Keep Asking

 

Don’t Be Afraid To Keep Asking

Sometimes we feel God doesn’t listen … That’s not true … God hears every word that comes from our lips.  The Church teaches that every prayer is answered - so why doesn’t something happen?

Maybe God delays His response to build our faith.  Maybe God answers us, but it isn’t the answer we expect so we ignore it. Maybe the answer is ‘no’.  Maybe God gives us something better but we don’t recognize it because it’s not specifically what we asked for.

So what’s a person to do?  Remember the story in the Gospel of Luke (11:5-13) about perseverance in a request?  Your neighbor comes over in the middle of the night and asks for a couple loaves of bread to feed unexpected company.  You say “go away, don’t bother me it’s the middle of the night”.  The point is that the neighbor is so persistent you do get up and give him what he wants just so he stops bothering you.

Sometimes we need to take the same approach in our prayer requests.  The lesson is: ask repeatedly, ask earnestly, ask increasingly, even shamelessly.  And then put all your trust in God and let Him do what He knows is best.

You’re encouraged to go to the Adoration Chapel; kneel in His Real Presence; look Him in the eye; and make your request.  That’s a good way to let Him know how earnest you are.  And don’t be afraid to go back often.

Experience God's Love Through Adoration

St John Paul II for World Day for the Missions in 2004 wrote: "To evangelize the world, we need experts in the celebration of, in the Adoration of, and in the contemplation of the Eucharist".  Through Adoration, parishioners are experiencing God's love.  This leads them to become involved in their parish community, which gives them the Eucharist.  In their mission, they are at the same time supporting the Church and interceding for the world.  In other words, their Adoration becomes Trinitarian: in adoring the Son, they are led to the Father.  In this dynamic, they receive a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit which leads them to involve themselves in the Church and the world.

Invest in your Heavenly Retirement - become a regular Adorer!

Souls in Purgatory Need You!

 Souls in Purgatory are Counting on YOU! 

November has been a month dedicated to prayer for the Holy Souls in Purgatory. A community of sisters known as the Visitation Order had a mystic amidst the Annecy community who had a special mission to these Holy Souls. She was Sister Marie Denise de Martignat, of the Visitation, who died in the Convent at Annecy, in 1653. From her experiences we can be reminded of this “state of soul” after our passing and that of those for whom we pray.

Sr Marie Denise told a superior of a soul from purgatory who had visited her and had talked about the continuance in the pains of Purgatory for a longer period of time than had commonly been thought.  Sr Marie teaches there are four reasons souls are detained in suffering; first, because of the inconceivable purity which the soul must have before it can present itself before Him who is essential sanctity and purity, and who receives no one into His glorious city who is not as pure as the city itself.  Secondly, because of the innumerable multitude of venial faults which we commit in this life, and the little penance which we do for the mortal sins we have confessed. Thirdly, because of the inability of these souls to help themselves; and, fourthly, because of the lukewarmness and negligence of the greater part of Christians in praying and doing good works for these souls, as the dead fade from the memory of the living almost as soon as they have vanished from their eyes; while true charity will follow those it loves, through the flames of Purgatory till the joys of Paradise.

So let’s not forget family and friends who have died and may still be in need of our help.

You can gain on behalf of the souls in Purgatory special indulgences* for every half hour spent in the Adoration Chapel.  Don't wait ... go today ... go often!

(*know the prerequisites for gaining indulgences - display the Page entitled "The Gift of the Indulgence" listed in the left column)

“To Love God is to Love what God Loves”

Always Present ...

 Always Present Before The Lord

In Exodus 17, when the Israelites fought against the Amalekites, Moses interceded before God by raising his hands to ask for the victory.  As his arms grew heavy, he enlisted the help of Aaron and Hur to hold his arms raised up to God.  And the Lord gave a complete victory to His people.  In the same way, through Perpetual Adoration, an adorer is always present before the Lord in an unbroken chain of prayer and intercession.  The heart of the parishioner is lifted up to God without cessation; and God gives victory to His people, His Church.  He sends His mercy, His peace and His light to chase the darkness from our hearts and the world.

If not already a regular Adorer, say “Yes” to becoming an active member of the Adoration Ministry and spend an hour a week before the Most Holy Eucharist.  You fund your heavenly retirement account by doing so!

“ … Christ’s Eucharistic presence brings with it a particular grace making it easier to enter into prayer.”*  If you’re having trouble praying - visit the chapel.

* Adoration In Spirit and Truth  Alain-Marie de Lassus, c.s.j.  p111 

Recognition Before The Face of Jesus

 Recognition Before the Face of Jesus

Jesus constantly reminds us that He is always here for our support.  He asks in turn that we be here for Him by seeking His Eucharistic Face in Adoration.  He wants us to know that His Eucharistic Heart is open to receive, to comfort, to strengthen, and to purify us in the Blood and Water that ever flows from His pierced side.

Our Lord sees all adorers before His Face and rejoices in their presence.  He blesses them with all the tenderness of His Eucharistic Heart.  Take advantage of these wonderful graces by spending an hour a week before Our Lord in Adoration.

"Adoration helps to create and deepen within our hearts that silence within which the voice of God is heard."     Anthony DeMello

Pray The Right Way!

 Are You Praying The Right Way?

Father Jose' Calveras, was a Jesuit priest who had a reputation of teaching people how to pray.  Fr. Jose' is quoted as saying:

"The key to the art of prayer is the prayer of petition.  Many people never learn how to pray because they have never learned to make effective use of petitionary prayer.  The hand outstretched to beg obtains what the hand pressed against ones' head to think does not."

If you have not succeeded in prayer it is not because prayer does not work.  It is because you have not learned to pray well.

The first law of prayer is:  FAITH

Have you noticed the habit Jesus had of saying to anyone who came to him for a favor: Do you believe I can do this?  In other words, he always insisted on faith in his power to heal and cure and work miracles.

His teaching in the Bible can be summed up by saying if you believe, all things are possible.  If you do not believe, I can do nothing for you.

Now, here is an important point - you yourself need not have the faith - it is enough that someone else has it for you.

    -  The daughter of Jairus had no faith

    -  As far as we know the servant of the centurion mentioned in Matt 8:15 had no faith

    -  Nor the paralytic of Matt 9:2-8

It was enough that the petitioner, not necessarily the beneficiary, have faith.  But faith there had to be - there was no substitute for it.

In teaching his Apostles about faith Jesus said "Have faith in God.  I tell you this: if anyone says to this mountain ..."  You know the story.  But there is an important point at the end where Jesus goes on to say "I tell you then, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours."  (Matt 11:20)

This law of Faith was well understood by the Apostles, who handed it on to the early Christians, and it has continued cascading down thru history, in the Bible and thru tradition, to the present day.

Jesus continues to work miracles in response to faith in our day.  Believe.  And expect only the best.  Chapel time builds Faith.

Jesus Waits!
What Will You Say to Him When You Finally See Him Face to Face?

We are all encouraged to pray before the Real Presence of Our Lord in the Holy Eucharist as frequently as we can.  Not only for our temporal welfare, but also for the salvation of our soul.  Eucharistic Adoration “is one of the most practical things you can possibly do to improve your God relationship.  For there will come a day, sooner than you wish, when you will be alone with Him and unable to return to your friends or your family or your home or the pleasures of the world, ever again.  You will be alone with Christ at the border of eternity.  Why wait until that momentous moment to be alone with Him?”  Why not practice?  (Jesus-shock p147)
See you in the chapel.