LEAVES Website for May-June 2004 issue

Excerpted from "Leaflets" Column

As you travel, pray for yourself. While you are waiting at a red light, stop to listen for God speaking to you. Stop talking and be open to the Lord. Stop thinking of everything other than the voice of Our Father the Almighty.

Stopping at a stop sign or traffic signal is a perfect time to pray for patience. Instead of being annoyed, ask God to bless you with the gift of patience. Think of particular instances at work and home that could benefit from this kind of grace. Think of certain people and how your relationship would be better with additional patience.

As you approach a "Yield" sign, think of how you can yield your will to the will of God. When making decisions, do you consider what the repercussions to your spiritual health will be? When listing positives and negatives, be sure that you include the impact the choice will have on your faith.

When the light turns green, think, "Let us go with God." Or you might want to "Let go and let God." Is there something in your life that perplexes you or pains you? Give it over to God. He surely can handle it better than you can or anyone else can.

Use road signs as prompts for prayer. When the hospital "H" sign is seen, pray for the sick. A deer crossing sign might evoke prayers for pets, endangered species or other animals. "Do not litter" postings could remind us to pray for the environment.

No matter where we go or how we get there, the opportunities for prayer are endless. All that is necessary is to remember to pray. Pray whether you are vacationing or commuting. Pray unceasingly. May God grant you abundant blessings always - Father Thomas Heier, C.M.M.

Excerpted from "Our Family Album"

St. Therese Comes
Through Again

A friend of mine had been told that her ovarian cancer was invading the rest of her body and she should go home and live the rest of her days the best she could. They had operated but couldn't get it all.

I started the five-day novena to St. Therese. On the last day of the novena I still hadn't received the white roses I had requested. So after my prayers I went about my business and later got the mail.

When I came home, I opened the mail. One was a letter from a friend from Michigan. As I took the letter out of the envelope, out fell stickers with white roses on them. I knew my request had been answered. I immediately took the roses to my friend.

The following week my friend had tests done and the doctors couldn't explain why there was no sign of cancer anywhere, but I knew why. St. Therese came through for me again - Sally Reynolds.

ADD THREE LEAVES

Three Favors Received
From St. Anthony

Thank you, St. Anthony, for three favors in six weeks.

First, my daughter misplaced her wedding rings and her mother's ring. After ten days of praying, the rings were found.

Second, our dog, Schotzie, is 14 1/2 years old, hard of hearing and has poor eyesight. She wandered off about 11 p.m. and was nowhere to be found. After half an hour of searching and praying to St. Anthony, we found her in the lake, unable to get out. If not for St. Anthony, she would have drowned.

Third, I wanted my granddaughter to use my wedding crown for her First Communion and could not find it. I knew I had seven months to look for it, so I prayed to St. Anthony and the next morning I found it.

Many thanks also to Jesus, Mary, Joseph and St. Jude for many prayers answered - C.M.C.

Excerpted from Father Engelmar Testimonies

There is now available a booklet of the novena to Fr. Engelmar Unzeitig, C.M.M. You may receive a free copy of it by sending a stamped (postage for one ounce, currently 37 cents), self-addressed envelope to us at:

For several months I prayed the novena to Fr. Engelmar for my daughter that she would be promoted in her job. The favor was granted - B.H.

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I would like to add my thank you to Fr. Engelmar for my daughter's health. I was very upset because she seemed to be on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Someone gave me a novena booklet to Fr. Engelmar and I immediately started the novena. After the third novena, I saw improvement and am very grateful. I will continue to pray to him - Mrs. A.L.

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Thanks to Fr. Engelmar I sold my summerhouse for a good price. Now I ask him to help me sell my other properties. I'm 85 years old and want to leave things in order. I have five children and I don't want any fighting over money. Please pray that my children return to the Church with their grown children and also have good jobs and that they leave drinking alcohol and maybe drugs - G.C.H.

Perfect Prayer

O Jesus, I wish I knew
a perfect prayer to say to You.
How my heart does long to say
perfect prayers to You each day.

May every move or breath I take
be a prayer that I make.
May everything I ever do
be a perfect prayer I send to You.

               By Bernice Laux

In a short time children will be taking exams. A reader prays the following for her children and grandchildren:

Prayer to St. Joseph of Cupertino

O great St. Joseph of Cupertino, who while on earth did obtain from God the grace to be asked on your examinations only the questions you knew, obtain for them a like favor in these examinations for which the children are preparing.

O humble St. Joseph, singularly favored by God in the difficulties of study and worries of examinations, implore and aid their memory in the search of His truth and wisdom. Amen.