Our Lady of Mount Carmel...found in the newspaper.

One day a few months ago I was feeling very down and I had been talking aka praying a lot to the Blessed Virgin Mary or Mother Mary. I wasn't sure I was being heard as we often have our doubts, fears, health crises,  that can take up our lives or make us not have faith or believe. The very human side of us where we all need that mustard seed of reassurance that there is something looking over us. There are plenty of days I feel in despair or just don't think there is anything..days where the world events are so heavy on my heart I cry and cry. Or when I see dear friends and family members dealing with such issues that are completely unjust it can make you question everything and wonder..really is there something.

I was about to put the newspaper in the recycleable pile and something told me not to pass over one page in particular. It was ads for houses, things to buy..and then one at the very bottom jumped out at me. It was an ad that said ANNOUNCEMENTS religious ad for "PRAYER TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY". I was sort of stunned since I read this newspaper all the time on Sunday and Thursday and never saw any ad like that before. I thought...could this be a sign from her?

I wanted to share the prayer because I thought it was a really beautiful and meaningful one. I used it myself since I was not feeling the greatest and was sent what I call angelic helpers in human form with regards to my health including my friends, mom, and family rallying behind me and sending a lot of support in ways unexpected that gave me peace and hope on the day I finished it so I am publishing it hear in hopes that others will use it and pass it along.

"PRAYER TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY"

(Never known to fail) Oh most beautiful flower of Mt. Carmel, fruitful vine splendor of heave, Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity. Oh, Star of the Sea, help me, show me herein, you are my mother. Oh Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth! I humbly beseech you you from the bottom of my heart to succor me in this necessity.
There are none that can withstand your power. Oh Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us have recourse to thee. Holy Mother, I  place this cause in your hands (3X). Holy Spirit, you who solve all problems, light all roads so that I can attain my goal. You who gave me the divine gift to forgive and forget all evil against me in that all instances in my life you are with me. I want in this short prayer  to thank you for thing as you conform once again that I never want to be separated from you in eternal glory. Thank you for your mercy towards me and mine. The person must say this prayer 3 consecutive days. After 3 days, the request will be granted. This prayer must be published after the favor is granted." J.P.H.

May: Month of St. Mary the Blessed Mother

May is revered as the month in which to honor Mary the Mother of Jesus and all her children of the earth as well every mother but we can and should do this every day. This is just a memo of reminding everyone to ask for her intercession, blessings, and guidance. Just recently I've been calling on Mary more and more or as she is known by other names of Mother Mary, Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Lady, Mary Queen of Angels, Mary Queen of Heaven whatever you wish to name her.

The Memorare prayer to Mary is one I use often and find a great deal of comfort in. It's one of my favorites. Sometimes I will pray that prayer on the rosary instead of the Hail Mary. I originally discovered it in Janice T. Connell's book "Praying with Mary: Sacred Prayers to the Blessed Mother for All Occasions". She said it's her and her family's Miracle Prayer that they have always turned to and works for them. You may also want to give it a try and pray each day this month for Mary and anyone else in need.

Here it is:

 THE MEMORARE

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 with this confidence,
I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins,
my mother; to thee do I come, before
thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful.

O Mother of the Word Incarnate,
despise not my petitions, but in thy
mercy, hear and answer me. 

(Mention request)

Amen.

Encountering St. Therese At A Pizza Place...

This is probably one of things that I still am having a OMG moment. I will say this..St. Therese does make herself known and connects with you (and I notice she does it at times in comical ways like for instance for a friend I had started a novena and the next day turned on the TV to the Rose Bowl with a giant rose on..I didn't know the Rose Bowl was going to be on at that time I clicked it on). I had started a novena and the next day I had gotten in the mail unbeknownst to me a package from her Society of the Little Flower since I am a part of their mailing list with roses on the envelope and roses on the cards for Valetine's Day to send out.

But this is the biggest sign I've ever gotten. My grandma took my mom and I out to lunch for helping her move to this very nice pizza place. As we walked in I wasn't sure what to make of what was staring up at me. At the front of the place they had a Good Luck Maneki Neko Gold Cat to bring in business but that wasn't what made me think, "Wait a minute is that really who I think it is?" and there in the center was a large image of St. Therese or Little Flower complete with roses in front of her.
I was in absolute shock and I told my mother (this happens to be her patron saint, why I know about her and the name she took for her Confirmation.) She had also started a novena and sent out a St. Therese Healing Prayer Card to her godmother who was diagnosed with cancer. (my mom sent it before she found out but was told she was in the hospital, had tests done and our thoughts were to send a card.) I said to my mom, "Don't you think it's something..that we see her in a pizza place..how strange...HER..St. Therese someone we are praying to at this time?") Apparently she had answered the prayers of someone there or perhaps someone is asking for her help with healing. I didn't ask but when I go back I want to know why they have an altar there to her. I can only bet that she has assisted so many times and came through and that was their gratitude for what she had delivered.

I know my mom also started another novena and I am also praying for loved ones that are having health issues to St. Therese. When I started one the picture at the beginning of the post is what I found when going through old drawers to get rid of.

I want to thank St. Therese for all she has done for me, my family and those who are in ill health, recovering, or despair. I connect to her enduring poor health, anxiety, and issues of faith. Although she passed on at a young age of 24 her impact and work has made a profound difference. St. Therese, you really are keeping your last wish of spending heaven doing good upon the earth. We love you.

Words of St. Therese...Prayerful Reflection.

 You can use this as a prayer or way to start off the day. It is a simple, direct way to ask for St. Therese's presence in your life.

  

“May today there be peace within.

May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.

May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.

May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.

May you be content knowing you are a child of God.

Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.

It is there for each and every one of us.”
― Thérèse de Lisieux

St. Jude..Super Saint

St. Jude has struck again...he is a superhero of a saint.

So, get this...there was a very hopeless situation I was in.
I had an Echocardiogram done in the beginning of April
and the results kept getting lost or not faxed..(back
and forth with the hospital..) and this was now May.
I was concerned there was something not right with
my heart and was waiting for the evidence to back this
up.

Finally, I gave up. I sent a petition to St. Jude's shrine in Chicago
online and said a prayer to him to please do something because
I needed those results.

When I woke up the next morning I had the clear inspiration
and thought that the printer I had..also had a fax machine.
I don't know why this hadn't struck me before but the idea
was practical enough. Set up the fax machine, hook it up
and have them fax the results over to you.

I didn't think I would be able to read the printer's manual
or know what I was doing but I kept saying St. Jude's
name to show me how to do it right and that it would work.
I set it up and was able to get the faxed results.

Turned out there were abnormalities on the test that
shouldn't be on heart with a defect.

Now, I have to say here..I'm asking St. Jude help
for my health again but am also remembering to say THANK YOU
publicly again St. Jude for what you did.

Call on St. Jude today..you won't get a bill!

St. Jude...A Caring Attitude...A Tech Guy Dude Too..

 So, I sent out a quick request to St. Jude..because I tried over seven times to enter my information to submit online and it wasn't going through. I kept getting error messages..so for some unknown reason I thought to send a petition online at his shrine based in Chicago. About a minute later after sending that request through about fixing that and asking for him to do something...I got this inspiration out of nowhere..and I wasn't sure why I hadn't thought of it before but I decided to open up regular Internet Explorer to fill out the form instead of using Mozilla Firefox which is my web browser. I was overcome with a feeling that it was going to work..and guess what..I'm surprised to say it did. I'm actually really confused at the moment because I hadn't taken him for a tech-whiz fellow or Saint of the Internet..(I mean there weren't even computers when he was around)..but it was an impossible situation because I was ready to not even bother since it wasn't working.

Thanks St. Jude!

Check out his shrine to read his story, send e-prayer cards, send your petitions, light a candle, and more!

Hey Jude...

One of the most popular saints ever petitioned is St. Jude Thaddeus or St. Jude( I mean can you imagine Paul McCartney singing a new rendition of Hey Jude..with St. Jude..). He is widely known as the patron saint of lost cases and impossible things. He is the one you go to for money, career or any other type of crisis. Most often he assists you out last minute or comes through in a way you hadn't conceived of but he reportedly gets the job done.

It's no coincidence that the meaning behind his name is generous, kind, and courageous because he lived this life this way and answers others through those channels.

It is customary to publish a word of thanks and devotion to him and the prayer that you used to in a way advertise his services. With social media being the way it is you might also do a video, post it on Facebook, or tweet it.

The entire back story of how St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and widespread attention for St. Jude's Shrine all begins with actor Danny Thomas. You see at the time he was struggling to make it in the entertainment biz and was a nightclub entertainer not getting much money or attention that he needed to provide for of his expanding family and to get paid more for his gigs. He stagehand told him about St. Jude..okay practically bragged about that was that the saint to approach because his wife had a miraculous turn around from cancer that didn't seem it would ever happen after he petitioned to him. Let's just say Danny Thomas bargained with St. Jude..help me out and I'll do something big in your name. He started out small with prayers to St. Jude and little by little starting earning more money and landing gigs..eventually his very prayers were answered. You can read the entire story here.

Here is the prayer to say to him:

Most holy apostle, St. Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the Church honors and invokes you universally, as the patron of hopeless cases, of things almost despaired of.

Pray for me, I am so helpless and alone. Make use I implore you, of that particular privilege given to you, to bring visible and speedy help where help is almost despaired of.

Come to my assistance in this great need that I may receive the consolation and help of heaven in all my necessities, tribulations, and sufferings, particularly (here make your request) and that I may praise God with you and all the elect forever.

I promise, O blessed St. Jude, to be ever mindful of this great favor, to always honor you as my special and powerful patron, and to gratefully encourage devotion to you.

Amen.

Spark Notes: I must say this..sometimes you may say a novena and you don't have an evident evidence that it's being answered and you go wtf was that about and wonder if they are there. I will say this. You can't blame a saint if nothing happens and other instances you really don't know what is going on..perhaps a learning lesson in patience, faith, or seeing the good in others; maybe it's just for you to learn more about that saint and making a closer bond with them by petitioning them and becoming familiar with your life as it will give you persistence in your own; or things can take longer to answer or maybe the infamous line of whatever will be, will be. Do know the saint or saints you ask for are with you regardless of the outcome. They are present with you.