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

August 11, 2024

Reflection: Saint Clare of Assisi and the Miracle of the Blessed Sacrament

Today is the Feast Day of Saint Clare. Clare heard Francis of Assisi preach and she felt a fire in her heart and had a great desire to live the Gospel.

When Clare was 18 years old, she secretly left her home with her cousin Pacifica and never returned home again. In the middle of the night, Clare met Francis and his friars at the Portiuncula, the little chapel of ‘Mary of the Angels’. Francis cut her long blond hair and Clare left her fine clothes behind. She wore a simple dress of sackcloth and a thick veil. She vowed to give herself to God who would be her Spouse forever.

Francis built a cloister for her. When other women joined her, they became known as the Order of Poor Ladies, and later known as the Poor Clares. The Poor Ladies lived in a cloister, apart from the world, and supported Francis and his followers through their hidden life of prayer and sacrifice.

Clare loved to pray before the Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament, her dearest Love. She received Jesus in the Eucharist as often as she was permitted. Once after she had received Holy Communion, the Child Jesus came to visit her. He lay in her arms and covered her with kisses.

In speaking of Eucharistic Adoration, Saint Clare said:
"Gaze upon Him, consider Him, contemplate Him, as you desire to imitate Him."

Our Lord was close to Clare and her Sisters all the time. Once, He saved them from a great danger in answer to Clare's prayer. An army of rough soldiers came to attack Assisi, Their plan was to raid the convent first. Although she was very ill, she asked to be brought to where the enemies could see the Blessed Sacrament, which was placed in the window. She knelt down, prayed and begged God to save the Sisters, "O Lord, protect these Sisters whom I cannot protect now." She heard a voice: "I will keep them always in My care." At that same moment, the attackers were suddenly frightened and they fled as fast as they could. This became known as the Miracle of the Blessed Sacrament.

I have a very special love for Saint Clare, her profound devotion of the Eucharist and her life of contemplative prayer. I especially love the story of how she held up the Blessed Sacrament when Assisi was about to be attacked and the attackers fled in fright. In 2014, I had the great blessing of visiting Assisi and I remember being so moved by the statue of Saint Clare holding up the Blessed Sacrament.

Saint John Paul II speaking of Saint Clare:
"Her whole life was a Eucharist because from her cloister she raised up a continual thanksgiving to God in her prayer, praise, supplication, intercession, weeping, offering and sacrifice. She accepted everything from the Father in union with His only begotten Son."

In the Eucharist, Jesus heals, protects and performs miracles. Whenever you have an opportunity to go to Eucharistic adoration, go and sit in the Presence of the Lord. He is waiting for you. Like Saint Clare, the more you come to Him, the more He will make you become like Him. When you gaze at Jesus in Eucharistic adoration, He is gazing back at you with great love.

Words of Saint Clare:
“Place your mind before the mirror of eternity! Place your soul in the brilliance of glory! And transform your entire being into the image of the Godhead Itself through contemplation."

Saint Clare, pray for us and all those we pray for through this ministry.

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