We Remember

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The victims of the September 111th attack and those of the Bengazi attack were remembered at Mass this morning.  We prayed for the conversion of the terrorists.

Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord and may Your perpetual light shine upon them.

Today - St. Nicholas & Holy Souls in Purgatory prayer

Shared by Mary Jane.

Today is the feast of St. Nicholas of Tolentino, who had a great love for the Holy Souls. He would offer Mass, pray and do penance for them so they could more quickly enter Heaven. Because many Catholics have forgotten about the souls in Purgatory, except when November 2nd - All Souls Day - comes around, St. Nicholas can teach a valuable lesson.

 

Let us pray for our dearly departed loved ones today and ask St. Nicholas to remember them. Prayer is below.

 

Patronage:
Souls in Purgatory, animals, babies, boatmen, dying people, mariners, sailors, sick animals, watermen

 

Bio: http://www.communityofhopeinc.org/Prayer%20Pages/Saints/saint%20nicholas.html

 

 

Prayer to Saint Nicholas

O God, source of strength and courage,
you gave your beloved preacher,
Saint Nicholas of Tolentino,
the conviction of faith to the very end.
Grace us with the ability
to translate your teaching into action,
remain patient amid hardship,
serve the poor and those who suffer,
and live as your true and faithful
servants.
Saint Nicholas of Tolentino,  pray for us.

Prayer for the Deceased by Saint Nicholas

Lord, God of holiness and light.
You do not allow any shadow of darkness or evil in your sight,
and so in your mercy you grant to those who have left this world burdened with sin,
a time of purification, applying to them the spiritual treasurers of your holy Church.

Hear my prayer
and through the merits of Christ,
the Blessed Virgin, the saints,
and all your faithful people
bring to an end this time of waiting
for our beloved dead, especially _____.

In your providence
you have chosen Saint Nicholas
as a special intercessor
on behalf of the departed.
Hear also his fervent prayer for those whom I recommend to you through his intercession.  Amen.

Another Ugandan Seminarian Shares his Call to the Priesthood

On August 13th, I shared the vocation story of Ugandan Seminarian Bruno T. You can read it HERE. His fellow seminarian Peter also shared his call to the priesthood. I have permission to share with my readers.

Adoration Chapel, Benedictine Monastery, Oahu 

My vocation to priesthood started when a priest visited our home and asked what I wanted to become in future. I told him I wanted to become a priest. And after my primary school, I joined the minor seminary in 2002 and still pursuing that dream.

My mother asked me where I wanted to go after my primary school. I told her I will just pass through the seminary. She replied to me those who enter the seminary go there with the intention of becoming priests.

When I finally joined the minor seminary in 2002, through the spiritual activities and recollections, my view about priesthood changed and I learnt that God was calling me to become a priest and work in his vineyard and am discerning that call everyday.

When I finished minor seminary in 2007, the following year I continued to the major seminary that was in Uganda Martyrs National Major Seminary Alokolum. I was there for three years up to May 2011.

From August 2011 up to the end of July 2012, I was for a year of Pastoral Spiritual formation in two parishes, six months in each. These parishes were Rwemisanga parish and Magoma parish. These parishes are all found in Hoima diocese where I come from.

After the year of Pastoral Spiritual formation, which was meant to help me experience the life priests live in parishes, I started my last phase of seminary formation at St. Paul's National Major Seminary Kinyamasika and so far I have finished one year.

Am now remaining with three years to become a Roman Catholic Priest. It is quite a long journey where I have come from, it has not been easy, but God has brought me this far. Its on this note that am requesting any person of good will to help me.

Peter and the other seminarians would have more time to concentrate on their priestly studies if they did not have to worry about how they will pay for their schooling fees and tuition.

You can help these young men become priests.  Any amount you can send to them is greatly appreciated.  The best way to send money to them is via Western Union.  It can be done online and I believe it only costs 5.00 per transaction.  For more information, please feel free to contact me.

Dear Virgin Mary,

Mother of our seminarians,

intercede for these fine young men.

May they find compassionate people

to help them obtain their calling to priests of

your Son.

We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Saturday September 7th Fast Suggestions and Help

For those of you who may have questions on just how we are supposed to fast tomorrow, here is some help:

via Father Daren Zehnle,   Fast Facts for Fasting.

EWTN - Prayer Vigil for Peace with Pope Francis

Feast of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta

Prayer for Canonization:

Jesus, you made Blessed Teresa an inspiring example of firm faith and burning charity, an extraordinary witness to the way of spiritual childhood, and a great and esteemed teacher of the value and dignity of every human life. Grant that she may be venerated and imitated as one of the Church's canonized saints. Hear the requests of all those who seek her intercession, especially the petition I now implore... (mention here the favor or favors you wish to pray for) May we follow her example in heeding Your cry of thirst from the Cross and joyfully loving You in the distressing disguise of the poorest of the poor, especially those most unloved and unwanted. We ask this in Your name and through the intercession of Mary, Your Mother and the Mother of us all. Amen.

Shared by Mary Jane.

"Hide me, Jesus..."

PRAYER FOR LABOR DAY

Picture source

The following was shared by a reader and friend of this blog.  Mahalo Ann!

On this weekend, when we rest from our usual labors, 
loving Father, we pray for all who shoulder the tasks of human labor---
in the marketplace, in factories and offices, in the professions,
and in family living.  
We thank you, Lord, for the gift and
opportunity of work;
may our efforts always be pure of heart,
for the good of others and the glory of your name.  
We lift up to you all who long for just employment and those who work
to defend the rights and needs of workers everywhere.  
May those of us who are now retired always remember that we
still make a valuable contribution to our Church and our
world by our prayers and deeds of charity.
May our working and our resting all give praise to you until the day we share
together in eternal rest with all our departed in your Kingdom
as you live and reign Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one God,
forever and ever. Amen.

American teen attributes cancer cure to blessing from Pope Benedict

"...When Peter was just 17-years-old he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. "He had a chest x-ray and it revealed a softball sized tumor in his chest," Laura Srsich, Peter's mother, said. "It was determined that it was stage four non-Hodgkin's lymphoma."

While doctors at Children's Hospital Colorado worked to save Peter's life, the Make-a-Wish Foundation granted him his wish..."

Read the rest of the story HERE.

Source: Catholic Culture.

Pope Francis Calls for a Day of Prayer and Fasting for Peace on Saturday, September 7

Today Pope Francis took the first, dramatic public action of his pontificate.

During his Sunday Angelus message, he called upon Catholics everywhere — and also all Christians and all men and women of good will — to join him in a day of prayer and fasting for peace in Syria, where civil war has left thousands dead, and the involvement of other powers threatens a still wider war, this coming Saturday, September 7, the vigil of the Feast of the Birth of Mary, the Mother of God.

He asked Catholics everywhere to fast on Saturday along with him, and also to gather in their various parish churches to participate with him as he prays in Rome.

So the world will see something dramatic this Saturday: Pope Francis himself will be in St. Peter’s Square on Saturday evening from 7 p.m. until midnight, praying and fasting with the faithful of Rome and of the whole world, for peace in Syria and in the whole world.

Read Robert Moynihan's letter in its entirety HERE.