The
Holy Father's October Apostleship of Prayer intention is a hope that
"the
celebration of World Mission Day intensify missionary spirit and
missionary
cooperation." Mariannhill is a missionary order and these are marching
orders
for us. We are thankful of the remembrance of the Pope each month in
the
mission intention for the Apostleship of Prayer.
Pope
Benedict offers special
recognition of the value of all those who support the missions. We know
that
our work is only possible through the assistance of our many friends
and always
offer prayers of thanks for you.
May
we beg once again for your
prayers. On Sunday, Oct. 22, we would be most grateful if our dear
friends in
the LEAVES family would offer a prayer for us. Please pray that we be
faithful
instruments of the Lord in spreading His Gospel.
…
God grant you abundant
blessings always - Father Thomas Heier, C.M.M.
Daughters Need
Help
One
of my daughters, Shelley, has
been suffering for four years with severe depression and only let it be
known
to her family eight months ago. She had ways of hiding her illness by
disguising herself with a front that covered over the turmoil that was
going on
inside her. She spent minimal time with her family, actually avoiding
us
whenever possible. We chalked it up to "Good-time Shelley, too busy
with her
friends."
Shelley
is single after a failed
short-time marriage many years ago and many failed relationships since.
Shelley
is now being seen by a doctor and waiting for group therapy. Her
current
employer, with whom she had been approximately six months, has put her
on
short-term leave to deal with her illness. Shelley is doing very poorly
and is
very concerned about her future, as is her family.
I
am asking for prayers for
Shelley that Our Lord will have mercy on her, that He heal her and give
her a
future that will be fulfilling and will allow her to keep her little
townhouse.
My
youngest daughter is extremely
distressed because of a marriage breakdown. She moved into her
long-time dream
farm in 2003. It is not first-class by any means, but rather a
handyman's house
with a poor excuse for a shelter for her horses. However, in her mind
it is a
palace, a place she can finally call her own and have her horses there
with
her.
My
daughter and her husband had
been working very hard and diligently towards making their place a
comfortable
home for themselves and their six-year-old daughter. Then my son-in-law
asked
my daughter for a divorce with no reconciliation offered. He said he
was
completely miserable and wanted out of the marriage. Up until this time
he had
been the sole supporter of the family. He walked away from his family
on
Christmas.
My
daughter is now on her own at
the farm with her daughter. She has found a bit of income doing "farm
hand
work" at nearby barns. I am begging prayers for my daughter and
granddaughter
and their animals that God will look after them and they won't have to
leave
their home.
I
pray for a comfortable future
for these precious angels of mine, both daughters and my granddaughter.
Please
pray that through these angels God's will be done - B.K.
Kathleen
was skiing down a big
winding mountain in Keystone, CO. Midway down, she lost control as she
was
attempting a snowplow maneuver. Twisting and turning, she tried to
regain her
footing but couldn't.
She
writhed in pain, but with the
encouragement of her sister and brother-in-law, she managed to stand up
and ski
a few more feet down the mountain. Unexpectedly her left knee buckled
and she
fell hard on the icy mountain. Searing pain precipitated a loud pop,
and Kathleen
cried out in agony. Soon a nearby ski patrolman radioed for help and an
ambulance.
Whisked
down the mountain in a
cocoon of blankets on an ambulance sled, she next found herself at the
clinic.
The doctor said she had a significant tear in her knee ligaments. He
placed her
knee in a brace and sent her home advising that she would need
reconstructive
surgery. She felt despair and was nervous about the future.
Prayers
to St. Therese began in
earnest. Her family circled around her for support and prayed for her
healing.
After numerous visits to the surgeon, Kathleen received the diagnosis
of
third-degree tears in her ACL and MCL ligaments. The only recourse was
to wear
the brace for five weeks and hope the MCL would heal itself and plan
for
surgery to reconstruct the ACL.
Surviving
the next five weeks
would prove an arduous experience. She returned to her interior
decorating work
wearing a heavy brace with the thought of surgery never far from her
mind. She
relied on her own prayers to get her through the pain and waiting
period. One
week prior to surgery, a St. Therese medal necklace she had worn for
years
broke. This was a great surprise to Kathleen who felt St. Therese's
presence.
On
the morning of surgery, her
sister Karen made the sign of the Cross with holy water from Lourdes,
France,
on Kathleen's knee. They both said a prayer to Mother Mary whom they
felt was
present.
Later,
Kathleen was wheeled into
the operating room and the unexpected happened. The surgeon approached
Kathleen's sister and mother in the waiting room. Seemingly surprised
himself,
he said, "I have great news. I do not need to do reconstructive
surgery. The
ACL ligament has reattached itself to the bone."
The
surgeon explained: "This is
very unusual. About 99% of cases do not turn out this way." Her sister
and
mother stood in stunned silence, then finally asked the doctor if
Kathleen
would have to endure physical therapy and months of recovery. Replying,
"No,"
the doctor confirmed that her knee would be back to normal shortly. Her
sister
and mother later told Kathleen, who was overjoyed at returning more
quickly to
activities, such as walking and biking, and her designer job.
In
reflection Kathleen and her
family thanked God, Mother Mary, St. Therese and all the saints for an
astonishing recovery. This experience gives credence to the power of
prayer -
Name Withheld.
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 39 cents), self-addressed
envelope to
us at:
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I
am happy to say that my prayers
were answered when I made the novena to Fr. Engelmar. I was into my
second
novena when my daughter called to say she finally got the job that she
had
wanted for such a long time. I really believe that saying the novena
made this
happen. I am now praying to Fr. Engelmar for another request for my
daughter
and hope and pray that it will happen again - Mrs. M.D.
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After
trying to sell our home for
one year, I started a novena to Fr. Engelmar and six days into my
second novena
we sold the house. Thank you, Fr. Engelmar - C.A.F.
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I
have been saying the novena and
praying to Fr. Engelmar about hearing from different people I have
called for
help with clothing my family and grandchildren. We now have clothes
coming in,
so my prayers were answered - M.W.
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I'm
sending thanks for a favor I
needed for my son. I made the novena to Fr. Engelmar and the favor was
granted -
F.R.A.
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I
would like to acknowledge two
favors received from prayers said to Fr. Engelmar. I prayed for my
daughter to
get a teaching position and she did. I prayed for my brother to sell
his house
and the house sold - M.M.
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We
would like to thank Fr.
Engelmar, Ss. Therese, Joseph and all the saints who helped us with our
requests. We will continue praying to them for help and in thanksgiving
for the
favors we received - Mrs. P.
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Thanksgiving
for all the benefits
and blessings received, especially healing through Fr. Engelmar's
intercession -
V.P.
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I
started a novena to Fr.
Engelmar for a good result of the biopsy of my daughter-in-law's
thyroid. On
the ninth day of my novena, I got a call from my son that the biopsy
result was
benign. Thank you, Fr. Engelmar, for answered prayers - Amy,
Philippines.
What Is Dying?
No Excuses
O Lord and
lover of the
human race, shine in our hearts the pure light of your divine
knowledge, and
open the eyes of our mind to the understanding of your Gospel teaching.
Instill in us
the fear
of your blessed commandments that, trampling upon all carnal desires,
we may
enter on a spiritual life, willing and doing all that is your good
pleasure.
For you are the
light of
our souls and of our bodies, Christ, O God! And we give glory to you
together
with your eternal Father and your all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit
now and
forever, world without end. Amen.
[Feast day of
St. John
Chrysostom is Sept. 13.]