New Website 40daysofPrayer.org

Dearest friends of the Shrine,

40daysofPrayer.org was created out of the desire to extend the cancer ministry I helped developed at the St. Peregrine Cancer Shrine in Arizona. When the ministry started to move beyond its local reach to a national level, the limited number of people offering prayer could not keep up, creating a huge dilemma.

 My mission has always been to directly support cancer patients, as I am one myself (advanced breast cancer). As an effort to continue to extend the outreach to people with cancer, I founded 40daysofprayer.org . Now people can request and receive petitions quickly and easily through this website. And best of all, the world community can share in the gift of grace through their prayer for these beautiful people. Jesus said, whatever we ask of our Father, we will be given. He cannot deny the prayers of His beloved Children.

 God is with you, always! Michelle Hurwitz (Fletcher)

Four Steps to Lectio Divina

by Karen Griefzu, prayer group leader

 

Lectio Divinia is a method of prayer that goes back to the 4^th and 5^th centuries.

The term, Lectio Divinia, means sacred reading.

It was first practiced in Eastern monasteries and then brought to the West by John Cassian at the beginning of the 5^th century.

It is closely connected to St. Benedict and Benedictine spirituality since it was used in the communities founded by St. Benedict.

• Lectio or spiritual reading.  We slowly and carefully read a sacred passage  Scripture.  We might then use a concordance and study the passage so we can have a good understanding of it.  We once again read the passage, perhaps out loud, savoring each and every word; seeking wisdom and guidance. 
• Meditatio or reflection upon what we have read.  We welcome the living word of God into our hearts and into our lives.  This is a good time to use two of the prayer forms we have been studying over the past few months:

• Projection - Placing ourselves in the Bible passage we are reading and interacting with those in the story.
• Transposition - Imagining that the words of scripture are being spoken personally to us by God the Father, Jesus or the Holy Spirit. It is helpful to have a notebook to record our insights and reflections.

• Oratio or speaking to the Lord and responding to the insights we have received from Him.  For instance we might feel love, joy, gratitude and peace or perhaps sorrow, repentance, conviction or commitment.  We can verbalize these feelings through prayers of adoration, contrition, thanksgiving and supplication.
• Contemplatio in which we stop reading, thinking and praying and simply rest in the Lord for a set period of time.  We do nothing but surrender and allow our Lord to fill us with His love and grace in His own time.  This requires silence, stillness and willingness to wait on the Lord.  Although we will experience distractions, we simply ignore them and return to the quiet of our hearts

Our prayer time is sacred, rewarding and uplifting.-

It is an important pathway in our spiritual journey.

Try to set aside a special time and place for your prayer time. 

Be sure it is a time with few interruptions. 

Be sure it is a time when you are rested and alert.

Be sure the place is quiet and restful and conducive to prayer.

Decide on your Scripture passage sometime before your prayer time so you don’t spend too much time paging through trying to find a passage that speaks to you.

I hope you will try the Lectio Divinia prayer form sometime before we meet again. 

Remember Lectio Divinia means sacred reading.

It has four steps:

1. Lectio – (reading)  Think of the Lectionary we use at Mass.
2. Meditatio – meditation or reflection.
3. Oratio – (orating) speaking or praying to God.
4. Contemplio – (contemplation) Contemplative Prayer.

Praying in the Resurrection Light

by Karen Griefzu, prayer group leader

Sometimes when praying for someone who is very sick or dying, the first image of them that may come to our minds is that of the person suffering and our prayer is even sad as we think of them this way.

Many years ago I learned about Visualization Prayer and realized how comforting and powerful this form of prayer can be.  It seems that I had no sooner learned about it myself than someone called me to pray with her for her toddler who was hospitalized.  She described his condition as being hooked up to all kinds of tubes and monitors and being terribly ill. Every time she thought of him or prayed for him that was the picture of him she saw in her mind and all she could do was fret, cry and feel desperate.  So using the visualization type of prayer, we began by seeing the hospital room and the sick child.  Then I asked her to see herself sitting in the chair next to the bed weeping.  Next, I asked her to try to visualize Jesus opening the door and entering the room.  I asked her what He did when He came in.  She said, “He smiled at me and walked over to my chair.  He placed his hand on my cheek and as I looked into his eyes I felt a sense of peace.  Then he leaned over the bed and looked at my son.  Again I felt a great sense of peace and great love filling the room.  He reached out his healing hands and caressed my son.  Once again he smiled at me as he left the room”.  I then asked her what she wanted to happen next.  She said, “I want the doctor to come in and take all the tubes out and tell me to take my son home because he is well again”.  So I asked her to try to remember what she saw in her prayer instead of the hopelessness she was feeling.  Two days later she called to tell me the doctor had just left after removing the tubing and telling her to take her son home, he was fine.

About a year ago I remembered this prayer form again and used it to pray for my daughter and my niece who had both been trying for a long time to get pregnant, finally did, and then both lost their babies.  Instead of picturing them grieving and feeling hopeless, I decided to picture them sitting and cuddling their new born babies.  So every day during my rosary and while praying the three Hail Mary’s at the beginning (for an increase of Faith, Hope and Love), when I came to the Hail Mary for the gift of Hope, I would pray for them by picturing them as happy moms.  I would just say, “Jesus, this is my hope for them.” while consciously visualizing them cuddling their babies.  We now have this precious little granddaughter, Ava Grace, (picture) and our great niece, Gabby Glow, will make her first appearance on the 4^th of July.

No prayer is magical, but every prayer we say is so filled with grace.  Each time we seek the Lord and ask  His help for ourselves or those we pray for His great love and peace and blessings are bestowed, whether the prayer is answered our way or His way.  A friend of mine used to always remind me that prayer is a sliding board into the arms of Jesus.  Learning new prayer forms and finding which one is most helpful in different situations has always been important to me.  I have found Visualization Prayer to be not only a powerful but a far reaching prayer because as I picture those I am praying for, my heart and prayers seem to flow out to all those others I don’t know but who are also in need of the same graces. So now that you know about or have been reminded of Visualization Prayer you might want to try it some time.  A teacher of mine used to always say, “God prepares His saints.”  So maybe He is preparing you to use this type of prayer some time in your life.

Since we are celebrating the Resurrection during this Easter Season let our prayer for tonight be Sister Jean Hill’s, PRAYING IN THE RESURRECTION LIGHT PRAYER. 

Reach out your hands to the Blessed Sacrament and say after me, Lord of Lords, Light of Lights, True God and True Love.  Come Lord Jesus.

Wait until you feel the warmth of that light coming into your hands.  If you don’t feel it, wait until you know you have attended to the faith vision of what Jesus has promised when He said, “Behold, I am with you all days, even unto the end of time.”  Now, place your hands on your head, putting on the helmet of salvation, leave them there, and listen with your heart to these words.  Jesus, I thank you for the light of your life now coming into my head.  May the chemistry of my brain, the electrical impulses, the entire circulatory system come today under your perfect Lordship so that my body might function in perfect health.  Let your light permeate the entire chemistry of my body, drawing all the fluids and tissues, the functioning of every organ and system into your perfect order.  Jesus, may my mind be taken up today into your mind, that I might walk today in the perfect truth of your word.  Let the light of your loving presence spread into all the unhealed areas of guilt which still need your saving grace and wisdom.  I thank you, Jesus for making this body your temple, and I sign it with your cross.  Let’s now make three crosses on our heads and say In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Now reach out again to the Blessed Sacrament and gather your consciousness into the presence of Jesus.  Place your hands on your heart and continue to listen and pray…I ask you now, Jesus, that my heart might enter into your Sacred Heart, that my blood might merge with Your Precious Blood, so that as it goes throughout my body it might carry the good news of Your presence – from the top of my head to the bottom of my feet, from the marrow of my bones out to the farthest reaches of my skin.  Let my blood carry the message:  Jesus Christ is Lord.  He who created you loves you and calls you today into His resurrection life.  I command my blood to take to every cell all that it needs to be in perfect health and in harmony with the whole body, taking nothing from any cell which is not according to the perfect plan of Jesus Christ.  I thank you, Jesus, for gathering me into Your Heart.  Soften my heart; fill it with your love.  Fill it with your light so that every person who comes before me today might find a resting place in that heart, coming in and out of my life with perfect freedom, just as we move in and out of the Father’s presence through the veil which is Your promised presence with us.  I thank you, Jesus, and ask that even in moments when I am inattentive, You will be able to minister out of Your perfect love the mysterious presence of Your peace.  Keep me today in Your word, in Your truth, in Your perfect love.  Wash through me and purify me by the events of this day.  Now sign your heart three times as you say, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen   

It's NOT cancer!

This is a email from one of our currently featured patients. Nothing has been edited, it is all her own words. Only her name and date have not been revealed to protect her privacy.

Blessed be the Lord,

During March I was diagnosed with a cancer, oncologists and gynecologists had the same diagnoses, and I had my surgery on april xx, and my Lord gave me the very good new that I DO NOT HAVE CANCER.

I am sure this is a miracle. God wants to give me another opportunity, and need to grow up in love, confidence and all virtues. God bless all this people that have been praying for me, I have a doubt of love, I know that I can not pay it, but I can pray for every person helped me and for people in need. We are the most beautiful creation of God, we are the body and our Head wants us to be united.
The prayer is "a Queen" as Saint Therese of the Child Jesus said, I know that.

These letters I received from Saint Peregrine Shrine encourage me a lot, the day I received them it is another blessing, thank you so much. I am going to remain in prayer, especially for all our brothers and sisters that have cancer.

Blessings

Sr. Lupita

 

Painting of St. Therese of Lisieux from montagne ministries .com

Meditation: On the Road to Emmaus

by Karen Griefzu

 

based on the readings from LUKE 24:13-35

Tonight we are going to reflect on the story of two disciples who began a journey in sorrow and ended it in jubilation.  Let’s prepare for own journey by taking a few deep, relaxing breaths. In and out, in and out.  Feel the cares and stress of your day fading away with each breath.  As you breathe in, lift your shoulders and lower them as you exhale.  Feel your shoulders relaxing.  Let them be more relaxed and lower with each breath.  Now become aware of your neck as you inhale and feel it relax as you exhale.  Now close your eyes or focus them on the Blessed Sacrament.  Inhale again and as you exhale, whisper Jesus.  Jesus.  Now, let us travel back in time and take a walk along the Emmaus Way.

You leave Jerusalem, and walk westward along the seven mile winding road to Emmaus.  The sun is bright and warm against your face.  A slight breeze is blowing through the trees and the green grass on the roadside is soft and fragrant.  Your eyes are lowered.  The soles of your sandals wearily trod along the road as the dust from the trail covers your feet and settles between your toes.  Your cloak brushes against your legs as you walk.  Your face is sad because your heart is broken and all your hopes are dead and buried.  Your friend accompanies you on this sad journey.  The two of you were followers of Jesus.  You listened to His teachings and witnessed His many miracles.  You felt His great love and rested in His peace. But now everything has changed.  Jesus has been crucified.  As you discuss the events of the last few days, a man coming along another footpath draws near.  His voice greets you, and His dark compassionate eyes notice your grief.  Your pathways merge, and as he walks alongside you he asks, “Why are you so dejected?”  You are surprised that another pilgrim does not know what has just happened in Jerusalem.  As he listens, you pour out your heat.  Finally, with poignant and bewildered regret, you utter the words, “We were so sure that He was the one sent by God to rescue Israel.”

Then the man begins to talk.  His words touch your heart and awaken your understanding.  Your inner darkness turns into light.  Your heart burns within you as He speaks and explains the Scriptures to you.  You feel renewed and as you enter the village, your feet are much lighter and the expression on your face has changed from sadness to peace. 

The sun has set now and the air is colder.  In the darkness, the man continues along the road.  You walk after him, put your hand on his shoulder and urge him to stop with you.  He smiles and nods in agreement and when He takes His place at the table, it is He who picks up the bread, and it is His hands that raise the bread in blessing.  You stare at His hands.  They look so familiar.  Surely you have seen those hands before.  Then you remember! Not long ago, hands just like these raised bread to bless it in just this same way before feeding all those people on the hillsides.  His hands now break the bread, and as they open, separating, pulling the bread apart and offering it to you, you see the holes where nails punctured those precious hands.  Before your astonished eyes can blink, He is gone.

You turn to your friend, speechless with joy.  You both jump up and race out the door.  As your sandals fly across the dark and dusty road, your cloak flaps briskly against your legs and your eyes light up the darkness.  HE HAS RISEN!!

Surely the grass along the road is singing, and the trees are clapping.  The very earth you walk on is rejoicing, for HE HAS RISEN!

It seems like no time before you see Jerusalem again.  You rush into the gathering place of the eleven and those with them.  They, too, are rejoicing and tell you how the Lord has appeared to Simon.  You, in turn, recount all that happened on the road, and how you recognized Him in the breaking of the bread.

Let’s stand and pray together.

Dearest Risen Lord,

Please walk with me as I journey through my life.

When my heart is broken, 

When my hopes seem dead and buried

Be there at my side

Touch my heart and awaken my understanding.

En-kindle my spirit with love for you.

Then send me forth rejoicing

To tell all those I meet

That You are Lord, You have risen from the dead, and You are Lord!

Lenten Meditation: Encountering the woman at the well

adapted by Karen Griefzu
(based on guided meditations for Adult Catechumens, By SYDNEY ANN MERRITT)

Scripture: John 4:5-15, 19-30

Palestine is 120 mi from north to south. Galilee is at the extreme north, Judaea is at the extreme south, and Samaria is in between. When Jesus decided to leave Judaea and travel to Galilee. he chose the shortest route which would take 3 days. But, this meant going through Samaria. Most Jews avoided Samaria and took the long way which involved crossing the Jordan, going up the eastern side of the river, recrossing the Jordan north of Samaria and then entering Galilee. Why would they go so far out of their way to avoid Samaria?

It is summertime. The sky is blue and the sun is hot. The warm rays of light nearly blind you. You have been walking for a long time and your throat and mouth are very dry. Your lips are blistered and peeling. You are so very thirsty. Where is the village well? You must have water. All you can think about is a cool refreshing drink of water.

Quickly you make your way down the winding path to the well. A man is sitting there at the side of the well. He is all alone. As you approach, you see it is Jesus. He looks up with a nod and says, “There is no dipper for the water. Come and wait with me, someone will come along soon and give us a drink. Your eyes meet briefly. A cloud of dust billows about his sandaled feet. The sun is so hot and your mouth feels like it is full of cotton balls. Jesus looks at you and says, "Someone is coming this way.”

A woman from the neighboring village appears by the side of the well. She is startled by the presence of Jesus next to you. Jesus speaks to the woman, “Would you be so kind as to give us a drink from the well?”

The young woman with long black curls stands with her mouth open in shock. "You are a Jew. Why do you ask me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?”

Jesus startles her by answering, “If you knew who I am you would ask me to give you living water so that you would never thirst again.”

"Living water?” she mutters. Shaking her head, she lowers the bucket into the well.

Jesus stands, adjusting his rope belt. “Anyone who drinks from this well will be thirsty again. If you only knew what a wonderful gift God has for you, and who I am, you would ask me for living water.”

The woman’s dark eyes widen, “But you don’t have a rope or a bucket. Where do you expect to get this living water?”

Jesus smiles and says, "The water I offer will become a constant spring within, watering you, refreshing you forever with eternal life, so you will never thirst again.”

The woman slowly fills a cup from her bucket. Carefully studying Jesus, she asks, “Who are you? Are you a prophet?”

A summer wind sends twisting coil of sandy earth twirling across the courtyard. Jesus shakes his head slightly, brushing his hair aside. He sips the cool water from the cup, and then hands it to you. He gestures for you and the woman to sit down with him. You lean against the wall and finally drink the cool refreshing water. Jesus tells the woman, “Go and get your husband.”

The woman responds quickly, "I am not married."

Jesus gazes at her then his eyes look deep within her being. “All too true! You have had five husbands and you are not even married to the man you are living with now.”

The woman gasps, placing a hand over her mouth. “You are a prophet! What is your name?"

Jesus speaks to the woman of many things about her past but never condemns her. You feel embarrassed at hearing more that you wanted to but Jesus places his hand on your shoulder. Now he looks intently into your eyes. “The message I bring to this woman is also for your ears and for your heart. Always speak to God with an honest heart. Ponder on the word of God. Learn to know me, your Lord, for I have come to save what was lost. Review your life before me and humbly acknowledge your sins."

Now he takes your hands in his and in his low gentle voice, speaks to you, “My Father loves you. His love is the wellspring of life. Rest in this grace, my child. Rest in his love." Jesus wipes a small tear from your eyes then wraps a loving arm around your shoulders. "Reach within your sleeping soul and ask the Holy spirit to awaken your sense of God.”

Jesus slowly rises, his warm hand still resting on your shoulder, “I am the Messiah. If the living waters work through you, you will grow to understand that within these waters there is hope for everyone. Take aside moments of your day and invest them in worshipping God. Thank Him for His blessings. Think about this moment and know that you can return to this well whenever you thirst for my living water."

Now the sun slides beneath the rooftops, long fingers of darkness cross the courtyard. Jesus stands, “It is time for both of you to return home.”

The woman gathers her water jug. Jesus places his gentle arms around her, then sends her on her way saying, "She will lead many others to believe in me.”

Jesus stretches his arms and then returns to your resting place. He blesses your forehead, always long with all of your heart for the living waters that bring eternal life. Jesus places his arms around your shoulders and speaks your name, “Will you lead others to believe in me through the example of your life?”

Take a moment and answer Jesus. Tell Jesus good-bye now. Walk away slowly. Turn and look at Jesus one more time. Open your eyes and return to this time and this place.

Let us pray:

Dearest Jesus, I will speak to you with an honest heart. I will review my life before you and humbly acknowledge my sins. I will ponder on the word of God so that I may learn to know you, my Lord. I will reach within my sleeping soul and ask the Holy Spirit to awaken my sense of God. I will try to lead others to you through the example of my life. Amen

Lenten Meditation based on Mark 1:12-13

by Karen Griefzu   

 (based on GUIDED MEDITATIONS FOR  ADULT CATECHUMENS by Sydney Ann Merritt)

Make yourself comfortable.  Let yourself relax.  Feel the tension in your neck and exhale it out.  Roll your shoulders and let them relax as you deeply inhale and then exhale.  Now breathe in deeply again and whisper Jesus as you exhale.   Release your imagination now as we journey into the desert with Jesus.


The desert sands sweep across the arid land, forming funnels of earth that rise into the red sky. Jesus walks ahead, unaware of your presence. Hunger grips your stomach. The sun’s rays create a haze over the endless miles of sand. Heat waves rise on the crest of the distant hills. Jesus suddenly stops short, falling onto the hot sand. Carrying a small flask of water, you run to his side. He doesn’t seem to see you; he sits motionless. His lips are cracked and bleeding from the sun. Wet a small handkerchief with drops of precious life-giving water…. Press it against Jesus’ lips. He looks at you and for an instant he holds your hand to his lips…. But then the sky darkens. Ill winds blow. An image stands before you. Not a man, not a beast. His lips curved in a knowing smile. Jesus rises, pushing himself between you and this vision of temptation. You are an observer, nothing else. You are powerless to move or to make a decision. 

A taunting voice of evil speaks, “If you truly are the son of God, tell these stones to become bread”.

Jesus wipes the particles of sand from his parched lips and replies, “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God”.

Angered by this Satan wraps his arm around Jesus, whisking him away from harsh reality…..He takes Jesus to the highest point in the holy city, the Temple….You follow in the evil hurricane of promised destruction.

 Satan leans close to the ear of Jesus, “If you are the Son of God,” he says, “throw yourself down”. With a hand on Jesus’ back, pushing, nudging toward the edge of the building, Satan continues, “For it is written: God will command his angels in all that concerns you, and they will lift you up in their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.  Jump, fool, jump!

Jesus, growing tired of this assault, answers, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.”

Angered by this rebuttal, Satan once again carries Jesus to the top of the highest mountain….Jesus stands near the crumbling edge of boulders eaten away by the sea and by time….Satan orders, “Look below.  See all the kingdoms of the world and all of their splendor?  All this I will give to you…..If you will bow down and worship me”….

Jesus peers far into the valley below and shakes his head, “Away from me, Satan!  For it is written, Worship the Lord your God and serve him only”….

In failure and anger, Satan folds into the night sky.

Jesus crumples to his knees in prayer and exhaustion. Angelic beings now appear and embrace him in their outspread wings. You watch and wait until  Jesus  notices you crouched in the mountain grasses.

He smiles, rises and walks toward you,  “Come my dear child, it is time to leave this place.” Feel his arm around your shoulders as he leads you down the mountainside, coming to rest near a small creek.

Watch the waters tumble to the valley below. Dip your hand into the cool waters. Feel the sudden spray that leaves droplets on your face.

Jesus presses hip lips into the bubbling creek. ” My friend, I too, am not without temptation.  These things that you have seen today are no different than the temptation s the world offers you.  I know that it is often hard to separate the world’s pleasures from the goodness of life.”

Jesus settles back, resting against the grassy slope.  “The world teaches, ‘If it feels good, do it.”  But the world offers only temporary joy while my Father offers life everlasting.”

 “Know that I too have felt the cold sweat of fear and the pressure of decision.  Turn to my Father for protection and guidance.  Turn your face toward God, my child.”  

Jesus stretches forward, taking your hands in his.  Quietly hold his hands and look into his eyes.  “What are those things that tempt your soul and body, my child, he asks.  How can I help you?"

Look into your heart now.  Then tell Jesus what temptations you find hardest to resist.  Lay bare your innermost heart and soul.  Continue holding his hands and tell him what you are going through.    Let Jesus strengthen you.  As you inhale, feel his strength filling your inmost being.  Feel his peace coursing throughout your body.  Rest now in the presence of your savior. 

When you are ready, return to this time and place.


Let us pray:

Jesus, thank you for strengthening my spirit.  Guide me through these 40 days of Lent. Help me to fast to pray, and to help those in need. Let this be a time of repentance and spiritual renewal that will bring me ever closer to your Sacred Heart.  Amen