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Delivered Monday through Friday!
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October 17,
2008
Your Smile
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I Never Pray Alone
Eleanor B. Crafa
Northport, New York
Nearly fifty years ago when I was approaching my mid twenties, I
worked during the day and attended college in the evening. I was studying
to be a teacher.
 I was the youngest sibling and had been a bridesmaid at least seven
times. I didn't lack dates, but I never developed a relationship serious
enough for a lifetime commitment. My mother was concerned because
she felt God's plan for me was to be a wife and mother. She went to
church and prayed to St. Anthony for his intercession in finding me a
kind and loving husband.
More
http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/monasticmoments/archives/151632.asp
From the book 101 Inspirational Stories of the Power of Prayer
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Blogs Supporting 101 Prayer |
The Daily Grotto
Danielle Bean
Friends for Jesus
Cause of Our Joy
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Rejoice in Me
by Msgr. David E. Rosage
Storm-tossed
Psalm 107:32
Let them extol him in the assembly of the people
and praise him in the council of the elders.
The seafarers were storm-tossed and in a great peril until the Lord hushed the storm to a gentle breeze and stilled the billows of the sea.
Our life is like the seafarers' voyage. We are threatened by the towering waves of difficulties and discouragement, by the mighty winds of worry and anxiety. When we cry to the Lord in our distress, we can be sure that he will rescue us. For his great goodness we want to praise the Lord not only privately, but we ought also to "extol him in the assembly of the people," that is, in our ligurgical celebrations.
May the prayer of the Old Testament writer be our prayer also: "Save us, O God, our savior, gather us and deliver us from the nations, That we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in praising you." (1 Chr 16:35)
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A Smile from Home - Danielle Bean
Today's Thought
Visit Danielle's Blog to see
pictures and links to go with this text.
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Greetings from London with Sister Janet Fearns, FMDM
Pause for Prayer
Visit Janet's Blog to see pictures to go with this text.
On a personal note…
Living martyrs
The year was 1998. The place was Rome and the number 23 bus heading towards St. Peter’s. I was enjoying the scenery along the way when I suddenly realised that the two people standing in the aisle were speaking in English and that they had chosen the language because they had, erroneously, thought they would not be understood. Perhaps they were foolish in their assumption, but, from the closeness of my window seat and under my ‘disguise’ as a tourist, I enjoyed, for a few brief moments, the experience of being a spy and laughed to myself at its unexpectedness.
…except that the conversation between the man and the Sister was deadly serious and deeply moving, which was why I did not feel too guilty for overhearing something that had not included me but which, because of its proximity, I could not escape.
“I’ve just been to see the bishop”, the Sister remarked. “It’s now one week since he was smuggled here from China, but it is very difficult for him. He has spent so long in solitary confinement that he has forgotten how to speak and is having to learn, all over again, to talk and to become accustomed to having people address him. I have tried to interview him, but it took so long for him to say anything. He is really very frustrated because he cannot communicate. In prison, the guards would supply his food, but it was in silence.”
More
http://pauseforprayer.stblogs.com/2008/10/14/living-martyrs/
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Spiritual Blessings from Father Rory Pitstick
A Virtual Retreat
Reflections following the Daily Liturgical cycle
Visit Fr. Rory's Blog
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Eph 1: 1-10
Ps 97(98): 1. 2-3ab.
3cd-4. 5-6
Lk 11: 47-54
Daily Readings
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Oct 16 Thu: Ordinary Weekday/ Hedwig, r/ Margaret Mary Alacoque, v
From today's readings:
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, as He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before Him.... The Lord has made known His salvation.... from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah....”
Polished Paul
Each of Paul’s epistles sparkle with a unique brilliance - the Letter to the Ephesians is particularly rich in doctrinal contemplation, and you’ll certainly find it more upbeat than the tough corrective Letter to the Galatians which we just finished!
You simply cannot read this letter quickly - like a well-distilled liqueur, the words must be savored, and imbibed slowly and thoughtfully. Consider just these opening verses, in which Paul recalls that
- God “has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens”
- God chose us for holiness “before the foundation of the world”
- God adopted us as His beloved children through the incarnation of His Son
- the Blood of Christ wrought our redemption, the forgiveness of sins
- God has enlightened us with Divine Revelation
and each of these is but a poor simplified summary of Paul’s more concentrated phrases!
So, as you read, be content for the moment to merely focus on any one of Paul’s points that inspires you most intensely, and ask God to help you to realize the richness of the blessings we have in Christ Jesus!
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God did not tell us to follow him because he needed our help,
but because he knew that loving him would make us whole.
