Prayer Is Life

I think I will start out with some often wondered about things about the Catholic faith.

Praying to Saints-

  Maybe the correct term should be, "asking the Saints to pray for us."

  This is where Protestants have a great deal of difficulty.  They hear Catholics speak of "praying to St. such and such."  Then they think, reflecting on the bible verses they have studied, that Catholics worship other beings besides God. This is not the case.    It is quite understandable how this conclusion can be drawn. 

  Catholics love to be interceded for!  Catholics love to intercede for others!  Asking the Saints to pray for us is just more people to intercede.  The more people praying for you and your specific needs the better!

  Here is a simple explanation:  Let's say you asked me to pray for you.  I tell you that I would love to pray for you.  Now, when you asked me to pray for you, did you just worship me?  No, you certainly did not! 

  The people that have gone on before us are still capable of praying for us. 

2 CORINTHIANS v. 3.--We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 

  How wonderful is that?  Our dear Saints are present with the Lord.  They have access to Him, and they can pray for us. 

  I am in no way trying to debate doctrine here with anyone.  This page is to teach people about the Catholic faith.  It is also a place where I can minister to you.  If you do not agree with my faith, that is fine.  We can all worship Our Lord, and get along in peace.  Peace is what is needed.  Not further division of the Body of Christ.  Let us then, have a united front, and remember that God brings us together, the devil tries to divide us. 

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum.   May God bless each of you.  Don't forget to pray, and to pray for others!

Visit this website to intercede for others, and leave a prayer in there for yourself!  http://www.light-a-candle.org

This is the season of Lent.  For those of you who do not know what Lent is, here is a brief description:  Lent is the 40 day period between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday (Pascha).  There are traditionally forty days in Lent which are marked by fasting both from foods and festivities, and by other acts of penance. The three traditional practices to be taken up with renewed vigor during Lent are prayer (justice towards God), fasting (justice towards self), and almsgiving (justice towards neighbor). Today, some people give up something they enjoy, and often give the time or money spent doing that thing to charitable purposes or organizations. Lent is a season of sorrowful reflection that is punctuated by breaks in the fast on Sundays (the day of the resurrection); thus, Sundays are not counted in the forty days of Lent. (wikpedia)

Here are some nice simple prayers for Lent.  You can say them each day, and if they become a habit, then add more personal ones during your day and evening.  Soon, prayer will be just like breathing.  Make it a goal.  It takes time to form a habit, so don't kick yourself if you forget your morning prayer, or if you forget your personal prayer.  As soon as you realize you have forgotten, say a prayer wherever you are, however brief it may be, and just go on about your business and thank God that it was brought to your mind.  If it was brought to your mind, that is a great sign that you are on the verge of a good habit!!  Pax Christi!!

Morning Prayer

Lord, through these forty days of Lent cleanse my heart, heal my soul, guide my steps, that I may prolcaim your goodness and mercy always and everywhere.  As day begins, may I praise You.  As day continues, may I honor You.  As day ends, may I bless You.  You live and reign forever and ever. AMEN

Evening Prayer

Lord, fill our souls with rest this night as we turn our cares and worries over to You.  As we journey through this Lenten season, take away everything that hides us from You.  Make us shine with the light of your coming Resurrection, that we may proclaim your good news even without speaking.  Enlighten us, enfold us, entrust us with your mission, now and forever.  AMEN

If you want to look in depth at the reason and season of Lent, go to http://www.newadvent.org/ it has an excellent Catholic encyclopedia and many good articles.

Here is one of my heroes.  Pope John Paul 2.  Karol Józef Wojtyla.  Go to www.vatican.va/  and click on his biography.

  He was a facinating man.  A very Godly and holy man.  When I grow up I hope to be even a little bit like him.  I really did love him, and it felt like I knew him personally.  I can remember when he became pope.  I was watching Saturday Night Live in 1978 and after it was over, the news came on and they showed one of the cardinals announcing his name, and then he came out and said "Be not afraid."  And I thought to myself, what a good, kind, loving, gentle, man.  He made you feel like everything was going to be alright.  Anyway, here he is, read all about him, you will come away with a special place in your heart for him as well.  Pax Christi!

Pope John Paul II A beautiful tribute.

The rosary is a meditative prayer.  It first started out as a way of remembering the psalms.  At that time, people were mainly illiterate, and beads helped them to remember.  Praying the rosary is very calming.  It centers the soul. It is very powerful.  There are many prayers you can pray on the rosary.  "Hail Mary" is the standard.  Below is how to say the rosary doing the "Hail Mary".  There is also the "Jesus Prayer". Lord Jesus, have mercy on me, a sinner.  There is also "The Divine Mercy".  There are more.  The rosary is a wonderful tool to use in your prayer life.  I recommend it to anyone.  Go to your prayer place, take a rosary, and sit down with it, and say the prayer of your choice on it.  You will be glad that you did.

1. While holding the Crucifix in the hand, make the Sign of the Cross.

   In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

2. Recite the Apostles' Creed.
   I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, was born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He went down to the dead. On the third day, he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

3. On the first large bead, recite the Our Father.
   Our Father, who art in heaven,
   hallowed be Thy name;
   Thy Kingdom come,
   Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
   
   Give us this day our daily bread;
   and forgive us our trespasses
   as we forgive those who trespass against us;
   and lead us not into temptation,
   but deliver us from evil.
   Amen.

4. On the three small beads recite the Hail Mary for an increase in the three theological virtues of faith, hope, and love...
   Hail Mary, full of Grace,
   The Lord is with thee,
   Blessed art thou amongst women,
   And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
   
   Holy Mary, Mother of God
   Pray for us, sinners,
   Now, and at the hour of our death. Amen
   ...followed by praying the Glory Be.
   Glory be to the Father,
   and to the Son,
   and to the Holy Spirit.
   
   As it was in the beginning, 
   is now,
   and ever shall be,
   world without end.
   Amen.  Oh my Jesus, forgive us of our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to Heaven especially those most in need of thy mercy. Amen

Here is an online rosary.  Click this link and it will show you how to pray the rosary and explain the mysteries as well.  http://www.smcenter.org/rosary.htm

Many people have the misconception of the Conception.  Immaculate Conception is referring to Mary.  She was born without sin, being a perfect conduit for our Lord Jesus Christ.    She was conceived without having original sin.

Most believe that Jesus was the Immaculate Conception.   He was born without sin, He could certainly be called immaculate! 

There are many names for Mary:

Mother of God,  Our Lady, Notre Dame, The Immaculate Conception, Mother Mary, The Blessed Virgin, just to name a few.

Here is some more about Mary in depth.http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15464b.htm