Prayer to Our Lady, Queen of Hope

‘O Mary, my Mother, I kneel before you with heavy heart. The burden of my sins oppresses me. The knowledge of my weakness discourages me. I am beset by fear and temptation of every sort. Yet I am so attached to the things of this world that instead of longing for Heaven I am filled with dread at the thought of death.  O Mother of Mercy, have pity on me in my distress. You are all-powerful with your Divine Son. He can refuse no request of your Immaculate Heart. Show yourself a true Mother to me by being my advocate before His throne. O Refuge of Sinners and Hope of Hopeless, to whom shall I turn if not you?  Obtain for me, then, O Mother of Hope, the grace of true sorrow for my sins, the gift of perfect resignation to God’s Holy Will, and the courage to take up my cross and follow Jesus.  But above all I pray, O dearest Mother, that through your most powerful intercession, my heart may be filled with Holy Hope, so that in life’s darkest hour I may never fail to trust in God my Saviour, but by walking in the way of His commandments I may merit to be united with Him, and with you in the eternal joys of Heaven. Amen.’

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As Pope appeals for peace, Israel warns Vatican against false ‘parallelisms’

ROME – A massive and deadly surprise offensive from Hamas in recent days has prompted Israel to declare war, drawing appeals from Pope Francis and church leaders in the Holy Land for calm, and for international intervention to prevent further bloodshed. At the same time, Israel’s embassy to the Holy See has warned the Vatican to avoid what it described as “linguistic ambiguities” and “parallelisms” that would equate the aggressors in the conflict with its victims. Speaking to faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square for his October 8 Sunday Angelus address, Pope Francis said, “I am following with apprehension and pain what is happening in Israel, where violence has exploded even more ferociously, causing hundreds of deaths and injuries”. “I express my closeness to the families of the victims. I pray for them and for all those who are experiencing hours of terror and of anguish,” he said. He begged both sides to “please stop the attacks and weapons and understand that terrorism and war do not lead to any solution, but only to the death and suffering of many innocent people”. “War is a defeat, every war is always a defeat,” he said, and asked faithful to join him in praying for peace in Israel and Palestine. On Saturday, Oct. 7 Palestinian group Hamas launched a massive surprise attack on Israel, including a barrage of rockets fired from Gaza and gunmen on foot breaching security barriers. Militants spread videos across social media platforms showing Israelis being gunned down and several being taken hostage. Read more…

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Asaph’s Vision of a Future War| Is this happening now?

“O God, do not remain silent; do not turn a deaf ear, do not stand aloof, O God.  See how your enemies growl, how your foes rear their heads.”  (Psalm 83:1–2) Psalm 83 is more than a prayer or a plea to God for vengeance on Israel’s enemies; it reveals that a 10-member confederacy wants to destroy the Chosen People and possess the Promised Land. This psalm, however, was not written during a time of war.  It was written some 3,000 years ago by King David’s worship leader, Asaph, during a time of great prosperity, liberty, and peace. King David had decisively triumphed over Israel’s enemies, and Israel could expand freely since the superpowers of Egypt and Assyria were both declining.  (Aish) David’s kingdom, therefore, extended from the Red Sea to the Euphrates.  But Asaph was not just a worshiper; according to 2 Chronicles 29:30, he was also a chozeh As a prophet, Asaph saw beyond this period of peace, to a time when this confederacy would seek the utter destruction of Israel.  That time now seems to be nearing. “Come,” they say, “let us destroy them as a nation, so that Israel’s name is remembered no more.”  (Psalm 83:4) Even though Asaph’s vision was received in a time of peace, it must have been cause for some concern since many named in the confederacy had previously demonstrated their hatred. Of course, even today, conspiring against the Jewish People is considered nothing new.  From the Philistines to the Nazis, the Jewish People have been plotted against. “See how your enemies growl, how your foes rear their heads.  With cunning they conspire against your people; they plot against those you cherish.”  (Psalm 83:2–3) Read more…

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Our Lady of Fatima’s 3 Spiritual Weapons to End War & Obtain Peace

By Churchpop Our Lady of Fatima’s advice to end wars “Pray the rosary every day to achieve peace in the world and the end of war” (First Apparition of Our Lady of Fatima – Sun., May 13, 1917). “Continue to pray the rosary every day in honor of Our Lady of the Rosary to obtain peace in the world and the end of the war, because she alone can be of any avail. (Third Apparition of Our Lady of Fatima – July 13, 1917) “You have seen hell where the souls of poor sinners go. To save them, God wishes to establish in the world devotion to my Immaculate Heart. If what I say to you is done, many souls will be saved and there will be peace.” (Third Apparition of Our Lady of Fatima – Fri., July 13, 1917). “The war will end, but if they do not stop offending God (…) a worse one will begin” (Third Apparition of Our Lady of Fatima – Fri., July 13, 1917). Our Lady of Fatima’s 3 Spiritual WeaponsIn these messages, Our Lady provided key advice to ending a war with “spiritual weapons”: 1) Stop offending God (a call to repentance, conversion, and reparation) 2) Pray the Rosary tirelessly 3) Entrust ourselves to the Immaculate Heart of Mary Our Lady of Fatima, please pray for us! Read more…

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How to deal with distractions during prayer, according to St. Therese of Lisieux

By Aleteia For many of us, when we sit down to pray, we are bombarded by constant distractions. It could be anything from the ticking of the clock on the wall, the honking of a horn outside, or even a barrage of thoughts about various people or relationships in our lives. It can be difficult to focus our attention on God and remain in a conversation with him. However, sometimes these distractions aren’t “distractions” at all, they are thoughts introduced by God that are aimed at our spiritual benefit. For example, here is what St. Thérèse of Lisieux wrote about being distracted during prayer. I also have many [distractions] but as soon as I am aware of them, I pray for those people the thought of whom is diverting my attention, and in this way they reap benefit from my distractions. Sometimes God wants to divert our attention and shed light on a struggling friend or family member. They may need our prayers or our charity. This way the distraction is turned in the right way and instead of taking us away from God, it brings us closer to him and his divine plan.   The key is to be attentive when that happens and notice when you being thinking about someone in your life, or even something you saw on Facebook. In some instances God may want you to be praying for that individual or extending a helpful hand to them. Read more…

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Prayer to Our Lady of Turumba for Miracles and Blessings

Oh Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Turumba, I come to you with an afflicted heart, seeking your intercession and guidance. As the Lady of Sorrows, you understand the pain and suffering that I am going through. Please pray for me to your Divine Son and the Holy Spirit, that I may receive the miracles and blessings that I need. I trust in your maternal love and compassion, knowing that you will never abandon me. Our Lady of Turumba, known for your one drop of tears that turned into a miraculous well, please pour out your grace upon me. Amen.

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Have Mercy on the Suffering Souls| from the Manual of the Purgatorian Society

Have Mercy on the Suffering Souls from the Manual of the Purgatorian Society Hear ye not the spirits’ moaning From the depths of cleansing fire? Know ye not the burning anguish Of these souls — their hearts’ desire? Hear them cry in bitter sorrow, Sighing, weeping in their pains, While they call on us who love them, “Break our heavy prison chains!” Though their lives on earth were holy, And their virtue manifest, Yet some stains of imperfection Still prevent their perfect rest. And they weep in mournful numbers, Pleading for our fervent pray’r, OH, take pity on their sorrow, Let their solace be your care. Place your pray’r, your pious off’ring For these suffering souls, so poor, In the hands of our dear Mother, Of sweet Mary Virgin pure. With a mother’s love and mercy She will lead them to her son; And their pain shall turn to glory There, before the Heav’nly throne.

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Prayer for St. Joseph’s protection while traveling

O St. Joseph, who accompanied Jesus and Mary in all their journeys, and who has been called the patron of all travelers, accompany us in this journey that we are about to undertake. Be our guide and our protector; watch over us; preserve us from all accidents and dangers to soul and body; support us in our fatigue, and aid us to sanctify it by offering it to God. Make us ever mindful that we are strangers, sojourners here below; that heaven is our true home; and help us to persevere on the straight road that leads thereunto. We ask you especially to protect and aid us in the last great voyage from time to eternity, so that, under your guidance, we may reach the realm of happiness and glory, there to repose eternally with you in the company of Jesus and Mary. Amen

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Prayer to St. Michael for protection against spiritual enemies

Glorious St. Michael, prince of the heavenly hosts, who stands always ready to give assistance to the people of God; who fought with the dragon, the old serpent, and cast him out of heaven, and now valiantly defends the Church of God that the gates of hell may never prevail against her, I earnestly entreat you to assist me also, in the painful and dangerous conflict which I have to sustain against the same formidable foe. Be with me, O mighty Prince! that I may courageously fight and wholly vanquish that proud spirit, whom you have by the divine power, so gloriously overthrown, and whom our powerful King, Jesus Christ, has, in our nature, so completely overcome; to the end that having triumphed over the enemy of my salvation, I may with you and the holy angels, praise the clemency of God who, having refused mercy to the rebellious angels after their fall, has granted repentance and forgiveness to fallen man.Amen.

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