by Laura (Michigan)
St. Jude,
You are the hope I need to help heal my daughters’ hurt and anger and find their lost lost friendship.help them forgive each other, reforge a strong sister bond and bring peace back to our family.
Please intercede on my behalf with Jesus and help them heal their lost relationships. I miss being able to talk openly with them about the goings on in each other’s lives. Their love and energy is greatly missed in our home.
Help the middle daughter understand her choice of mate is causing the problem and the oldest daughter learn to be more patient, tolerant and forgiving. May the youngest daughter find her way through the fight without having to choose sides.
In the name of our Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I ask for your help.
Amen.
Return to Roman Catholic Prayers
www.praywithme.com
Pope Francis focuses on common baptisms
In his general audience during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Pope Francis focused on the common baptism Christians share, saying the strength of this bond is stronger than existing divisions.
Vatican City (CNA/EWTN News) – “We are truly the Holy People of God, even if, due to our sins, we are not yet a people fully united,” the Pope said in his Jan. 20 general audience, adding that “the mercy of God, which works in baptism, is stronger than our divisions.”
The Pope’s audience, which took place in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall, fell during the Week of Prayer Christian Unity. It runs Jan. 18-25, and is organized by the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity, the Commission on Faith and the Order of the World Council of Churches.
Find Your Patron Saint Medal Now
This year’s theme, “Called to proclaim the mighty acts of the Lord,” is taken from chapter two of the First Book of Peter, and was chosen by a group from Latvia, which is home to a strong presence of Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox Christians.
In his address, Francis pointed to a 12th century baptismal font in the Lutheran Cathedral of Riga in Latvia, where St. Mainardo evangelized.
The font, he said, is sign of the origin of the faith recognized by all Christians in Latvia, and explained that this origin “is our common baptism.”
Referring to the Second Vatican Council document “Unitatis redintegratio”, the Pope affirmed that baptism “establishes a sacramental bond of unity which links all who have been reborn by it.”
Above all, this shared baptism means that all are sinners and are in need of being saved, redeemed and freed from evil, he said.
When Christians say that they share one baptism, it’s an affirmation that all of them – Catholics, Protestants and Orthodox included – share the experience of being called from “unforgiving darkness and alienation from the encounter with the living God,” who is full of mercy.
Francis noted that despite our common roots, all Christians unfortunately experience egoism, which plants seeds of division, closure and contempt in our minds and hearts.
By restarting from our baptism, Christians again “plunge into the source of mercy and hope, from which no one is excluded,” he said.
This experience of shared grace creates “an indissoluble bond between us Christians, such that, by virtue of baptism, we can consider ourselves truly brothers,” he said, adding that the more we welcome this grace and mercy, the more we belong to the one, Holy People of God.
“We also become capable of announcing his marvelous works to all, beginning from a simple and fraternal witness of unity,” Francis observed.
He said a good way for all Christians to work together in this announcement is by performing the corporal and spiritual works of mercy, which are “a concrete witness of unity among us Christians: Protestants, Orthodox and Catholics.”
Find Daily Reading videos here-SUBSCRIBE
Pope Francis concluded his speech by pointing to the common mission Christians have in transmitting the mercy they have received in baptism to others, beginning with the poor and abandoned.
“During this Week of Prayer, we pray so that all of us disciples of Christ find a way of collaborating together in order to bring the mercy of the Father to every part of the world,” he said, and greeted pilgrims present from different countries around the world before leaving the building.
—
‘Help Give every Student and Teacher FREE resources for a world-class Moral Catholic Education’
Copyright 2019 – Distributed by THE CALIFORNIA NETWORK
Pope Francis Prayer Intentions for January 2019
Young People and the Example of Mary. That young people, especially in Latin America, follow the example of Mary and respond to the call of the Lord to communicate the joy of the Gospel to the world.
www.catholic.org
Jehovah Mekoddishkem, we bless Your holy name. Fill us with Your Holy presence. Guide our thoughts, our actions, our words and our deeds so that they will all be used in the manner of glorifying Your precious name. Draw close to us as we seek Your face.
1 Timothy 5:8 But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
Ephesians 6:1-4 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke Your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
We just want to lift up our families before You, Oh God. Thank You for each and every member. Give them peace in their hectic lives as well as protection against all evil wherever they go. Allow each individual to be a blessing to others.
I declare that every sign of gossip, confusion, hatred, bitterness, envy, jealousy, malice and pride against one another will be dispelled in Jesus’ name.
Genesis 2:24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
Psalm 133:1 Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!
Restoring Unity and Peace
Restore unity and peace, and may love, faith and hope invade the hearts of each of them. Mend the broken relationships within each circle. Let love never run dry for one another and let all situations be resolved.
Allow all the lost ones who have been led astray by the world discover You again, Merciful Savior. Continue to bless us daily. We declare that all families will unite and love will be restored from this day forward, in Jesus’ mighty name, Amen!
1 Timothy 3:4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive
Proverbs 18:22 He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord.
christianstt.com
