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Star of the Sea - Tianna Williams

“As mariners are guided into port by the shining of a star, so Christians are guided to [Christ] by Mary.” — St. Thomas Aquinas I’m sharing this painting at a time when most of the world is going into lockdown mode in response to COVID-19. I couldn’t have foreseen these circumstances when I began this painting just a few weeks ago, and yet I now sense the significance of this image for this particular point in history. Emotions are running high as people worry about what will happen to them, to their loved ones who are at risk, to our healthcare systems, to the economy. Catholics all over the world are crying out in dismay as churches are closed and even essential sacraments such as Confession and Baptism are being withheld in an attempt to limit contact between people. I think everyone is justified in feeling a little confused and frightened. Where can we look for protection and guidance? I look at this image now and I see the tenderness with which Mary safeguards the ship sailing within the folds of her mantle—almost as though she is cradling a newborn baby. The ship, of course, symbolizes the Church. It sails into the sun on peaceful waters, yet it is not clear if the distant storm clouds are approaching or receding. I have no answers—I don’t know if we will soon be heading back towards some semblance of normalcy, or if recent events have been the impetus for more devastating consequences that will reverberate into the unforeseen future. I can only tell you to stay close to our Mother’s heart, for she will always guide us to her Son. How she loves her children! Pray pray pray!

Tianna Williams

To purchase a print: https://ti-spark.ca/product/star-of-the-sea/ Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tispark 

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October – The Month of the Holy Rosary REMINDER

of the Prayers to be conclude the Rosary each day of October (most especially) but I will add these always.

From Pope Francis’ Message – 29 September

“The Holy Father has decided to invite all the faithful, of all the world, to pray the Holy Rosary every day, during the entire Marian month of October and thus to join in communion and in penitence, as the people of God, in asking the Holy Mother of God and Saint Michael Archangel to protect the Church from the devil, who always seeks to separate us from God and from each other.”

The invocation “Sub tuum praesídium” is recited as follows:

“Sub tuum praesídium confúgimus, sancta Dei Génetrix; nostras deprecatiónes ne despícias in necessitátibus, sed a perículis cunctis líbera nos semper, Virgo gloriósa et benedícta”.

We fly to Thy protection, O Holy Mother of God. Do not despise our petitions in our necessities but deliver us always from all dangers, O Glorious and Blessed Virgin

and

The Holy Father has also asked that the recitation of the Holy Rosary during the month of October conclude with the prayer written by Pope Leo XIII:

“Sancte Míchael Archángele, defénde nos in próelio; contra nequítiam et insídias diáboli esto praesídium. Imperet illi Deus, súpplices deprecámur, tuque, Prínceps milítiae caeléstis, Sátanam aliósque spíritus malígnos, qui ad perditiónem animárum pervagántur in mundo, divína virtúte, in inférnum detrúde. Amen”.

Saint Michael Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil, may God rebuke him, we humbly pray and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits, who prowl throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen

(via October - The Month of the Holy Rosary REMINDER)

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Dear God, may the light of Your divine guidance always shine on me. #whereifoundGodtoday #prayer #sundaywalk #Hofburg #nofilter https://www.instagram.com/p/BoFM2x-A9En/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1f38104ormz58

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The devil is afraid of us when we pray and make sacrifices. He is also afraid when we are humble and good. He is especially afraid when we love Jesus very much. He runs away when we make the Sign of the Cross. ~ St Anthony of Padua,pray for us! #feastday #catholic #saint #stanthonypadova

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“St. Joseph’s mission is certainly unique and unrepeatable, as Jesus is absolutely unique. However, in protecting Jesus, in teaching him how to grow in age, wisdom and grace, he is a model for every educator, and in particular for every father." -Pope Francis, General audience, March 19, 2014 🙏 St.Joseph,pray for us.🙏 (at Mariazell Basilica)

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Thought for the Day -30 January – Lent is Coming!

Ash Wednesday is on Valentine’s Day!

On a day typically reserved for chocolates, candies and delicious meals shared with a loved one, the Church asks you to fast, pray and abstain from meat!   Take it as an opportunity to pray with each other and grow deeper in a true and abiding love of God.

Lent lasts 40 days and ends on April 1 (no fools!)

In imitation of Jesus fasting in the desert, the Church instituted a special season of fasting that lasts 40 days.   However, the six Sundays in Lent are not considered part of the official “Lenten fast” (every Sunday is a special remembrance of the Resurrection of Christ).   For this reason, Easter is “technically” 46 days after Ash Wednesday.   This year Easter lands on April 1, but is no joke!

The three pillars of Lent are prayer, fasting and almsgiving

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “The interior penance of the Christian can be expressed in many and various ways. Scripture and the Fathers insist above all on three forms, fasting, prayer and almsgiving, which express conversion in relation to oneself, to God, and to others.   Alongside the radical purification brought about by Baptism or martyrdom they cite as means of obtaining forgiveness of sins:  effort at reconciliation with one’s neighbour, tears of repentance, concern for the salvation of one’s neighbour, the intercession of the saints and the practice of charity ‘which covers a multitude of sins.’”

Lent is a time to practice these essential spiritual practices and clean out our interior house.

Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fasting

Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence for Catholics … For members of the Latin Catholic Church, the norms on fasting are obligatory from age 18 until age 59.   When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that together are not equal to a full meal.   The norms concerning abstinence from meat are binding upon members of the Latin Catholic Church from age 14 onwards.

All Fridays in Lent are days of abstinence from meat (unless superseded by a solemnity)

Fridays have always been special days of prayer and penitence in the Church.   Catholic peoples from time immemorial have set apart Friday for special penitential observance by which they gladly suffer with Christ that they may one day be glorified with Him.  This is the heart of the tradition of abstinence from meat on Friday where that tradition has been observed in the holy Catholic Church.

Go Forth – may this be our best Lent ever!

https://aleteia.org/2018/01/26/lent-is-almost-here-heres-what-you-need-to-know/

  (via AnaStpaul – Breathing Catholic)

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Lord Jesus, inflame my heart with your love and make me clean and whole in body,mind and spirit. May I never doubt your love nor cease to tell others of your great mercy and compassionate care. 🙏

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O Emmanuel, may I never fear my weakness my inadequacy or my imperfection. Rather, as I gaze with faith, hope and love upon your incarnate littleness may I love my own littleness for God is with us. Endow my life with a holy wonder that leads me ever more deeply into the Mystery of Redemption and the meaning of my vocation and destiny. source: Prayer Before a Manger Scene A gracefilled CHRISTmas 🎄 dear friends!🙏 #happyBirthdayJesus #Christmast2017Vienna #JesusOurSavior (at Vienna, Austria)

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"Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and anxieties of daily life..... Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength .... 👉🏼 Luke 21: 34-36 Today marks the beginning of #Advent and a new year for the Church.Advent means "coming". It is Jesus who comes, not to bring despair and destruction, doom and gloom, but to dispel the fear and frustration in our hearts. Are we preoccupied with too much eating,drinking and partying? Are our waking hours spent on cable TV, computer games, the Internet , Facebook, IG or Twitter? Are we obsessed with making money? Do we give a thought at all to #Jesus and to our #spiritual life? Jesus knocks at the door of our #hearts. Advent challenges us to welcome Him in the persons of other people👉🏼 family members, colleagues , fellow employees, classmates, neighbors and friends and to acknowledge His presence in our work, in our dealings with people, even in our household chores. We are reminded to pay attention to Jesus, to get busy with Him, in Him and for Him. We need not be afraid of what is going on around us, the different disasters and crisis we have . Why? Jesus will indeed come to liberate us from sin and selfishness. His coming brings a message of #love and ushers a new way of life. Advent delivers hope. It makes us confident and joyful, so we can move forward to meet #God. Let us identify the excess baggage and material attachments in our lives. How do we get rid of them? How do we prepare to celebrate the coming of Jesus this #Christmas ? 🙏 Lord, I surrender my time and treasure to You. I want to focus on Your love for me , so I can love You more. O, come O come Emmanuel ! 👉🏼👉🏼I wish you all a meaningful and fruitful Advent season. This is my last post until Christmas Day , you will all be in my #prayers and please don't hesitate to message me if you need it.I will be blessed to include your intentions in my silent retreat.Please remember me in your prayers too. Thank you!🙏😇🙏❤️

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The devil is afraid of us when we pray and make sacrifices. He is also afraid when we are humble and good. He is especially afraid when we love Jesus very much. He runs away when we make the Sign of the Cross. ~ St Anthony of Padua,pray for us! #feastday #stanthonyofpadua #catholic #saint #qoute #whereifoundgodtoday

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Padre Pio told this story to padre Anastasio. “One evening, while I was alone in choir to pray, I heard the rustle of a suit and I saw a young monk that stirred next to the High altar. It seemed that the young monk was dusting the candelabra and straightening the flower vases. I thought he was Padre Leone rearranging the altar, and, since it was supper time, I went to him and I told him: “Padre Leone, go to dine, this is not the time to dust and to straighten the altar”. But a voice, that was not Father Leone’s answered me”: “I am not Padre Leone”, “and who are you? “, I asked him. “I am a brother of yours that made the noviciate here. I was ordered to clean the altar during the year of the noviciate. Unfortunately many times I didn’t reverence Jesus while passing in front of the altar, thus causing the Holy Sacrament that was preserved in the tabernacle to be disrespected. For this serious carelessness, I am still in Purgatory. Now, God, with his endless goodness, sent me here so that you may quicken the time I will enjoy Paradise. Take care of me.” I believed to be generous to that suffering soul, so I exclaimed: “you will be in Paradise tomorrow morning, when I will celebrate Holy Mass”. That soul cried: “Cruel!” Then he wept and disappeared. That complaint produced in me a wound to the heart that I have felt and I will feel my whole life. In fact I would have been able to immediately send that soul to Heaven but I condemned him to remain another night in the flames of Purgatory.” #CatholicConnect #PrayForAllSouls #Respect #Catholicism #CatholicChurch #Vatican #PadrePio #Purgatory

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Lord, help me to live this day, quietly, easily.To lean upon Thy great strength, trustfully, restfully.To wait for the unfolding of Thy will, patiently, serenely.To meet others, peacefully, joyously.To face tomorrow, confidently, courageously.Amen ~ St Francis of Assisi #mymorningwalk #whereifoundgodtoday #stfrancis #laudatosi #catholic #prayer #spring #flowers #nofilter (at Wienerberg-Park Erholungsgebiet)

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“If devotion to the Blessed Virgin is necessary for all men simply to work out their salvation, it is even more necessary for those who are called to a special perfection. I do not believe that anyone can acquire intimate union with our Lord and perfect fidelity to the Holy Spirit without a very close union with the most Blessed Virgin and an absolute dependence on her support. The Son of God became man for our salvation but only in Mary and through Mary.” ~Saint Louis Marie de Montfort 🙏 Our family and friends will have our Two Thousand Hail Marys tomorrow which we are devoting an 8hour prayer to our Blessed Virgin Mary once a month. Praying for you and if you have special prayer intentions you want me to include in our prayers, please message me or comment below. 🙏 O Mary, Mother of God, pray to Jesus for us.Amen🙏

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In 2002, Pope John Paul II entrusted the whole world to Divine Mercy when he consecrated the International Shrine of The Divine Mercy in Lagiewniki, a suburb of Krakow in Poland. Pope John Paul II said: “How much the world is in need of the mercy of God today! In every continent, from the depths of human suffering, a cry for mercy seems to rise. In those places where hatred and the thirst for revenge are overwhelming, where war brings suffering and the death of innocents, one needs the grace of mercy to pacify the minds and the hearts and make peace spring forth. In those places where there is less respect for life and human dignity, one needs the merciful love of God, in whose light we see the ineffable value of every single human being. Mercy is needed to ensure that every injustice may find its solution in the splendour of truth. 🙏Jesus, King of Mercy, we trust in You!✝️ 👉🏼my last pilgrimage in Divine Mercy Shrine in Krakow,Poland . On this post, the chapel of the famous miracle working image of Merciful Jesus and the altar of the tomb and relic of St.Faustina.

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Tell Me your story, show Me your wounds and I’ll show you what Love sees when Love looks at you. Hand Me the pieces, broken and bruised and I’ll show you what Love sees when Love sees you || When Love Sees You by Mac Powell

Art: Divine Painting - The Divine Mercy, Jesus I Trust In You by Terezia Sedlakova Wutzay