Let the Fire Fall

Taking Baths

Taking Baths : A Catholic Reflection:
"Before Christmas, we must take a bath. In fact, we should take two baths, a baptismal bath 'in water for the sake of reform' and a bath 'in the Holy Spirit and fire' (Mt 3:11). Unlike the bath in water, this fire-baptism removes impurities from even the most precious metals."

His winnowing fan is in hand

USCCB - (NAB) - December 9, 2007:

"He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand. He will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” "

win·now (wĭn'ō) Pronunciation Key
v. win·nowed, win·now·ing, win·nows

v. tr.


To separate the chaff from (grain) by means of a current of air.
To rid of undesirable parts.
To separate or get rid of (an undesirable part); eliminate: winnowing out the errors in logic.
To sort or select (a desirable part); extract.
To blow (chaff) off or away.
To blow away; scatter.
To blow on; fan: a breeze winnowing the tall grass.
To examine closely in order to separate the good from the bad; sift.

To separate or get rid of (an undesirable part); eliminate: winnowing out the errors in logic.
To sort or select (a desirable part); extract.

Prayer request

Please pray for my cousin's aunt(her mom's side of the family)that has just been diagnosed with cancer...the aunt's name is Bernadette.

The woman of Genesis

Intercessors Of The Lamb

"Mary’s obedience didn’t just stop there at the Annunciation, we see it at Cana as well because she asked Jesus really to do a miracle when she said, “They have no wine.” Now that seems simple but Jesus did not seem to be aware of that and He seemed surprised at the request and He says, “Woman what is that to you and to Me? My hour is not yet come.” It is interesting that in this Scripture, we now hear Jesus calling Mary, “Woman.”

At the beginning of this passage, John writes, “The Mother of Jesus was there.” But now Jesus did not call her, “Mother,” but, “Woman.” He knows, as she herself knew, that she is the woman of Genesis which the Father spoke about when He said to satan, to the serpent. “I will be put enmity between you and the woman.” Our Lady knew her identity! She is still prompted by the Holy Spirit who is her spouse. She is Our Lady of Light, spouse of the Holy Spirit! And, it was the prompting of the Holy Spirit at that wedding that made Mary ask for the miracle. The Spirit was letting her know, “They have no wine.” He is the New Wine. The Spirit was letting her know, “They need Me.” "

Excerpt From Mother Nadine’s, “On Earth as it is In Heaven” The Philippines, 11/05

the woman

USCCB - (NAB) - December 8, 2007:

"I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will strike at your head, while you strike at his heel.”"

Universalis: Office of Readings

Universalis: Office of Readings:

"Concluding Prayer God,

by her Immaculate Conception you made the Virgin a fit habitation for your Son. You preserved her from the stain of the Fall by the merits of your Son’s future death: through her intercession, make us pure and permit us to come to you at last."

Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Universalis: Today:
"The Feast of the Immaculate Conception

The doctrine of the Immaculate Conception is the doctrine that the Virgin Mary was conceived without original sin, that twist in our nature that makes our will unable to follow what it knows to be right. It was this grace that enabled Mary to give a true and considered “Yes” to the request, conveyed by the Angel Gabriel, that she should consent to be the mother of the incarnate God. The doctrine was almost universally believed over the centuries and but was only formally defined as a doctrine of the Church by Pope Pius IX in 1854. It is one of the Marian doctrines that Islam shares with the Catholic Church."

Reminder

A Bravenet.com Calendar - Friday December 7, 2007:

"Title:Praise and Worship

Duration:9:00 pm - 12:00 am

Details:Eucharistic Adoration with Praise and Worship at St. Joseph's Chapel in Wakefield, MA. "

Come and go at your convenience. It is pure blessing.

Calling in deeper...

Intercessors Of The Lamb

Today He is calling us in a deeper way to be the light of the world—to be so filled with this consecration, His holiness, His Truth, that we will be a light to all the nations. He wants us to be an epiphany of His love and His presence. He wants us to be holy. He wants us to be a royal priesthood. He wants us to be Church and to look like His Church. So I believe He is telling us to go forth now as the prophetic Church, as the Church that has learned to listen to Him everyday, and can take His words out. He is calling us to be a Church that has received His gift of Wisdom and knows the secrets of His heart and what the Father has taught. We need to become a prophetic Church again. I believe this is manifested in one of the beautiful gifts that we will hear about today in Scripture—the incense of prayer. This is being given to us today in a deeper way so that we can come forth and be this house of prayer and this prophetic Church.

Excerpt from “One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic,” Kingstown, West Indies, 2001.

I Will Praise You

USCCB - (NAB) - December 7, 2007

USCCB - (NAB) - December 7, 2007:
"Reading 1
Is 29:17-24

Thus says the Lord GOD: But a very little while, and Lebanon shall be changed into an orchard, and the orchard be regarded as a forest! On that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book; And out of gloom and darkness, the eyes of the blind shall see. The lowly will ever find joy in the LORD, and the poor rejoice in the Holy One of Israel."

Let us praise Him NOW for what He has done, for what He is doing and for what He will continue to do in the future.

Just add your own personal prayer at this moment and give Him thanks and praise for all that He has blessed you with. Praise Him even for those things that you can't quite understand...He WILL bring good out of them if we allow Him to.

Universalis: Vespers

Universalis: Vespers:
"Psalm 147 (147B)
God, the foundation of Jerusalem

Praise the Lord, Jerusalem — Sion, praise your God. For he has strengthened the bars of your gates, he has blessed your children. He keeps your borders in peace, he fills you with the richest wheat. He sends out his command over the earth, and swiftly runs his word. He sends down snow that is like wool, frost that is like ashes. He sends hailstones like crumbs — who can withstand his cold? He will send out his word, and all will be melted; his spirit will breathe, and the waters will flow. He proclaims his word to Jacob, his laws and judgements to Israel. He has not done this for other nations: he has not shown them his judgements."

Oh Lord, may we be filled with Praise on this day. Bring to our mind all that good that You have done for us...fill us with Your peace and joy. Amem.

Reminder

A Bravenet.com Calendar - Thursday December 6, 2007:

"Title: Advent Evening of Reflection

Duration:7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Details:St. Joseph Parish in Wakefield.

Let us assess our relationship to the Lord & look how we serve and meet him through others. "

Prayers for the victims and their families

Gunman kills 8, self at Omaha mall - Crime & courts- msnbc.com

We need to pray not only for these families, but for all the potential 'gunmen' out there. Earlier this week the Lord was leading us to pray for the children to be released from darkness. I think we need to hike up those prayers. Especially for media influence to be broken (darkness and evil that is coming in from movies, tv, music, internet, video games). Pray, pray, pray for the children! Pray also for their parents...the adults too need to be living in freedom (from evil) in order to be able to be obedient to the Lord in how to raise them.

For our Priests

Spirit Daily - Daily spiritual news from around the world:

"Can you imagine the guts, the faith, it takes, in these times, to be a priest? These days, we can say that good priests (and they're in the majority) are true heroes. They suffer a white martyrdom."

Let us pray today for our Priests and Bishops and for all stepping out in obedience to the Lord in ministry, by dedicating their lives to Him.

In a very particular way, I pray for my own Parish...St. Joseph's and for our Pastor, Fr. Ron. May we lead the way in serving Him!

You Raise me Up

Whatever

Intercessors Of The Lamb

"Our Lady said, “Now you do whatever He tells you.” She said that to the servants. Hopefully we are all servants of the Lord! She is saying that to us as well. “You do whatever He tells you.” That “whatever” can be frightening. What does that mean –“whatever”? We do not always know. It simply means whatever - whatever God’s word is, whatever God’s will is, whatever God wants. This is exactly what she is asking of us. “Do whatever He tells you.” Much of the time, we are not listening. We do not know what He is saying. That is why the contemplative posture is so important. We must be able to can hear what God is asking. We can hear His preference and then we can do whatever His word is showing us. Obedience is also the fruit of humility. There is only one way to know if we are humble and that is to ask ourselves, “Are we being obedient?” If we are being obedient to God’s way, God’s preference, then that is humility. That is the kind of obedience, the kind of humility, that will crush pride – that will crush the serpent’s head. It will crush satan."

Excerpt From Mother Nadine’s, “On Earth as it is In Heaven” The Philippines, 11/05

Universalis: Morning Prayer (Lauds)

Universalis: Morning Prayer (Lauds):

"Show forth your power, O Lord, and bring your great strength to our aid. Although our sins impede our steps, let your grace help us to go forward."

St. Nicholas Feast Day!

Universalis: Today:
"St Nicholas

He was bishop of Myra, in Lycia (now part of Turkey) and died about the middle of the fourth century. He has been venerated throughout the Church, especially since the 10th century. Because of his help to the poor he is the patron saint of pawnbrokers, whose insignia of three golden balls represent the three purses of gold he is said to have given secretly to a poor man who could not afford dowries for his three daughters. "

Gracious and good Lord,
we bless you on this feast of St. Nicholas, your servant,
who is an example to us of a life of charity and love.
May we see in his life an invitation to imitate his good deeds.
Make us always mindful of the needs of others
and help us rejoice in the abundance of your goodness around us.
Through Jesus our Lord. Amen.

obedience

USCCB - (NAB) - December 6, 2007

Gospel
Mt 7:21, 24-27

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’
will enter the Kingdom of heaven,
but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.

Today's Prayer: Dear Lord, today we come to You seeking the grace to be obedient to Your Will and the perseverance to stick with it even when we can't see what the results might be.

Chapel Schedule

Carmelite Chapel and Gift Shop at the Northshore Mall | Peabody | Massachusetts:

Daily Mass Schedule

Mon - Fri:
8:30 a.m.
12:00 p.m.
3:00 p.m.

Sat:
8:30 a.m.
12:00 p.m.
4:00 p.m.
5:30 p.m.


"Confessions
Mon - Fri: One half hour before every Mass

Sat:
8:00 - 8:30 a.m.
10:45 - 11:45 a.m.
2:45 - 3:45 p.m."

Preparing for the Feast

From Fr. Ron (taken from this week's buletin)

"The appearance of snow brings to mind the passage from Isaiah 1:18:
“Come now, and let us reason together”, says Yahweh. “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall
be as white as snow.” Yes, when we confess our sins, they are washed away and our souls become
as white as snow. This Advent Season is a time of preparing for the coming of the Lord in
a new way into our lives.

When we are expecting a guest, we prepare for their coming by cleaning up our house. One way
for us to prepare for Christmas is to go to confession and have our souls become as white as snow
to receive Jesus. The sacrament of reconciliation is a sacrament to receive the mercy of God.
When we receive that sacrament, our sins go on the cross of Jesus. It is there that He pays the
penalty of our sins and we are washed clean, not by soap and water, but by His blood.

Mary, in some of her apparitions, is requesting monthly confession. As our mother, she knows
what is spiritually good for us. Do a spiritual good for yourself this Advent and go to confession
and have your soul become as white as snow. Cards are available in the foyer to help you in examining
your conscience and in reciting the Act of Contrition. Next week, opportunities for confession
will be listed. If you are at the North Shore Mall, you can visit the Carmelite Chapel or in
Boston; St. Anthony’s Shrine. Both places schedule confession many times each day."

For those of us who may need a little extra help to get ourselves to Confession...may His mercy and grace be abundant.

Reminder

St Joseph Healing Mass Page

Healing Mass tonight at 7PM!

For the Anzalone Family

Could you please keep this family in your prayers. They are a local homeschooling family and the dad (Ted) was in an accident earlier this year. If you could please keep them covered in prayer...especially at 1PM today. Thank you.

Adoption Prayers

Stepping Out of the Boat

Please join me in praying for my friend Laura (link to her blog above)...as she journeys on the road to adopting. May she have some good news, very soon.

I can Only Imagine

I can only imagine
What it will be like
When I walk
By your side

I can only imagine
What my eyes will see
When your face
Is before me
I can only imagine

[Chorus:]
Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel
Will I dance for you Jesus or in awe of you be still
Will I stand in your presence or to my knees will I fall
Will I sing hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all
I can only imagine

I can only imagine
When that day comes
And I find myself
Standing in the Son

I can only imagine
When all I will do
Is forever
Forever worship You
I can only imagine

[Chorus]

I can only imagine [x2]

I can only imagine
When all I will do
Is forever, forever worship you

we are fed

Intercessors Of The Lamb

When Mother Teresa of Calcutta was alive she came to the United States and said that out of all the countries in the world, America was the poorest of the poor. We are starving! Maybe it is because we are so busy talking that we are not listening, we are not receiving, we are not being fed in God’s presence. Jesus said, “Blessed are you who hunger and thirst for holiness (for My presence, for a relationship). You shall be satisfied!” One of the first things He did after the Resurrection was to feed His apostles after they had been fishing. They were out there fishing and, as usual, they caught nothing. We will not catch anything either. Jesus calls out to them; they did not recognize Him. He was in His resurrected form here. No one recognized Him. No one except John the contemplative. He knew the voice. He said, “It is the Lord!” Jesus called out, “Children, have you caught anything yet?” He said, “Cast your net on the right side.” That, for us, is the contemplative side, the receiving side. The left side, the left brain, is more the masculine part of us, where we are doing, speaking. The right brain is the receiving side. It is where we receive, where we are fed. Then we can go about the Father’s business in whatever He wants.

Excerpt from Mother Nadine’s, “Lord, Teach Us To Pray,” Springfield, MO, 2006

May we Feed on the Lord and then in turn be able to feed others in whatever way He wants. May this Christmas trully be a Feast!

“You Are My God”

The Feast

USCCB - (NAB) - December 5, 2007:
"Reading 1 Is 25:6-10a

On this mountain the LORD of hosts will provide for all peoples A feast of rich food and choice wines, juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines. On this mountain he will destroy the veil that veils all peoples, The web that is woven over all nations; he will destroy death forever. The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from all faces; The reproach of his people he will remove from the whole earth; for the LORD has spoken."

Prayer for Today: May we partake of the Feast that the Lord has laid out before us...by receiving Him in the Eucharist and by daily reading of His Word.

Feeding on the Word

Universalis: Office of Readings
A sermon by St Bernard

Let the word of the Lord come to us
We know that the coming of the Lord is threefold: the third coming is between the other two and it is not visible in the way they are. At his first coming the Lord was seen on earth and lived among men, who saw him and hated him. At his last coming All flesh shall see the salvation of our God, and They shall look on him whom they have pierced. In the middle, the hidden coming, only the chosen see him, and they see him within themselves; and so their souls are saved. The first coming was in flesh and weakness, the middle coming is in spirit and power, and the final coming will be in glory and majesty.

This middle coming is like a road that leads from the first coming to the last. At the first, Christ was our redemption; at the last, he will become manifest as our life; but in this middle way he is our rest and our consolation.
If you think that I am inventing what I am saying about the middle coming, listen to the Lord himself: If anyone loves me, he will keep my words, and the Father will love him, and we shall come to him. Elsewhere I have read: Whoever fears the Lord does good things. – but I think that what was said about whoever loves him was more important: that whoever loves him will keep his words. Where are these words to be kept? In the heart certainly, as the Prophet says I have hidden your sayings in my heart so that I do not sin against you. Keep the word of God in that way: Blessed are those who keep it. Let it penetrate deep into the core of your soul and then flow out again in your feelings and the way you behave; because if you feed your soul well it will grow and rejoice. Do not forget to eat your bread, or your heart will dry up. Remember, and your soul will grow fat and sleek.

If you keep God’s word like this, there is no doubt that it will keep you, for the Son will come to you with the Father: the great Prophet will come, who will renew Jerusalem, and he is the one who makes all things new. For this is what this coming will do: just as we have been shaped in the earthly image, so will we be shaped in the heavenly image. Just as the old Adam was poured into the whole man and took possession of him, so in turn will our whole humanity be taken over by Christ, who created all things, has redeemed all things, and will glorify all things.

A Living Prayer

In this world I walk alone with no place to call my home
But there's One who holds my hand
The rugged road through barren lands
The way is dark, the road is steep
But He's become my eyes to see
The strength to climb, my griefs to bear
This Savior lives inside me there

In Your love I find release
A haven from my unbelief
Take my life and let me be
A living prayer my God to thee

In these trials of life I find
Another Voice inside my mind
He comforts me and bids me live
Inside the love the Father gives

In your love I find release
A haven from my unbelief
Take my life and let me be
A living prayer my God to thee
take my life and let me be
A living prayer my God to thee

Pray for all parents

Let us pray for all parents, and teachers responsible for caring for the children...for wisdom and patience.

In a special way please pray for all homeschooling parents and particularly for the families that belong to my homeschooling group CHIME ...who are trying to answer God's call in a very specific way.

learning from the children

Intercessors Of The Lamb:
"December 6, 2004
“Prayer is the Way of Childhood”

The way of childhood is the way of littleness. Jesus said that we need to change; we need to repent. We need to become little or He said that we can not enter into His kingdom (Mt 18:2-4). Prayer is a striving to enter more and more into His kingdom by becoming little. This is totally against our culture, but the Bible cuts right across the culture."

Dear Lord may we trully be as little children in Your sight.

New Widgets

If you look on our side bar you will notice a couple of new 'widgets'...a prayer book and a calendar. Feel free to use these at your own discression (however,if I see anything that is not appropriate I do reserve the right to delete it).

My goal is to have this blog be as interactive as possible so that it is not merely about what I put out there. I need YOU!

It's About the Cross

Arise!

Universalis: Office of Readings:
"Psalm 9B (10)
Thanksgiving

With what purpose, Lord, do you stay away, hide yourself in time of need and trouble? The wicked in their pride persecute the weak, trap them in the plots they have devised. The sinner glories in his desires, the miser congratulates himself.The sinner in his arrogance rejects the Lord: “there is no God, no retribution”. This is what he thinks – and all goes well for him. Your judgements are far beyond his comprehension: he despises all who stand against him.

The sinner says to himself: “I will stand firm; nothing can touch me, from generation to generation”. His mouth is full of malice and deceit, under his tongue hide trouble and distress. He lies in ambush by the villages, he kills the innocent in some secret place. He watches the weak, he hides like a lion in its lair, and makes plans. He plans to rob the weak, lure him to his trap and rob him. He rushes in, makes a dive, and the poor victim is caught. For he has said to himself, “God has forgotten. He is not watching, he will never see”."

Come Lord Jesus...we need You! Now...more then ever.

The Golden Compass

Urban Legends Reference Pages: The Golden Compass

This movie opens on Friday and is another of the Evil One's targets on our children. Let us pray for a shield of protection on them. Let us pray also for all those that will see the movie and be brought in to the web of deception. and Finally let us pray for the author Philip Pullman (an atheist) that he come to know God and also for all the actors in this movie, especially Nicole Kidman (Catholic).

God Bless The Child

Pray for the children

USCCB - (NAB) - December 4, 2007
"Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb,
and the leopard shall lie down with the kid;
The calf and the young lion shall browse together,
with a little child to guide them."

Today's prayer: Let us pray for all children, that they be able have the freedom that the Lord has destined for them...freedom from the world of darkness that so strongly tries to ensnare them from early on...trying to steal their destiny.

Reminder

St Joseph Home Page: "Praise and Worship with Adoration every Monday in the main church from 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m."

Fr. Walter

Prayers for Fr. Walter who will be installed as Pastor of St. Anthony's Church in Cambridge, MA on Saturday at 4PM. Please keep their former Pastor Fr. Ferreira in your prayers as he enters retirement.

This is the parish of my youth (along with St. Anne's in Somerville) and it still holds a special place in my heart. May the Lord bless them abundantly.

“It is Love That Heals"

Intercessors Of The Lamb

"I remember when the Lord was first starting to teach me this lesson. He said, “Just bring your hurts to Me. Bring them to Me.” So, I did. I would simply mention something, which I noticed that He was bringing to my mind - things that might have been repressed or perhaps put on the back burner because they are “little” things. But these things are not little to Him. He would bring them to my mind and I would, in turn, bring each thing to Him. Suddenly each thing would just disappear. He would bring another hurt to my mind. I would bring that to Him and it would disappear. This happened for about thirty minutes. It was wonderful! Do you remember when you were little and you had an owie? You would take it to your mother and she would just kiss it away. He just kisses our owies and they go away. It was so wonderful! I remember that I almost hated the fact that I could think of no more owies. I just loved having everything kissed away. This is what He wants to do for us every day. He wants to heal us, to make us whole."

---Mother Nadine

On the sidebar under '*Notes' there is a list of our active prayer requests and also of those prayer requests that have been answered already(praise reports)... please join us in praying and don't forget to bring your own 'owies' to the Lord. He desperately wants to heal His children, but He needs to be approached and asked (He won't just interfere in our lives without our consent)...nothing is too big or too small for Him...nor for the prayer warriors in this group to pray over either.

If you post a comment under a particular prayer request...be it something simple like 'Amen' or 'I'm praying' then you can choose to receive updates by e-mail for that particular thread.

Healing Rain

USCCB - (NAB) - December 3, 2007

USCCB - (NAB) - December 3, 2007:

"The centurion said in reply, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed."

Prayer for Today: May we have the faith of the Centurion and wait expectantly for healings in our lives this Advent Season.

Days of Elijah video

reposting this one...


What Are We Singing: The Days of Elijah

"Sing On!

The next time you are in a worship service and are singing the now wildly popular Days of Elijah; think about what you are saying… and what you are willing to do.

Are you ready to gather in the harvest? Are you ready to shout, “Prepare ye the way of the Lord!”?"

Universalis: Morning Prayer (Lauds)

Universalis: Morning Prayer (Lauds):
"Psalm 62 (63)
Thirsting for God

O God, you are my God, I wait for you from the dawn. My soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you. I came to your sanctuary,as one in a parched and waterless land, so that I could see your might and your glory. My lips will praise you, for your mercy is better than life itself. Thus I will bless you throughout my life, and raise my hands in prayer to your name; my soul will be filled as if by rich food,and my mouth will sing your praises and rejoice. I will remember you as I lie in bed, I will think of you in the morning, for you have been my helper, and I will take joy in the protection of your wings. My soul clings to you; your right hand raises me up."

Preparation Begins!

USCCB - (NAB) - December 2, 2007:
"Reading II
Rom 13:11-14

Brothers and sisters: You know the time; it is the hour now for you to awake from sleep. For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed; the night is advanced, the day is at hand. Let us then throw off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves properly as in the day, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in promiscuity and lust, not in rivalry and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh."

Prayer for Today: On this first day of Advent, let us not only prepare our houses for Christmas but our hearts and souls too.

Forever Families

Please say a prayer for my son today on his 'gotcha day'. Four years ago today he joined our family and made it complete.
Click here for full story

Let's pray also for all the other children out there that are still waiting.

Forever

for His love is for ever.

Universalis: Office of Readings:
"Psalm 135 (136)

He led his people through the wilderness,
for his love is for ever.

He struck down great kings,
for his love is for ever.

Sihon, king of the Amorites,
for his love is for ever.

And Og, the king of Bashan,
for his love is for ever.

He gave their land to his people,
for his love is for ever.

A heritage for Israel his servant,
for his love is for ever.

He remembered us in our affliction,
for his love is for ever.

He rescued us from our enemies,
for his love is for ever.

He gives food to all creatures that live,
for his love is for ever.

Give thanks to the God of heaven,
for his love is for ever."

USCCB - (NAB) - December 1, 2007

USCCB - (NAB) - December 1, 2007:

"“These four great beasts stand for four kingdoms which shall arise on the earth. But the holy ones of the Most High shall receive the kingship, to possess it forever and ever.”"

Prayer for Today: Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Christmas Novena

Cottage Blessings: Christmas Novena for the Feast of St. Andrew

The Master's Voice

Intercessors Of The Lamb

The link above takes you to a wonderful article by Mother Nadine about listening to God.

Prayers for teacher

Protesters demand execution of teddy row teacher | Special reports | Guardian Unlimited

Let's all pray for this woman.

The Summons

godtouches - Catholic Hymns:
"The Summons

1. Will you come and follow me if I but call your name? Will you go where you don't know and never be the same? Will you let my love be shown? Will you let my name be known, will you let my life be grown in you and you in me?

2. Will you leave yourself behind if I but call your name? Will you care for cruel and kind and never be the same? Will you risk the hostile stare should your life attract or scare? Will you let me answer prayer in you and you in me?

3. Will you let the blinded see if I but call your name? Will you set the prisoners free and never be the same? Will you kiss the leper clean and do such as this unseen, and admit to what I mean in you and you in me?

4. Will you love the 'you' you hide if I but call your name? Will you quell the fear inside and never be the same? Will you use the faith you've found to reshape the world around, through my sight and touch and sound in you and you in me?

5. Lord your summons echoes true when you but call my name. Let me turn and follow you and never be the same. In Your company I'll go where Your love and footsteps show. Thus I'll move and live and grow in you and you in me."

St. Andrew Feast Day

Universalis: Today:
"St Andrew the Apostle

He was born in Bethsaida, in Galilee, and worked as a fisherman. He may have been a disciple of St John the Baptist. He became one of the first to follow Jesus and introduced his brother, Simon Peter, to him. As one of the twelve Apostles he was widely venerated in ancient times, and became patron saint of Scotland because according to legend some of his bones were brought there and buried at the place where the town of St Andrew’s now stands."

St. Andrew pray for us...that we too may be faithful Apostles of the Lord.

USCCB - (NAB) - November 30, 2007

USCCB - (NAB) - November 30, 2007:
"Mt 4:18-22

As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him."

Prayer for Today: May we also have the courage and humility to hear the Lord's voice, obey it and then stick with it.

Prayer request

My mom fell yesterday and fractured her wrist. Anthony has surgery tomorrow to remove the tongue tie. I need prayers for them and for me to remain strong.

Luisa

I got the above e-mail from my cousin today...please pray for my aunt's wrist to heal and for all to go well tomorrow with her 4 year old son's surgery. Thank you.

the month before Christmas

Spirit Daily - Daily spiritual news from around the world


Twas the month before Christmas
> When all through our land,
> Not a Christian was praying
> Nor taking a stand.
Why the Politically Correct Police had taken away,
> The reason for Christmas - no one could say.
> The children were told by their schools not to sing,
> About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.
> It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say
> December 25th is just a " Holiday ".
> Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit. Pushing folks
> down to the floor just to get it!
> CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod.
> Something was changing, something quite odd!
> Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa
> In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.
> As Targets were hanging their trees upside down
> At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.
> At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears
> You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.
> Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty
> Are words that were used to intimidate me.
> Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen
> On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton !
> At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter
> To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.
> And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith
> Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace.
> The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded
> The reason for the season, stopped before it started.
> So as you celebrate "Winter Break" under your "Dream Tree"
> Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.
> Choose your words carefully, choose what you say
> Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS, not Happy Holiday !

please pray

"dear friends, please pray for my friend's mom. she has a blood infection and it has infected her heart. it is very serious and she could be facing death. please pray for healing. please pray she is open to the Sacraments and that it is offered to her at this time, just in case. lastly, please pray my friend is open to help and support in some fashion, during this time.

love mel"

Stand Up

USCCB - (NAB) - November 29, 2007: "
“There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads"

Prayer for Today: May we have enough faith and hope in God to be able to stand erect ready for action and raise our heads in acknowledgement, when tragedies happen around us.

Watch Video Here!

Prayers for my dad, please

As some of you know, he's been in a local nursing home for almost a year now. Recently the opportunity to move him to St. Joseph's Manor in Brockton, has come up. We are investigating this for him and could use some prayers to help in the discernment process. It is a lot further away from me so I'm sort of divided over this, but if it is the best for him and within God's will then ofcourse I'll be thrilled. He'd be down the street from my brother and most importantly within a Catholic setting...the residence has a chapel and they hold Mass there each week. I'm going to go over there this afternoon with my brother to check it out. Please keep all of us in your prayers.

While we are at it let's also pray for all the elderly in nursing homes and their families, and for those that are in the process of making this very difficult decision.

Prayer of St Francis of Assisi

Prayer of St Francis of Assisi:
"Lord, make me an instrument of your peace, Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy;

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life."

May we keep this prayer in our hearts as we get ready to begin our preparations for Christmas. Spreading God's love to all we meet.

I Surrender All

USCCB - (NAB) - November 28, 2007:

"You had the vessels of his temple brought before you, so that you and your nobles, your wives and your entertainers, might drink wine from them; and you praised the gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, that neither see nor hear nor have intelligence. But the God in whose hand is your life breath and the whole course of your life, you did not glorify."

Prayer for Today: May we put away all of our 'false idols' and glorify God alone!

Universalis: Morning Prayer (Lauds)

Universalis: Morning Prayer (Lauds):
"1 Thessalonians 5:4 - 5 ©

"It is not as if you live in the dark, my brothers, for that Day to overtake you like a thief. No, you are all sons of light and sons of the day: we do not belong to the night or to darkness."

Be Not Afraid

USCCB - (NAB) - November 27, 2007:
"When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for such things must happen first, but it will not immediately be the end.” "

Prayer for Today: May the Lord pour down His grace upon us and fill our hearts so full of peace and love for one another that fear has no hold on us.

Universalis: Vespers

Universalis: Vespers:
"1 Thessalonians 2:13 ©

We constantly thank God for you because as soon as you heard the message that we brought you as God’s message, you accepted it for what it really is, God’s message and not some human thinking; and it is still a living power among you who believe it."

Praying that we may live in intimate relationship with Our Lord Jesus Christ...listening for God's messages and promptly obeying...no matter the cost.

Cursillo Weekend

Hi Essy, I will pray for you and the folks on your prayer list.

Please keep the team and candidates for this cursillo weekend in your prayers. It starts Thurs. evening. I will be doing a 4th day witness talk.

May God continue to bless you with all good things.

Love,
Mary Regan

Christian Unity

ANALYSIS: Will Anglicans Come Home to Rome? - Catholic Online:

"Sources indicate that a formal request from a large group of Anglicans for full communion with the Catholic Church is also to be discussed. Bishops of the “Traditional Anglican Communion” (TAC) officially petitioned for what they called a “full, corporate, sacramental union” with the Roman Catholic Church. The letter was personally delivered to the Holy See by their representative. "

Continued prayers that true Christian Unity may one day be achieved.

Holy Spirit Rain Down

Universalis: Morning Prayer (Lauds)

Universalis: Morning Prayer (Lauds):
"Prayers and Intercessions

Our Saviour has made us into a royal priesthood offering acceptable sacrifices to God. Let us thank him and ask him: - Lord, help us to serve God.

Christ, eternal Priest, you conferred your holy priesthood on your people.
Grant that we may ceaselessly offer acceptable sacrifices to God.

Be generous with the gifts of your Spirit:
patience, kindness and gentleness.

Give us the gift of loving you,
so that we may possess you, for you yourself are love.

Give us the gift of doing good,
so that we may praise you simply by living.

Grant that we may seek whatever is best for our brethren
and ease their path to salvation."

Universalis: Office of Readings

Universalis: Office of Readings:
"2 Peter 1:1 - 11 ©
From Simeon Peter, servant and apostle of Jesus Christ; to all who treasure the same faith as ourselves, given through the righteousness of our God and saviour Jesus Christ. May you have more and more grace and peace as you come to know our Lord more and more.

By his divine power, he has given us all the things that we need for life and for true devotion, bringing us to know God himself, who has called us by his own glory and goodness. In making these gifts, he has given us the guarantee of something very great and wonderful to come: through them you will be able to share the divine nature and to escape corruption in a world that is sunk in vice. But to attain this, you will have to do your utmost yourselves, adding goodness to the faith that you have, understanding to your goodness, self-control to your understanding, patience to your self-control, true devotion to your patience, kindness towards your fellow men to your devotion, and, to this kindness, love. If you have a generous supply of these, they will not leave you ineffectual or unproductive: they will bring you to a real knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But without them a man is blind or else short-sighted; he has forgotten how his past sins were washed away. Brothers, you have been called and chosen: work all the harder to justify it. If you do all these things there is no danger that you will ever fall away. In this way you will be granted admittance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ."

Prayer for Today: May we be filled with Faith, Goodness, Understanding, Self-Control, Patience, True Devotion, Kindness and Love.

Maye each one of us and our family members be able to 'escape corruption in a world that is sunk in vice'.

In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit! Amen.

Prayers for the Jenard Family

Hi, Prayer Warriors,

I would like to ask for your prayers for the Jenard family. I met Carol and her daughter Jamie after the 9am Mass today. Jamie's dad is at Brigham & Women's Hospital with cancer in multiple locations. In addition to your prayers and sacrifices for this intention, I'd like to ask if anyone would be interested, and available, to come pray at the hospital.

I believe that the Lord has something special for this family as this is their first year at St. Joseph School. Jamie is in 6th or 7th grade. School families are helping them with their school obligations and meals twice a week. I asked Carol what she needed at this time and she said that all they need is our prayers, and for the husband to come home.

God bless you.

Laura

Come, Now is the Time to Worship

Prayer for Today: That all will give their heart to the King of kings!

Here We Are To Worship

Thy kingdom come

Universalis: Office of Readings

From a discourse of Origen on prayer
Thy kingdom come

The coming of the kingdom of God, says our Lord and Saviour, does not admit of observation, and there will be no-one to say “Look here! Look there!” For the kingdom of God is within us and in our hearts. And so it is beyond doubt that whoever prays for the coming of the kingdom of God within himself is praying rightly, praying for the kingdom to dawn in him, bear fruit and reach perfection. For God reigns in every saint, and every saint obeys God’s spiritual laws — God, who dwells in him just as he dwells in any well-ordered city. The Father is present in him and in his soul Christ reigns alongside the Father, as it is said: We will come to him and make our dwelling with him.

Therefore, as we continue to move forward without ceasing, the kingdom of God within us will reach its perfection in us at that moment when the saying in the Apostle is fulfilled, that Christ, His enemies all made subject to Him, shall deliver the kingdom to God the Father that God may be All in All.

For this reason let us pray without ceasing, our souls filled by a desire made divine by the Word Himself. Let us pray to our Father in heaven: hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come.

There is something important that we need to understand about the kingdom of God: just as righteousness has no partnership with lawlessness, just as light has nothing in common with darkness and Christ has no agreement with Belial, so the kingdom of God and a kingdom of sin cannot co-exist.

So if we want God to reign within us, on no account may sin rule in our mortal body but let us mortify our earthly bodies and let us be made fruitful by the Spirit. Then we will be a spiritual garden of Eden for God to walk in. God will rule in us with Christ who will be seated in us on the right hand of God — God, the spiritual power that we pray to receive — until he makes his enemies (who are within us) into his footstool and pours out on us all authority, all power, all strength.

This can happen to any one of us and death, the last enemy may be destroyed, so that in us Christ says Death, where is your sting? Death, where is your victory? So let our corruptibility be clothed today with holiness and incorruption. With Death dead, let our mortality be cloaked in the Father’s immortality. With God ruling in us, let us be immersed in the blessings of regeneration and resurrection.

A Call to Worship

Universalis: Morning Prayer (Lauds):
"Psalm 94 (95)
A call to worship

Come, let us rejoice in the Lord, let us acclaim God our salvation. Let us come before him proclaiming our thanks, let us acclaim him with songs. For the Lord is a great God, a king above all gods. For he holds the depths of the earth in his hands, and the peaks of the mountains are his. For the sea is his: he made it; and his hands formed the dry land. Come, let us worship and bow down, bend the knee before the Lord who made us; for he himself is our God and we are his flock, the sheep that follow his hand. If only, today, you would listen to his voice: “Do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, on the day of Massah in the desert, when your fathers tested me – they put me to the test, although they had seen my works”. “For forty years they wearied me, that generation. I said: their hearts are wandering, they do not know my paths. I swore in my anger: they will never enter my place of rest”.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen."

Praise God!

USCCB - (NAB) - November 23, 2007
Reading 1
1 Mc 4:36-37, 52-59

"On the anniversary of the day on which the Gentiles had defiled it,
on that very day it was reconsecrated
with songs, harps, flutes, and cymbals.
All the people prostrated themselves and adored and praised Heaven,
who had given them success."

Today's Prayer: May we too praise Heaven and Adore Our God joyfully Who has given us all.

USCCB - (NAB) - November 22, 2007

USCCB - (NAB) - November 22, 2007:
"Reading 1
Sir 50:22-24

And now, bless the God of all, who has done wondrous things on earth; Who fosters people’s growth from their mother’s womb, and fashions them according to his will! May he grant you joy of heart and may peace abide among you; May his goodness toward us endure in Israel to deliver us in our days."

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Thank You Lord

I don't know who these people on the video are...lol...but it is the best sounding video of this song that I could find.

Thanksgiving prayer

Thanksgiving Day Meal prayer

+Thanksgiving Day Meal+


Father, all of Creation rightly owes you thanks and praise. Your justice, love and mercy abound. We thank you this day for all that you have given us:

For the Passion and Death of your Divine Son..... we thank you Father....through the Cross, He redeemed the world.
For the Church......... we thank you Father.... it is our beacon for salvation.
For the martyrs and saints who give testimony to your Son......... we thank you Father.....their witness to your Son is our inheritance.
For our loved ones and friends who have died and gone before us..... we thank you Father...their love abides with us forever.
For loving spouses ......we thank you Father......together we seek you.
For the gift of children.....we thank you Father....they are your precious gifts to us and to the world.
For the gift of our families, loved ones and good friends.......we thank you Father....Through them we see the reflection of your Son.
For jobs, our homes and all that we have.....we thank you Father....give us only that which we need, as we seek Your Kingdom.
For the bounty we are about to eat...we thank you through Christ Our Lord. Amen

video

Universalis: Office of Readings

Universalis: Office of Readings:
"A sermon of St Augustine

By faith she believed; by faith, conceived

Stretching out his hand over his disciples, the Lord Christ declared: Here are my mother and my brothers; anyone who does the will of my Father who sent me is my brother and sister and my mother.

I would urge you to ponder these words. Did the Virgin Mary, who believed by faith and conceived by faith, who was the chosen one from whom our Saviour was born among men, who was created by Christ before Christ was created in her – did she not do the will of the Father? Indeed the blessed Mary certainly did the Father’s will, and so it was for her a greater thing to have been Christ’s disciple than to have been his mother, and she was more blessed in her discipleship than in her motherhood. Hers was the happiness of first bearing in her womb him whom she would obey as her master."

A Mother to Remember

A Mother to Remember : A Catholic Reflection:
"Jesus has charged Mary with being our mother (Jn 19:26). She who was presented to the Lord in the Temple now presents us unfailingly to God in prayer with her motherly love. The Lord uses Mary to transmit great faith to her children in time of trial. Satisfy Jesus' thirst (Jn 19:28). Receive Mary's help.

PRAYER: Jesus, in giving Mary as my mother (Jn 19:26), You gave me more than a great sum of money (Lk 19:13). I will embrace and use this gift so as to bear the return You expect."

For Mothers

USCCB - (NAB) - November 21, 2007:
"Reading 1 2 Mc 7:1, 20-31

It happened that seven brothers with their mother were arrested and tortured with whips and scourges by the king, to force them to eat pork in violation of God’s law.

Most admirable and worthy of everlasting remembrance was the mother, who saw her seven sons perish in a single day, yet bore it courageously because of her hope in the Lord."

Today we offer a prayer of gratitude for Our Blessed Mother, and for all earthly mothers.

Universalis: Vespers

Universalis: Vespers:
"Prayers and Intercessions:

Christ the Lord lives among us and we are his adopted people.Let us praise him and offer him our prayers:
- Lord, listen to us and show your greatness.

Lord, king and ruler of the nations, guide all peoples and all who exercise power
that they may work together for the common good, according to your laws.

You conquered our captivity and took it prisoner:
restore to freedom our brethren who are captive in body or in soul.

May our young grow up irreproachable in your sight
and may they wholeheartedly follow you when you call.

Make children follow your example
and move steadily forward in wisdom and grace.

Take up the dead into your eternal kingdom
where we hope one day to rule at your side"

Fresh Fire

Fresh Fire
David Hamilton and Don Moen | Copyright | 2006 Gratia Music (adm by The Loving Company)/ASCAP and Integrity's Hosanna! Music/ASCAP

Fresh fire let it fall
O God hear our call
Send Your Spirit like a rushing wind
We need fresh fire

We are hungry we are thirsty
Crying out for more of You
Lord we are desperate for Your mercy
Let us burn to know Your Truth
Light a flame in us now
Send Your holy fire down

We have left our hearts unguarded
We confess we've walked away
Lord take us back to where we started
Where we first found love and grace
Light a flame in us now
Send Your holy fire down

More of Your love
More of Your power
Send a revival
We need it now
Stir up a fire
Let it burn brighter
Let the flame burn higher
higher higher

Revive us again

from Fr. Ron

"This weekend, with the Feast of Christ the King, we bring our liturgical
year to an end. The question we all need to ask is has this year brought us
closer in our relationship with Jesus? Is He the king of my life? As you
know, we were created to be in friendship with God. If Jesus is not the
center of our life, then we are not fulfilling the purpose of our life.
Hopefully, we can all say that we have made progress in our spiritual growth. If we have, let us
continue to grow. If not, let us make the effort to do so, starting today. One suggestion is to
take time every day to tell Jesus how you are feeling, what is happening in your life, and where
you need help. Also, thank him for your blessings every day."

Wendy Cukierski

Subject: Fwd: Prayers needed for Wendy Cukierski
>>
Whitman was born at 7:36 a.m. at 8 lb and
>> 20"...everything was fine until 11 when Wendy started to
>> hemorrage...she's on her 2nd unit of blood and they were blowing
>> veins trying to get a line into her, but Walt said it's slowed down
>> now. We need to get her on the prayer lines although I think she's
>> doing better. Please start praying and forward to your prayer
>> partners, warriors, whomever!
http://www.cukierski.net/index.shtml
>

a personal request

If you could all please say a quick prayer for my family today. Our dog (a black lab that we've had for over 13 years) is going to be put down today. The kids seem to be doing ok...me...not so much.

Thank you.

Universalis: Morning Prayer (Lauds)

Universalis: Morning Prayer (Lauds):

"Psalm 23 (24)

The Lord comes to his temple The Lord’s is the earth and its fullness, the world and all who live in it. He himself founded it upon the seas and set it firm over the waters. Who will climb the mountain of the Lord? Who will stand in his holy place? The one who is innocent of wrongdoing and pure of heart, who has not given himself to vanities or sworn falsely. He will receive the blessing of the Lord and be justified by God his saviour. This is the way of those who seek him, seek the face of the God of Jacob.

Gates, raise your heads. Stand up, eternal doors, and let the king of glory enter.

Who is the king of glory? The Lord of might and power. The Lord, strong in battle.

Gates, raise your heads. Stand up, eternal doors, and let the king of glory enter.

Who is the king of glory? The Lord of hosts – he is the king of glory.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen."

Universalis: Office of Readings

Universalis: Office of Readings:

"Concluding Prayer

O Lord our God, grant that we may always find joy in serving you; for if we constantly serve the one from all good things come, it will give us perfect happiness for ever. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen."

Short Stuff

Short Stuff : A Catholic Reflection:
"Like Zacchaeus, we are all short – short on money, brains, opportunities, patience, strength, etc. We can spend our lives on tiptoe, up trees, and climbing ladders, or we can live for Jesus.

PRAYER: Jesus, because You died on a tree, I don't have to climb one. Because you climbed the hill of Calvary, I don't have to climb the ladder of success. I thank You, adore You as God, and totally give my life to You."

Days of Elijah

Rosary Meditations

Living His Life Abundantly, Women of Grace and Canticle Magazine

I just wanted to recommend this beautiful set of two CD's called 'My Soul Magnifies the Lord' by Johnette Benkovick. I'm not affiliated with them in anyway, so get nothing by saying this but I own a set and absolutely love it.

Prayers for the men

Spirit Daily - Daily spiritual news from around the world:

" Men, you have an obligation to join your wives and mothers, your sisters, in defending and filling and reviving the Church. It cannot go on forever without you. It is time for real men to stand up. Do you really want to see the Church destroyed? It is also time to kneel. It is masculine to love God. It is masculine to love others. It is masculine to fight for Jesus while we are on this battlefield, this playing field, in this boxing ring called earth.

Want real power? Want real masculinity? Pray. Go the Mass. Fast. See if you are tough enough for that"

Let's pray for all of the men in our lives today. May the Lord draw their hearts back to Him so that they can fulfill their role in the church and in their families more fully. May St. Joseph intercede on their behalf.

Prayers for Fr. Francis Mary

Fr. John Trigilio comments on Fr. Francis Mary Stone
Prayers for Fr. Francis Mary of EWTN's 'Life on the Rock' and for all priests. May St. Michael come to their defense.

“Lord, please let me see.”

USCCB - (NAB) - November 19, 2007

Gospel
Lk 18:35-43

As Jesus approached Jericho
a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging,
and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening.

They told him,
“Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”
He shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!”
The people walking in front rebuked him,
telling him to be silent,
but he kept calling out all the more,
“Son of David, have pity on me!”
Then Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to him;
and when he came near, Jesus asked him,
“What do you want me to do for you?”
He replied, “Lord, please let me see.”
Jesus told him, “Have sight; your faith has saved you.”
He immediately received his sight
and followed him, giving glory to God.
When they saw this, all the people gave praise to God.

Today's Prayer:
Dear Lord, we too want to see...so that we can follow You more fully and give You glory. Amen.

Universalis: Compline (Night Prayer)

Universalis: Compline (Night Prayer)
:

"Let us pray. Today we have celebrated the mystery of the Christ’s resurrection, and so now we humbly ask you, Lord, that we may rest in your peace, far from all harm, and rise rejoicing and giving praise to you. Through Christ our Lord, Amen."