Pray for Families (Do You Love Me?)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

Shame, regret, and remorse are awful feelings. They are dreadful forms of self-flagellation.  Sometimes one tries to drown out their negative feelings with food or mood-altering substances. But nothing heals like mercy. And where mercy abounds, love springs forth from gratitude.

We are witness to this in the Gospel according to John, when Jesus asks Simon Peter, who prior to Christ’s crucifixion had denied Him 3 times, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”  Thrice asking Peter this allowed Peter to affirm his love for Jesus, 3 times. A remorseful Peter must have felt such peace! Jesus continued by helping Peter see that love is an action. “Feed my lambs. Tend my sheep. Feed my sheep.”

We too are called to action by imitating Christ in our merciful love toward others so that we may help restore another’s peace. Are we forgiving those who have hurt or offended us so that healing may occur? Are we seeking forgiveness from those whom we have hurt or offended?

When you stand to pray, forgive anyone against whom you have a grievance, so that your heavenly Father may in turn forgive you your transgressions. Mark 11:25

Lord, send your Spirit upon us and all members of our families so that we may be emboldened to imitate Your merciful love. May we release those we have kept shackled by our unforgiveness, in turn seeing that we too will be releasing the chains we unknowingly put on our own hearts. Help us also to seek forgiveness from others. Restore us in your grace, even healing us from wounds that may have been passed down through the generations. Come Holy Spirit!  Renew our hearts and minds!

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Mercy begets love. Forgive someone and pass it on! 

Pray for Marriages (Peace and Healing)

Memorial Day

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

Today we honor our fallen comrades, those who lived a life of sacrificial love, giving all for love of God and country. May the Lord honor their sacrifice with His merciful love and grant them eternal peace. 

Though an army encamp against me, my heart does not fear; Though war be waged against me, even then do I trust. One thing I ask of the LORD; this I seek: To dwell in the LORD’s house all the days of my life. 

Psalm 27:3-4

Let us also honor those who returned home, yet felt a part of them died during their tour of duty. 

Lord graciously hear us as we pray:

For the tortured souls of the living and dead, Lord have mercy upon them! 

For marriages struggling or destroyed by death, loneliness, infidelity, survivor’s remorse, PTSD, physical or emotional handicaps, or other: Lord, pour out your healing graces and renew their hearts and minds! Help them trust in your transformative love!

I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. Ezekiel 36:26

Lord, may we never forget that you endowed us with life and liberty, so that we may give all glory to You and share in your joy. Bless those brothers and sisters who have protected these God-given gifts by the sacrifice of their lives. May we stay alert and continue to be watchful so that we never take for granted or waste these loving sacrifices by giving up our freedom for fleeting comforts. May we praise you with our lips and continue to pray for those who have gone before us, while being your presence in the world. May we all remain with you forever and ever! Amen.

No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:13 

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Pray for a veteran! Pass it on! 

Pray for Families (Humility and Purity)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

“Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me. Matthew 18:3-5

While meditating on the above, I became saddened. While nothing is more glorious than experiencing the innocence and purity of a small child, what are we doing to protect their innocence? Children are being morally corrupted at younger and younger ages via the educational system, video games, movies, etc., while many parents seem oblivious to the impact. It is all part of Satan’s plan to change the “customs” of society. Will there be a day when the above scripture doesn’t make sense to someone because all innocence is lost?  

Emphatically “no!” as long as we kneel in humility, lift our eyes in prayer, and faithfully pray to the Father.  

Lord, help us to humble ourselves and look to you always as the Father that will love, guide and protect us. Free us from our arrogance, where we feel we are in control of our destiny, we are responsible for our success, and we deserve all the glory. By our own humility, may we be an example, protector, educator, and witness to the children of this world, especially those in our families. Help us to not only resist but reverse the winds of change that seek to harm, corrupt, and rob children of their purity and innocence. May we admit that we have allowed corruption into our own hearts, that of which can be healed by the Father that loves us especially through prayer and reception of the sacraments. In admission of our nothingness and in loving trust of our merciful Father, we pray.  Amen.

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Prayer is not passive but active. Pass it on!

Pray for Marriages (Fit for the Journey)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

The best way to improve a marriage is to first improve yourself. One’s marriage is their path to holiness as it provides ample opportunity to grow in the virtues, thus improving your spiritual fitness is the best way to train for the journey. And it’s never too late to get in shape! It’s not about how long the journey takes, but that you reach the final destination. What might you need to unload that’s been weighing you down? How might you open up and strengthen your heart? Look to the example of the saints, who through prayer, fasting and almsgiving, grew in the virtues. This in turn equipped them to journey the unique path the Lord set them upon.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith. For the sake of the joy that lay before him he endured the cross, despising its shame, and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God. Consider how he endured such opposition from sinners, in order that you may not grow weary and lose heart. 
Hebrews 12:1-3

Endure your trials as “discipline.” […] At the time, all discipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain, yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it. Hebrews 12:7:11

May our united prayers for marriage be a fragrant incense rising to the heavens, seeding the clouds to rain down grace on all of you and those you hold so dear.

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Help equip another for the journey.  Pass it on!

Pray for Families (Prayer and Presence for the Suffering)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

Every day is a blessing, even when it doesn’t feel that way. We are blessed because the Lord never leaves us, and the crosses he gifts us serve to strengthen, purify, and edify us, a blessing from a Loving God who longs for us to spend eternity with Him.

He also gifts us with friends and family, Christ’s representatives here on earth. So, whether you are suffering or witnessing the suffering of another, each is called to walk with the other, offering support, encouragement, and love.

Today we pray for those seeking to recover from sickness, disease, cancer, surgery or other. 

Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone in good spirits? He should sing praise. James 5:13

We also pray for those whose suffering is emotional or mental, who suffer in silence and alone. 

Insult has broken my heart, and I despair; I looked for compassion, but there was none, for comforters, but found none. Psalm 69:21

Visit, take a meal, or send a card to the sick. Then ask the Holy to prompt you as to who is suffering from pain that isn’t visible. Then call that person, and give comfort by listening with an attentive ear and acknowledging their pain. 

Lord, you are the Divine Healer. Hear our prayers for the sick and in your compassion and love, answer them. Send us to those who need our presence, be it in person, virtual, or via phone. Help us to be tools which sow your peace, harvest your joy, and spread your love. 

Peace, Joy, and Love, 

Janet

Prayer and presence. Pass it on!  

Pray for Marriages (Eternal Hope)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

To those who struggle in their marriage, I offer you hope.  For no marriage is without love if you open your heart to the Lord. 

Jesus answered and said to him, “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him. John 14:23

Allow the eternal Bridegroom to show you what unconditional love feels like and thus entails as it is passed along.  Be revitalized and humbled, for Love longs to be with you.

Take comfort, for you are never alone.  The Lord wraps you in unimaginable love and calls you to do the same for your betrothed. His love and our prayers will carry you throughout your journey, and may we all one day meet in eternity. 

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Faith, hope, and love, the virtues that will get you to your destination! Pass it on!

Pray for Families (The Joy of Togetherness)

Greetings Prayer Warriors, 

There is a hidden blessing in the togetherness that occurs as a result of staying home. While for some it may be and continue to be an adjustment, getting to know your family members better bears the sweet fruit of newly found intimacy, for everyone longs to be known, and longs to be a part of the whole.

Reconciling what a family is, and what it should be, takes effort on everyone’s part.

Wives, be subordinate to your husbands, as is proper in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and avoid any bitterness toward them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they may not become discouraged. Colossians 3:18-21

Yet with the smallest effort on our part, the Lord will always meet us more than half way.

He will turn the heart of fathers to their sons, and the heart of sons to their fathers. Malachi 3:24

Lord, grant us peace in our homes, and order our families according to your will. May we see ourselves as we really are, and choose to amend our lives. Help us to grow in the virtues that are most lacking in our lives. May we grow as a domestic church*, with you at the center, that all glory, honor, and praise many be yours!. 

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is begotten by God, and everyone who loves the father loves [also] the one begotten by him. In this way we know that we love the children of God when we love God and obey his commandments. For the love of God is this, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, for whoever is begotten by God conquers the world. And the victory that conquers the world is our faith. 1 John 5:1-4

Lord, grant us the gift of faith so we may conquer all that opposes you in the world! Amen!

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Pray that through togetherness, faith may blossom! Pass it on! 

* CCC 1666

Pray for Marriages (Embracing C.O.V.I.D.)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

I must admit, I am growing weary of all the news, discussions, and focus on THAT VIRUS. It has impacted marriage, family life, work life, and so much more, so I wanted to reframe everything and focus on the good news, on that which will be the final outcome.

C hrist

O vercomes

V irus

I nvading 

D istricts and dioceses

God is faithful, and by him you were called to fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:9

While God never causes evil things to occur, he will allow them so that we may awaken from the spiritual slumber that distances us from Him. Thus, let us focus on renewing our spiritual life and seeking his mercy within our marriage, our family, and throughout the whole world. Ponder how you were living your life “B.C."*, while asking the Lord to illumine your conscience. As you pray, embrace the following “C.O.V.I.D.”

C ontrition for your sin

O blation as sacrifice of praise

V ale of tears in true repentance

I ncense of prayer giving glory to God

D onation of self for others, in humility and gratitude

After you have examined your life, ask the Lord what he wants of you moving forward. He may just surprise you. 

Therefore, from the day we heard this, we do not cease praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding, to live in a manner worthy of the Lord, so as to be fully pleasing, in every good work bearing fruit and growing in the knowledge of God. Colossians1:9-10

Prayer, following His will, and helping others can be a binding force in a marriage and family. Take advantage of this unexpected detour, pray and focus on one another. 

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

The "new" C.O.V.I.D. is worth sharing! Pass it on! 

* Before COVID

Pray for Families (Heavenly Protection)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

As stay at home orders remain in place, tensions are starting to rise. Many have been furloughed, laid off, or permanently released from employment. While many struggle with constant togetherness, their true burden is worrying about food, rent, and other necessities. The inability to cope with a negative situation with no end in sight, has led to a rise in anxiety, depression, suicide, and domestic abuse.

On this feast of Saint Joseph, the Worker, let us pray for his powerful intercession before the Lord on behalf of all those who work. As the head of the Holy Family, let us also ask that he seek heavenly protection for those who are facing abuse.

In you, LORD, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame. In your righteousness deliver me; incline your ear to me; make haste to rescue me! Be my rock of refuge, a stronghold to save me.  Psalm 31:2-3

For you have been a refuge to the poor, a refuge to the needy in their distress. Isaiah 25:4

St. Joseph, you labored to support the Child Jesus and the Blessed Mother, your spouse. Pray that our faith in God mirrors yours, as you too must have struggled to find work as your living situation shifted. At times, you most likely had to trust in the kindness and charity of strangers. Pray that we grow in charity, helping those who are experiencing difficulties. O humble St. Joseph, pray that we have the humility to accept charity from others rather than refuse in our pride. Protector of children, pray that our eyes will be open to see when others may need support with their little ones, allowing them to decompress from their stress. Ask the Lord to be extra generous with his grace, that we each may grow in virtue during this trial.  Saint Joseph, guardian of the family, protect the most vulnerable!  Amen.

When cares increase within me, your comfort gives me joy. Psalm 94:19

You, O LORD, protect us always! Psalm 12:8

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

May the heavenly Father comfort and protect you in his loving embrace! Pass it on!