The Hope of the Nations

What is the International Week of Prayer and Fasting?

The International Week of Prayer and Fasting is a grassroots movement of Catholics and other Christians from around the world participating in a global network of prayer and fasting for the goals of the week:
1. Bring a Conversion of Nations
2. Build a ‘Culture of Life’
3. Create Peace throughout the World
The grasp of the culture of death on our world is growing stronger. Wars, natural disasters, terrorism, abortion, euthanasia, and religious persecution are on the rise as never before. As Christians, however, we are not to despair, but to place our hope in Christ. Now more than ever believers from all traditions and nationalities must unite together to pray and fast.

When is this week held?

This week is held annually in October, the month of the holy rosary.  This is our 19th year and it will be held from October 1st-9th, 2011 to pray for the goals of the week.

How can you participate?
Consistently we see examples in scripture, the lives of the saints and the lives of religious leaders throughout history that prayer and fasting can change the course of world events.  You can participate in many ways:
1.  Pray and fast with your family, with your prayer group, with your parish, or with your community from October 1st-9th, 2011.
2.  Attend the International Day of Prayer in Washington, D.C. at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on Saturday, October 1, 2011.
3.  Attend the Awards Banquet on Sunday, October 2, 2011 at Georgetown Conference Center with keynote speaker Lila Rose, founder of Live Action.  

go here: http://www.iwopf.org/

Blessed S. Johnpillai, Sillalai Catechist

Holy Mary, Mother of God, please pray for the Beatification of Your faithful servant, Blessed S. Johnpillai, Sillalai Catechist, Amen.

This story inspires me. I stumbled upon Blessed Johnpillal recently and was reminded once again that nothing is impossible with God.  

Annex I
Miracle attributed to the intercession of Blessed Johnpillai.
I solemnly declare and state the details of my firm belief of a favor obtained through the intercession of late Mr. S. Johnpillai, the holy soul in heaven. The details in brief are as follows:- It is the reconciliation of a Hindu couple separated for nearly two years and who, after all their efforts to reconcile failed, finally decided to divorce. It was at this point, I sought the intercession of Blessed Johnpillai to pray for the couple and to obtain their reconciliation. The fervent prayers continued for three months and at the end of three months, on Maundy Thursday, 09th of April, Mrs. SB called with the glad news. The prayers were answered and the impossible to human efforts became possible to Divine intervention through the intercession of Blessed Johnpillai. There was an apparent change of heart and the couple was reconciled. The lady thanked God profusely from the bottom of her heart. I too join her in thanking the Almighty for His mercy and love and especially to the holy soul of Mr. Johnpillai in Heaven for his intercession.

A. Jesuthasan
13th April 2009.
(NB: The report in full is filed separately)

Blessed Johnpillai, please intercede on the behalf of all spouses in need of reconciliation!

Turning into Pinocchio

Last night I lied.

I am ashamed of myself.  Although, I told a white lie (half truth) to protect my reputation,  I think that in reality I caused more damage. Maybe nobody I told the lie to cares. Perhaps, they already forgot about it.

BUT IT MATTERS.

It matters because:

1) Lying is a sin

2) The fear of truth is not healthy.  It shows that I am unable to accept the reality of a certain situation, because I am too afraid/ashamed to admit a particular problem out loud to others.

3) Lack of true humility. I think that if I say everything "is ok" and pretend certain events didn't happen, I can fix the issues with no shame. No one needs to be the wiser, right? Wrong.

4) I am denying others the opportunity to practice Christian virtue.

5) Lack of trust in God. I realized that I am trying to control the situation/people's reactions, etc.,  where I should just be trusting God to take care of me because the situation is out of my control.

"As Isidore says (Etym. x) "honesty means an honorable state," wherefore a thing may be said to be honest through being worthy of honor. Now honor, as stated above (Q[144], A[2], ad 2), is due to excellence: and the excellence of a man is gauged chiefly according to his virtue, as stated in Phys. vii, 17. Therefore, properly speaking, honesty refers to the same thing as virtue." Summa Theologica

Litany of Humility

Jesus! meek and humble of heart, Hear me. From the desire of being esteemed, From the desire of being loved... From the desire of being extolled ... From the desire of being honored ... From the desire of being praised ... From the desire of being preferred... From the desire of being consulted ... From the desire of being approved ... Deliver me, Jesus.  From the fear of being humiliated ... From the fear of being despised... From the fear of suffering rebukes ... From the fear of being calumniated ... From the fear of being forgotten ... From the fear of being ridiculed ... From the fear of being wronged ... From the fear of being suspected ... That others may be loved more than I, That others may be esteemed more than I ... That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease ... That others may be chosen and I set aside ... That others may be praised and I unnoticed ... That others may be preferred to me in everything... That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should…  Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. by Rafael Cardinal Merry del Val (1865-1930), Secretary of State for Pope Saint Pius

God Is Not Dead...but maybe we are

The only way to improve our relationship with God

 is by deepening our prayer life.

How to Pray by Fr. Stan Fortuna Click here to listen


The 4th Beatitude and Prayer as Thirst by Fr. Andrew Apostoli, CFR Click here to listen 


I Thirst by Fr. John Riccardo Click here to listen

Prayer sustains our faith. It keeps God alive and well in our lives.

If you pray well, you will live well, 
and if you live well, you will die well, 
and if you die well, all will be well.
 - St Augustine

Prayer is essential for salvation and sanctification. 

Pray as if it all depends on God. Work as if it all depends on you.


5 Modes of Prayer: Praise, Thanksgiving, Repentance, Intercessions, and Listening


Prayer is the light of the soul, giving us true knowledge of God. 
It is a link mediating between God and man. 
By prayer the soul is borne up to heaven and in a marvelous way embraces the Lord. 
This meeting is like that of an infant crying on its mother, and seeking the best of milk. 
The soul longs for its own needs and what it receives is better than anything to be seen in the world.
- St John Chrysostom (Hom 6 on Prayer)

Transformation

"Transformation is not a future event, but a present activity."

-Jillian Michaels

I have been told this every morning at 5:30am for the past week by Jillian. I thought it was time to share her advice. ;-) I believe it applies to every avenue of life, especially for deepening prayer. 

Just as eating right, strength training and cardio are good for the body, so are formal prayers, fasting and silence good for spiritual growth.

You just don't wake up one day and have a six-pack, nor do you just automatically have a deep relationship with God. Both need to be worked on and maintained.

What are you doing TODAY to transform your prayer life?  Try to challenge yourself. Stretch a little further with God.