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Veterans Day is coming up, but there are few vets who have a story to tell like Mario Avignone.His life was changed during World War II when he was stationed near the monastery inhabited by St. Pio of Pietrelcina. Avignone, a salt-of-the-earth Chicagoan, and two fellow soldiers befriended the stigmatic miracle worker. Since then, he expresses his devotion to the saint by sharing his experiences with others, visiting the sick, and praying with the aid of relics.After a talk Avignone gave at St. Mary of the Angels Church on the city’s North Side, the 90-year-old veteran, over a meal...

My brother in law, Gary has suffered an aortic aneurism, a torn aorta, and two heart attacks. Gary did survive surgery and is in intensive care. The surgeon said that if he survives the next two days his chances of survival improve significantly. Gary is 49, married and has 5 children. Please pray the LORD places His healing hand on him.

October 24, 2009                                 Saturday of the Twenty-ninth Week                                 in Ordinary Time Reading 1Responsorial PsalmGospel Reading 1Rom 8:1-11 Brothers and sisters:Now there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesushas freed you from the law of sin and death. For what the law, weakened by the flesh, was powerless to do,this God has done:by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful fleshand for the sake of sin, he condemned sin in...

Donna Steichen is a longtime investigative journalist who has written numerous articles in various Catholic publications. She is also the author of Ungodly Rage: The Hidden Face of Catholic Feminism (Ignatius Press, 1991), and editor of Prodigal Daughters: Catholic Women Come Home to the Church (Ignatius Press, 1999). Her most recent book, Chosen: How Christ Sent Twenty-three Surprised Converts to Replant His Vineyard (Ignatius, 2009), contains the inspiring and often surprising stories of men and women who were not drawn to the Church by sound evangelization programs, beautiful buildings and liturgies, or saintly witnesses among the clergy, but were...

“ Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh? Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the...

October 23, 2009                                     Friday of the Twenty-ninth Week                                         in Ordinary Time   Reading 1Responsorial PsalmGospel Reading 1Rom 7:18-25a Brothers and sisters:I know that good does not dwell in me, that is, in my flesh.The willing is ready at hand, but doing the good is not.For I do not do the good I want,but I do the evil I do not want.Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it,but sin that dwells in...

I know I'm not real well known on this forum, but somethings are worth getting banned for. My mother is bleeding internally from a gastric bypass surgery. She has had 2 surgeries since, but nothing has been found. My father, who is diabetic, is so worried about her that he is refusing to eat and sleep. His blood sugar is not being regulated properly. Please Pray for my parents.

A Call To Anguish By David Wilkerson http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGMG_PVaJoI

October 22, 2009                             Thursday of the Twenty-ninth Week                             in Ordinary Time   Reading 1Responsorial PsalmGospel Reading 1Rom 6:19-23 Brothers and sisters:I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your nature.For just as you presented the parts of your bodies as slaves to impurityand to lawlessness for lawlessness,so now present them as slaves to righteousness for sanctification.For when you were slaves of sin, you were free from righteousness.But what profit did you get thenfrom the things of which you are now ashamed? For the...

When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident. (Ps 27:1, 2)

October 21, 2009                                 Wednesday of the Twenty-ninth Week                                 in Ordinary Time   Reading 1Responsorial PsalmGospel Reading 1Rom 6:12-18 Brothers and sisters:Sin must not reign over your mortal bodiesso that you obey their desires.And do not present the parts of your bodies to sinas weapons for wickedness,but present yourselves to God as raised from the dead to lifeand the parts of your bodies to Godas weapons for righteousness. For sin is not to have any power over you,since you are not under the law but...

It is not my intent to make a pest of myself but, to reach out for prayer and any thoughts Freepers may have. However, if, at anytime, anyone feels my posts are becoming a nuisance please let me know. There will be no harsh feelings. Today has been a roller coaster and feeling a bit down in the valley of the ride today. When arriving for the biopsy today I found there was another mass found by the CAT scan and a couple of "swollen" lymph nodes. Even though we were told yesterday such was not the case. The nurse,...

God keeps us in the environment which is the most fertile and productive for our spiritual growth. Either we will take advantage of the learning process or we will not. It is our choice. May our desire be to learn, grow, endure, have faith in Almighty, be thankful and rejoice for His great love and out working in our lives through the Holy Spirit. To God be the glory!

"With thee is the fountain of life." - - Psalm 36:9 DEAR LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY, THIS HOUR AND THIS SECOND. LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS TIME YOUR SAINTS CAN GATHER BEFORE YOUR THRONE OF GRACE WITH PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION. LORD, WE PRAY FOR ALL OF YOUR SAINTS NO MATTER WHERE THEY MAY BE OR WHATEVER THEIR NEED. LORD, WE PRAY ESPECIALLY FOR OUR TROOPS AND PATRIOTS WHO FAITHFULLY PLACE THERE PRAYERS FOR OUR HEROES AT THE FOOT OF THE THRONE,AND TO ALL MEMBERS OF GOVERNMENT WHO HOLD YOUR TRUTHS CLOSE TO THEIR HEARTS. LORD,...

A record number of people - 1.5 million visitors - came to the Western Wall during the Hebrew month of Tishrei, according to figures from the Western Wall Heritage Foundation and the Israel Police. The rabbi of the Kotel (Western Wall), Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitz, commented that "these figures are evidence that the Western Wall is the spiritual home for Jews from all around the world, regardless of their background."

October 20, 2009                             Tuesday of the Twenty-ninth Week                                 in Ordinary Time       Reading 1Responsorial PsalmGospel Reading 1Rom 5:12, 15b, 17-19, 20b-21 Brothers and sisters:Through one man sin entered the world,and through sin, death,and thus death came to all men, inasmuch as all sinned. If by that one person’s transgression the many died,how much more did the grace of Godand the gracious gift of the one man Jesus Christoverflow for the many.For if, by the transgression of the one,death came to reign through that...

Prayer Request

Thank you so much for your continued prayers. Thought an update would be proper for those who have been kind enough to so request. Biopsy scheduled for Tuesday morning (9-20). Doctor had planned a fine needle biopsy FNB on one of the multiple masses found in my Liver in the MRI. He has now decided to do a lymph node biopsy rather than the organ lesion biopsy, saying it would be easier on me. CAT Scan results showed no other masses, tumors or lesions anywhere in the body. None of the usual symptoms are present. I have no family history...

Please pray for Debbie and Maria. Both of these women have breast cancer. Debbie lives in the UK and is subject to nationalized heath care. She found the lump last spring and the doctors are just now getting around to testing. It's a nightmare. Maria (lives in the US) is having a recurrence. Please pray for strength for both of these women and their families. Thanks. j

Psalm 70:4 Let those who Love Your Salvation Exclaim, "What a Wonderful God He is!"

Prayers are requested for Mrs Clamper. The good Lord took her this morning at 3:50 to rejoin the angels

I would like to request prayer for my family and myself.. my wife of 21 years and I are seperating resulting from the choices that I made at the age of 42. I have 3 boys, 19, 16 and 11. Our youngest is on the Autistic Spectrum. They are handling the situation much better than me.. I have so much guilt and pain now, feeling like I can't pick myself up and even figure out what I need to do to start putting myself back together. In addition, I see the devastation that I have caused to my beautiful wife,...

October 19, 2009                                 Memorial of Saint John de Brébeuf                                 and Saint Isaac Jogues,                                 priests and martyrs,                             and their companions, martyrs       Reading 1Responsorial PsalmGospel Reading 1Rom 4:20-25 Brothers and sisters:Abraham did not doubt God’s promise in unbelief;rather, he was empowered by faith and gave glory to Godand was fully convinced that what God had promisedhe was also able to do.That is why it was credited to him...

Preaching and short cut of the hymn, There Is A Fountain.

A reflection on the first Mass reading for October 16, 2009 (Romans 4:1-8) by Mother Maria-Michael Newe, OSB.When we heard the letter of St Paul to the Romans yesterday, that last sentence struck me: “Blessed the man whose sin the Lord does not record.� If the Lord is so gracious as to not record the sins of a man, can we be as gracious to ourselves? It’s good to repent and to know our sinfulness, but when the knowledge of our sins consumes us and we’re so busy recording everything we’ve done it weighs us down. And then we start...

October 18, 2009                             Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time     Reading 1Responsorial PsalmReading 2Gospel Reading 1Is 53:10-11 The LORD was pleasedto crush him in infirmity. If he gives his life as an offering for sin,he shall see his descendants in a long life,and the will of the LORD shall be accomplished through him.Because of his afflictionhe shall see the light in fullnessof days;through his suffering, my servant shall justify many,and their guilt he shall bear. Responsorial PsalmPs 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22 R. (22)Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust...

October 17, 2009                                     Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Antioch,                                bishop and martyr   Reading 1Responsorial PsalmGospel Reading 1Rom 4:13, 16-18 Brothers and sisters:It was not through the lawthat the promise was made to Abraham and his descendantsthat he would inherit the world,but through the righteousness that comes from faith.For this reason, it depends on faith, so that it may be a gift,and the promise may be guaranteed to all his descendants,not to those who only adhere to the lawbut to those who follow the...

[click the link to see the video or go here: http://www.thesacredpage.com/2009/10/request-of-james-and-john-and-ransom.html] Here I want to tease out a few themes related to the request and the ransom saying. So much could be said, but here’s just a little further scholarship on the material in the video. The Apostles’ Sitting With Jesus The request of James and John in fact seems to reflect their understanding that Jesus was coming to establish the kingdom of God. In fact, elsewhere Jesus makes it clear that the apostles will share in his reign―the image of them “sitting” (καθίζω) on “thrones” as judges over the...

This North Western Hawk is known as a rough-leg and reading from the KJV Bible was given by revski (o7jimmy) out of the New Testament 2 Timothy 2:19.

I have read on many christian websites the numbers 11:11 have some kind of significance regarding the End Times. I really never have paid much mind to 11:11 and what is written about it, but strangely enough within the last week, I woke up and looked at my digital clock and it said 11:11, I thought that's kinda wierd but went back to sleep and did not think about it. However within a week it happened again, and that's when it struck me as more than a coinicidence, anyway's just wanted to find out your take on this? and if...

  Many of our Protestant friends appreciate Mary in a way their ancestors didn't. This is a good thing. Some of them even like her a lot, and in a way that their ancestors would denounce. This is an even better thing. But there are limits, which too many Catholics just can't see.   By "Protestant" I'm thinking particularly of our Evangelical friends who are, in doctrinal seriousness and many other ways, close to us. For centuries they simply ignored Mary, even at Christmas. The only time they thought of her in any substantial way was when they were...

But one testified in a certain place, saying: “ What is man that You are mindful of him, Or the son of man that You take care of him? You have made him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, And set him over the works of Your hands. You have put all things in subjection under his feet.” For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him. (Heb.2:6-8)

October 16, 2009                                 Friday of the Twenty-eighth Week                                 in Ordinary Time Reading 1Responsorial PsalmGospel Reading 1Rom 4:1-8 Brothers and sisters:What can we say that Abraham found,our ancestor according to the flesh?Indeed, if Abraham was justified on the basis of his works,he has reason to boast;but this was not so in the sight of God.For what does the Scripture say?Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.A worker’s wage is credited not as a gift, but as something due.But when one does...

October 15th is the feast of St. Teresa of Avila, Doctor of the Church. A 16th century Carmelite who worked to bring reform to that religious order, she is a well-known mystic who was blessed with intimate union with God. In 1577, she was encouraged by a superior to pen a book on prayer in order to instruct her fellow sisters. As a result, the Interior Castle , one of the greatest theological works of all time, was written. St.Teresa writes, “I began to think of the soul as if it were a castle . . . in which...

I must say, this is one of the more sophisticated and expressive examples of liturgical dance I have seen over the years. The aesthetic value of the song which the dancer interprets in this video is amply betokened by his movements. . .

Just a post, to see what favorite song inspires freepers in praising the LORD? I have many, but I will say the one that connects to my soul like no other is *Through the Fire* by Jason Crabb and the Crabb Family http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VP4OvUU-ZHU&feature=related

October 15, 2009                                 Thursday of the Twenty-eighth Week                                 in Ordinary Time       Reading 1Responsorial PsalmGospel Reading 1Rom 3:21-30 Brothers and sisters:Now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law,though testified to by the law and the prophets,the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christfor all who believe.For there is no distinction;all have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God.They are justified freely by his gracethrough the redemption in Christ Jesus,whom God set forth as an expiation,through...

On Peter the Venerable, Abbot of Cluny "I Am Not One of Those Who Is Not Happy With His Lot" VATICAN CITY, OCT. 14, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of Benedict XVI's address today during the general audience in St. Peter's Square. * * * Dear brothers and sisters, The figure of Peter the Venerable, which I wish to present in today's catechesis, takes us back to the famous abbey of Cluny, to its "decorum" (decor) and its "lucidity" (nitor), to use terms that recur in the Cluniac texts -- decorum and splendor-- which are admired above all in...

Corporal Cristo Ancor Cabello Santana Madrid, Spain, Oct 14, 2009 / 04:35 pm (CNA).- Corporal Cristo Ancor Cabello Santana, the lastest Spanish soldier to die in Afghanistan, fulfilled his wish to be baptized before dying. Cabello had asked the chaplain at the Herat Base to baptize him and was planning on receiving the sacrament last weekend before being wounded in a Taliban attack. The chaplain wanted to use a baptismal shell being sent from Madrid to administer the sacrament, but Cabello told him he already had one from when he made a pilgrimage to Santiago in Spain. The chaplain used...

O Lord, give victory; let the King answer us when we call. (Psalm 20:9)

Pilgrims venerate the relics of St. Therese in Aylesford, England. Credit: Catholicrelics.co.uk London, England, Oct 13, 2009 / 09:19 pm (CNA).- As many as 100,000 pilgrims are expected to visit Westminster Cathedral to view and venerate the relics of St. Therese of Lisieux during their month-long tour of England and Wales.Agence France Presse reports that the cathedral has ordered 100,000 candles and 50,000 pink roses to meet the demand. The cathedral expects 2,000 pilgrims every hour until Thursday.St. Therese became a Carmelite nun at the age of 15 and died in 1897 at the age of 24. Known as...

Prayers are requested for Mrs Clamper who is in the hospital after a sudden illness. Outlook is not encouraging.

October 14, 2009                             Wednesday of the Twenty-eighth Week                             in Ordinary Time       Reading 1Responsorial PsalmGospel Reading 1Rom 2:1-11 You, O man, are without excuse, every one of you who passes judgment.For by the standard by which you judge another you condemn yourself,since you, the judge, do the very same things.We know that the judgment of God on those who do such things is true.Do you suppose, then, you who judge those who engage in such thingsand yet do them yourself,that you will escape the...

This is a request I received from a friend at church: Please put my brother in law, Jerry on your prayer list. He is 51. He was going to the doctor because he thought he had the flu. He didn’t feel well enough to get to the doctors office where he had an appointment in one town, so he stopped at a small town clinic a little closer, where his daughter was working. (She was suppose to be at another location today.) He told her his chest was tight from all the coughing he had done, but his left arm...

Islamic Groups Shut Down Worship of Church in Indonesia The Rev. Bedali Hulu (photo: Compass) Under pressure from Islamists, local officials order halt to services in home. JAKARTA, Indonesia, October 5 (CDN) — Several Islamic organizations have pressed officials in a sub-district near Indonesia’s capital city to forbid Jakarta Christian Baptist Church to worship in a house, resulting in an order to cease services. The Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), the Betawi Forum Group, and political party Hizbut Tahrir have told officials in Sepatan sub-district, Tangerang district, near Jakarta that worship activities cannot be conducted in a residence. The house belongs...

Worship Site Demolished, Pastors Arrested Demolished worship site (photo: China Aid Association) Officials put on alert to use military force against potential “unrest” by churches. LOS ANGELES, October 7 (CDN) — Following a mob attack on a church in northeastern China and the demolition of their worship site last month, the government put officials on alert to use military force against churches to quell potential “unrest,” according to a leading advocacy group. Citing reliable government sources, China Aid Association (CAA) reported that the central government on Sept. 26-27 ordered officials in “all relevant government agencies” to prepare to use military...

Christian Arrested for Distributing Tracts in Egypt Protestant Copt, 61, illegally detained then released without charges after four days. ISTANBUL, October 6 (CDN) — An Egyptian Christian arrested in Cairo for handing out gospel leaflets and held in prison illegally for four days has been released, the freed Protestant Copt told Compass. Abdel Kamel, 61, was arrested on Sept. 23 in downtown Cairo for handing out copies of a Christian leaflet. As they arrested him, police told Kamel it was “unlawful” to hand out religious information on public roads. When Kamel countered that Muslims commonly hand out Islamic literature, police...

India: Relief Camp Bombed On Sept. 27, four believers were injured when a Christian relief camp in Nandarigi village, Orissa state, providing temporary housing for Christians who fled anti-Christian, was bombed by suspected Hindu extremists, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. The Hindu man who reportedly set off the bomb was killed in the attack. Five days before the attack the suspected bomber reportedly threatened Christians at the camp with violence, according to VOM contacts. The man reportedly demanded food and shelter. VOM contacts report he returned the night of the bombing heavily intoxicated and assaulted two Christian...

Somalia: Christian Leader Killed On Sept. 28 an Islamic extremist shot and killed Mariam Muhina Hussein, an underground church leader, after discovering six Bibles in her possession, according to Compass Direct News. The day before the shooting, a leader of the Islamic extremist group al Shabaab reportedly sent his wife to visit Hussein's home in Marerey villange. She pretended she was interested in learning about Christianity. During the visit, Hussein read passages of the Bible and told the woman that she could visit regularly to discuss God's Word, according to Compass. The following day, the al Shabaab leader, identified as...