Catholics
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Michelle... Congrats on your 3 year and many many many many more to come. God Bless you always!!!
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Michelle... I pray for you today. This is a very big day for you... and you have been blessed with LIFE !!!!!! Praise God Always!
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Congratulations Michelle! And many, many more.
When I went to get Chemo#2 today, I had to get lab work first. The lady who drew it was very nice. After she was done, she said, "God Bless You" to me. Very unusual in this day and age and at the secular hospital I am going to. It really made me feel good. What a very courageous lady to say that. I would think some people might not appreciate it. I did.
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Michelle - that's a big milestone!!! Congrats & do something special just for you!
Maria - goodness! you certainly had your share of challenges in your surgery! But know your guardian angel was with you the entire time.
Kay - GOD BLESS YOU
and the tech who was so kind. I have noticed over the years (secular or not) many hospital workers wear a necklace w/a cross. Always comforting.And...speaking of angels. I'm reading Unbroken which is an amazing non-fiction of a WWII flyer who survived crash at sea, thousands of miles in a raft, captured and tortured in POW camps, etc. (The story was documented & written by the author of Seabiscuit.) A group of angels appeared to him from the clouds one day while he was in his sinking raft surrounded by sharks and again in one of his POW cells.
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Michelle!! Congratulations!!!
Kay - yes, it's nice to hear someone say "God bless you." when you're not sneezing. :-) What a nice surprise for you.
I have to hurry and post the prayers b/c storms are on the way. But I want to share this with you...
You know Skip is in the St. Joseph Covenent Keepers group for men at the church in Colonial Beach.... They always do prayers, of course, with intentions. This one young man in the group sent an email to the group with this message:
I just wanted to thank you all for praying for my friend's wife at the meeting last Thursday. She had terminal cancer and had 1 day prior been given 6 months to live (down from 12). However, the next day (April 1) she had a lot of follow-up tests and it was simply gone! I'd like to think this was a miracle, brought about in part by your prayers. So thank you!
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Novena to St. Joseph
Fifth Day
PATRON OF THE CHURCHSaint Joseph, God has appointed you patron of the Catholic Church because you were the head of the Holy Family, the starting-point of the Church. You were the father, protector, guide and support of the Holy Family. For that reason you belong in a particular way to the Church, which was the purpose of the Holy Family's existence.
I believe that the Church is the family of God on earth. Its government is represented in priestly authority which consists above all in its power over the true Body of Christ, really present in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar, thus continuing Christ's life in the Church. From this power, too, comes authority over the Mystical Body of Christ, the members of the Church -- the power to teach and govern souls, to reconcile them with God, to bless them, and to pray for them.
You have a special relationship to the priesthood because you possessed a wonderful power over our Savior Himself. Your life and office were of a priestly function and are especially connected with the Blessed Sacrament. To some extent you were the means of bringing the Redeemer to us -- as it is the priest's function to bring Him to us in the Mass -- for you reared Jesus, supported, nourished, protected and sheltered Him. You were prefigured by the patriarch Joseph, who kept supplies of wheat for his people. But how much greater than he were you! Joseph of old gave the Egyptians mere bread for their bodies. You nourished, and with the most tender care, preserved for the Church Him who is the Bread of Heaven and who gives eternal life in Holy Communion.
God has appointed you patron of the Church because the glorious title of patriarch also falls by special right to you. The patriarchs were the heads of families of the Chosen People, and theirs was the honor to prepare for the Savior's incarnation. You belonged to this line of patriarchs, for you were one of the last descendants of the family of David and one of the nearest forebears of Christ according to the flesh. As husband of Mary, the Mother of God, and as the foster-father of the Savior, you were directly connected with Christ. Your vocation was especially concerned with the Person of Jesus; your entire activity centered about Him. You are, therefore, the closing of the Old Testament and the beginning of the New, which took its rise with the Holy Family of Nazareth. Because the New Testament surpasses the Old in every respect, you are the patriarch of patriarchs, the most venerable, exalted, and amiable of all the patriarchs.
Through Mary, the Church received Christ, and therefore the Church is indebted to her. But the Church owes her debt of gratitude and veneration to you also, for you were the chosen one who enabled Christ to enter into the world according to the laws of order and fitness. It was by you that the patriarchs and the prophets and the faithful reaped the fruit of God's promise. Alone among them all, you saw with your own eyes and possessed the Redeemer promised to the rest of men.
Saint Joseph, I thank God for your privilege of being the Patron of the Church. As a token of your own gratitude to God, obtain for me the grace to live always as a worthy member of this Church, so that through it I may save my soul. Bless the priests, the religious, and the laity of the Catholic Church, that they may ever grow in God's love and faithfulness in His service. Protect the Church from the evils of our day and from the persecution of her enemies. Through your powerful intercession may the church successfully accomplish its mission in this world -- the glory of God and the salvation of souls!
NOVENA PRAYER
Saint Joseph, I, your unworthy child, greet you. You are the faithful protector and intercessor of all who love and venerate you. You know that I have special confidence in you and that, after Jesus and Mary, I place all my hope of salvation in you, for you are especially powerful with God and will never abandon your faithful servants. Therefore I humbly invoke you and commend myself, with all who are dear to me and all that belong to me, to your intercession. I beg of you, by your love for Jesus and Mary, not to abandon me during life and to assist me at the hour of my death.Glorious Saint Joseph, spouse of the Immaculate Virgin, obtain for me a pure, humble, charitable mind, and perfect resignation to the divine Will. Be my guide, my father, and my model through life that I may merit to die as you did in the arms of Jesus and Mary.
Loving Saint Joseph, faithful follower of Jesus Christ, I raise my heart to you to implore your powerful intercession in obtaining from the Divine Heart of Jesus all the graces necessary for my spiritual and temporal welfare, particularly the grace of a happy death, and the special grace we now implore:
Theresa:
To know God's will with my upcoming job interview.
Bring all our children back to the Church.
Successful sale of NJ house.Michelle:
Help for the needs of her 13 year old son and her husband.
Peace and healing for her friend Katrina.
10 year old son who is a Juvenile Diabetic and is struggling with regulating blood sugars.
For success at transitioning full time into my hearts desire for a career.Sheila:
That our minds heal, as we pray for our bodies to heal.Mary:
For Olga's husband in his new sorrow and pray for all my sistersSkip:
Fr. deRosa's mother who was just diagnosed with bc, she is 80 years old.
Health and well being of Immaculata SFO, especially Sharon who is battling double pneumonia and lymphoma.Kay:
For good news for me and for my bil.Maria: For my daughter with her "growing pains" and is a facilatator on a Confirmation retreat... I pray she finds some inner peace and is able to reach out to the Conformandi and guide them as well.
Ellie: For her private intention
Traci: For surgery this week, to have excellent wound healing and to be free of infection or complications.
Guardian of the Word Incarnate, I feel confident that your prayers in our behalf will be graciously heard before the throne of God. Amen.
MEMORARE
Remember, most pure spouse of Mary, ever Virgin, my loving protector, Saint Joseph, that no one ever had recourse to your protection or asked for your aid without obtaining relief. Confiding, therefore, in your goodness, I come before you and humbly implore you. Despise not my petitions, foster-father of the Redeemer, but graciously receive them. Amen.0 -
Jesus Meets Women Who are Crying
Eighth Station: Look at Jesus
After Jesus gets up, he continues on the road carrying his heavy cross. He passes some women who are crying because they are so sad to see Jesus suffer.But instead of thinking only of himself and how bad he feels, Jesus tells the women not to keep crying because of him. He tells them, instead, to take care of others, and especially to take care of their children.
Look at Your Heart
Sometimes it is easy to just think about ourselves -- about what is not going the way we want it, or about problems that we have. It is very hard, then, to think about other people. How does your heart look when you do that, when you think only about yourself?Show your heart to Jesus, and picture Jesus loving you with your heart that way. When you are ready, can you ask Jesus to help you have a heart like his, a heart that thinks about other people and remembers other people? That's the kind of heart Jesus has.
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Anne --- patron saint of job seekers:
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Sisters...
Was out of town for a few days....so much to catch up on, but wanted to stop by and say hi...
I have 5 boosts left....Feeling pretty good despite the redness, burning, peeling and itchiness...
Traci...will be praying for you on Wedesday..that all goes well with surgery and that you heal quickly and confortably...
Michelle...what a special day for you...May you revel in joy today and God grant you many, many, many, many, many, many more to come!
Gonna go back and catch up some more...
Love and prayers to you all...
Tori
DE COLORES!
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Many thanks Theresa. I feel like I'm learning a lot about St. Joseph and also reflecting on his role.
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Michelle,
What a blessing to have you here and sharing your 3 years anniversary with us. Cheers and many many more!!! I know, some days the memories are closer than others. I think you have a gift that you will be giving for a long time, and I'm sorry for your suffering (and all of us,) I can only hope and pray the "rewards" are in how we can listen with understanding, encourage without overwhelming, and love with quietness and the stillness of the soul.
and THANK YOU ALL so very much for your wonderful encouragement, prayers and support. It is a bit humbling indeed to imagine so many lovely people sending prayers my way as I take my turn.
Theresa, we shall both get ready for our closeup
You will do fine, well, actually much better than fine. You are eloquent in speech and sincere in heart and genuine through and through. They would be so lucky to have you, and you are on an even playing field so to speak. I will think of you too, as I am sure we will both have the flutterbys.Tori, how shall we celebrate the end of your treatment? Is there a special prayer you would like us all to say on Friday?
alright, off to snuggle my kiddo. Has anyone heard from Paula?
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Amen-sheila
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How beautiful for Skip to have a part in a miracle. He is truly blessed. So glad you told us about it.
I went to mass yesterday and the Gospel was about Jesus curing the Gentile Centurion's son. (At least I think he was a gentile.) Afterwards the priest's gospel was about having faith in God that He is going to take care of us. That was exactly what I needed to hear yesterday. I was worrying that the chemo wasn't working. I expected everything to be perfect afer only one treatment. I have always been an impatient person. I try to get to daily mass, and am usually successful. So many times the gospel and homily are just what I needed to hear at the exact moment I needed to hear it. I feel very blessed to be able to make Mass daily.
You guys are helping tremendously too. Thank you doesn't seem to be good enough, but Thank You.
I will remember your surgery Traci at mass tomorrow and Anne's job intention and everyone else's intention there tomorrow.
God Bless everyone.
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Thanks to all for the 3 year good wishes. I am reading the prayers of the faithful on Wednesday this week in our weekly lenten mass. Theresa do you have any suggestions on this as I am t write them?
I will be adding our intentions here as "prayers to be lifted up in our intention boX'" and will add the list to the box. Traci it will be the day of your surgery so will specifically think of you that day.
I pray to St. Joseph today for our intentions, Kay, Theresa, Traci, Sheila, Mary, Ellie, Maria,and all of you here (Laura, Paula, Tori, Janet, Sandy, NJones, and all the others) for healing and the grace of our Lords Love.
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Michelle - what an honor for you!! Quite a few of us have "special" days tomorrow! :-) Try these:
http://hvh.all-catholic.net/prayerbk/faithful.html
http://www.liturgyoffice.org.uk/Resources/GIRM/Ministry/Intercessions.pdf
Anne - good luck with your son! I know how it is!
Traci - thank you for your kind words... I definitely have the flutterbys! I will be sending prayers up for you tomorrow!! What time is surgery scheduled? Have not heard from Paula - I'm guessing she's at a place where she doesn't have access to the computer.
Kay - I know what you mean about attending Mass and hearing exactly what you need to hear! Divine Providence at work!! :-)
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Today's Gospel: Jesus healed the sick man at the sea. He asked him if he wanted to be healed. The man said yes. Jesus said "pick up your blanket and go." The man did and he was healed. Pharisees were mad because it was Sabbath and Jesus should not be curing on the Sabbath.
Priest's homily: Jesus is asking all of us if we want to be healed? Not only physically, but emotionally and spiritually. He is waiting for our answer. I wish I could tell this to my son, but he is not at a point where he is ready to accept any advice from me especially if it has to do with religious convictions. Could we add him to the prayer list as well? He'll be 20 this month. Thanks.
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Traci - many prayers for you & your surgery tomorrow -- surgeon, anesthesiologist, nurses and all who will care for you. I know all will go smoothly for you. Let us hear from you when you're back home.
Theresa - prayers for your interview and hope that the job is a good fit for you!
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Thanks Janet - I'm very nervous.
Traci - I searched for a before surgery prayer and found this nice little prayer... it wasn't on a Catholic site.... it was on a Cosmetic Surgery site!! LOL But it's so nice and asks for just about everything! They said "The best surgery recovery starts with a prayer before surgery , especially a prayer for heart surgery patients.... Customize this prayer for heart surgery, cosmetic surgery, or any surgery you may be having." I think I'll post it on the prayer page for anyone else's future surgery!
http://www.your-cosmetic-surgery-guide.com/a-prayer-before-surgery.html
A Prayer Before Surgery Using "You"
Dear Father, we thank You for this beautiful day and for the blessing of calling upon You for help with a prayer before surgery. We love You, Father and we know You love ______________. We love _______________ very much too. We are grateful they are in our lives.
We ask You to please bless ________ to feel Your love and our love, in comforting healing power now. We ask that You give __________ strength to be at ease and free from worry or concerns at this time.We thank You for the talented doctors and good medical staff that are all around us now. We ask You to bless the surgeons that will attend _________ now; that they will be directed by You, that their skills be heightened and their hands be made steady and sure. Please bless our humble prayer before surgery to cause all to go smoothly with this surgery before and after.
Please send Your love and Your angels with their helping, healing hands. We invite You to attend the and guide the entire operation, and please remain with us all during surgery recovery .
We ask You, Father, that the surgery recovery time be made pleasant, free from illness, infection and stress. Bless __________ body to respond well to medications and the surgery. Please bless the healing after surgery that it will be rapid and perfect. Bless ___________ to return to a full, active life and that they will be able to use their health to love others and You.
We thank You for the doctors, their skills and that they are willing to help us all now.
We thank You for all You have given us, and humbly ask blessings on all; especially ____________. This is our prayer for surgery and we ask for these blessings to be given if it is Your will, in Jesus' name, Amen.
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ANNE i BELIEVE That they do. To be honest with you when I was that age I stopeed too no particular reason just had " others things to do" not a very good excuse I know, but then when I had kids it all changed and I found my way back and have not left since! will be praying!
God Bless
Maria
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Novena to St. Joseph
Sixth Day
PATRON OF FAMILIESSaint Joseph, I venerate you as the gentle head of the Holy Family. The Holy Family was the scene of your life's work in its origin, in its guidance, in its protection, in your labor for Jesus and Mary, and even in your death in their arms. You lived, moved, and acted in the loving company of Jesus and Mary. The inspired writer describes your life at Nazareth in only a few words: "And (Jesus) went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them" (Luke, 2:51). Yet these words tell of your high vocation here on earth, and the abundance of graces which filled your soul during those years spent in Nazareth.
Your family life at Nazareth was all radiant with the light of divine charity. There was an intimate union of heart and mind among the members of your Holy Family. There could not have been a closer bond than that uniting you to Jesus, your foster-Son and to Mary, your most loving wife. Jesus chose to fulfill toward you, His foster-father, all the duties of a faithful son, showing you every mark of honor and affection due to a parent. And Mary showed you all the signs of respect and love of a devoted wife. You responded to this love and veneration from Jesus and Mary with feelings of deepest love and respect. You had for Jesus a true fatherly love, enkindled and kept aglow in your heart by the Holy Spirit. And you could not cease to admire the workings of grace in Mary's soul, and this admiration caused the holy love which you had consecrated to her on the day of your wedding grow stronger every day.
God has made you a heavenly patron of family life because you sanctified yourself as head of the Holy Family and thus by your beautiful example sanctified family life. How peacefully and happily the Holy Family rested under the care of your fatherly rule, even in the midst of trials. You were the protector, counselor, and consolation of the Holy Family in every need. And just as you were the model of piety, so you gave us by your zeal, your earnestness and devout trust in God's providence, and especially by your love, the example of labor according to the Will of God. You cherished all the experiences common to family life and the sacred memories of the life, sufferings, and joys in the company of Jesus and Mary. Therefore the family is dear to you as the work of God, and it is of the highest importance in your eyes to promote the honor of God and the well-being of man. In your loving fatherliness and unfailing intercession you are the patron and intercessor of families, and you deserve a place in every home.
Saint Joseph, I thank God for your privilege of living in the Holy Family and being its head. As a token of your own gratitude to God, obtain God's blessing upon my own family. Make our home the kingdom of Jesus and Mary -- a kingdom of peace, of joy, and love.
I also pray for all Christian families. Your help is needed in our day when God's enemy has directed his attack against the family in order to desecrate and destroy it. In the face of these evils, as patron of families, be pleased to help; and as of old, you arose to save the Child and His Mother, so today arise to protect the sanctity of the home. Make our homes sanctuaries of prayer, of love, of patient sacrifice, and of work. May they be modeled after your own at Nazareth. Remain with us with Jesus and Mary, so that by your help we may obey the commandments of God and of the Church; receive the holy sacraments of God and of the Church; live a life of prayer; and foster religious instruction in our homes. Grant that we may be reunited in God's Kingdom and eternally live in the company of the Holy Family in heaven.
*NOVENA PRAYER
Saint Joseph, I, your unworthy child, greet you. You are the faithful protector and intercessor of all who love and venerate you. You know that I have special confidence in you and that, after Jesus and Mary, I place all my hope of salvation in you, for you are especially powerful with God and will never abandon your faithful servants. Therefore I humbly invoke you and commend myself, with all who are dear to me and all that belong to me, to your intercession. I beg of you, by your love for Jesus and Mary, not to abandon me during life and to assist me at the hour of my death.
Glorious Saint Joseph, spouse of the Immaculate Virgin, obtain for me a pure, humble, charitable mind, and perfect resignation to the divine Will. Be my guide, my father, and my model through life that I may merit to die as you did in the arms of Jesus and Mary.
Loving Saint Joseph, faithful follower of Jesus Christ, I raise my heart to you to implore your powerful intercession in obtaining from the Divine Heart of Jesus all the graces necessary for my spiritual and temporal welfare, particularly the grace of a happy death, and the special grace we now implore:
Theresa:
To know God's will with my upcoming job interview.
Bring all our children back to the Church.
Successful sale of NJ house.Michelle:
Help for the needs of her 13 year old son and her husband.
Peace and healing for her friend Katrina.
10 year old son who is a Juvenile Diabetic and is struggling with regulating blood sugars.
For success at transitioning full time into my hearts desire for a career.Sheila:
That our minds heal, as we pray for our bodies to heal.Mary:
For Olga's husband in his new sorrow and pray for all my sistersSkip:
Fr. deRosa's mother who was just diagnosed with bc, she is 80 years old.
Health and well being of Immaculata SFO, especially Sharon who is battling double pneumonia and lymphoma.Kay:
For good news for me and for my bil.
For her son to find his way to ChristMaria: For my daughter with her "growing pains" and is a facilatator on a Confirmation retreat... I pray she finds some inner peace and is able to reach out to the Conformandi and guide them as well.
Ellie: For her private intention
Traci: For surgery this week, to have excellent wound healing and to be free of infection or complications.
Anne: That her son find summer employment.
Guardian of the Word Incarnate, I feel confident that your prayers in my behalf will be graciously heard before the throne of God. Amen.
MEMORARE
Remember, most pure spouse of Mary, ever Virgin, my loving protector, Saint Joseph, that no one ever had recourse to your protection or asked for your aid without obtaining relief. Confiding, therefore, in your goodness, I come before you and humbly implore you. Despise not my petitions, foster-father of the Redeemer, but graciously receive them. Amen.0 -
Jesus Falls a Third Time
Ninth Station: Look at Jesus
Jesus is so tired now that he can hardly take another step. It is hard for him to breathe. He has been walking a long time along the dusty road, and he has no energy left. He just can't go on anymore.Then Jesus falls down in the street for the third time. He is so very tired. Jesus asks God to help him. And Jesus gets up again, even though it is hard for him to do.
Look at Your Heart
When we have really tried to do our best, and have not been able to succeed, it is easy to feel like Jesus did. Sometimes other people just keep yelling about something we do, or sometimes other people make fun of the way we do something.Can you remember a time when you felt this tired in your heart, when you seemed to be having a sad or hard time with someone or something? Look at how your heart felt, and show your heart to Jesus. When you are ready, ask God to help you when you feel this way.
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Wow Theresa what beautiful prayer. When I was in the OR I would just say a Hail Mary and Our Father. And a request that all go right. I guess in the end maybe. It's the thought.
Theresa you have such a way with the Catholic word. I wish so much you had been my teacher(as you are now). It was so hard in the 50's and60's ----they were so not nice. Part of why I left immediately after the wedding. Actually left before the wedding , but the Jesuit that I wanted to marry us was okay with us, and he wasn't subject to diocesan rulings.
Bless you Theresa and Squid and all others that have need this week. Thank you for the prayers and novena and the lessons. May Christ, Imaculate heart of Mary, and St Joseph bless us all and to my mom Gertie talk to them .
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Theresa--in the 9th station--when you say look at your heart---two jobs ago ---it turned into by mandate 12 hr shifts. As the day went on , I could walk less and less. I had compatriots lift me out of a chair so i could answer a patients need. There were times it was so awful that I had to be taken to my car by wheelchair. I guess I get what he was going through
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Oh dear Sheila -- yes, it's the thought or more like thoughtfulness that you had as a child of God to pray for your patients. I'm sure they all benefited from your prayers, and though you may not know about it today, when it's your turn to see the patchwork quilt you've been making in Heaven, it will be beautiful and you'll see a patch for each of those patients.
I'm not sure what happened in the 50s and 60s and 70s to Catholic teaching. Probably similar things that happened throughout the 2000 years of Christianity. There are good teachers and poor teachers, good priests and nuns and poor priests and nuns. We've even had some not so holy Popes! Free will tends to get us in trouble. So I, too, am making up for lost time and just diving into faithful teachings... the majority are Catholic, but not all. I have a fondness for Quakers too with their simplicity... but the Catholic church has a fullness of Christ... body, blood, soul divinity was promised from the beginning despite the poor teachers along the way. The saints, they're the teachers. Every day I read their words and share them with you all.
So, I need to stop fretting and worrying about this interview tomorrow. It is what it is. If God wants me to have it, then I'll do just fine. His will, not mine.
Good night sisters. God bless you all. Traci - I'll be praying for you tomorrow.
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Just saw your post Sheila... wow, what a gal! Yes, you were walking the walk of selfless giving.
And I'm sure many of us who have had chemo and neulasta and tamoxifen to a certain degree, know the utter pain and agony that happens in the legs... you just can't go on. Offer it up to Jesus, as he fell under His load... our load.
(BTW: those are not my words... I am cutting and pasting from that Family Stations of the Cross website.... gave the link in the beginning in case anyone wanted to do the Stations all at once.)
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Anne, Please don't just read come and join us. We care for each other. And the point of all things under God is humanity. Don't be afraid to post here. we are with you. Your son will find his need maybe not in the time you want, but he will when his need is there.
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Traci, good luck to marrow and Prayers and more Prayers, Your in good hands.
Theresa, Good luck with your interview. Prayer for what's every the best.
Tori, Congratulations on the end to treatment.
All others saying my novena every night for us.
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Ditto and amen
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Hi all
It is the middle of the night here in AZ and I cant sleep. My family took me out last night for dinner t celebrate 3 years and my 3 sons wrote beautiful letters to me. This anniversary has been bittersweet, It is not what I expected. I thought I would be soaring but it just brings up so much pain. I am awake tonight thinking of Traci and Theresa and their big days today, God Bless you both today and may his light shine bright on you both. I am thinking of Sheila and all you have gone through with the loss of your precious Husband. I recited the novena to St Joseph and wrote out the intentions for our prayers of the faithful tomorrow and will include you all.
Welcome Anne I have included your son as well. May all of our beautiful children be looked over and protected and guided in Gods Grace.
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Thank you all so much for your Prayers, your posted Prayer Theresa
I am blessed to have you all praying. I am in my pre-op ritual phase, which I didn't realize I had one until this time. I have two friends on the way to meet me too.Theresa, Go Get em!
and Thank you All so much.
Love,
traci
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