Our Lady holding Jesus as He accepts flowers from the shepherd child

Our Lady holding Jesus as He accepts flowers from the shepherd child

Welcome to our intercessory prayer ministry for families, babies, little ones and those who love them.

In our prayers for families, we pray for the sanctity of all life and for vocations to marriage, the priesthood and consecrated life, which are born and nurtured in families.

The
Prayer of Entrustment to Mary was prayed for this ministry at the icon of the Madonna Salus Populi Romani (Salvation of the Roman People, Our Lady of Good Health) in the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore (Basilica of Mary Major) in Rome, Italy, in Nossa Senhora do Rosario da Fatima (Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary) in Fatima, Portugal, in Eglise du Sacre-Coeur (Sacred Heart Parish Church), the site of St. Bernadette's baptismal font, in Lourdes, France and at The National Shrine of The Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Massachusetts at the Shrine of the Holy Innocents before Our Lady of Guadalupe and at Basilica Papale de San Pietro in Vaticano (St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City) at the Tomb of St. John Paul II in Rome, Italy and at the Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (Basilica of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe) in Mexico City, Mexico.

This ministry is consecrated to Jesus Christ, Wisdom Incarnate, through the hands of Mary and dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary. In our prayers to Mary, we honor and worship her Son Jesus. When He was on the Cross, He gave His Mother to John and she became our Mother as well. "Behold, your Mother." John 19:27

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam
For the greater glory of God

January 31, 2018

Reflection: The Glory of God

The Glory of God is man fully alive. Saint Irenaeus

My church is one of the most beautiful churches you could ever see but the beauty of the church is currently hidden. The interior is in the process of being restored. The cracks in the walls are being repaired and the church is being painted. In order to restore the church, elaborate scaffolding has been erected so the painters can reach the heights of the church. 

Jesus took Peter, James and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves and He was transfigured before them, and His clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them.  Mark 9:2-3

Jesus appeared to them as the Light in dazzling white. On either side of Him, Moses and Elijah appeared. The Father’s voice spoke that this was His Beloved Son in whom He was well pleased. The Holy Spirit appeared as a cloud of glory.

The Transfiguration was an experience that did not last very long. Peter wanted to erect tents and stay there, but that was not the purpose. Jesus gave them this experience to build up their hope so that they would have strength for the sufferings to come. Through the Transfiguration, Jesus gave Peter, James and John a glimpse of eternal life.

As I look at the scaffolding in my church, I think about how it takes time to restore buildings. There can be many surprises and twists and turns along the way. Throughout all the stages of the restoration, little by little, the repairs are made and the building made anew. When the restoration is complete, the beauty of my church will no longer be hidden by the scaffolding. As we come there to pray and worship, we will, once again, see the Glory of God in the beauty all around us.

The same is true for souls. Our souls are hidden, unseen by others. Jesus knows the scars and wounds of our souls. As we pray and turn to Him, He restores our souls. Make time to be with Him and draw close in silent prayer in Eucharistic adoration or before the tabernacle in a chapel. As you spend time with Him, He will transform you and restore your soul. Take your pain, sufferings, miseries, worries and fears and place them on the altar. Jesus is waiting to give you hope and healing. Jesus will make you a new creation. He made you for eternal life and He wants to give you glimpses of it here. Invite Jesus into the home of your heart and rest with Him that He may share His Glory with you.

The heavens declare the Glory of God; the firmament proclaims the works of His hands. Psalm 19:2

January 25, 2018

Reflection: The Lord said to Ananias about Saul, "Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of Mine..."

The story of Saint Paul is the story of God's love being poured into his heart. Saul persecuted the Church without mercy. When Jesus came to Saul, from the sky, a light flashed around him. Jesus said, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" Saul asked who was speaking and the voice said, "I am Jesus, the Nazorean, whom you are persecuting." Saul knew that Jesus had died yet Jesus was speaking to him. Saul was persecuting His followers.

In an instant, Saul was forever changed. Immediately, upon hearing the voice, Saul could not see because He was blinded by the light. His friends led him and he could not see for three days. Then the Lord sent Ananias to lay hands on Saul. He regained his sight and was baptized. The Lord gave Saul three days of blindness as He worked on Saul's heart. Saul was transformed into Saint Paul because Jesus showered him with His love and mercy. Saul was the chosen instrument of Jesus.

Acts 9:15-19  But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before Gentiles, kings, and children of Israel, and I will show him what he will have to suffer for my name.” So Ananias went and entered the house; laying his hands on him, he said, “Saul, my brother, the Lord has sent me, Jesus who appeared to you on the way by which you came, that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”  Immediately things like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. He got up and was baptized, and when he had eaten, he recovered his strength.

When you have an encounter with Jesus, you are always changed. Turn to Jesus and He will restore your soul through the Sacrament of Reconciliation and strengthen you with the Eucharist. Jesus will show you the way. He is the Way and the Truth and the Life. He shines light and scatters the darkness. He gives us the Bread of Life, the Eucharist, to strengthen, heal and nourish us.

You are God's chosen instrument, just as Saint Paul. In the darkness of the world today, you will be called to stand up and speak the truth, to be God's witness. 

Jesus will entrust souls to you, souls He wants you to pray for. Offer prayers, fast and make sacrifices for the person you are praying for. Never give up praying for the conversion of a soul. Jesus has entrusted that soul to you and He hears your prayers.

January 24, 2018

Mary, Mother of the Eucharist

Mary's body and soul are the heavenly tabernacle of God. She is the incorruptible Host, Holy and Immaculate. The Madonna and the Holy Eucharist are united inseparably.

And behold, I am with you always, even until the end of the age. Matthew 28:20

Make some time today to sit in the presence of Mary. Share your joys and sorrows with her. Ask her to help you

When we go before Jesus on the altar, we always find Him "with Mary His Mother," as the Magi did at Bethlehem. Matthew 2:11

Prayer to Mary Mother of the Eucharist

Hail Mary, sweet Mother of the Eucharist, with sorrow and much love, you have given us your Son Jesus while hanging from the Cross. We, weak creatures, anchor ourselves to you to be worthy sons of this great LOVE and SORROW. Help us to be humble and simple, help us to love all men, help us to live in grace always to be ready to welcome Jesus into our heart.

O Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, we, by ourselves, will never be able to understand this great mystery of love. Gain for us the light of the Holy Spirit, because only in that moment we will be able to perceive even for just one instant, all the infinite love of your Jesus in giving Himself to us. Amen.

Jesus in the sacred Host, comes to each of us as He did to Saint John the Evangelist from the Cross on Calvary, "Behold thy Mother." John 19:27

January 22, 2018

Reflection: The Unborn

Today is a Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children. We remember the tens of millions of little ones lost to abortion since 1973, the tragic anniversary of Roe v Wade in the United States. We pray for all souls wounded  by abortion. Let us pray one Our Father, three Hail Marys and one Glory Be for and end to abortion.

Your Hands made me and fashioned me. Psalm 119:73 

Our Lady of Guadalupe, intercede for the protection of life in the womb as you did when you appeared to Juan Diego. Merciful Jesus, we ask you to open hearts and minds to the sanctity of all LIFE. and we pray through the intercession of Saint John Paul II and through his prayers and beautiful writings, Theology of the Body,

Unborn children are entitled to the unalienable Right to Life endowed by God.

From the Declaration of Independence July 4, 1776
We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.

I call heaven and earth today to witness against you: I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Choose life, then, that you and your descendants may live, by loving the Lord, your God, heeding His voice, and holding fast to Him. For that will mean life for you, a long life for you to live on the land which the Lord swore He would give to your fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Deuteronomy 30:19-20

What can you do to promote a culture of life?
Pray for all those wounded by abortion and for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life for the unborn. Fast and offer Penance for the sins against the dignity of life through abortion.

As we pray for the unborn, we ask Jesus for a conversion of hearts so that every person will come to know the dignity and sacredness of all life. This prayer ministry began praying for a precious unborn baby who has Down Syndrome. She is eleven years old now and she brings love to everyone she meets. What a beautiful gift from God!

Kiss of Mercy Prayer  To be recited while kissing an image of Jesus
Jesus I trust in You.  May my kiss and Your grace, convert, heal and reconcile to the Father one soul wounded by abortion. Amen,  Recite one Hail Mary.


January 19, 2018

Reflection: Made in the image and likeness of God

We pray for all who attend the March for Life in Washington, D.C. today, especially all the pro-life young people. May their powerful witness open hearts and minds that the Culture of Life will be restored to our country. Let us pray for a conversion of all who favor, promote, seek and perform abortions. Let us pray for all souls wounded by abortion. 
Kiss of Mercy Prayer Apostolate for Healing from Abortion

Then God said: "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and the cattle, and over all the wild animals and all the creatures that crawl on the ground." God created man in His image; in the Divine image, He created him; male and female, He created them. God blessed them, saying: "Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and all the living things that move on the earth."  Genesis 1:26-28

We are made in the image and likeness of God. What does that mean? God created us like Him. He loves us and wants us to be with Him eternally. We were created with a body and a soul. God infused every life with a soul. God is the Giver and Author of all life. Every life has meaning. We were created to love and serve God, to pray and speak with Him and with one another.

Human beings are like tapestries woven by God. Psalm 139 is a psalm that reveals the Divine attributes of God, not through God's creation of mountains, seas, or the galaxies, but through the wonder of God who fashioned life of the human in the womb.

The Hebrew word used to express God's forming of us in the womb, raqam, is the same term for needlework or embroidery. In other words, we are a tapestry and God is the artist who knows His creation down to the last detail. God knows us intimately. We are fashioned by God and known by Him and we can say: 

You formed my inmost being; You knit me in my mother's womb.  Psalm 139:13

January 05, 2018

Reflection: The Memorare

Mary was petitioned as "Mother of God" at least by the 3rd Century, as is evidenced by the discovery of the Sub Tuum prayer: This prayer, known in Latin as "Sub tuum Praesidium" and first found in a Greek papyrus, c. 300, is the oldest known prayer to the Virgin.

O Holy Mother of God, we turn to you for protection. Listen to our prayers and help us in all our needs. Save us from every danger, glorious and blessed Virgin.

The "Memorare" is a sixteenth-century version of a fifteenth-century prayer that began "Ad sanctitatis tuae pedes, dulcissima Virgo Maria." Claude Bernard (1588-1641) popularized the idea that the "Memorare" was written by Saint Bernard.

Joseph and Mary brought Jesus to the Temple at the time of the Presentation. Mary's heart was pierced when she heard Simeon's words, as she held her precious baby.

Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, His Mother, "Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted and you yourself a sword will pierce so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."  Luke 2:34-35

Mary did not understand, but she kept all these things pondering them in her heart. Our Mother Mary understands our sufferings. Let us bring our hurts and sorrows to her and ask her to intercede to Jesus. With Mary, let us unite our sufferings and bring her our petitions by praying the Memorare.

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to you for your protection, implored your help or sought your intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, we fly to you, O Virgin of virgins, our Mother.  To you we come, before you we stand, sinful and sorrowful.  O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not our petitions, but in your mercy, hear and answer them. Amen.

Saint Bernard sums up the great spiritual advantage of true devotion to our Blessed Mother. Let us pray that wonderful prayer of Saint Bernard as a trusting child before Mary. Saint Bernard prayed:

"Look to the star of the sea, call upon Mary … in danger, in distress, in doubt, think of Mary, call upon Mary. May her name never be far from your lips, or far from your heart … If you follow her, you will not stray; if you pray to her, you will not despair; if you turn your thoughts to her, you will not err. If she holds you, you will not fall; if she protects you, you need not fear; if she is your guide, you will not tire; if she is gracious to you, you will surely reach your destination."

On earth, the Blessed Virgin offered her life in obedient service which is true worship of God. In heaven, she leads the song of eternal praise which rises like incense before the throne of God.  Let us imitate Mary and ponder everything in our heart.