Pope Francis Prayer Intention

Each year, the Holy Father asks for our prayers for a specific intention each month. You are invited to answer the Holy Father's request and to join with many people worldwide in praying for this month's intention. From time to time, the Holy Father may add a second prayer intention related to current events or urgent needs, like disaster relief. The second prayer request will help mobilize prayer and action related to the urgent situation.

Pope Francis Prayer Intention for June 2019

The Mode of Life of Priests

That priests, through the modesty and humility of their lives, commit themselves actively to a solidarity with those who are most poor.

When disciples of Christ are transparent in heart and sensitive in life, they bring the Lord’s light to the places where they live and work. – Pope Francis

You will gain a special Papal Blessing everytime you make a Catholic know about the Pope's monthly intention. SHARE this prayer to others... 

A Burning Handprint From Hell -A Lifelong Reminder

This incident is from an honorable priest and superior of a religious community. This priest had the particulars of the story from a close relation of the lady to whom it had happened. At the time of the writing, Christmas Day, 1859, this person was still living and was roughly forty years old, therefore no name is mentioned in the recording of this event to protect the persons identity.

The woman concerned in this story was living in London in the winter of 1847-1848. She was a widow, about twenty nine years old, quite rich and worldly. Among the young men who visited her there was young lord of bad conduct who courted her and of whom she eventually committed a variety of sins with. 

Late one night she was in bed reading a novel when one o'clock struck on the clock; she blew out her taper and was about to fall asleep when, to her great astonishment, she noticed strange glimmer of light coming from the door of the drawing-room, which spread by degrees into her chamber. Stupefied at first and not knowing what this meant, she began to get alarmed, when she saw the drawing-room door slowly open and the young lord, the partner of her disorders, enter the room. Before she had time to say a single word, he seized her by the left wrist, and with a hissing voice, said to her in English: "There is a Hell!”  The pain she suddenly felt in her arm was so great that she immediately passed out. 

When she came to again about a half an hour after she immediately rang for her chambermaid. The latter, on entering, noticed a strong smell of burning. Approaching her mistress who was frantic and could hardly speak she immediately noticed on her wrist a burn so deep that the bone was laid bare, and the flesh almost consumed. Moreover, she remarked that, from the door of the salon to the bed, and returning from the bed to that same door, the carpet bore the imprint of a man's steps, which had burned through the fibers. By the directions of her mistress, she opened the drawing-room door and there she found more tracks on the carpet. 

The following day, the unhappy lady learned, with a terror easily imagined, that on that very night, about one o'clock in the morning, her friend the lord had been found dead-drunk under the table, and that his servants had carried him to his room, and that he had died of alcohol poisoning in their arms. 

I do not know for certain, added the Priest-Superior, whether that terrible lesson converted the heart of that unfortunate lady, but what I do know is that she is still alive and that, to conceal from sight the traces of her ominous burn, she wears on the left wrist, like a bracelet, a wide gold band, which she does not take off day or night. I repeat it: I have all these details from her near relation, a serious Christian, in whose word I give the fullest belief. She states that this story is never spoken of, even in the family; and that she only confided it to me, suppressing every proper name. 

Notwithstanding the anonymity beneath which this apparition has been revealed and must be enveloped, it seems impossible, states a writer, to call into doubt the dreadful authenticity of the details.

 “Oh my Jesus; forgive us our sins. Save us from the fires of hell. Lead all souls into heaven, especially those most in need of Thy mercy”.

“When I see Jesus weep, my own heart is pierced with sorrow; I think of how by my sins I have added to the oppression in which Jesus suffered in the Garden. At that time Jesus saw all my sins, all my omissions, and He saw the place I should have occupied in Hell, if Thy Heart, oh Jesus, had not granted me forgiveness” –St Gemma Galgani

How A Great Sinner Was Saved By The 3 Hail Mary Devotion

The Blessed Virgin Mary saves a soul from going to hell

We will begin with the testimony of Blessed Richard of St Ann- A Franciscan priest who was martyred by being burned at the stake in Nagasaki, Japan in 1622. This celebrated apparition of a damned soul which we are about to relate was attested by Blessed Richard as the primary reason which prompted him to enter the Franciscans. The testimony is related in three works: Adrian Lyroeus documented it in his “Trisagium Marianum, Book III"; Saint Alphonsus Liguori, who also cites the same facts in his “Glories of Mary”, and lastly the same occurrence is related in the authentic documents known as “The Annals of Franciscan Missions, for the years 1866-67.” 

While Blessed Richard was living in Brussels in 1604 there were two young students who instead of applying themselves to study, thought only of how to live in pleasure and sin. One night, among others, when they had gone to indulge in sin in a house of prostitution, one of the two left the place after some time, leaving his companion in sin behind him. 

Having reached home, he was about to lie down in bed, when he remembered that he had not recited that day the few “Hail Mary’s” which he had the habit of saying every day since childhood in honor of the Holy Virgin. As he was overpowered by sleep, it was very difficult for him to recite the short prayers; however, he made an effort and said them, although without devotion; then he fell fast asleep. Not long afterwards he heard a sudden, a rude knocking at the door; and immediately afterwards he saw before him his companion, disfigured and hideous. "Who are you?" he said to him. "What? Don't you recognise me?" replied the unhappy youth. "But how are you so changed? You look like a devil?" "Oh, take pity upon me, for I am damned!" "How is that?" "Well, know that upon leaving that accursed house a evil person sprang upon me and strangled me. My body has remained in the middle of the street, and my soul is in Hell. Know, moreover, that the same chastisement awaited you, but the Virgin preserved you from it, thanks to your practice of reciting every day the three Hail Mary’s in her honor. And blessed are you if you know how to profit by this information, which the Mother of God gives you through me." 

While finishing these words, the damned soul partly opened his garment, allowed the flames and evil spirits that were tormenting him to be seen, and he vanished. Then the young man, sobbing uncontrollably, threw himself on his face on the floor and prayed for a long time, thanking the Holy Virgin Mary, his deliverer. Now, while he was praying in this manner he began reflecting upon what he ought to do next to change his life, and at that moment he heard the Matins bell ring at the Franciscan Monastery. 

That very moment he cried out, "So there is where God is calling me to do penance." 

Very early the next morning he went to the convent and begged the Father Guardian to receive him. The Father Guardian, who was well aware of his bad life, was not at all interested in accepting him. The young student, shedding a torrent of tears, related to him all that had taken place. The good priest immediately sent two religious to the street indicated, and there they found the corpse of the wretched youth. The young man was soon admitted as a postulant among the Brothers, whom he soon edified by a life completely devoted to penance and reparation. 

It was these terrible facts that struck a deep chord of both the holy fear of hell, and the devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary into Blessed Richard himself, so he too immediately consecrated himself entirely to God and the Blessed Virgin Mary in the same Order into which the young student, so wonderfully protected by Mary, had just been received. 

SALUTATIONS TO MARY

Hail Mary! Daughter of God the Father.
Hail Mary! Mother of God the Son.
Hail Mary! Spouse of God the Holy Ghost.
Hail Mary! Temple of the Most Blessed Trinity.Hail Mary! Pure Lily of the Effulgent Trinity, God.Hail Mary! Celestial Rose of the ineffable Love o God.Hail Mary! Virgin pure and humble, of whom the King of Heaven willed to be born and with thy milk to be nourished. Hail Mary! Virgin of virgins. Hail Mary! Daughter of God the Father. Hail Mary! Mother of God the Son. Hail Mary! Spouse of God the Holy Ghost. Hail Mary! Temple of the Most Blessed Trinity. Hail Mary! Pure Lily of the Effulgent Trinity, God.Hail Mary! Celestial Rose of the ineffable Love o God.Hail Mary! Virgin pure and humble, of whom the King of Heaven willed to be born and with thy milk to be nourished.Hail Mary! Virgin of virgins. Hail Mary! Queen of Martyrs, whose soul a s sword transfixed.Hail Mary! Lady most blessed, unto whom all power in Heaven and earth is given.Hail Mary! My Queen and my Mother! My life, my sweetness and my hope.Hail Mary! Mother most amiable. Hail Mary! Mother most admirable. Hail Mary! Mother of Divine Love. Hail Mary, Immaculate! Conceived without sin! Hail Mary, Full of Grace, The Lord is with thee! Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus!Blessed be thy spouse, Saint Joseph. Blessed be thy father, Saint Joachim. Blessed be thy mother, Saint Anne. Blessed be thy guardian, Saint John. Blessed be thy holy angel, Saint Gabriel. Glory be to God the Father, Who chose thee. Glory be to God the Son, Who loved thee. Glory be to God the Holy Spirit, Who espoused thee. O Glorious Virgin Mary, May all men love and praise thee.Holy Mary, Mother of God, Pray for us and bless us, Now and at death, in the Name of Jesus, thy Divine Son.Hail Mary! Queen of Martyrs, whose soul a s sword transfixed.Hail Mary! Lady most blessed, unto whom all power in Heaven and earth is given.Hail Mary! My Queen and my Mother! My life, my sweetness and my hope.Hail Mary! Mother most amiable. Hail Mary! Mother most admirable. Hail Mary! Mother of Divine Love. Hail Mary, Immaculate! Conceived without sin! Hail Mary, Full of Grace, The Lord is with thee! Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus!Blessed be thy spouse, Saint Joseph. Blessed be thy father, Saint Joachim. Blessed be thy mother, Saint Anne. Blessed be thy guardian, Saint John. Blessed be thy holy angel, Saint Gabriel. Glory be to God the Father, Who chose thee. Glory be to God the Son, Who loved thee. Glory be to God the Holy Spirit, Who espoused thee. O Glorious Virgin Mary, May all men love and praise thee.Holy Mary, Mother of God, Pray for us and bless us, Now and at death, in the Name of Jesus, thy Divine Son.

GOD'S MESSAGE TO YOU

I did not write this…I don’t know who did but it’s a message worth sharing…

1. QUIT WORRYING: Life has dealt you a blow and all you do is sit and worry. Have you forgotten that I am here to take all your burdens and carry them for you? Or do you just enjoy fretting over every little thing that comes your way?

2. PUT IT ON THE LIST: Something needs to be done or taken care of. Put it on the list. No, not YOUR list. Put it on MY to-do-list. Let ME be the one to take care of the problem. I can’t help you until you turn it over to Me. And although My to-do-list is long, I am after all... God. I can take care of anything you put into My hands. In fact, if the truth were ever really known, I take care of a lot of things for you that you never even realize.

3. TRUST ME: Once you’ve given your burdens to Me, quit trying to take them back. Trust in Me. Have the faith that I will take care of all your needs, your problems and your trials. Problems with the kids? Put them on My list. Problem with finances? Put it on My list. Problems with your emotional roller coaster? For My sake, put it on My list. I want to help you. All you have to do is ask.

4. LEAVE IT ALONE: Don’t wake up one morning and say, "Well, I’m feeling much stronger now, I think I can handle it from here." Why do you think you are feeling stronger now? It’s simple. You gave Me your burdens and I’m taking care of them. I also renew your strength and cover you in my peace. Don’t you know that if I give you these problems back, you will be right back where you started? Leave them with Me and forget about them. Just let Me do my job.

5. TALK TO ME: I want you to forget a lot of things. Forget what was making you crazy. Forget the worry and the fretting because you know I’m in control. But there’s one thing I pray you never forget. Please, don’t forget to talk to Me - OFTEN! I love YOU! I want to hear your voice. I want you to include Me in on the things going on in your life. I want to hear you talk about your friends and family. Prayer is simply you having a conversation with Me. I want to be your dearest friend.

6. HAVE FAITH: I see a lot of things from up here that you can’t see from where you are. Have faith in Me that I know what I’m doing. Trust Me; you wouldn’t want the view from My eyes. I will continue to care for you, watch over you, and meet your needs. You only have to trust Me. Although I have a much bigger task than you, it seems as if you have so much trouble just doing your simple part. How hard can trust be?

7. SHARE: You were taught to share when you were only two years old. When did you forget? That rule still applies. Share with those who are less fortunate than you. Share your joy with those who need encouragement. Share your laughter with those who haven’t heard any in such a long time. Share your tears with those who have forgotten how to cry. Share your faith with those who have none.

8. BE PATIENT: I managed to fix it so in just one lifetime you could have so many diverse experiences. You grow from a child to an adult, have children, change jobs many times, learn many trades, travel to so many places, meet thousands of people, and experience so much. How can you be so impatient then when it takes Me a little longer than you expect to handle something on My to-do-list? Trust in My timing, for My timing is perfect. Just because I created the entire universe in only six days, everyone thinks I should always rush, rush, rush.

9. BE KIND: Be kind to others, for I love them just as much as I love you. They may not dress like you, or talk like you, or live the same way you do, but I still love you all. Please try to get along, for My sake. I created each of you different in some way. It would be too boring if you were all identical. Please, know I love each of your differences.

10. LOVE YOURSELF: As much as I love you, how can you not love yourself? You were created by me for one reason only -- to be loved, and to love in return. I am a God of Love. Love Me. Love your neighbors. But also love yourself. It makes My heart ache when I see you so angry with yourself when things go wrong. You are very precious to me, Don’t ever forget.

If you have been inspired by any or all of these words, please use the share button to inspire others by sharing with them. God bless you as you share to inspire others.

Powerful Healing Prayer by St. Padre Pio

Heavenly Father, I thank you for loving me.
I thank you for sending your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ,
to the world to save and to set me free.
I trust in your power and grace that sustain and restore me.
Loving Father, touch me now with your healing hands,
for I believe that your will is for me to be well in mind, body,
soul and spirit.

Cover me with the most precious blood of your Son, our Lord
Jesus Christ from the top of my head to the soles of my feet.
Cast anything that should not be in me.
Root out any unhealthy and abnormal cells.
Open any blocked arteries or veins and rebuild and replenish
any damaged areas.

Remove all inflammation and cleanse any infection by the
power of Jesus’ precious blood.
Let the fire of your healing love pass through my entire body
to heal and make new any diseased areas so that my body
will function the way you created it to function.
Touch also my mind and my emotion, even the deepest
recesses of my heart.

Saturate my entire being with your presence, love, joy, and
peace and draw me ever closer to you every moment of my life.
And Father, fill me with your Holy Spirit and empower me to
do your works so that my life will bring glory and honor to
your holy name. I ask this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen.

What You Should Do With Your Old Or Broken Rosary

This Is What You Should Do With Your Old Or Broken Rosary

When a rosary has been blessed by a bishop, priest, or deacon, it becomes a sacramental, and therefore should be treated with reverence and great care.

If you’re not sure if your rosary has been blessed, it would be best to follow these suggestions anyway.

Even rosaries that are not blessed are objects of spiritual significance to the Church.

So, what can you do with an old or broken rosary? Here are 5 suggestions:

1. Take it to your local Catholic bookstore or do an internet search for ministries that repair rosaries.

2. Bring it to a Catholic Church. They’ll know what to do!

3. Bury it.

4. Burn it, and then bury the ashes.

5. If the rosary is meaningful to you and beyond repair, purchase a box to keep it in so that it may continue to be cherished.

It is never acceptable to simply toss a rosary into the trash. The garbage is no place for a sacred object! If you are able to repair the rosary, consider using it. St. Francis de Sales said that, “The greatest method of praying is to pray the Rosary.”

IS IT A SIN TO HAVE TATTOO?

Are tattoos sin?

 Perhaps the answer to this question is not as straightforward as we would like it to be. I think the best thing I can do is to offer some insights from Scripture and Catholic teaching to help you come to a good decision.

In the Old Testament we read from the Book of Leviticus the straightforward command, “ … do not tattoo yourselves” (19:28). The first letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians explains that “ … your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit … ” (6:19). And the Catechism of the Catholic Church says, “Except when performed for strictly therapeutic medical reasons, directly intended …, mutilations, … performed on innocent persons are against the moral law” (#2297).

So what does this all mean in regards to tattoos? First, I don’t think it means that tattoos are “intrinsically evil.” What I mean is that it would be an error to say that every tattoo in every circumstance is always wrong. Some cultures, for example, have a marking on the forehead to indicate ones marital status. Many Ethiopian Christians have the custom of tattooing a cross on their forehead to express their Christian faith. And we only need to look through the history books to see the many ways in which tattoos have been a part of many other cultures.

Culture, I believe, is one important aspect to look at when discussing the morality of tattoos. One key point is that in many of these cultural examples, tattoos are not only socially accepted, they are also often socially expected. That, of course, is not the case in the many countries. So what about getting a tattoo in your country and in your culture? Allow me to offer three considerations.

First, your body was made by God and is beautiful just as it is. To add an additional permanent marking to your body is not necessary. Some would even call it a mutilation. Doing this will not add to your bodies natural beauty. And since it is not a required part of our culture, there is no good reason to pursue one. Remember, your body truly is a temple of the Holy Spirit. We should, therefore, treat our body as we would God’s church. God has already designed and decorated this “church” in such a way that it really does not need an additional permanent alteration.

Second, if you were to decide to get a tattoo anyway, please avoid the following: Diabolical images, ugly images, shocking images, images pertaining to horoscopes, and simply put, any image contrary to the Christian faith. Any image like this would surely fall into the category of sin.

Third, make sure you are not acting out of peer pressure. Sometimes we can do things simply because our friends are doing it and we want to fit in. This is never a good reason. If our friends are real friends they will not pressure us into decisions like this nor will they look down on us if we choose not to “go with the flow.” Make sure your choice is not made out of pressure from others.

A Prayer for Financial Blessings

Say this simple Prayer for Financial Blessings with all your heart and  watch your fortunes turn around in Jesus Name. Amen

 A Prayer for Financial Blessings

Heavenly Father, most gracious and loving God, I pray to you that you abundantly bless my family and me. I know that you recognize, that a family is more than just a mother, father, sister, brother, husband and wife, but all who believe and trust in you.

GOD, I send up a prayer request for financial blessing for not only the Person who shared this with me, but for me and all that I will share this prayer with. And that the power of joined prayer by those who believe and trust in you is more powerful than anything. I thank you in advance for your blessings. God, deliver the person reading this right now from debt and debt burdens

Release your Godly wisdom that I may be a good steward over all that you have given me, GOD, for I know how wonderful and mighty you are and how, if we just obey you and walk in your Word and have the faith of a mustard seed, that you will pour out blessings. I thank you now Lord for the recent blessings I have received and for the blessings yet to come, because I know you are not done with me yet. In Jesus’ name I ask. Amen

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SHARE this prayer immediately and within hours, you will have caused a multitude of people to pray to God for each other. Then sit back and watch the power of God work in your life for doing the thing that you know he loves. Peace and Blessings …. Ask the Lord to give you, day by day, more and more faith.

DIRECT YOUR HEARTS INTO THE LOVE OF GOD

May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance. (2 Thessalonians 3:5)