December 22, 2024

Israel news

Pray to St Charbel of Lebanon for Peace in Middle East! Urgent

Mother & Refuge06 mins

Words from ManuelaSt. Charbel is the saint of the Middle East with a burning heart for God! Those who do not know the essence of St. Charbel may look at the picture of the Eucharist. He didn’t do many words, lived a life of submission to God. He prays in Askese, Ecstasy. Holy fire of God lived in him.St. Charbel is a great help in need and sickness.Today we can ask him especially for peace in the Middle East.St. Charbel’s homeland is Lebanon. Let’s ask for his intercession !Saint Charbel appeared already at the time of the apparitions of Mary in Sievernich. A priest of the diocese of cologne who visited us at the time of the Apparitions of Mary, wrote a novena of Saint Charbel for us. Fervently praying, giving himself in prostration, but without having spoken a word, he appeared in Sievernich. I get to see him every now and then. In Lebanon there is a seer that meets him. One of these encounters was so intense that St. Charbel burned his hand on the body of the seer from Lebanon. So he became the living sign of St. Charbel. I’m glad that this intimate saint didn’t come so close to me.But God knows what HE is doing through His saints and Lebanon needed this sign of God through Saint Charbel for repentance. Don’t we need it too? Served! PRAYER ONE O Lord Jesus, you inspired the Saint, Monk and Hermit Charbel to live and die in your path and you gave him the strength to detach himself from the world in order to make triumph, in his hermitage, the monastic virtues. We implore Thee to bestow upon us the grace to love Thee and serve Thee following his example. God Almighty, who has manifested the power of Saint Charbel’s intercession, by the numerous miracles and favours, grant us our petition(s) by his intercession. Amen PRAYER TWO Dear Lord, You, who taught Saint Charbel how to be rooted in monastic vows which he lived in absolute silence and neutrality, conforming his life to Yours, help us to commemorate him and meditate his heroic and extraordinary life by telling him: Blessed are you Saint Charbel, for you were passionate in prayer, virtue and piety when you were still a child in your far away village in Lebanon amongst your serene family and decent relatives. Blessed are you, for entering the monastic life, accepting the call of God with full liberty and freedom. Thus, you left your humble and quiet village of Bekaa Kafra, North Lebanon and you never returned again. Blessed are you for you dedicated your life to monastic vows and to the priesthood, participating daily in mass and looking continuously and tirelessly for the face of God. Blessed are you for you shined over all the other hermits due to your absolute asceticism and your unnatural silence which astonished all those who knew you even after your death. And now, my Lord, we ask you through the intercession of Saint Charbel, to keep your Church enriched with all those who have a similar life and who follow the path of our holy priests, hermits and monks who sacrifice themselves for the salvation of the whole world. Amen PRAYER THREE O Jesus, You who invited the righteous Saint Charbel to join the monastic life rooting his faith among his Christian family in his village of Bekaa kafra, North Lebanon, give us through his intercession, families reanimated by the firm faith, the domestic virtues and the parental example so that they become source of real Christian vocations. Amen. More Prayers here

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Unfailing Thirty Days’ Prayer to St. Joseph | For Any Special Intention

Mother & Refuge06 mins

In honor of the years he spent with Jesus and Mary Ever blessed and glorious Joseph, kind and loving father, and helpful friend of all in sorrow! You are the good father and protector of orphans, the defender of the defenseless, the patron of those in need and sorrow. Look kindly on my request. My sins have drawn down on me the just displeasure of my God, and so I am surrounded with unhappiness. To you, loving guardian of the Family of Nazareth, do I go for help and protection. Listen, then, I beg you, with fatherly concern, to my earnest prayers, and obtain for me the favor I ask. I ask it by the infinite mercy of the eternal Son of God, which moved Him to take our nature and to be born into this world of sorrow. I ask it by the weariness and suffering you endured when you found no shelter at the inn of Bethlehem for the holy Virgin, nor a place where the Son of God could be born. Then, being everywhere refused, you had to allow the Queen of Heaven to give birth to the world’s Redeemer in a cave. I ask it by the loveliness and power of that sacred Name, Jesus, which you conferred on the adorable Infant. I ask it by that painful torture you felt at the prophecy of holy Simeon, which declared the Child Jesus and his holy Mother future victims of our sins and of their great love for us. I ask it through your sorrow and pain of soul when the angel declared to you that the life of the Child Jesus was sought by His enemies. From their evil plan you had to flee with Him and His Blessed Mother into Egypt. I ask it by all the suffering, weariness, and labors of that long and dangerous journey. I ask it by all your care to protect the Sacred Child and His immaculate Mother during your second journey, when you were ordered to return to your own country. I ask it by your peaceful life in Nazareth where you met with so many joys and sorrows. I ask it by your great distress when the adorable Child was lost to you and His Mother for three days. I ask it by your joy at finding Him in the Temple, and by the comfort you found at Nazareth, while living in the company of the Child Jesus. I ask it by the wonderful submission He showed in His obedience to you. I ask it by the perfect love and conformity you showed in accepting the Divine order to depart from this life, and from the company of Jesus and Mary. I ask it by the joy which filled your soul, when the Redeemer of the world, triumphant over death and hell, entered into the possession of His kingdom and led you into it with special honors. I ask it through Mary’s glorious Assumption, and through that endless happiness you have with her in the presence of God. O good father! I beg you, by all your sufferings, sorrows, and joys, to hear me and obtain for me what I ask. (Here name your petitions or think of them.) Obtain for all those who have asked my prayers everything that is useful to them in the plan of God. Finally, my dear patron and father, be with me and all who are dear to me in our last moments, that we may eternally sing the praises of JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH “a blameless life,St. Josephmay we lead,by your kind patronagefrom danger freed.”

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Nine First Fridays Devotion of Reparation to The Sacred Heart of Our Lord |12 Promises of the Sacred Heart

Mother & Refuge111 mins

At the end of the 17th century Our Lord appeared to St. Margaret Mary Alocoque (1647-1690) and asked her to spread devotion to His Most Sacred Heart. In a letter written to her Mother Superior in May 1688, St. Margaret Mary set out what is called The Great Promise Our Lord made regarding the Nine First Fridays and what we must do to earn it: “On Friday during Holy Communion, He said these words to His unworthy slave, if I mistake not: ‘I promise you in the excessive mercy of My Heart that Its all-powerful love will grant to all those who receive Holy Communion on nine first Fridays of consecutive months the grace of final repentance; they will not die under My displeasure or without receiving their sacraments, My divine Heart making Itself their assured refuge at the last moment.’” First Friday Requirements: To meet the requirements for the First Friday Devotion a person must, on each First Friday for nine consecutive months: 1. Attend Holy Mass2. Receive Communion3. Go to Confession The Promises of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to St. Margaret Mary (1) “I will give them all the graces necessary in their state of life. (2) I will establish peace in their homes. (3) I will comfort them in all their afflictions. (4) I will be their secure refuge during life, and above all, in death. (5) I will bestow abundant blessings upon all their undertakings. (6) Sinners will find in my Heart the source and infinite ocean of mercy. (7) Lukewarm souls shall become fervent. (8) Fervent souls shall quickly mount to high perfection. (9) I will bless every place in which an image of my Heart is exposed and honored. 10) I will give to priests the gift of touching the most hardened hearts. (11) Those who shall promote this devotion shall have their names written in my Heart. (12) I promise you in the excessive mercy of my Heart that my all-powerful love will grant to all those who receive Holy Communion on the First Fridays in nine consecutive months the grace of final perseverance; they shall not die in my disgrace, nor without receiving their sacraments. My divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in this last moment.” The devotions attached to these promises are: 1. Receiving Communion frequently 2. First Fridays: going to Confession and receiving the Eucharist on the first Friday of each month for nine consecutive months. Many parishes will offer public First Friday devotions; if they do, you must perform First Fridays publicly. If it isn’t so offered in your parish, you can do this privately, going to Confession, receiving the Eucharist, and offering your prayers for the intention of the Holy Father. 3. Holy Hour: Eucharistic Adoration for one hour on Thursdays. (“Could you not watch one hour with me?”) Holy Hour can be made alone or as part of a group with formal prayers. 4. Celebrating of the Feast of the Sacred Heart The Friday that follows the Second Sunday after Pentecost is the Feast of the Sacred Heart which brings to mind all the attributes of His Divine Heart mentioned above. Many Catholics prepare for this Feast by beginning a Novena to the Sacred Heart on the Feast of Corpus Christi, which is the Thursday of the week before. On the Feast of the Sacred Heart itself, we can gain a plenary indulgence by making an Act of Reparation to the Sacred Heart. Act of Reparation to the Sacred Heart Most sweet Jesus, whose overflowing charity for men is requited by so much forgetfulness, negligence and contempt, behold us prostrate before Thee, eager to repair by a special act of homage the cruel indifference and injuries to which Thy loving Heart is everywhere subject. Mindful, alas! that we ourselves have had a share in such great indignities, which we now deplore from the depths of our hearts, we humbly ask Thy pardon and declare our readiness to atone by voluntary expiation, not only for our own personal offenses, but also for the sins of those, who, straying far from the path of salvation, refuse in their obstinate infidelity to follow Thee, their Shepherd and Leader, or, renouncing the promises of their baptism, have cast off the sweet yoke of Thy law. We are now resolved to expiate each and every deplorable outrage committed against Thee; we are now determined to make amends for the manifold offenses against Christian modesty in unbecoming dress and behavior, for all the foul seductions laid to ensnare the feet of the innocent, for the frequent violations of Sundays and holydays, and the shocking blasphemies uttered against Thee and Thy Saints. We wish also to make amends for the insults to which Thy Vicar on earth and Thy priests are subjected, for the profanation, by conscious neglect or terrible acts of sacrilege, of the very Sacrament of Thy Divine Love; and lastly for the public crimes of nations who resist the rights and teaching authority of the Church which Thou hast founded. Would that we were able to wash away such abominations with our blood. We now offer, in reparation for these violations of Thy divine honor, the satisfaction Thou once made to Thy Eternal Father on the Cross and which Thou continuest to renew daily on our Altars; we offer it in union with the acts of atonement of Thy Virgin Mother and all the Saints and of the pious faithful on earth; and we sincerely promise to make recompense, as far as we can with the help of Thy grace, for all neglect of Thy great love and for the sins we and others have committed in the past. Henceforth, we will live a life of unswerving faith, of purity of conduct, of perfect observance of the precepts of the Gospel and especially that of charity. We promise to the best of our power to prevent others from offending Thee and to bring as many as possible to…

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O Glory of Virgins by St. Venantius Fortunatus

Mother & Refuge02 mins

Where troops of virgins follow the LambThrough the streets of the golden city,Who is she walks in the lily throngClothed with the sunHer mantle flowing like an azure waveTo the jewel pavement?High in her arms for all to adoreShe holds a Man-Child.She leads the mystic song that swells and soarsLike the noise of many waters,With the voice of her own Magnificat.The glory of virgins is she, a maiden mother.O Mary, where your Jesus leads, you follow,The first of pearl-pure human souls.The prize that reckless Eve has tossed away,You stretch a generous hand to give again,And draw the earth’s sad exilesTo their promises land of joy.O doorway of the mighty King!O radiant threshold of His light!Life-giving Virgin!Nations redeemed praise you with jubilation.Jesus, Son of Mary,Father and loving Spirit,Glory to You forever and ever. Amen.

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Prayer to St. Maria Goretti

Mother & Refuge01 mins

St. Mary Goretti, strengthened by God’s grace, you did not hesitate, even at the age of eleven, to sacrifice life itself to defend your virginal purity. Look graciously on the unhappy human race that has strayed far from the path of eternal salvation. Teach us all, and especially our youth, the courage and promptness that will help us avoid anything that could offend Jesus. Obtain for me a great horror of sin, so that I may live a holy life on earth and win eternal glory in heaven.Amen. Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory be

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Prayer to Our Lady, Queen of Hope

Mother & Refuge12 mins

‘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’

Mother & Refuge03 mins

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?

Mother & Refuge03 mins

“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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