LEAVES Website for January-February 2008 Issue
Excerpted from "Leaflets" column
We wish all of you, our dear LEAVES family, a most happy and blessed New Year. May 2008 bring all of us closer to Our Lord and more faithful to His will.
Hopefully our readers use LEAVES as a tool for increased spirituality. Know that it is an honor for us to serve you in this way. Some of the greatest lessons in our little publication are those shared from other readers. We provide the vehicle; you offer the inspiration.
It is our belief that LEAVES is of great value and we want to continue to send it to all those who wish to receive it. If you enjoy reading LEAVES, please think of any other family and friends who might also want to read it.
Do you have loved ones who live a distance from you? If you both read LEAVES, you can keep a spiritual connection by reading and praying for the intentions of each other and all the readers. Do you know anyone who lives alone without any nearby family or someone who might be in senior housing or a nursing home?
LEAVES can help overcome loneliness when you feel you are a part of a spiritual family that cares about you and prays for you regularly. So many of our readers have a daily practice of praying for all those in the LEAVES family. What a wonderful ministry and what a tremendous blessing for all of us.
I'd like each of our LEAVES readers to please consider sending in the names and addresses of one or more people who might appreciate a subscription to LEAVES. Remember, there is no cost for the magazine and we don't sell our subscriber list, so you won't get a lot of junk mail because of us.
It doesn't take long to read our little publication, so it can easily fit into busy schedules. For those with more time, stopping to pray for the intentions of others benefits the person who prays and the person remembered in prayer.
January is a month for setting new goals. This year we would dearly love to increase the number of people we reach with LEAVES, so please take a moment and either mail us or e-mail us the names of those with whom we can share our magazine.
May God grant you abundant blessings always - Father Thomas Heier, C.M.M.
<>Baby Cured of Meningitis
Dad was born Aug. 26, 1921, in Newark, NJ. His family was very Italian: his grandfather immigrated into the U.S. in 1888. At about two months old, he came down with meningitis, which at that time was a death sentence. Because he was the heir to the family business, his grandfather went all out to find any and every treatment for the deadly disease. Doctors were brought in from all over the country, but to no avail.
Finally his mother, grandmother and aunt prayed a novena to St. Therese. On the last night of the novena, his mother brought home some roses and placed them in his crib. In the morning she found the roses withered and dead, but there was no sign of the meningitis in her son to be found! Thank you, St. Therese - Name Withheld.
St. Therese Grants Miracle
When I was 12 years old, I had a stroke. Many doctors said they could not cure me. My mother heard about St. Therese's miracles. My mother, my sister and I walked to church (Blessed Sacrament in Houston) every day for nine days. Msgr. Schneiter was the pastor. On the ninth morning of the novena, I was completely cured. The priest wrote down everything we did for the nine mornings and said it had to be a miracle, and sent it to the Vatican. Today I am 88 years old and perfectly fine. I have never had another stroke! I continue to attend Mass every morning, even though I no longer drive. Thank you, St. Therese - Marie Mustachia-Adamo.
Miracle Takes Years
My story begins with falling in love with St. Therese while reading her A Story of a Soul in college. I was so struck by her faith and sweetness that I couldn't help but ask St. Therese to ask God that I may some day meet a woman like this for marriage, if it was to be His will.
My "miracle" answer didn't happen overnight - it took years - but I believe God and St. Therese answered those prayers.
At the first meeting with who was to be my future wife, I recalled my prayer and had that inner inspiration that she was the one I had been praying for. And would you believe it? On our honeymoon we got to take a pilgrimage to Lisieux in France to see her convent and the house where she grew up. What a joy! - Name Withheld
Teaching Faith to Others
When my children were young, they attended Catholic school. During their school years there, I knew they were taught religion as one of their subjects. I failed, however, at home. I did not take the time to oversee what and how they were learning about our great Faith in God and our love of Jesus, Mary and the saints. I just trusted that they would practice their religion as they left the Catholic school. I was wrong. One by one they gave up their religious practice. Afterwards I realized I should have taken the time to educate them in their religion.
Later in life I was asked if I would be an assistant to one of the religion teachers. I did this for a while, but did not find it easy. When the teacher moved away, I was asked to take the class. Without hesitation I said I would. Right from the beginning everything went so well, from teaching the class to setting up next week's lesson. I had had no previous teaching background, but I found the words just came out of my mouth and everything else in class came with great ease.
I had this class for 12 years. I had great enthusiasm over all those years. I believe God gave me this opportunity to make up for what I did not do for my own children - H. L.
Excerpted from Father Engelmar Testimonies
There is now available a booklet of the life of Fr. Engelmar Unzeitig, C.M.M. You may receive a free copy of it by sending a stamped (postage for one ounce, currently 41 cents), self-addressed envelope to us at:
LEAVES
P.O. Box 87
Dearborn, MI 48121-0087.
I wish to thank Fr. Engelmar for prayers answered. I had a problem and my doctor told me there is nothing more he could do for me. I made the novena and now I am healed - H.M.T.
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In great thanksgiving for prayers answered through the novena I made in honor of Fr. Engelmar. The prayers were answered after only two days of praying the novena. I am truly grateful to Fr. Engelmar - M.K.J.
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My husband and I went on the Fr. Engelmar Pilgrimage in May 2004. Since then I have been making novenas for my health problems. My sister also prayed novenas. My sedimentation rate was as high as 147 (normal is under 30). My sister was convinced that Fr. Engelmar would come through. I went to the doctor last week, dreading the result of the latest test. The doctor called me on the phone to say that the reading that day was 29! Truly a miracle! There was no change in my medications. My donation is in thanksgiving - Mrs. R.R.
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We wish to thank Fr. Engelmar for obtaining a job for our son. We pray for all the requests and for answers to them in the sick list and other things - M/M R.G.B.
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My donation is in honor of Fr. Engelmar for answered prayers in unexpected ways. I am very grateful, and will continue praying to him. Jesus must really listen to him - B.W.
Prayer for
Ash Wednesday
Lord, protect us in our struggle against evil. As we begin the discipline of Lent, make this season holy by our self-denial. May the light of Your truth bestow sight to the darkness of our sinful eyes and our repentance bring us the blessing of Your forgiveness and the gift of new life. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Lord, How Can I Love Thee?
I can love the rain on high
Even as it leaves the sky;
I can love the autumn leaves
As they fall upon the ground;
I can love the angry seas
As wintry blasts their waters part;
I can love the winter morn
With glistening snow upon the lawn.
Let me remember not to hate
As it my soul shall agitate;
And tell me, God, when I lie,
My soul in heaven shall not die;
And, dear Lord, if this load I cannot bear,
Please have your Son take up a share.
-By Dr. Anthony Alba