Pray for a Miracle!

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This is a message sent to us from the Poor Clare Colettine Nuns in Wales, thank you for your prayers and intercession.  If you are going to Mass or Adoration today please keep this little boy and his family in your prayers.  
Dear Little hearts,

Please join us in prayer to pray for this little boy…. and the heroic family who already lost a child a few years ago to cancer, all things are possible to God. 

This family has been a light of faith for so many, bless you all. 

Lovingly all your sisters


For all of you praying for Anthony S. and wanting an update, here it is (I’ve gotten permission to share this by Doug, Anthony’s dad): Anthony remains in the ICU at “…” Hospital.  He is in critical condition as a result of a tragic accident while playing with a necktie by himself in his room. He got it tied… too tightly around his neck and couldn’t loosen it before he passed out. He was discovered shortly afterwards but had by that time already stopped breathing and his heart had stopped beating. Doug and Kristen began CPR until the ambulance arrived and the EMT’s took over. In the past 18 hours an amazing medical team have been stabilizing Anthony and also trying to ascertain the level of brain activity present, which is not altogether clear because of medications. But the medical team has indicated that there are signs that Anthony has suffered significant trauma. The next 24 hours are critical for showing signs of improvement in brain activity. They are also needing to repair a tear in Anthony’s trachea that likely occured while intubating him.

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Ice Cold, Maybe NOT

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This Christmas please pray for those that you know with Infertility, MS and other Autoimmune Diseases, as it keeps us from doing and being what we want to be, an active, motivated wife/husband, mother/father and friend. It may seem that we are frozen and as cold as ice, just because we are quiet and keep to ourselves doesn’t mean we don’t miss our friends. We just learn to accept where we are and who we have become, our total focus is staying as well as we can and praying that it doesn’t affect anyone else.

Sometimes we might seem frozen and cold to those around us, but it’s truly just that we are learning how to deal with what is happening in our own lives.  Our hearts are actually on fire for we are constantly praying for that miracle in our lives and in those around us.  We pray each day of our lives that Our Lord would touch me and heal me, and then I think of you… Isn’t this who we really are?  You are actually more then you think, even if your heart is not blazing there is that little flame that God keeps burning, trust HIM.
To suffer is what this world brings upon us but to be healed is where God wants us to be.  As we learn to unite our cross to HIM we will be healed.  The fire of God must burn in our hearts and our souls, when we ponder our own cross we are not uniting it with Our Lord in the midst of our cross we must think of those who suffer more.  Ask Our Lord to bring people into your life that will understand, as there are many comrades that you will find friendship with.  Our Lord never leaves us alone, just ask and you will receive!

Let God set your hearts on fire this coming NEW YEAR for what HE has planned for your lives.  When you accept HIS will you will find your path and journey changed forever!

A Grief Reflection: Come!

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By Sue Elvis
 
For anyone grieving the loss of a precious baby this Christmas
 
Every Christmas I buy a teddy bear for my son Thomas who died some years ago. This year’s bear is called Edith Bear. Today I am looking forward to arranging this bear on the coffee table in the lounge, together with a candle, a photo of our baby and some flowers. Edith Bear will help make Thomas a part of our Christmas. 
 
On Christmas Morning we will kneel down in front of the altar. We will contemplate Baby Jesus in the nativity scene. We will think about our own lost child. One day we will be reunited with him because Jesus was willing to enter our world as a helpless baby. 
 
May you find a way to include your baby in your celebration of Christmas. May you feel moments of joy despite your sorrow. And may Christmas give you hope.  
 
Please share my story Come! at my blog Sue Elvis Writes
Update: 7/9/19
Looking for Sue Elvis click here… Sue

Our Family In Need

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When we reach out to another in need our hearts begin to heal.  This letter below arrived in our email yesterday and I wanted to share this cry for need with you.  

All of us at Hannah’s Tears pray that you have a happy and holy Christmas.

Aid to the Church in Need



Dear Hannah’s Tears,
 

This Christmas, a young girl in Egypt needs your help to heal.

Mary and Child
When the Holy Family fled in fear with the infant Jesus, they eventually arrived in the
safety of Egypt − bringing the Light of Christ to those who did not know Him.  
Unfortunately, in today’s world, Egypt is no longer a safe haven for Christians. 
It has joined the sad list of many countries where there is hatred and persecution 
towards those who worship Jesus Christ.
A 7-year-old girl attending Mass in Alexandria, Egypt, felt that hatred firsthand, when 
a bomb exploded outside her family’s church. For months she lay in a hospital bed 
next to her mother with severe injuries. Miraculously, she survived. 
This little girl not only suffered wounds of the body but also wounds of the spirit. 
How long will it take before she is able to enter a Church without fear and trembling? 
This little girl symbolizes all of today’s children around the world who are the 
innocent victims of persecution and suffering. Victims who need our help. 
When you attend Mass this Christmas, go with a heart full of faith and joy — knowing 
that you are safe and can sit and pray without fear.  Together we celebrate the birth 
of Christ, who brought light, hope, and promise for all. But please do not forget the 
suffering children.  For it does indeed fall on us as Christians to help our persecuted 
brothers and sisters.
 
With your thoughtful gift and prayers today to Aid to the Church in Need, you will 
be doing just that. Your generosity will help to renew the light and hope that has 
been dimmed in the hearts of so many.
My deepest prayers to you and your loved ones for a  joyous Christmas and blessed
New Year.

Sincerely,

Father Hugh Barbour
Spiritual Director




Click to view this email in a browser

Aid to the Church in Need
725 Leonard Street
Brooklyn, New York 11222-2350
US

Your gift today will help

keep a little girl’s Faith alive in Egypt.

 

Make Your Christmas Gift Here   

For more Information

Please visit us at:www.churchinneed.org

Light Another Candle

Join our Christmas Vigil

and light a candle for
your intentions

A Grief Reflection: If Only…

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By Sue Elvis

From my grief diary:

2nd December
… I feel like staying home for Christmas instead of going to Sarah and Shaun’s as planned. It will be hard to stay cheerful and festive and I don’t want to spoil anyone’s day. In fact I feel like staying in my room and not seeing anyone until I feel better. This may be months. I don’t want to impose on anyone, to be a nuisance and to have people get fed-up with me talking about Thomas all the time…

 11th December
… Christmas is getting nearer and as it approaches I feel even more miserable. I don’t want to shop or send Christmas cards. I don’t even want to receive cards or presents. It is difficult to show an interest in the Christmas cooking or other plans…

18th December 1999
Andy and I went to finish the Christmas shopping… I kept thinking if only we had our baby in our arms, we could be happy this Christmas…

23rd December 1999
Andy came home early for the Christmas holidays. I get moments of Christmas excitement which get extinguished very quickly as I remember Thomas…

My baby died six weeks before Christmas and as Christmas Day drew closer, an added burden dragged upon my heart. I felt like the only sorrowful person in a world of rejoicing people.

Friends asked us to join in with their celebrations and although we did accept their invitation, all I really wanted to do was spend Christmas alone with my misery.  The effort needed to look cheerful seemed beyond me and I didn’t want to be blamed for spoiling everyone else’s joy.

But every now and then, when I least expected it, that well-known feeling of Christmas excitement and anticipation passed through me: at the sound of a beautiful carol, at the thought of my children unwrapping their gifts… But then all at once I’d remember, and the excitement would vanish.

I imagined my son six weeks old in my arms, and I thought “If only… If only my baby had been healthy… If only God had healed him in the womb… If only the doctors had been able to save him… If only he were here with us, I could be happy this Christmas and everything would be alright.”

But of course, ‘if only’ never happens. That isn’t the way to healing and joy and peace. I had to find another way: acceptance, trust, prayer…

Do you ever think, “If only…”?

Please share my story If Only… at my blog Sue Elvis Writes

Friday ~ Recipe of Comfort and a Prayer

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Instead of opening a can of soup today, think of making something warm and comforting on days where you just want to cuddle up and let your worries be lifted with a recipe of comfort.  Our kitchen and the table that we set our meal, should become a place of feasting and bringing nourishing comfort to you and those you love.  Hope you will join me in making a delicious pot of soup.  I’m going to try the vegetable soup today.  

Let us know what you chose to make and maybe share how God is blessing your life today as you take time to comfort yourself and those you love.



Soup Recipes to Comfort





LET GO WITH GOD

Still, God hasn’t promised any of us a “Rose Garden” in this life. Sometimes we feel more like we’re in the Garden of Gethsemane where Our Lord prayed in deep agony the night before His Passion. Remember though that when misfortunes or tragedies hit us, we can withstand them better with God’s help. And with day-to day problems, Catholic prayers can help turn mountains back into molehills.

Our Lord taught us to pray “lead us not into temptation,” so that we can resist temptations against His will when they hit us. Through prayer we are better able to resist the every day temptations such as envy, hatred, bearing grudges, greed, lust, and selfishness. These negative emotions don’t bring us any real joy or peace of mind.

For those people in your life who continually rub you the wrong way (and we all have them! Bosses, co-workers, family members, etc.), prayer can give you the grace to deal with them better.

Also, as Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, “Pray for those who persecute and slander you” (Matthew 5:44). God wants us to pray for others, however we may feel about them (or even if we don’t personally know them). Such prayers remind us that one way or another, we are all in this journey towards holiness together. Your prayers can do a world of good for others, just as their prayers can help you!

Resource: 

The Sacrifice of Christmas Shopping

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By Sue Elvis

A Grief Reflection

My baby Thomas died some years ago, in the month of November, and my grief was still so very fresh when I had to start thinking about Christmas preparations and Christmas shopping. These seemed so unimportant and I really wanted to forget Christmas all together. But I knew I couldn’t. I knew I couldn’t deny my other children the joy and excitement they really needed after the sorrow of the past months. 

From my diary:
“I spent most of yesterday shopping. I hate Christmas shopping. I can never decide what to buy and I’m not at all interested in celebrating and being joyful. All our Christmas cards are mixed up with sympathy cards. They don’t seem to go together somehow. I heard a young baby cry in the book shop and I had to move along quickly because I felt tearful…” 

Yes, it was very difficult. But looking back, I realise that making that effort for my children helped me to keep going. Focusing on my loved ones helped me survive. 

Does anyone have any suggestions for coping with Christmas preparations that need to be done, but seem very unimportant?

Please share my longer story, The Sacrifice of Christmas Shopping on my blog, Sue Elvis Writes

Diet Resource…

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I have listed the GAPS Diet program in the links at the top of this blog page, why?  Well, I am finding that this diet thing has been very helpful to myself as well as many others that I know.  I’m sure it is not an idea that you’ve never thought about concerning diet and food restrictions, especially if you have had problems with gluten, but I wanted to share the updated article from Dr. Natasha who has her degree as a Neurologist/Neurosurgeon and in dietary nutrition.  Why I want to share it with you is that you will have a great chance in balancing your hormones if you follow this dietary regime, I’m sure of it.  I have seen great benefits in my own health and I am not getting any financial benefit from promoting this site. I just feel that we as baptized Christians owe it to Our Lord to take better care of our body.  So, it’s worth a try isn’t it?  I pray this information will help you, and if you ever need any support concerning this diet or just a prayer of support, please let us know.  God bless and take good care of YOU!





One man’s meat is another man’s poison!  Most Recent Article by Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride 2011 (Discusses adapting the GAPS diet to meet your individual needs – A Must Read) 


http://gapsdiet.com/Resources.html

Eastern Feast of Maternity of Anna

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Therese did wonderful blog posts about two amazing feast days today: St. Hannah (Hannah’s Tears namesake), and St. Juan Diego.

However, my husband reminded me that today in the Byzantine Catholic calendar, it is the feast of the Maternity of Anna (St. Anne), or the Conception of the Blessed Virgin.

Here is a prayer from Byzantine Matins:

O Adam! O Eve! Lay aside your sorrow!

Behold, a barren womb today wondrously bears fruit:
The Mother of our Joy!

Rejoice, O Father Abraham and all the patriarchs!
See your seed blossom:
The Mother of our God!

Rejoice, O Anna! Rejoice, O Joachim!
Today in a wondrous manner you bear to the world
The fruit of grace and salvation!

Rejoice, O choir of prophets!
Behold, today Anna bears the holy fruit
You foretold to us!

Rejoice, O ye nations!
The barren Anna conceives the fruit of her womb;
By preserving in hope, she bears our life!

Rejoice, O ye ends of the earth!
Behold the barren mother conceives her
Who without human seed will bear the Creator of all!

Today a royal robe of purple and fine linen
Is woven from the loins of David.
The mystical flower of Jessie blossoms
From which comes Christ God, the Savior of our souls!

(From the Matins of the Byzantine Liturgy – December 9th)

[The Icon is the Embrace of Joachim and Anna. This feast celebrates the conception of Mary by Anna and Joachim. This feast is traditionally celebrated on December 9th but has been moved by some Byzantine Churches to December 8th to match the Western feast.]

—Jessica Smith, NFPworks blog