Game Changing Prayer

Friends of Faith:

Pray for me! Pray for us!

This week I had a reader reply to my inquiry as to her husband’s health. “The Dr. said that it was highly unusual for (this type of) cancer to be eradicated without subsequent treatments, to which (the patient) replied:" You've got to understand.  I had a Mormon friend, a congregation of Catholics, and a bunch of First Baptists all praying for me so God had to hear SOMETHING!"

God is listening—are we speaking?

“Again, [amen,] I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Mt 18: 19-20

Pray for each other!

Despite the current NFL controversy, I believe that we might have missed something much more revealing that is not being reported by traditional news media – the very idea that we should be kneeling in prayer (not at the time we are to be honoring the freedom (and heroes) of our country at the playing of the National Anthem) but to GOD, as one, in His church, in our homes and quite possibly BEFORE or after paying honor to our flag and nation. Not to stand in honor of power and principality, but to ask our maker in humility, and on our knees, for our needs.

God is the only one who can change the “game.” Pray for our nation and our world!

Prayer is powerful. It’s proven that prayer works for individuals who desire to be healed; AND whether or not they know those who are praying for them. And couples who pray together daily have an incidence of divorce under 1% (vs the nearly 60% overall divorce rate) – regardless of their religion or other factors – only that they pray together.

If you had a secret weapon... that could resolve personal problems, deepen your spiritual life, rescue your mind from anxiety, combat the powers of darkness, and save family and friends from the darkness of sin... It needs no sharpening, no loading, and no firing. It is held in the hand, but its power is spiritual. This weapon is the rosary. “The power of the rosary is beyond description.” – Archbishop Fulton Sheen

There are many documented stories about the power of the prayer, particularly that of the rosary. These are not just “Catholic” stories, but real-life occurrences where the stories end in miraculous healings, conversions and survival. (Google: Catholic Answers Why Pray the Rosary)

Jesus honored Mary and granted her request when she asked that he make more wine at the wedding feast of Cana. His first public miracle.

We recently visited Champion, Wisconsin the site of the first approved United States Marian apparition which occurred in 1859, and in which local residents miraculously survived a horrific wildfire in 1871 (Peshtigo Fire) by praying the rosary in procession around it’s Marian chapel. (Google: Our Lady of Good Help)

And on Oct 13, 2017 we will celebrate the 100^th anniversary of Mary’s apparitions and the Miracle of the Dancing of the Sun at Fatima, Portugal – a miracle which many today are unaware or uninformed of and yet 100 years ago (during WWI) her appearance (the sun dancing in the sky) was witnessed by 70,000 plus pilgrims – some of them many miles away from the actual apparition site.

Mary’s message to the people of Fatima was one of the power of prayer, particularly the rosary: “Pray the Rosary every day, in order to obtain peace for the world, and the end of the war.” (Google Fatima and the Rosary)

Why are these powerful images, stories of conversion and prayer kept quiet? (There are many others—including Lourdes & Guadalupe.)

Why are we so slow to believe? And more importantly why are we so slow to act on our belief.

Prayer is THE life changer, because God is more than a game changer when he hears our prayers – both here on earth and in heaven. And I believe He gave us Our greatest prayer warrior in Mary, Jesus’ Mother. Because if we think about it, who is usually the first person on earth that we ask to “pray for us” – Our Mothers! Jesus continues to honor the requests Mary brings to him in prayer for us.

Join me in Prayer! (Google: Praying the Rosary) 

Prayer changes more than just a game. It changes lives.

Blessings,

Charlotte

Monday Morning Reflection

Caught Between

Friends of Faith:

When I hear: “I can’t bring myself to go to Church – Christians are such hypocrites.” I think of the two readings I heard this week.

The first was the proverbial “damned if I do, damned if I don’t” reading from Luke 7: 34-35 where John the Baptist is said to be possessed by a demon because he fasted. And Jesus was called a glutton and drunkard because he ate and drank with tax collectors and sinners.

The second is yesterday’s reading from St. Paul’s Letter to the Philippians: “Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me life is Christ, and death is gain. If I go on living in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me.  And I do not know which I shall choose. I am caught between the two. I long to depart this life and be with Christ, for that is far better. Yet that I remain in the flesh is more necessary for your benefit.”  Phil 1: 21-24

Just as Jesus was called to eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners, so are we called to minister to each other. And as the Gospel yesterday proclaimed: to not remain idle, but to get to work! Mt 20: 1-16

Jesus left us the Church and the Eucharist so that we could receive the grace of being fed by His Body and Blood (Communion) and be energized by His Word on at least a weekly basis.

Personally, I need to “eat” and be fed more often, so I choose to pray and read Scripture daily and go to Mass more often than just once a week.

And I enjoy giving “stuff” away and speaking the truth using Jesus’ name. I want to see others succeed with Him, and to show others that being with Him is better than against/without Him.

Likewise, I have an occasional tendency to want to do things entirely for my own pleasure and it’s likely that someone is calling me a hypocrite. And at other times I know someone is saying – “stay away from her, she’s a “Jesus” freak, “over the top” holy.”

So as Christians we can be frustrated because we are often caught in the middle, struggling to balance our own wants and desires with being what God wants us to be: His messengers trying to bring others closer to Him. And I struggle to ignore those who judge me (and with judging others) for being both secular and Christian.

The fine line is not to despair and not to give up. This is exactly the hope we know and receive from God’s love and God’s Church!

Because Church isn’t for the holy and perfect: The Holy are the Saints already in heaven. And they no longer need the Church.

Pope Francis says the Church is a “field hospital.” Church is for sinners because I am (we are) the one who needs to hear His message of healing, forgiveness and hope.  Whether we believe or don’t believe; whether we’ve professed our faith or not; we are still the people who need to be within the walls of His Church on a regular basis.

And as the baptized who are called to be evangelists, we are the ones chosen to labor, to remain here on this earth not just for the benefit of becoming holy ourselves, but for sharing His Gospel message to help bring others to holiness – in whatever manner we are called.

Be diligent, be hopeful, be aware – God is calling you to be with Him and for Him while you are In His Church.

Blessings,

Charlotte

Being Good is Not Enough

Friends of Faith:

As I heard yesterday in the homily, “to be able to say I am a good or a kind person may not be enough because God is calling us to be great and to be holy.” God is calling us to love. Love is an action and greatness usually flows from an action.

It’s like saying “I’m trying” to diet, exercise or write a Monday morning reflection. Or I’ve thought of you. Until I actually do what I’m trying, or called you or said a prayer for you, simply thinking was probably not enough. Quite honestly I’ve done nothing until I take some action because until I do no one (myself or another) has become greater or better off by my action or known my thought.

Take my example about writing – until I put it on paper (and share it) I’ve done nothing for anyone else. And while my internal thoughts may be good, unless I share those thoughts with someone then I am not held accountable. I have not shared my faith or helped anyone grow closer to God. It’s like lighting a lamp and putting it under a bushel basket where no one can see it. (Mt 5:15)

This is the same for me as is that list of things in my head that I want or hope to get done today – they are probably not going to get finished unless they are written on a “sticky note” or a “to do” list of goals.

I may be a good or kind person that does nothing “evil.” But if I never do anything for another person, if I never serve another person and if I put my own wants and desires before the real needs of those around me, then I might just be a very selfish person with no regard for what Jesus did on the cross when He suffered and died for me.

It’s like saying I thought about sending a card to someone who lost a family member; it’s like saying I thought about making my husband’s favorite meal; it’s like saying I thought about going to church. If all I did was think about it, I really did nothing. It doesn’t necessarily make me bad, it just doesn’t make me great. And it doesn’t make a memory or anything that will last (no card to look at again, no meal to say thank you for and to tell someone else about, no shared relationship or conversation that makes me smile well after the action is gone.) “Do this in memory of me.”

God calls us to be great, to love and to find joy. So to say “we’re a good person or a kind person or a happy person” may simply not be enough. God deserves our very best, not just what is comfortable, easy or happens to happen. Greatness is about deliberately choosing our actions to be the best we can be.

“I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.” Jn 13: 34

God didn’t send Jesus here JUST to teach us, to pray, to fast or even to perform miracles. God sent Jesus  here so that He could teach us to live through love AND to die unselfishly for that same great love. And without dying Jesus could not rise which in turn shows us the ultimate glory of God, the holiness which abounds with the Resurrection to eternal life.

Each of these choices were deliberate. Each of these choices helped us to see Jesus’ greatness. Just living a good and kind life wasn’t enough for him. He chose to do much more – he chose to give His entire self for us.

Jesus showed us what we are to become. Jesus showed us what was great and holy. And He showed us this by not taking the easy way out and taking himself down off the cross. Jesus did nothing wrong, so He was good. It was His choice to do more in his goodness – to let us see and know greatness.

And if we think about the lives of the saints (those who the Church has proclaimed holy and great) they too drastically changed their lives through their faith, they sacrificed their time and their opportunities for their faith. And many have died (become martyrs) rather than deny Jesus’ presence in their lives and on earth.

Can I become a better person? Am I willing to change to become great, to do something that has a greater purpose? Am I willing to sacrifice by giving to others when it would be easier to sit back and let someone else do it for me? Am I proclaiming the truth even when the truth is countercultural (or may even be opposite what a government says is “legal”)?

How did I help someone else and do what is right? What more could I be doing to show love to others who are in need—physically, emotionally or spiritually? Am I doing my best to become great and holy?  It’s probably not enough to just say I believe or that I’m a good and kind person – there may be more that I am being called to do with the gifts and talents that God has blessed me with.

BE GREAT, Love!! BE HOLY, sacrifice!! BE MEMORABLE, In truth!!

Blessings,

Charlotte

Coming of the Spirit

Friends of Faith:

Appropriately for our family the next two weekends of celebrating the Ascension and Pentecost bring to fulfillment the Easter season and the gift Jesus left us here on earth – the Holy Spirit, His guidance and Our protector.

Jesus said to his disciples: "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows him. But you know him, because he remains with you, and will be in you. Jn 14: 15-21

While a greater majority may seek success, fame and fortune of this world, we forget or don’t yet know or understand, that it is not anything of THIS world that will give the greatest reward, but rather it is seeking to be Holy in God’s world that will give us the greatest reward, eternal life.

But the world does not willingly accept that it is not its own creator and boss. And reliance on God and resting in the Spirit are mostly foreign in our culture.

And yet, we are, more than ever, in this world, in need of the guidance of the Spirit and a renewed commitment to listen to and follow His commands.

Beloved: Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope, but do it with gentleness and reverence, keeping your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who defame your good conduct in Christ may themselves be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that be the will of God, than for doing evil. 1 Pt 3: 15-18

And while speaking the truth and striving to bring others closer to Him may mean that our character may be insulted by those who say we are “do gooders,” or “know it alls.” Or we may suffer the consequences, rudeness and chastisement of slander and character defamation despite our good intentions. It is still better to suffer for doing what is right, if it is the will of God, than to give in to worldly causes and/or political correctness.

If we look at what divides us as humans today: being called a Christian, seeking to protect human life and the dignity of marital love between one man and one woman, even the sanctity of keeping Holy the Sabbath – these are exactly the truth of God which are under the most attack and create much of the mental anguish and physical suffering we as His baptized faithful feel in our world today.

There is so much noise, there are so many lies, that it is extremely difficult to sort one from another, regardless of our human strength or perseverance.

So it becomes all that much more important to rely on the Spirit to guide us, console us, and protect us in EVERY decision we make. And It is these very graces that our family looks forward to on Andy’s ordination this week and as we lead up to Stan’s ordination in July.

Come Holy Spirit, Come. Fill us with Your grace and Your power. Anoint us with Your love. And may we be gifted with Your hope, joy and peace. Amen.

Let the Spirit guide you and may you be blessed with an ever more abundant Spirit. Thank you all for your prayers for those being ordained this Easter season.

Blessings,

Charlotte

Monday Morning Reflection

Deacons and Mothers

Friends of Faith:

As the number of disciples continued to grow, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. So the Twelve called together the community of the disciples and said, "It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table.Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task, whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word."
The proposal was acceptable to the whole community, so they chose Stephen, a man filled with faith and the Holy Spirit, also Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas of Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles who prayed and laid hands on them. Acts 6: 1-7

I am constantly amazed at the timeliness of Scripture as today I write to invite you to celebrate with us Andy & Stan’s upcoming ordinations.

Andy will be ordained for service in the Order of the Diaconate on Friday, May 26^th at 7:00 p.m. in St. Raphael Cathedral in Dubuque. While for him this is yet another step (Transitional Deacon) on his path to the vocation of Priesthood (next year on May 26^th, 2018) it is an extremely important step as he will make his promises of obedience and celibacy. He will be assigned to St. Mary’s Parish in Marshalltown for the summer and return to Mundelein Seminary for his final year of formal formation.

Stan will be ordained as a Permanent Deacon on July 15^th (more details to follow). For us this has been a 4 ½ year journey taken together to be culminated with a new, more formal call, for Him to service and obedience to the Church. As he has been reminding me all weekend – “Do you realize we just went to our last formation class?” I don’t think I’ll fully realize that we won’t be sitting in a classroom at Covenant Hospital most Saturday’s until we don’t have to return to class in August.

So what does the call to diaconate have to do with mothers – and why was it so timely?

Yesterday’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles was the first call and ordination to diaconate in the formation of the Church for the very reason of taking care of widows and children – serving mother’s in their role as mother’s.

Many people don’t want to acknowledge this today, but men and women ARE really very different. Not only did God create us different in the human (biological) form, but He also created us for very different social and spiritual roles in the world and the Church. Men were given the role to be protectors and providers; women the role of the womb from which all are formed and then nurtured (biologically and/or spiritually).

And yet neither, male or female, are we, will we, or can we, be truly complete without the other AND without God. Every person has a mother AND a father for this very reason – no child can biologically be born without both. And ALL (men & women) are called to help all others become Holy and to take care of and serve each other.

The servant role is the role the Deacon of the Church has been called to and it’s not a coincidence, but rather by design that it is connected to mothers; both serving with an unselfish desire and dedication to build the Kingdom of God – His children.

God promised that He would take care of our every need – and if we connect the dots, and observe how mothers and deacons serve we are being very well taken care of within the wisdom of His Church.

The similarities and unity of the mother and deacon don’t stop in this one Scriptural passage. Deacons and mothers both have: many years of intense formal training; ongoing, informal, on the job training; jobs never quite completed; duties never fully realized; jobs that are ever-changing, and neither can possibly be thanked or appreciated enough. Most importantly both survive when and because they are guided by prayer!

Heavenly Father: Your creation is most perfect. Thank you for creating Mothers and Deacons to serve each other and for their constant work in serving so that others may come to know holiness. Continue to guide the Church to protect their roles and to form us as willing servants in their reflection. And please bless Andy, Stan and their classmates who will be ordained in the coming weeks. Amen.

You are all invited to attend either or both of the Ordination Masses. Please contact us if you have any questions.

May we all serve each other as unconditionally as our mothers and the deacons serve us.

Blessings,

Charlotte

Hidden Riches

Friends of Faith:

Yesterday’s Scripture spoke a message to me that is both difficult and yet an important reminder of why being at Mass, celebrating the Eucharist and being in Communion with our Christian family EVERY week is so important.

And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight. Lk 24: 13-25 (The Road to Emmaus, where Jesus was not recognized until the breaking of the bread)

How many times has something been taken away from us before we realized how we were loved or blessed by the richness or beauty of the person, place or thing taken away? How often is Christ in our presence and we don’t realize it is He who is giving us the blessings (the fulfillment) we receive?

God put Christ in our midst to bless us, to save us and to ransom us from sin, death, and the chains of this world. And He promises us that He will always be present and He will never be taken away. HE is the ultimate gift!

However, we who are of this world, regardless of our age, continue to seek pleasure, richness and fame in good food (things), good jobs (money) and trophies of winning (anything that pats us on the back).

Beloved: If you invoke as Father him who judges impartially according to each one's works, conduct yourselves with reverence during the time of your sojourning, realizing that you were ransomed from your futile conduct, handed on by your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold but with the precious blood of Christ as of a spotless unblemished lamb. 1 Pt 1: 17-21

So I was reminded, once again that I won’t ever be completely satisfied by anything I receive that is of this world – love, richness or fame unless it is a true gift of God – and one I am truly willing and ready to give back to God, as he wills it for me, through prayer, fasting and almsgiving, even, and especially, when it means I have to suffer what it is I have lost by giving it back to him, whether it is health or personal satisfaction or gain.

So, before it is too late, I once again vowed to honor Christ by being truly present to Him in the Eucharist, in receiving His body and blood whenever possible; to seek to understand Christ through prayer and by constant study; and to be ready and willing to give away whatever worldly goods I have been given, even if it causes me to suffer, emotionally or physically.

I vowed to open my eyes to what I am deliberately hiding, or what may be hidden in the love and beauty God has placed in my life that I am too busy or unwilling to see.

I invite you to be present with me at the Eucharistic table. I invite you to study the Church teachings passed down through the ages. And I ask you to become more aware of Christ’s presence in the people that you love and those that are placed in your path each day – being ready and willing to lend a helping hand even if it causes you to have less of this world (time or money). And reminding you to hug those you love.

May you uncover what is hidden and be blessed by the riches of His gifts to you!

Blessings,

Charlotte

Monday Morning Reflection A reflection on Christian scripture from the past week for women of all ages, but especially busy married women ...