well!

A Message to Obama

Meditate on this and vote Pro Life.

SFO Mom: A Message to Obama

Thanks SFO Mom

An Election Day Prayer - Mary stand with us

An Election Prayer to Mary

O most Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Mercy, at this most critical time, we entrust the United States of America to your loving care. Most Holy Mother, we beg you to reclaim this land for the glory of your Son. Overwhelmed with the burden of the sins of our nation, we cry to you from the depths of our hearts and seek refuge in your motherly protection. Look down with mercy upon us and touch the hearts of our people. Open our minds to the great worth of human life and to the responsibilities that accompany human freedom. Free us from the falsehoods that lead to the evil of abortion and threaten the sanctity of family life. Grant our country the wisdom to proclaim that God's law is the foundation on which this nation was founded, and that He alone is the True Source of our cherished rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. O Merciful Mother, give us the courage to reject the culture of death and the strength to build a new Culture of Life.

Trusting in your most powerful intercession, we pray,

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, we fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, our Mother. To thee do we come, before thee we stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not our petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer us. Amen

Msgr. William J. Blacet

Servant and Steward: Sad yet happy

Servant and Steward: Sad yet happy

A great reflection on the Stigmata of Francis.

I remember the flags.

I remember the flags.

This is the 7^th September 11 that went by since the terrorist attack on our country.

I remember the sound of the incredulous radio broadcaster announcing the first tower being hit. I remember thinking that it was just some sort of crazy media scare, something blown out of proportion as I sat in my car on the way to the office.

I remember praying in front of the neighbors television as we came from nearby offices to see "Ground Zero" and witnessing in the collapse of the second tower the deaths of thousands of innocent people - and I was thankful, as I was often the person in the wrong place at the wrong time.

I remember the uncertainty of what was going on around us- rumors of other incidents until the dust cleared. How much was hanging on the thread of civilization, which I had not ever seen as vulnerable before.

I remember the desire to get home to be with Jennie and the kids… The desire to light a candle, say a prayer and commend the day's events to God.

I remember our personal response, a pulling together of loosely fitting neighbors. I realized on September 11^th that being an American was something to not be taken lightly.

I remember singing the patriotic songs. And the flags that sprung up as flowers in a place where the dirty destructive fingers of terrorism had spread a rotting odor. The flag reminded us where we were, where we came from and where we wanted to go. And the flag moves forward. The American People move forward. The stench of terrorism is in the air, no longer ignored, but overwhelmed by the sweet breeze of freedom which is felt in our hearts and seen in the flutter of the flag.

I don't see them around so much these days. Much like the feeling for the appreciation of our American way of life, the flag is mostly put away and only taken out when we need to remember. But the flag is there. Always real. Always ready. We will see it when we need to and know that we do not stand alone, but as one nation under the protection of almighty God.

Prayer for the Coming Kingdom

I bow to the sacred in all creation.
May my spirit fill the world with beauty and wonder.
May my mind seek truth with humility and openness.
May my heart forgive without limit.
May my love for friend, enemy, and outcast be without measure.
May my needs be few and my living simple.
May my actions bear witness to the suffering of others.
May my hands never harm a living being.
May my steps stay on the journey of justice.
May my tongue speak for those who are poor without fear of the powerful.
May my prayers rise with patient discontent until no child is hungry.
May my life's work be a passion for peace and nonviolence.
May my soul rejoice in the present moment.
May my imagination overcome death and despair with new possibility.
And may I risk reputation, comfort, and security to bring this hope to the children.
- Mary Lou Kownacki, OSB.

God Answers Prayer!

God's responses to prayer:

1.) No, not yet
2.) No, I love you too much;
3.) Yes, I thought you'd never ask;
4.) Yes, and here's more"

Moments

Happy moments, PRAISE GOD.
Difficult moments, SEEK GOD.
Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD.
Painful moments, TRUST GOD.
Every moment, THANK GOD

A Letter from God

I came across this some time ago and wanted to share this.

I hope it lifts your day and that you experience the touch of the Father.

Peace be with you.

A Letter from God

The American Life League Report on blip.tv

The American Life League Report on blip.tv

Why would youtube pull this but allow Planned Parenthood (Prenatal Peril) their "clever" ads.

I asked God...

I asked God for water, He gave me an ocean.
I asked God for a flower, He gave me a garden.
I asked God for a friend, He gave me all of YOU...

If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.
Happy moments, praise God.
Difficult moments, seek God.
Quiet moments, worship God
Painful moments, trust God.
Every moment, thank God.

31 Days to a More Powerful You

31 Days to a More Powerful You

A program of reading the book of proverbs over the month for 1 year. Give God's word a chance to take root in your life. It will be a true blessing to you.