December 21, 2024

catholic vlog

Powerful Prayer to St Peregrine for Cancer Patients

Mother & Refuge05 mins

Are you suffering from cancer? Or do you know someone who is? These prayers to St. Peregrine can give you hope! This first one is for those afflicted with this deadly disease: St. Peregrine, whom Holy Mother Church has declared Patron of those suffering from Cancer, I confidently turn to you for help in my present sickness. I beg your kind intercession. Ask God to relieve me of this sickness, if it be his Holy Will. Plead with the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of Sorrows, whom you loved so tenderly and in union with whom you have suffered the pains of Cancer, that she may help me with her powerful prayers and loving consolation. But if it should be God’s Holy Will that I bear this sickness, obtain for me courage and strength to accept these trials from the loving hand of God with patience and resignation, because he knows what is best for the salvation of my soul. St. Peregrine, be my friend and patron. Help me to imitate you in accepting suffering, and to unite myself with Jesus Crucified and the Mother of Sorrows, as you did. I offer my pains to God with all the love of my heart, for his glory and the salvation of souls, especially my own. Amen. The second of these prayers to St. Peregrine is for others’ intentions. O great St. Peregrine, you have been called “The Mighty,” “The Wonder-Worker,” because of the numerous miracles which you have obtained from God for those who have had recourse to you. For so many years you bore in your own flesh this cancerous disease that destroys the very fiber of our being, and who had recourse to the source of all grace when the power of man could do no more. You were favored with the vision of Jesus coming down from His Cross to heal your affliction. Ask of God and Our Lady, the cure of the sick whom we entrust to you. (Pause here and silently recall the names of the sick for whom you are praying) Aided in this way by your powerful intercession, we shall sing to God, now and for all eternity, a song of gratitude for His great goodness and mercy. Amen. St. Peregrine is known as the patron saint of cancer patients, AIDS victims and others suffering from serious illnesses. These two prayers give us an intriguing glimpse into his life’s story. Peregrine Laziosi was born in 1260 in Forli, Italy to a wealthy family. Although he was a member of an anti-papal party as a young man, he experienced a profound change of heart, much like St. Paul’s conversion in its intensity. He and some companions showed up one day to heckle and otherwise abuse St. Philip Benizi, the Prior General of the Servants of Mary, who was preaching in Forli. Peregrine went so far as to strike him in the face! St. Philip, seemingly following our Lord’s advice in scripture (Matt 5:39, Luke 6:29), offered his other cheek in response. Read more…

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Michael H. Brown on the Vatican’s Historic Medjugorje Approval!

Mother & Refuge01 mins

Join Michael Brown live to breakdown the latest on the momentous Medjugorje approval. ‘The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, with the assent of Pope Francis, grants approval for devotion linked to Medjugorje, recognizing the abundant spiritual fruits received at the Sanctuary of the Queen of Peace without making a declaration on the alleged supernatural’

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Ever Heard about Our Lady of the Rockies? This is the Story!

Mother & Refuge05 mins

Just ten miles away from Butte, Montana, and more than 3,500 feet above the surrounding valley, stands the image of Our Lady of the Rockies: a snowy-white statue that stands almost 90-ft (30 meters) tall. The image, which at first was supposed to be only five feet tall, ended up becoming the icon of an entire town. The fourth largest statue in the United States, its story revolves around the hard work of the locals and a series of unexpected circumstances which allowed the project to fall into place seamlessly.   The story begins with Bob O’Bill, who envisioned the project after his wife was diagnosed with cancer. Matthew Sewell of Churchpop reports that the retired electrician prayed for his wife to be healed, promising to erect a nearly life-sized statue of the Blessed Mother in return, right in his backyard. When his wife made a sudden, miraculous recovery, O’Bill was so thrilled that his plans expanded from a five-foot statue to a towering 90-foot monument to the Virgin Mary. According to the website, “Our Lady of the Rockies” took six years to complete, requiring 400 lbs. of concrete and a “sky crane” donated by the National Guard. The work was all sourced by residents of Butte, with some donating their summer evenings to clear and pave the mountain road leading to it, while  others worked tirelessly to raise the needed funds.  If the city lacked resources, it overflowed in solidarity. Although the town was in the grips of a crippling economic recession, the people of Butte banded togethe. Even those who had lost their jobs donated their time and experience to work on the road leading up to the site of the statue, and while money was tight, they received just about everything they needed (from the land to equipment) from generous donations and small fundraisers.   Sewell goes on to note a few of the unexpected occurrences that aided them in their mission. In once instance, funds were running low and the crew worried they would run out of fuel, when they found all the gas tanks had been filled. In another, the helicopter used to lift the pieces of the statue into place suddenly lost control and seemed about to falter, a moment recorded in a timeline of the construction, provided by MT Standard: Dec. 19, 1985 — Wind, or lack thereof, proved to be a problem for the National Guard crew as Our Lady’s hands, with a weight of 19,000 pounds, caused the helicopter to spin uncontrollably as it tried to set it down atop the other four sections already in place. The sky crane turned back and laid the section down near the Mormon Church at 3000 Four Mile Road. Although one of the statue’s fingers was slightly damaged, the crew was successful in its second attempt at 4 p.m. In a 1985 video of the moment “Our Lady of the Rockies” was completed, featured below, Leroy Lee, who made a series of perfect welds to connect the statues pieces, commented amidst a crowd gazing at their own handiwork through teary, awe-filled eyes: Read more…

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6 Uplifting Bible Verses for When You Want to Cry!

Mother & Refuge05 mins

Life can leave us an emotional wreck at times. Sometimes we might cry at the smallest of things, or sometimes we might be in deep grief and it’s hard to keep those tears at bay. Thankfully Scripture is full of comforting words to lean on during these moments, and here are just a few examples of how even in the most difficult of times, there is comfort to be had from our Heavenly Father. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted, saves those whose spirit is crushed.” Psalm 34:18 This verse reminds us that God is always near, especially in moments of sadness and despair. Knowing that God is with us can bring comfort and solace during times of tears, reassuring us that we are not alone in our struggles. Do not fear: I am with you; do not be anxious: I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 God’s promise of strength and support can be a source of courage and resilience when we’re feeling overwhelmed by tears. Trusting in God’s presence and assistance can empower us to face our challenges with hope and confidence.   Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Matthew 5:4 Jesus’ words in the Beatitudes assure us that our tears are not in vain and that God offers comfort to those who grieve. This verse reminds us that mourning is a natural part of life, but it also promises the comforting embrace of God’s love and compassion. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and God of all encouragement, who encourages us in our every affliction, so that we may be able to encourage those who are in any affliction with the encouragement with which we ourselves are encouraged by God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 This passage acknowledges God’s role as the source of comfort and encouragement in times of trouble. It reminds us that our tears can be transformed into opportunities to comfort and support others who are also experiencing sorrow, fostering a sense of solidarity and empathy. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.” John 14:27 Jesus’ promise of peace reassures us that we can find tranquility and calmness in the midst of tears and turmoil. This verse encourages us to trust in God’s peace, which surpasses worldly understanding, and to find solace in the presence of the Prince of Peace.   We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 Read more…

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Miracles in Malta: Grace Through Mary’s Intercession!

Mother & Refuge021 mins

he Maltese Archipelago is renowned for its picturesque coastline, exceptional diving spots, and vibrant festas. It also holds a deep and ancient devotion to the Virgin Mary, manifested in several Marian shrines popularly and officially recognized as being miraculous. The rich history and significance of these shrines, and the numerous Marian miraculous events and icons found in this small island nation ceaselessly draw pilgrims and devotees from around the world.   The role of Mary in Christianity Myriam of Nazareth holds a central place in Christian theology as the Theotokos – literally, the God-bearer. Since the very early days of Christianity, Mary has been venerated for her virtue, obedience, and intercessory power. Indeed, the first Marian apparition (a bilocation, in fact) is traditionally believed to have occurred to the Apostle James in Spain around the year 40, while Mary was still alive. Tradition claims that when the apostle St. James the Greater was facing immense challenges while preaching in the Iberian Peninsula, he went to look for some solace in prayer by the banks of the Ebro river. During his supplications, the Virgin Mary appeared to him, standing on a jasper pillar carried by angels. This extraordinary event marked the first recorded apparition of the Blessed Mother – an event commemorated as Our Lady of the Pillar. Tradition claims that St. James the Greater prayed by the banks of the Ebro river. During his supplications, the Virgin Mary appeared to him, standing on a jasper pillar carried by angels.-archizaragoza Since then, different traditions understand Mary’s intercessory role as a fundamental principle of Christian life. Numerous apparitions and miraculous events reported worldwide, including those of Fatima, Lourdes, and Guadalupe (just to name three of the most famous ones) have reinforced, spread, and confirmed this belief. Malta, with its deep Marian devotion, has its own share of miraculous sites that underscore the island’s rich Christian heritage. Malta’s Marian devotion Malta’s Christian community dates back to the apostolic age, with the providential arrival of St. Paul in AD 60. This early establishment has resulted in an enduring and fervent Marian devotion among the Maltese people. Malta boasts a remarkable number of churches and chapels, many of which are dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Among these, several stand out for the miraculous graces attributed to them. One of these significant Marian sites is the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Mellieħa. Local tradition holds that St. Luke the Evangelist himself, Paul’s companion during his trips, painted an image of the Virgin Mary during their stay on the island. However, further research has shown that the image dates back to the 13th century, possibly the 12th century. The original church of the Malta National Marian Shrine of the Hodegetria is a cave church. This site has been a focal point for Marian devotion for centuries, with numerous pilgrims visiting to seek graces and offer thanks for miracles received.Courtesy of the Archdiocese of Malta. Photo by Ian Noel Pace © The icon, reflecting Byzantine traditions, depicts Mary in all her majesty, holding the Child Jesus and symbolizing her role as the Theotokos. Restoration work has revealed fascinating details about the icon, including inscriptions and symbols emphasizing Mary’s eternal virginity and royal status. This site has thus been a focal point for Marian devotion for centuries, with numerous pilgrims visiting to seek graces and offer thanks for miracles received. The sanctuary’s walls are covered with ex-votos, which range from handwritten notes to baby clothes (and even a motorcycle helmet!), all testifying to the Virgin’s intercessory power. The underground grotto at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Mellieħa is associated with multiple miraculous occurrences. The chapel in the grotto was hewn out of the hard limestone, thanks to a Sicilian devotee of Our Lady who was a regular visitor to the Sanctuary. He is also responsible for commissioning a white statue of Our Lady holding the Holy Infant on her left arm, at the far end of the chapel. Over the years, thousands of pilgrims have visited the underground chapel, and prayed before the Madonna, attributing to her many miraculous interventions and healings, both spiritual and temporal. The Archbishop of Malta H.E. Mgr. Charles J. Scicluna celebrating Holy Mass at the Mellieha National Shrine of the Hodegetria | Courtesy of the Archdiocese of Malta. Photo by Ian Noel Pace © Events recorded in 1887, 1888, and 1948 are particularly famous. Various groups of people on different dates and time were gathered to pray and beheld the white statue of Our Lady repeatedly moving her right hand, making the Sign of the Cross. In the Sanctuary Archives there are 13 separate documents that record these happenings. All give a very detailed description of each event, and are signed under oath by all those present. The last time such a happening took place was reported after World War II, in 1948. A group of 10 people declared under oath that they witnessed the White Lady of the Chapel moving her right hand. Various groups of people on different dates and time were gathered to pray and beheld the white statue of Our Lady repeatedly moving her right hand, making the Sign of the Cross.Marinella Bandini | ALETEIA The icon of Our Lady of Mellieħa, and the white statue of Our Lady in the underground grotto are not alone. The Maltese archipelago is home to several miraculous images of the Virgin Mary. These images, revered by thousands of believers, are central to the island’s religious and cultural life.   Take, for example, the miraculous image kept at the Ta’ Pinu Basilica on the island of Gozo. The beginnings of the devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary of Ta’ Pinu are rather ancient. It is known that the original local church was a small chapel, known as Ta’ Ġentile, dedicated to the Assumption. The name Ta’ Ġentile was eventually dropped and the church became known as Ta’ Pinu (“Of Pinu,” Philip), named after Pinu Gauci, who had become the procurator of the church in 1598. Eventually, the modest unknown chapel in the countryside became a revered Marian shrine, visited by droves of Gozitans, Maltese and people beyond the sea. But why? In 1883, Karmni Grima, from Għarb,…

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READ NOW! The Prophecies Of Amsterdam |Lady of All Nations

Mother & Refuge011 mins

The Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith recently addressed ongoing questions about alleged apparitions and messages from 1945-1959 in Amsterdam, known as the devotion to the “Lady of All Nations.” A decision made on March 27, 1974, by the Sacred Congregation (now the Dicastery), was revealed. At that time, the cardinals unanimously judged the apparitions to be inauthentic, a conclusion approved by Pope Paul VI. This announcement was significant, as many believers had followed these apparitions, which promoted a controversial title for the Virgin Mary: “Co-Redemptrix and Mediator of All Graces.” The Vatican rejected this title, as it seemed to take away from Christ’s unique role as Redeemer. Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI also did not support this title, and Pope Francis shares the same view. In the apparitions, Mary was depicted standing on a globe with a Cross behind her, warning of various punishments for humanity’s sins. However, the Church remains cautious about these claims. The visionary was a woman in Amsterdam named Ida Peerdeman, and she saw storms, waves, missiles, quakes, palace intrigue at the Vatican, and economic disasters. Such a profusion of doom made us wonder decades ago if Satan had a hand in the disarray of Ida’s visions, yet also to wonder if their incomprehensibility was any greater than the incomprehensibility of the seven seals of Revelation. “Let all the children of men, of all the countries of the world, be one!” said Our Lady of All Nations. “Seek and ask only for the true Holy Spirit. I have come to tell this depraved world, all of you, unite. I will lead all the dispersed flock back to one field.” in visions that were often clipped and disjointed—saw a “strange war” and supposedly heard the Virgin warn of “disaster upon disaster” caused by phenomena of nature. In Russia she saw a “hellish light” that seemed to explode from the ground upwards. Was this a reference to what would occur in 1986 at the Chernobyl nuclear reactor? Or the 1953 Soviet test of an atomic bomb? She saw a hand of heavenly protection over the Ukraine, and things would go well for a while, said Mary, but then she pointed to a globe that looked like it was ready to burst. Indicating the sky eastward, where there were many stars, she supposedly said, “That is where it will come from.” A meteor? A comet? An asteroid? Ida claimed she was later told natural disasters would overtake the world “from north to south, south to west, and from west to east.” She saw a rent that ran diagonally across the earth. Great misery and distress, she was “told,” were “imminent” (again, this in the 1940s and 1950s). During an apparition on December 7, 1947, she saw thick clouds over Europe and titanic waves. “They will first have to perish by the flood,” the seer was “told,” which she further informed would constitute the “desolation.” That seemed to fly in the face of Genesis, in which God tells Noah that “never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood; never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth” (9:11). But for the sake of fleshing it out, let’s go on: There were also premonitions of political upheaval, currency crises, boycotts, and economic warfare. The “apparition” allegedly said Russia would try to deceive the other countries and Ida said she was shown a vision of “blue and white stripes intermingling and then stars. After that I see the sickle and hammer, but the hammer breaks away from the sickle and then all things whirl together. Then I see the crescent and the sun. These too comingle with the rest. And finally a sort of buck or mountain goat comes jumping through the lot. While all this is whirling around together, a circle appears on the left and through this the globe is turning. Now a big pointer appears and I hear the words, ‘The hand of the sun dial is going in the opposite direction!’” After that, in this apparition of December 26, 1947, Ida saw “something like a cigar or a torpedo flying past me so rapidly that I can scarcely discern it. Its color seems to be of aluminum. All of a sudden I see it burst open.” She added: “Then I see faces before me, swollen faces covered with dreadful ulcers, as if it were a kind of leprosy.” This was all in the wake, one must recall, of something that had just been witnessed in the world: Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Was the breaking apart of the hammer and sickle a reference to the eventual break up of the Soviet Union? Was the goat Satan trotting through the former republics–Latvia, Ukraine, Georgia–and stirring up ethnic animosities? Was a nuclear warhead represented by the “aluminum torpedo”? How much was simply in Ida’s subconscious? It hardly stopped there. Ida saw Jerusalem surrounded by battles and a “sword hanging over Europe and the East.” She saw multitudes in the East–presumably Asia–and heard “Our Lady” say, “These will rouse… A great disaster will occur; that will startle them. The Baltic is full You do not see this.” She saw the Chinese crossing a line and an insurrection in Manchuria. Whew! There were also warnings concerning the southern flanks of Communist Bulgaria and what was then Yugoslavia. “There is a war,” Ida said during the vision. “They are fighting again.” The civil war in Yugoslavia? “The Lady says, ‘Child, there will be a fierce struggle. We have not seen the end of this struggle yet. Economic disasters will come. The empire of England is tottering.’” While there was the promise that “Japan will be converted,”  Ida saw a heavy cloud over India. There were also clouds over St. Peter’s Square. She saw the Pope and above him the word ‘VIOLENCE.” The shooting of John Paul II? There would be warfare within the Vatican, Mary warned, and in what can only be described as an especially symbolic vision, Ida heard Our Lady say, “Look,” and saw a wolf standing before the…

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Meet Monsignor Joseph Buh, who could become America’s next saint

Mother & Refuge07 mins

Monsignor Joseph Buh passed away more than a century ago in 1922. Yet his memory has not faded among the faithful in northern Minnesota. To this day many in the area consider him a saint, and he is ubiquitously acknowledged as the “patriarch of Duluth.” Despite this Buh — pronounced “Boo” — has never been officially declared a saint by the Catholic Church. Now, that might finally be about to change.  Last October Duluth Bishop Daniel Felton met with the priests of the diocese to discuss officially launching Buh’s cause for canonization to sainthood. He appointed Father Richard Kunst, pastor of St. James Parish in Duluth, to lead the initiative and asked the diocese’s priests to spend the next year conversing with their flocks to gauge the level of devotion among the faithful. According to Kunst, enthusiasm for Buh’s canonization at his parish has been high, and based on conversations with other priests, it seems likely the diocese will move forward with the canonization process. “We’re just waiting to see … Are people praying to him for intercession? If the people are doing that, that’s a generally pretty good indicator whether a cause of canonization should proceed or not,” Kunst told CNA. If declared a saint, Buh would join a small list of American saints, making him a significant figure not only to the people of Duluth but also to Catholics across the country. Who is Monsignor Buh? Born in Slovenia in 1833, Buh was a priest and missionary to Minnesota in its earliest days as a state. Ordained a priest in 1858 — the same year Minnesota was made a state — Buh was integral to the development of the Church in the region. While ministering to poor immigrants and to the Native American populations, he helped to establish over 50 parishes within the Diocese of Duluth. Buh was greatly loved because of his devotion to serving the Church and the spiritual and material needs of the faithful.   According to an autobiography on Buh written by some local Benedictine sisters, the second bishop of Duluth, Timothy McNicholas, told Buh in a letter that “this diocese with its priests and sisters and people can never express to you an adequate appreciation of all that you have done for religion. The whole Church of America is indebted to you.” During Buh’s funeral Mass, McNicholas said that Buh’s “love for souls was beyond our power to measure.” “The casual observer would not even direct his attention to the extraordinary zeal of this gentle apostle,” the bishop said. “It is only when one realizes the great harvest that he has reaped that one is forced to take into account the many and deep furrows that he plowed in the harvest fields of Christ.” “His zeal for souls was ever a burning fire,” McNicholas continued. “No journey on foot, no distance by horseback was too long or too trying provided a soul was to be helped at the journey’s end. He would set out with a trust in God realizing that God’s love of souls was infinite and that he was but the dispenser of the riches of God’s sacramental graces. He was ever willing to make every sacrifice in the performance of duty for the salvation of souls.” What’s the latest? On July 25 Buh’s remains were exhumed from his burial site at Calvary Cemetery so that they could be examined and then reinterred at Duluth’s Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary. In an interview with CNA, Kunst explained that “as the patriarch of the diocese we thought it was fitting to have him in the cathedral.” He also said the cathedral would be a more suitable place for the many visitors to Buh’s gravesite who have left a “continuous” supply of fresh flowers. Kunst said he expects the diocese to decide in October whether to recommend Buh’s cause for canonization be opened. Read more…

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