Wednesday, April 10, 2013

The proof of love is in the works


"The proof of love is in the works. Where love exists, it works great things. But when it ceases to act, it ceases to exist." - Pope St. Gregory the Great

She will like it now - by Fr. Antonio


It was Wednesday June 5, 2002, when I received a call on my pager. 
- “Father Antonio, there is a woman who is dying here at the hospital in Ann Arbor. Her family is asking for a Catholic priest to come and give her the last sacrament. Can you please come?”

Sure. It would be the first experience to anoint someone after 10 months of priesthood. My ministry as a priest was more focused on giving Jesus Christ to His people through the Eucharist (saying Masses) and the Sacrament of Reconciliation (hearing confessions). I was also offering spiritual direction to a good number of people. I drove 15 minutes from home. I arrived at the hospital and entered the room.


There was a woman lying in her bed, dying. Her eyes were closed. Her family was gathered around her: the husband, the sons & their wives. They were comforting each other. I opened the book of prayers and prepared the oil. We prayed. I anointed the woman. After the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, I asked the family to pray with me the rosary. I believe that the presence of Mary can give great comfort for the woman’s soul. 
The husband approached me as if he was embarrassed. He whispered saying:
- “Father, my wife never believed in rosaries. She never prayed the rosary. She never liked it.”
- “She will like it now,” I said it, with my Lebanese accent and a Maronite spirit.
We started praying the rosary. When we reached the 4th sorrowful mystery, the woman opened her eyes. The sons approached their mother to see what was going on. They were crying, amazed. 


At the end of the Rosary, I asked the sons:
- “What did you see?”
- “Her eyes were filled with peace,” one of her sons answered.
I knew that Mary was present. I knew that she comforted that woman. It didn’t matter whether that woman prayed the rosary in her life or not, whether she liked it or not. It doesn’t matter for Mary for she is a mother not a judge. Mary, who was present under the cross at the moment of Christ’s death, is also present at the moment of our death. This is why we pray: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Story Source:http://whitelilyoftrinity.com/christian_stories_all.html#9

Revelation of Christ to St. Mechtilde


He who is in the habit of devoutly hearing holy Mass shall in death be consoled by the presence of the angels and saints, his advocates, who shall bravely defend him from all the snares of infernal spirits.

Source: http://www.ourladyswarriors.org/liturgy/masspower.htm

Friday, April 5, 2013

My own experience about the "Souls in Purgatory" - Anonymous

[English]
Easter Sunday, Mass has ended and I am going to light some candles for all the souls in purgatory. I've been doing this for quite a long time but I can't remember when did I started offering candles and prayers for them.

After lighting the candles I began to pray, 1 Our Father... 3 Hail Mary's... 1 Glory be and the Fatima Prayer. Then I offered them up to our Heavenly Mother so she can used them and help the holy souls, who are so long forgotten and suffering the most in purgatory.

During prayer, I heard a soft peaceful voice who said: "On the day of the Last Judgement God will recall this moment in your life, on how much you have love us". I was surprised at first but afterwards peace reigned in my soul. Could it be "a soul in purgatory" expressing his gratitude? I really don't know but one thing is for sure, and all the saints have proved it, All those poor souls suffering in the prisons of purgatory love us and how they wanted all of us to be saved too.

But few people remember them. Few offer their prayers for them. If only people know how much they can pray for us. They would take the task of offering even a simple prayer everyday for their relief.

[Filipino]
Linggo ng Pagkabuhay, tapos na ang misa at nais kong magsindi ng ilang mga kandila para sa mga kaluluwa sa purgatoryo. Matagal-tagal ko na din itong ginagawa ngunit hindi ko na maalala kung kelan ko sinimulan ang gawaing ito.

Pagkatapos kong sindihan ang mga kandila sinimulan ko ng magdasal, Isang Ama Namin... 3 Aba Ginoong Maria... Isang Luwalhati... at ang panalangin na itinuro ng Mahal na Birhen sa Fatima. Inialay ko iyon sa Mahal na Birhen sapagkat alam kong siya ang higit na nakakaalam kung sino sa mga kaluluwa sa purgatoryo ang mga lubos na naghihirap doon, higit na nangangailangan ng awa at higit na nangangailangan ng kaginhawaan.

Habang ako ay nananalangin ay narinig ko ang isang payapa at mahinahon na tinig na nagsabi: "Sa araw ng paghuhukom ipapaalala sa iyo ng Diyos ang tagpong ito sa buhay mo at kung gaano mo kami minahal". Sa simula ay ako'y nagulat ngunit kapayapaan ang bumalot sa aking kaluluwa pagkatapos kong marinig ang tinig. Siya ba ay isang "kaluluwa sa purgatoryo" na lubos na nagpapasalamat? Ang totoo'y hindi ko alam ngunit ako'y nakasisiguro, at lahat ng mga banal ay pinatotohanan ito, lubos tayong minamahal ng mga kaluluwang ito at ibig din nila na tayong lahat ay maligtas.

Ngunit bihirang bihira ang mga taong nakaka-alala sa kanila. Bihira ang mga taong nagdarasal para sa kanila. Kung alam lang ng mga tao na mataimtim din nila, mga kaluluwa sa purgatoryo, tayong ipinagdarasal sa araw-araw. Magtatalaga sila ng kaunting oras sa isang araw para mag alay ng panalangin para sa mga kaluluwang ito na lubos na naghihirap doon.

Sister Raquel’s "PRAYER AGAINST SATAN’S FORCES IN THE ‘FINAL WAR"


In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

I, as God’s loyal servant, together with His people, proclaim Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Son of Mary and Lord of all circumstances and difficulties of today in the world. In the name of Jesus Christ, by the power of His blood and in the authority of His Word, given to me as a Christian, I bind and reject you, satan, our real enemy. I command you to depart from us. I seal the Philippines and the whole of humanity in the precious blood of JESUS CHRIST, the Way, the Truth and the Life.
I, together with God’s people, bind and reject all evil spirits in the air, wind, fire, water, under the water, in the netherworld, in the elements and in all satanic forces in nature. I bind and reject all spirits of division, disruption, fear, anger, anxiety, all spirits of unforgiveness, resentment, and disobedience to the laws of God and legitimate authorities. I bind and reject all interlocking evil spirits controlling all media programs, video games, unholy activities in the Internet, television, radio and every medium of communication.
Our real enemies are those satanic influences in our lives. Our victory against satan will come only when each one of us change our hearts, when we repent our ways. To repent means to become like JESUS CHRIST – when we obey the will of the Eternal Father; when we begin to glorify God in our thoughts, words and actions; when we look at ourselves before the holiness and humility of JESUS CHRIST, the Face of God in our midst. Then will the divine in our midst make satan depart.
In the name of JESUS CHRIST, I, together with God’s people, break and dissolve every disease, especially cancer, every evil wish, evil desire and evil intention, every evil curse and spell. I come in JESUS’ name against all satanic vows and control, mind control, and doubtful practices and teachngs. GET OUT OF OUR LIVES. OUT! OUT!

LORD JESUS CHRIST, BY THE POWER OF GOD, THE HOLY SPIRIT, FILL US WITH THE SPIRIT OF PEACE, LOVE AND FORGIVENESS. HEAL EVERY HUMAN HEART WITH YOUR FORGIVING SPIRIT. GIVE EACH ONE OF US, YOUR CHILDREN, THE GIFTS OF JOY AND LAUGHTER AND THE ABILITY OF THE MIND, SO THAT EACH ONE OF US, REGARDLESS OF SEX AND RELIGION, MAY CONTINUE TO USE THESE GIFTS AS WE GIVE LOVING SERVICE TO OTHERS, THEREBY GLORIFYING OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN, WHO SAID, “THOSE WHO DO NOT STAND BY ME WILL FALL (BOOK OF AMOS) MAY THIS BE OUR GUIDE AS WE GO THROUGH OUR DAILY ACTIVITIES. THROUGH THE INTERCESSION OF MARY, MOTHER OF JESUS, AND ALL GOD’S SAINTS, WE PRAY THAT YOU DELIVER EACH ONE OF US FROM THE EVIL ONE. AMEN.

Sister Raquel Reodica, RVM
Cancer-healer of the Lord

Source: http://www.motherignaciahealingministry.com/index.htm