Catholics
Comments
-
Beautiful prayers tonite. Oddly for me it seems that it is a sleep period for me. I just give into it now rather than feel guilty. Sleep is so elusive now. But I have said my rosary and all the prayers ya'll have written.
Welcome to all our new sisters.
0 -
Thank all you kind ladies for your prayers! Last night, I was very tense and knew I would never be able to get to sleep. This has been an ongoing problem now for a couple of weeks.
I started my own prayers at 10:00 and promptly feel soundly asleep before I had even completed the Hail Mary. I slept soundly for 8 hours, awakened and felt refreshed. I think falling asleep during my prayers was actually a gift form all of you, our Blessed Mother and Our Lord.
My brain must have sent my body a message - someone else (lots of you) was saying my prayers last night so I could rest.
Thank you all and may God grant you his greatest blessings today and always!
Hugs
Sandy
0 -
Hello Dear Ladies
WOW I cant believe how much happens in a week around here! New members and all.
I hate to miss Friday prayers but ladies it has been a rough week, Cathy Staats my dear friend who we have been praying for here for over 2 years, died of a brain tumor on Tuesday. She was 42 and left a wonderful Husbanda and 3 beautiful children 13,11 and 6. I have just now returned from her beautiful funeral. I cried like a baby through the whole thing, It was a Catholic Mass and the church was standing room only! Cathy was one of the most faithful people I have ever met and she carried the cross of cancer with grace like I could not believe. She was the first admitted into a trial at Duke University and really paved the way with strength and courage and never fading faith.
God Bless her!
I missed praying with all of you this week! God bless you and will be continuing the novena this week as I missed 2 days.
PS-Laura AKA estepp.......LOL
thanks for asking about Mother's Grace, you are a sweetie...!
we are doing great and have so many cool projects coming up. You can check our our website at any time @ mothers-grace.org.
There will be some cool updates in 2 weeks that will illustrate a project we are doing for a school in NOLA and a new program for African Refugee Children.
I hope you are all well.
Blessings Michelle
0 -
Sheila and Sandy - nothing is a coincidence, God knew you needed rest. :-)
Michelle - I'm so sorry about Cathy. She will be in my prayers.
Sisters - please also pray for the soul of my cousin, Cliffy, who passed away yesterday.
Sorry I missed being online at prayer time last night. I fell asleep but woke at 10 in time to say the St. Jude Novena with you all.
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
0 -
Michelle, so sorry about your friend Cathy. R.I.P.
Theresa, so sorry about your cousin, Cliffy. R.I.P.
Here's a prayer for the departed :
Into your hands, O Lord, we humbly entrust our brothers and sisters.
In this life you embraced them with your tender love; deliver them now from every evil and bid them enter eternal rest.
The older order has passed away; welcome them into paradise, where there will be no sorrow, no weeping nor pain, but fullness of peace and joy with your Son and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen ~
0 -
Michelle and Theresa I am so sorry for both of your losses. May God grant the souls of Cathy and Cliffy eternal rest. May He comfort those they have left behind and give them peace as well.
again so sorry for your losses sisters
love to you all!
Maria
0 -
Michelle and Theresa,
Again we are reminded of how fleeting our time here can be, and to leave one's mark so beautifully as they have, and the love the I hear in your "voices," is a life well lived. Too soon we say goodbye to some, and I pray you both with be held in your grief.
Michelle, a special prayer for Mother's Grace, born of the belief that traumas can and will be overcome, with the love and support of God and his children on earth.
Peace be with you both.
Much Love,
Traci
0 -
Squid----you are amazing . You bring such words to this space. Solace in times of need and you forgert no wone. Because of my brain injury, i'm happy if I remember anything. AND you are constantly seeking and saying so to those that are new to here such a warm welcome, and all by name. L&H&P sheila
For the souls of friends that have passed may they hay been blessed with the light , and suffer nothing.
Theresa what is the recent stand of the church on purgatory? Because of Greg's recent passing and is post contact after death which others may discount----there were three--"-what", "unintelligible but fearful", and "look again"? The look again found more than one thing.......have not found a resolution to "what". The second of a call to me that was fearful, I have been praying for. The third of look again has found things. What do I make of these?
0 -
Sheila,
You are too kind, and I send you my love
If I may weigh in, and this is only my 2 cents...Greg sounded like he was a wonderful loving person, and lived a good life (I'm sure his swimming exercise group would agree...shall we call them his fan club?) I don't think he would have any place in purgatory. Loved ones have been known to try and send messages, and you clearly have started to find some things. Do you have a family heirloom, or any insurance policies that need to be re-visited?
I myself had a funny to objects find last week, one was something I was looking for and appeared 5 mintues later in a place I had just looked (Mom clearly did not want me to be late to work...) and another one was a little wooden duck that used to be hers, and I picked up some clothing on the bed and there it was...sitting there on my mattress. I laughed....I honestly don't recall putting it there. I enjoyed just thinking it was Mom saying hello.
So ask Greg how you can help him find Peace. If you are ready, you can tell him your are alright, are ready to let him go, and want him to go into God's hands and the light of Love.
so those are my thoughts.
try not to fret Sheila (easier said than done.) Have faith in who he was when he was here, who he is now, and that he was only ever to pass into a place of Love, Peace, the realm of God. He is in good company
Traci
0 -
Sheila ~ I totally agree with Traci and I like to weigh in also. With the object found, can that lead into something else? Question, what were you doing during the times of contact? Watching TV, reading a book, sleeping, eating, cooking etc? Frame of mind, perhaps you were feeling sad or lost and he was trying to reach out and soothe you? Pray, meditate and clear your mind and ask Greg how you can help him. Like Traci said, "when you are ready". Eternal peace for Greg.
Traci ~ I like the part about the little wooden duck on your mattress. It sure sounds like your mom is telling you that she is with you and is aware of your situation.
0 -
Ladies I would like to share a dream that I had pre diagnosis...
My dad passed away in August of 2008. I dream of him frequently. One dream I had I dismissed at the time of just dreaming of dad, looking back this was the dream. T
We were in my eight grade classroom and there were all these other people there, but my dad stood out in a PINK, yes PINK shirt the kinda pink you see on all the breast cancer ribbons and he came over to me and gave me a long tight hug he didnt say a word but looking back I truly feel it was a way of telling me what was to be and he was by my side through it, After that dream I drempt him and I were in a hospital together and I was getting ready for surgery ( again before diagnosis) and it was time for me to go in and the hallway came to a divide and I remember saying "dad I wanna go down this way with you" He just shook his head and said "no you have to go down the other hallway you cant go with me"... Again I think looking back it was his way of lettting me know he was with and what was to come would be ok... I believe they do reach out to us and become our very own gaurdian angels
peace to all my sisters!
0 -
Good Morning My Sisters,
I want to share something with you which will either make you all think I am totally nuts or hopefully, will bring comfort to those of you who are in pain.
I am approaching the anniversary of my Mother's death 2 years ago. She had BC which had spread to her liver, stomach, and probably other places before it was discovered. My husband and I had planned a nonrefundable two week cruise during this time. I asked her what she wanted me to do for I would gladly have forfited the money to be with her during this time. (The docs had said they thought she would live at least three months and they were wrong.) She said, "GO! GO! GO! You will have a wonderful time and I need you to go to San Juan so I hope the ship stops there." I told her it did indeed stop there. She had been there herself and had purchased framed butterflies she had loved so much. They had been broken in shipment so she never received them.
She couldn't tell me the name of the shop where she got them nor did she remember anything close to the shop... But she said I would find it! Well, when we left the ship for a day in San Juan, we asked a total stranger ( I now believe he was an angel awaiting our arrival ) for a good place to have lunch. I didn't mention ANYTHING about butterflies. He didn't direct us to it, but took us to it. As we sat at out table, I glanced out the front window. There it was! A shop with it's windows filled with butterflies!
I got up from the table, ran across the street, and found the very same assortment of butterflies my Mother had lost. I did remember to pay for it but I don't know how I did that! I couldn't believe it for it was right there waiting for me. My Mother had far more faith than I that I would find it.
When we returned, I took it to her and she smiled, held it close to her heart, and said "Thank you! I now am ready."
The priest told me butterflies are often a symbol of the coming change in our life - passing from this life to the next for a butterfly goes through many changes before it emerges out of it's cacoon to become the beautiful creature it is.
She held it is her hands until she left this earth to be with Our Lord, The Blessed Mother and all the Saints. On the day of her funeral, I just felt I could not stand it. I could not let her go. I could not bury her.
I was standing outside admiring the beautiful day and trying to find the strength to go to the church and thinking I cannot do this. From absolutely no where, a very large, beautiful yellow butterfly - yellow was her favorite color - flew around my head and perched on my right shoulder. I thought I was dreaming... The butterfly left, flew around some more, and tears came to me eyes. You can imagine how I felt when the butterfly came back and ever so gently brushed a wing across my cheek as if to wipe away my tears and to take it's place on my shoulder again.
We never had butterflies at out home before this and now they are here in all there amazing beauty everyday in the spring and summer! They never get close to anyone but me. They seem to like me quite a bit and often land on my shoulder for a short time. I have to think this is indeed a message from Our Lord telliing me all is indeed well with Mom for she is now happy in her eternal home.
I hope those of you have lost a loved one find the much needed peace you seek. Sometimes, it comes in strange ways...
HUGS and have a Blessed Sunday!
Sandy
0 -
Sandy, that was a beautiful story and I am so glad you shared it with us. it brought tears to my eyes, tears of hope and joy. They do watch over us I believe that with all my heart. You too now have your own gaurdian angel.... just beautiful!
Hugs
Maria
0 -
Wow. I'm catching up on all the posts this morning and trying to read through all the tears! So sad, touching, and hopeful all at the same time. It seems just when your faith is tested the most (esp. yet another mother, Cathy, with young children lost to cancer), grace flows in a different way reminding us that life is eternal with God. Thank you all for your words today. May God bless you & lighten your hearts.
0 -
Janet,
You said it. All I can say is I am crying, but good tears. Tears of hope.
0 -
Sheila - I've been out and about today since we're having spring weather. I just saw your question. There really isn't a person alive who really knows what happens after death, but here is the Catechism of the Catholic Church's teaching on the matter:
***************************************************************
1030
All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.1031
The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned. The Church formulated her doctrine of faith on Purgatory especially at the Councils of Florence and Trent. The tradition of the Church, by reference to certain texts of Scripture, speaks of a cleansing fire:As for certain lesser faults, we must believe that, before the Final Judgment, there is a purifying fire. He who is truth says that whoever utters blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will be pardoned neither in this age nor in the age to come. From this sentence we understand that certain offenses can be forgiven in this age, but certain others in the age to come.
1032
This teaching is also based on the practice of prayer for the dead, already mentioned in Sacred Scripture: "Therefore [Judas Maccabeus] made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin." From the beginning the Church has honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for them, above all the Eucharistic sacrifice, so that, thus purified, they may attain the beatific vision of God. The Church also commends almsgiving, indulgences, and works of penance undertaken on behalf of the dead:Let us help and commemorate them. If Job's sons were purified by their father's sacrifice, why would we doubt that our offerings for the dead bring them some consolation? Let us not hesitate to help those who have died and to offer our prayers for them.
********************************************************************As for your and other people's visitations by those loved ones (I often dream of my Mom telling me something), the Teaching of Christ: A Catholic Catechism for Adults says:
Some die in grace and in the friendship of God, but burdened with venial sins and imperfections, or before they have done suitable penance for their sins. The Church teaches that the souls of these are cleansed in purgatory of these last hindrances to their entry into the vision of God. Their communion with the faithful on earth is not thereby broken. The living can bring comfort and alleviation to those in purgatory by their intercessions (prayers, Masses, etc)...."
So, as a Christian it seems to be a strong belief that most of us, sinners that we are, won't immediately go to heaven. We are called to be saints so that we can spend less time in purgatory. St. Augustine prayed that the Lord would allow him to suffer his purgatory on earth. Frankly, I believe every time we suffer on earth (physical, mental, spiritual) and bear it with grace and offer it up for those in purgatory or sufferers on earth, we are living out our purgatory. Every time we go to confessions and have our sins cleaned, we are called to do penance (make atonement) for them and that is living out some of our purgatory. After my brother died, my oldest sister was always very close to him, she had a dream about him because she fretted about heaven, hell and purgatory. He told her everything was good and there was nothing to fear. Christ tells us to not fear. Greg is somewhere on the other side and still with you. One day you two will be reunited in the love of Christ. No worries.
Look at tonight's Evening Prayer reading (Liturgy of the Hours):
Hebrews 12:22-24
What you have come to is Mount Zion and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem where the millions of angels have gathered for the festival, with the whole Church in which everyone is a 'first-born son' and a citizen of heaven. You have come to God himself, the supreme Judge, and been placed with spirits of the saints who have been made perfect; and to Jesus, the mediator who brings a new covenant and a blood for purification which pleads more insistently than Abel's.
"Spirits of the saints who have been made perfect"
"Jesus.... blood for purification..."Just those words in that context tells me that even the saints have to be made perfect, purified and that's done like gold in fire. We purge sin and evil through fire and it doesn't necessarily mean real fire (I don't think!) if as St. Augustine said, Lord, may I atone for my sins doing my purgatory on earth.
I hope this is helpful.
Pax et bonum!
0 -
Maria ~ your story is similar to mine. My late father appeared in my dream the night before I was to get my biopsy. He didn't say anything, he was just there. When I woke up, I kinda knew. He did not have any pink color in his clothing or anything, but the fact that him being in my dream was like telling me that he's with me.
Sandy ~ your story brought tears to my eyes. Also in Asian believes, butterfly (singular only) flying near or around the living family member or appearing inside the house. We have mostly high-rise apartments and to find butterfly in and around the unit is quite rare. It signifies the visit from the family member that just passed on. It usually happens a day or two after the family member passed or around the funeral time.
Theresa ~ you are lucky to dream of your mother often. And thanks for the detailed explanation. BTW, what is 1030, 1031 and 1032?
0 -
Ladies, Please say a pray for me, I have a rash on my breast and I am thinking the worst. ITS on my skin on my new implant. I am going to see the DR tomarrow. Thanks
0 -
I forgot last night (sooo tired) to thank you all for praying for the soul of my cousin. I still haven't found out the arrangements, but I have business travel to NJ tomorrow, so I guess I can't go.
I'm so happy I'm not traveling today with all those storms and tornado watches!!
Paula - those are the paragraph (section) numbers in the Catechism of Cath Church in case you wanted to look it up. It's online now, so you don't need to own the book. And the online version has hyperlinks to footnotes and Scripture. I enjoy doing the research b/c it educates me too!
That's interesting about butterflies. I don't know where we got this tradition, but my family associates ladybugs with the deceased. After my brother died (in February no less), my Mom's house was visited by a ladybug. :-)
Betty - there's never rest for the weary. You are in my prayers.
0 -
Bettypraying for you today! Just sent one up NOW0
-
Sandy, such a sweet story. I can feel the comfort it has brought you. There are so many beautiful "things" in this world, but butterflies are so close to the top. I was at the butterfly garden in Key West one time and the beauty of the setting , the music and the many wonderful butterflies were so soothing. I did think in a do over of career choices that to be able to spend my work hours in the midst of such a place would be heaven on earth.
Betty -so glad you jumped on getting a doc visit for the rash. Rashes are so variable as to cause, it is always the best thing to have them evaluated early. I did write some suggestions on a thread "Capilaries and skin look dead to surgeon". I did a lot of suggestions on skin and wound care. I'll try and bump it. Don't be surprised if your doc puts you on some meds. I would suggest that you use Dreft for all laundry until you are healed and do a second rinse on all laundry also. After you read the other thread material let me know if you have any questions?.
Theresa et all--greg's contacts all woke me from sleep. There were only the three,and they occurred within about 10 days after he died. The one where there was such a fearfullness in his voice is the one that has caused me to question so much about purgatory. I had never heard such a fearfulness in his voice. The last which was look again------found an insurance policy
Be back Tammy's here----She is the woman that I asked for prayers re Her leg with avascular necrosis. LOve sheila
0 -
I have found the original article re Bleach baths.I can't do hyperlinks and my pop-up blocker wouldn't allow cut and paste, so each url is hand typed-sorry
http://pediatrics.aapublications.org/cgi/content/full/123/5/e808. This is the original journal article. The original research was on community acquired staph with patients with chronic eczema. The importance of this article is it has generated and been sited as reference for dozens of other articles. Many peered reviewed articles. Their are also references to this article by sources that have NO scientific background that do not understand science. Some of these non scientific article reviews are dangerous because they don't know what they are talking about, and in some cases I question if they even read the original research or any peer reviewed articles.
I came across the original research when I contracted a very serious bacteria during a low immune state that was not controlled until I did the bleach baths. The bacteria I had was more serious than MRSA. After 5 weeks of standard treatment with no response, I did the bleach baths--cured in 24 hrs with another 24 hrs as a back up. Re-cultured and NED.
Everyone is aware that chemotherapy reduces immunity. What is less commonly known is that tamox and all of the Aromatase Inhibitors(Arimedex, Femara, Aromasin) reduce/lower immune status as does any of the steroids. Other drugs may do this also, but can't flip a name out right now.
What is , also, not commonly known is that sometimes we can be too aggressive in trying to "fix" a skin problem that we can make the situation worse. That is why the research is so important and seeking medical advice before trying to self treat. We can escalate a battle into a war with our good intentions.
http://dermatologycentral.type.com/resource/2009/04/bleach-in-bath.html. The importance of this article is that it is supportive of the research done in the Pediatrics journal. Actually, I thought it gave a better summarizing of how to do the bath than the original article.
www.ncbi.nlm.gov/pubmed/190403473. Commonly known as PUBMED. All articles here go through serious peer review. Also, to the right of each article ,are citations of other articles that debate the merits of the original article. Debate under these circumstances is good because it is done by qualified scientists.
Sometime ago I did a multiple response on a thread re:skin and wound care. I will add it here after I post this. Retyping this would be a real pattuty pain. L&H&P sheila
Mar 22- adding url to WebMd site --imortance of this article is the writters comment on the second page re: community aquired
MRSA.http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and -treatments/eczema/news/200090427/bleach bath
0 -
Thanks SHEILA...I had no idea Tamoxifen lowered immunity.Just found out shouldnt be taking Vit c while on it, so much information out there and so much to learn. Thanks for the info
Blessings to all my sisters!
xo
Maria
0 -
the wound care thread is "http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topic/754935?=1" We at one point tried to get these 2 pages pinned, but it wasn't approved. There were many good post by many people in only 2 pages. Truly , it's worth the time.
Tink--I did not know about vitamin C with tamoxifen Hmmm wonder why? I will see what I can find on AI's.
Sheila
0 -
Well for corn's sake! When I asked about lowered immunity on my last doctor(s) visits, neither one told me that tamoxifen could lower my immunity. I asked both if the reason why I was getting sick so often was because of chemo and neither said tamox would do it. I hadn't heard Vit C, but had heard not to take Vit E (except what's in a multi-vitamin). In the back of my mind, I went Hmmmmm. Crikey!!!!
Sheila - you said "The one where there was such a fearfullness in his voice is the one that has caused me to question so much about purgatory." Question what about purgatory? Its existence? If Greg was there? Is purgatory scary? I don't know Greg at all, but I guess if he had fearfulness in his voice, he was probably trying to get your attention about something left behind undone or some kind of danger you or a loved one were in. From what I read and understand about purgatory, while it isn't heaven and we have to atone for our earthly sins that we didn't atone for here, it is not a place of fear. It's a place of realization knowing that you are soon to be with God.... a reality instead of a hope as we have here on earth. The dream I had about Mom the other night was that she was sick in bed, like a stomach illness, and was irritated by it. The next day, I learned about Cliffy dying. I still don't know how he died.
0 -
Hi, I am new to the site and new to the whole topic. I am having a biopsy tomorrow. I had a mammogram last week and the doctors were very suspicious that the tumor in my breast is cancer and is in my lymph nodes as well. I went to confession this past Saturday and the priest gave me the annointing of the sick. It really gave me a feeling of peace that I will be able to get through whatever is going to come my way and helped calm some of my fears. I am so happy to have found this forum and this thread. I hope you'll welcome me to your community. I know I will need the grace of God and the help of good people like you to get through this. I would love to pray with you nightly. God bless you all.
0 -
My Dear Sisters,
I need to request you pray for me tonight and tomorrow for I have my first meeting with the PS and I am quite uneasy. I am not afraid I won't like him for I have already determined I shall. I fear he will be unable to perform the surgery I need to have. Mine would be a PMX and I want a NSM but I have many other medical conditions which make any surgery more dangerous for me than for most others.
Please remember me and Dr. Braun in your prayers this evening. My husband, Jerry, could also do with a bit of remembering as well. He has been such a gift to me and I think he is having a harder time with this than I. He doesn't want me to hurt and says he would take my pain if only he could. He is telling the truth about this for he would much rather hurt than have me hurt. I am lucky...
Peace, Love, and Hugs to All
Sandy
0 -
Hi Sandy,
I sent you a private message
Vikki
0 -
Sandy and KFP welcome all here will receive you as sisters unequivocally and pray for your needs. There are two threads that are dovetails to this site---Catholic prayer intentions and Catholic prayers.
God will guide you, as long as you keep open to him. I found that the Rosary was very comforting, but i did not return to it until recently. Theresa is our resource for all the things that I believe we didn't learn well or were never taught growing up in the parochial schools that I went to. But she is a wealth of knowledge because she is in training as a lay Franciscan. She has taught us so much. She is responsible for many of the prayer postings on that thread. But also, on the prayer thread are prayers that people have made up from the heart. You also may gain solace by going back and reading from the beginning a few at a time and there may be pearls that help you.
May the Immaculate Heart of Mary keep you in the palm of her hand. L&H&P sheila
0 -
A very warm welcome Kay! I think that's great you had annointing of the sick - I tend to forget the rite is used for healing more & more. I will say prayers tonight & in morning for you for uneventful biopsy and hope all the doctors are wrong!
Betty - also saying prayers you got good news on rash.
Sandy - prayers going up for you, your husband & doctor. And, remember, you can always get a 2nd opinion!
Sheila - you are so right about Theresa! I didn't go to Catholic school (except for one year) and I don't think CCD did a thorough job -- or I just didn't retain it! I need to take a refresher adult course!
THeresa - good reminders & I'm saying special prayers tonight for all of our deceased loved ones tonight.
0
