Articles For Heart Mind Soul

Posted by Danielle Bean on November 30, 2010 Today is the feast of St. Andrew , so I wanted to be sure to remind readers about a little prayer that has special meaning for many of us here at Faith & Family. Two years ago, Rebecca shared her love for the St. Andrew novena prayer . And last year, Arwen told us the inspiring story of the big results she has seen this little prayer produce in her life. (Now that she is expecting twins, I have to wonder just how hard she prayed it! ) I like the fact that this small prayer has such devoted fans and personal connections here at Faith & Family and so I am committing to praying it myself this Advent. Its brevity makes it easy to add to family prayer time, morning prayers, or even grace at meals. Here it is:

We don’t have disabilities. We have God-given distinct abilities.

Little Star by Anthony DeStefano

Life is not a multiple choice test; it is really a True or False exam.

On Saturday, October 30, 2010, the Opera Company of Philadelphia brought together over 650 choristers from 28 participating organizations to perform one of the Knight Foundation's "Random Acts of Culture" at Macy's in Center City Philadelphia. Accompanied by the Wanamaker Organ - the world's largest pipe organ - the OCP Chorus and throngs of singers from the community infiltrated the store as shoppers, and burst into a pop-up rendition of the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's "Messiah" at 12 noon, to the delight of surprised shoppers.

Homily in Memorial of Legion of Mary Founder "The Church in Ireland Is on a Path of Renewal" DUBLIN, NOV. 27, 2010 ( Zenit.org ) Here are the notes from a homily given by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin on Nov. 20 at the 30th anniversary Mass in commemoration of the servant of God Frank Duff, founder of the Legion of Mary .

Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer for Nascent Life

 Join Catholic Digest as we journey through the Advent season.

Pray to desire a pure heart to love God, a pure mind to think about God and a pure soul to live forever with God, far more than you desire pure water to drink and pure air to breathe.

This Christmas Season let us focus on the surpassing Gift of the Birth of Our Savior, rather than the bargains, sales or shopping sprees for the surprising gifts under the Christmas tree.

Denver, Colorado, November 26, 2010 ( CNA ) Father Charles Shelton, a Jesuit priest, psychologist, and the author of a new book on gratitude, says that the choice to live gratefully can help to improve virtually every aspect of a person's life. “ The Gratitude Factor ,” is a book that examines the importance of giving thanks for one's work, leisure, relationships, and other everyday experiences of God's grace. Father Shelton has made notable contributions to the field of “positive psychology,” a branch of the social science which studies the cultivation of virtue and well-being. While some experiences naturally inspire a feeling of gratitude, others take work, patience and prayer to appreciate. Sometimes the benefit of a situation is completely hidden, requiring the attitude of faith. Father Shelton noted that Thanksgiving was perfectly timed to help American Catholics rediscover Advent. An authentic Thanksgiving experience of gratitude, he said, could help Catho...

Everything you have is a gift from God and everything you don’t have is also a gift from God. Thank God for everything you have and thank God for everything you don’t have.

In November Charisletter - Catholic Center for Charismatic Renewal Newsletter Archdiocese of San Antonio Celebrating the Thanksgiving Holiday is an opportunity for us to look back and see what the Lord has done for us, with us, and through us. From the very beginning our ancestors knew that without God we could do nothing. We must ensure that the real meaning of the feast is in thanksgiving to God for all the blessings he has bestowed on us throughout the year. We thank you Lord for your goodness, your love and all that we have received this last year. We also thank our Blessed Mother for having given us her only begotten Son, who in turn gave us his Holy Spirit. He is with us always! All Glory, honor and praise to Jesus the Lord!

  November 23, 2010 The Oprah Winfrey Show:  Answering God's Call Oprah Video:  Aspiring Nuns Report for God's Duty Oprah Video:  Marrying Christ Oprah Video:  Nuns Celebrate Their Marriage to Jesus

Evangelize, don’t scandalize.

Read Text of Archbishop Gustavo’s homily at Mass of installation November 23

The Texas Nuns are Poor Clare Nuns of Perpetual Adoration who left Our Lady of the Angels Monastery in Hanceville, Alabama in the summer of 2008. Filled to capacity, and with a waiting list for women to enter, in 2007 it became very evident that God was calling us to found a new monastery in Texas. With the invitation of Archbishop Jose Gomez, the permission of Bishop Robert Baker, and the blessing and prayers of Mother Mary Angelica, we set off for our new home in San Antonio. Access website  Monastery of St. Michael the Archangel  A Franciscan Community of Poor Clare Nuns of Perpetual Adoration

Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive.  There is no cost, just a lot of reward. Make sure you pray, and pray believing God will answer. May today be all you need it to be. May the peace of God and the freshness of the Holy Spirit rest in your thoughts, rule in your dreams tonight, and conquer all your fears. May God manifest himself today in ways you have never experienced.  May your joys be fulfilled, your dreams be closer, and your prayers be answered.  I pray that faith enters a new height for you; I pray that your territory is enlarged. I pray for peace, healing, health, happiness, prosperity, joy, true and undying love for God.

Monday, November 22 at 7:00 p.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Del Rio, Texas: Legion of Mary Rosary and Prayer for Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller               Prayer to the Holy Spirit in Preparation to Receive San Antonio’s New Shepherd Holy Spirit, we give you thanks for having given Blessed Miguel Agustín Pro the grace to live and die for love of neighbor and the greater glory of God. We ask you to prepare our new shepherd, Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller, and the People of God of the Archdiocese of San Antonio to be true disciples and missionaries of Jesus Christ. Our Lady of Guadalupe, and Blessed Miguel Pro, pray for us. ¡Viva Cristo Rey! Oración al Espíritu Santo en Preparación para Recibir al Nuevo Pastor de la Arquidiócesis de San Antonio Espíritu Santo, te damos gracias por haber concedido al Padre Miguel Agustín Pro vivir y morir buscando tu mayor gloria y amor al prójimo. Te rogamos que prepares a nuest...

Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago bids farewell to the people of the Archdiocese of Chicago Missionary of the Holy Spirit Father Gustavo Garcia-Siller was ordained in 1984 from St. John's Seminary in Camarillo, California Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller, MSpS, preaches the homily at a liturgy at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine at Maryville Academy in Des Plaines, Illinois Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller, MSpS, swings a censer near images of Our Lady of Guadalupe at the beginning of a Mass at Federal Plaza in Chicago on December 12, 2008

The Legion of Mary invites everyone to the Rosary and Prayer to the Holy Spirit in Preparation to Receive Our New Shepherd Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller. Monday, November 22 7:00 p.m. Our Lady of Guadalupe Church Prayer to the Holy Spirit in Preparation to Receive San Antonio’s New Shepherd Holy Spirit, we give you thanks for having given Blessed Miguel Agustín Pro the grace to live and die for love of neighbor and the greater glory of God. We ask you to prepare our new shepherd, Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller, and the People of God of the Archdiocese of San Antonio to be true disciples and missionaries of Jesus Christ. Our Lady of Guadalupe, and Blessed Miguel Pro, pray for us. ¡Viva Cristo Rey! Oración al Espíritu Santo en Preparación para Recibir al Nuevo Pastor de la Arquidiócesis de San Antonio Espíritu Santo, te damos gracias por haber concedido al Padre Miguel Agustín Pro vivir y morir buscando tu mayor gloria y amor al prójimo. Te rogamos que prepares a nuest...

We are all servants. We either serve God or we serve the world - the flesh - the devil.

 A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful, who piously recite the Act of Dedication of the Human Race to Jesus Christ King . A plenary indulgence is granted, if it is recited publicly on the feast of our Lord Jesus Christ King. Most sweet Jesus, Redeemer of the human race, look down upon us humbly prostrate before you. We are yours, and yours we wish to be; but to be more surely united with you, behold each one of us freely consecrates himself today to your Most Sacred Heart. Many indeed have never known you; many, too, despising your precepts, have rejected you. Have mercy on them all, most merciful Jesus, and draw them to your Sacred Heart. Be King, O Lord, not only of the faithful who have never forsaken you, but also of the prodigal children who have abandoned you; grant that they may quickly return to their Father's house, lest they die of wretchedness and hunger. Be King of those who are deceived by erroneous opinions, or whom discord keeps aloof, and call t...

Posted By Fr. Roger Landry On November 20, 2010 Today is the first anniversary of a remarkable declaration of American Christians — clergy and lay, Catholic, Orthodox and Evangelical — that is a brilliant analysis of the ongoing series of attacks on the foundational principles of justice and the common good in our country as well as a courageous, inspiring public pledge to come together in conscience vigorously to oppose them. Called the “Manhattan Declaration” because it was originally conceived in a meeting in New York City, it is a concise and compelling presentation of the authentically Christian positions on the dignity of human life, marriage and religious freedom and a direct response to recent political developments with respect to health care reform, referenda on marriage and multiple incursions against freedom of conscience. Here are seven important points made in the declaration. First , while the history of Christian institutions clearly includes “imperfections and...

The Dominican Sisters of Mary will be featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show on Tuesday, November 23rd. This is a new show that includes interviews with Mother Assumpta, Sr. Joseph Andrew, Sr. Mary Samuel, Sr. John Dominic and other Sisters; as well as on-site filming of the First and Final Profession Masses and this year’s Entrance Day, during which we welcomed 22 Aspirants. The show will feature the experience of a Sister entering religious life and the meaning of religious profession as being ‘married’ to Christ. You may recall that Oprah first reached out to our community on February 9th of this year due an interest in the hidden aspects of religious life. The response from the first show was so positive that the Sisters were asked if we would be open to another opportunity to share our life. We have accepted this invitation in the hopes of reaching an audience we might not otherwise reach with the witness of our life and the Gospel. Please join us in praying that the show wi...

A 30-second video that celebrates the beauty and majesty of the human person. Access website Population Research Institutue

It is not how many things we do; it is how many things get done. It is not how many things we start; it is how many things get finished. It is not how many things we have; it is what we do with the things we have. It is not how we will die; it is how we have lived. It is not that we do not have a choice; it is that we have too many choices. It is not what others think of us that matters; it is what God thinks of us that matters.

Access website Come Pray the Rosary

Access Website  Missionaries of the Blessed Sacrament

Father Robert Barron is a well-known author and public speaker who has pioneered new efforts in the Catholic Church's outreach with a global media ministry: He's gained a worldwide audience through his website: http://www.wordonfire.org/ His podcasts and blogs range from topics on movies and books to questions of Catholicism in today's world. “I just thought if Peter and Paul had the internet they would use it. If you want to get the Gospel out as widely as possible, you use the means available to you.” In addition to his website, he has authored 10 books and began to host his own TV show airing every Sunday on WGN America. He has also produced numerous DVD's including his series on the seven deadly sins. “It's a fascinating way of talking about the fundamental human dysfunctions that everybody encounters across the cultures, men and woman, no matter what your economic or social backgrounds, everyone wrestles with pride, envy, anger, etc.” Father Barron previou...

November 17, 2010 Dear Friends, The Holy Father has announced a worldwide vigil of prayer for unborn children and invites your participation! On Saturday evening, November 27, I will join him in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome for an evening prayer service that will begin the season of Advent. During that prayer service, he will lift up in prayer all the children living in the womb, and call God’s protection on them. The Pope has invited all the bishops of the world to join in this event by having their own prayer services. But, of course, when he invites the bishops to do so, that is simply a way of inviting all of us to do so. And so, whether your diocese or parish is having a special vigil or not, I invite you to join with me, and with the Holy Father, in praying for the protection of all children in the womb and for an end to abortion worldwide! I ask you, furthermore, to continue this prayer throughout Advent, using the special prayer we will provide for you. Prayer f...

Eternal God, empower and equip us for our earthly endeavors and for everlasting eternity.

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Sr. Mariella, Art Professor at Silver Lake College, explains the prayerful process of Iconography and the San Damiano Cross. www.fscc-calledtobe.org

Whether we believe in God or not, t here is a God. Whether we believe in heaven or not, there is a heaven. Whether we believe in hell or not, there is a hell. Whether we believe it or not, it does not matter; what is, is, and what isn’t, isn’t. Our believing it or not, does not change what is, or is not.

16-November-2010 -- ZENIT.org  News Agency NORTH HAVEN, Connecticut, NOV. 15, 2010 ( Zenit.org ) Catholic.net  is launching an essay contest in which the winner will be awarded a trip to Madrid for World Youth Day next August. The competition is open to any youth between the ages of 16 and 28, of any nationality. Participants are asked to write an essay answering the question: "How have you found God?" Under this topic, several possible themes are suggested: the brevity of life, the love of God, happiness, the love of Christ, mission, inner change, or the sacraments. The best essays will be published in a book. The deadline for submission is Dec. 31. Essay competition: How have you found God?

15-November-2010 -- Catholic World News Brief Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York paid tribute to the Servant of God Dorothy Day (1897-1980), the founder of the Catholic Worker Movement., during Vespers on November 9. The service, which included music of Palestrina, Durufle, Sibelius, di Lasso, and Henry Purcell, took place in the Greenwich Village parish where Day often prayed. “Dorothy Day is one of the most significant women in the life of the Church in the United States,” said Archbishop Dolan. “Dorothy's mission to the Church in every area-- social and legal reform, workers' rights, publications, her renowned pacifism, the ability to prophetically challenge even Church authority-- all of that found its taproot in prayer … Her activism was the fruit of a profound prayer that I would say bordered on the mystic.” “Dorothy was a woman of the Church,” he added. “She loved being a Catholic. She loved the Catholic Church. I'm not talking about some nebulous, generic ...