prayers

Urgent Prayer Request

April 3, 2012 By Sarah Reinhard 3 Comments

I don’t usually post twice in one day, but something has come up. I can’t share details, but can I ask a huge favor? Would you remember a very special intention of my family’s during Holy Week and Easter? Would you please hold us in prayer? Thanks, friends! May God bless you abundantly.

Note: I’m making this post sticky so it stays at the top of the blog at least for today and tomorrow. New posts will appear below it.

Filed Under: family, prayers Tagged With: family, prayer

Praying for Him through Her

August 7, 2011 By Sarah Reinhard 6 Comments

Image from Our Lady of Assumption Parish, Strafford, PA

My husband has a job. Right now, in his industry and in the economic climate, that is a HUGE blessing.

But it takes a toll on all of us. There’s a lot of extra work involved, because of a shortage of people (but at least he has work). There’s a lot of extra stress, because of a shortage of work (but at least he has a job). There’s a lot of extra worry because of both of the above (but God always provides).

One week from now is the feast of the Assumption of Mary, which has taken on great meaning to me in the last year. I was thinking of that this morning and it struck me…we’re nine days away from it! It’s the perfect time to start a novena, asking Our Lady of the Assumption to pray for us.

I’m dedicating my novena intentions to a few special things, my husband among them. I’ll include your intentions as well, if you want to join along.

Here’s the prayer I’ll be using, courtesy of the Prayers 2000 app (from the makers of the Divine Office app):

Lovely Lady dressed in Blue,
Teach me how to pray!
God was just your little Boy,
Tell me what to say!
Did you lift Him up, sometimes,
Gently, on your knee?
Did you sing to Him
the way Mother does to me?
Did you hold His hand at night?
Did you ever try
Telling stories of the world?
O! And did He cry?
Do you really think He cares
If I tell Him things –
Little things that happen?

And

Do the Angels’ wings
Make a noise?
And can He hear
Me if I speak low?
Does He understand me now?
Tell me – for you now?
Lovely Lady dressed in blue,
Teach me how to pray!
God was just your little Boy.
And you know the way.

Filed Under: Inspired by the Virgin Mary, prayers Tagged With: Assumption, prayer, Virgin Mary

Favorite Catholic Devotions

August 6, 2010 By Sarah Reinhard 1 Comment

Every week, Jen from Conversion Diary hosts 7 Quick Takes. It’s a chance for bloggers to link up and have bloggy fun. You should go on over and check it out…she’s sure to make you snort your coffee, think a bit, and, in general, enjoy your visit.

For some of us, the weekly Quick Takes is a chance to come up with a theme (because random is baaaaad…sometimes). My brain’s been pretty tied up this week, but when Sherry, of the delightfully named Chocolate for Your Brain, tagged me in a blog-tag-meme the other day, challenging me to list my five favorite devotions, I immediately saw my theme for this week. Thanks, Sherry!

1. Hail Mary – It’s my go-to prayer, the one I turn to when I don’t have words, when I know I just need to pray. It’s also the prayer that I “fill” my time with…going up and down stairs, during an odd moment or two of silence, in the midst of frustrations so big I could scream. It is, hands down, my favorite prayer.

2. St. Michael Prayer and the Guardian Angel Prayer – I learned the St. Michael prayer recently, because my five-year-old was having such difficulty with bad dreams. We started praying it together, and she memorized it. (She loves that she knows it better than I do.) The Guardian Angel prayer, which we also pray regularly at bedtime, is one that I turn to especially in times of fear and it is a reminder to talk to my angel.

3. Morning Offering – Danielle Bean mentioned this enthusiastically in one of the Faith & Family Livecasts a long while back, and I printed it off after she did. (I’m a sucker for trying things other people rave about.) It’s the prayer I pray every morning before I pray for the specific people, by name, on my intentions list. I like it. And I like her idea about praying it throughout the day too. (I might have to try that.)

4. Divine Mercy Chaplet – I’m especially hooked on the sung version of this. It has a special place in my life and usually precedes my podcast listening.

5. Rosary – Though I have been away from it for a while, it’s becoming increasingly clear that the rosary is just not optional for me, for my life, for my sanity. I need to hold Mary’s hand every single day, and this devotion helps me to do that. As I hold her hand, I’m drawn to her Son, and there I find myself fulfilled, refreshed, able to continue my work.

6. The Holy Cloak of St. Joseph – This was introduced to our parish by our priest a few years ago, but though I took one of the booklets from the back of the church, I never prayed it until my mother-in-law raved about it and a huge, looming intention sent me looking for a special way to ask God for help. It has, in the last year, become a well-worn devotion, a favorite way for me to plead with God…and a sure way for me to be at peace with God’s answer. It’s a doozy of a devotion — a 30-day novena that has me investing about 20 minutes a day. I usually start it with one or two intentions and end it with a minimum of seven. I have reflected that perhaps God needs me to pray about far more than I do, and this devotion is one of the ways He gets my attention to focus on those other things.

7. Night Prayer – I love the Liturgy of the Hours, but of all the different hours of the day, Night Prayer is my favorite. I don’t have a natural tendency toward praying at night. I’m tired and I’m done for the day. I just want to tell God “nighty night” and tuck myself into bed…which is about what Night Prayer does.

What are YOUR favorite devotions?

Filed Under: Faith, prayers, Quick Takes Tagged With: Faith, links, prayer, Quick Takes

A Decade of the Rachel Rosary: "The Glorious Mystery of the Resurrection"

October 7, 2006 By Sarah Reinhard Leave a Comment

The Glorious Mystery of the Resurrection
But Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where the body of Jesus had been. And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken my Lord, and I don’t know where they laid him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” She thought it was the gardener and said to him, “Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,” which means Teacher. Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God!’” Mary of Magdala went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and what he told her. (John 20:11-18)

We pray this decade, keeping in mind the faith in a renewed and strengthened life that is offered to all who suffer from Post-Abortion Syndrome.

Our Father…

Ten Hail Marys
1. For an increase in love and communication between parents and their children. Hail Mary…
2. For an increase in education in the areas of sexuality and relationships. Hail Mary…
3. For an increase in the number of compassionate pro-life leaders. Hail Mary…
4. For increased sensitivity towards those who have been victimized by abortion. Hail Mary…
5. For courage on the part of those who suffer from Post-Abortion Syndrome, that they might step forward and welcome the healing process into their lives. Hail Mary…
6. For an increase in pregnancy services that offer realistic alternatives to abortion. Hail Mary…
7. In thanksgiving for the many counselors who accompany victims of Post-Abortion Syndrome on their journey toward healing. Hail Mary…
8. In thanksgiving for the men who support their partners in bringing the joy of unexpected new life into the world. Hail Mary…
9. In thanksgiving for the doctors who reverence life in all its stages and propose constructive solutions to an unexpected pregnancy. Hail Mary…
10. In thanksgiving for the counselors who recognize the need to teach responsibility with our God-given sexuality. Hail Mary…

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, it is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Conclusion
We conclude our prayer for those who have been victimized by abortion by invoking the intercession of Mary, who in her own acceptance of the “sword that pierced her heart” can identify with all parents who grieve. Let us pray the “Hail, Holy Queen.”

Hail, holy Queen, mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after our exile show unto us the blessed fruit of they womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

Pray for us, O holy mother of God.
That we may be made worthy of the promises of God.

We believe that those who have been prayed for in this rosary will be touched by God’s Spirit and that hearts will be changed. Where there is brokenness there can be healing. Where there are hearts of stone, there can be hearts of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26). We who respect and support the sacredness of all life must continue to pray for all of God’s children. Let us do so with faith, with hope and with compassion!

Filed Under: Inspired by the Virgin Mary, prayers Tagged With: abortion, prayer, pro-life, Rachel Rosary, rosary, Virgin Mary

A Decade of the Rachel Rosary: "The Crucifixion"

October 6, 2006 By Sarah Reinhard Leave a Comment

The Fifth Sorrowful Mystery: The Crucifixion
At noon darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And at three o’clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Some of the bystanders who heard it said, “Look, he is calling Elijah.” One of them ran, soaked a sponge with wine, put it on a reed, and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see if Elijah comes to take him down.” Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. The veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom. When the centurion who stood facing him saw how he breathed his last he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” There were also women looking on from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of the younger James and of Joses, and Salome. These women had followed him when he was in Galilee and ministered to him. There were also many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem. (Mark 15:33-41)

We pray this decade, keeping in mind the many types of death that accompany abortion; but at the same time we hold fast to the hope that is always offered by God and is so desperately needed by those who suffer the pain of Post-Abortion Syndrome.

Our Father…

Ten Hail Marys
1. For the child who dies in the womb of his or her mother. Hail Mary…
2. For the young mother who dies as a result of an abortion procedure. Hail Mary…
3. For the spiritual death of a woman who undergoes an abortion procedure. Hail Mary…
4. For the death of a relationship between a young woman and her lover as a result of an abortion experience. Hail Mary…
5. For the marriage that dies as a result of an abortion. Hail Mary…
6. For the death of the dreams of a young girl who is stifled by her feelings of guilt. Hail Mary…
7. For the many small deaths that occur over and over again in the life of the woman or man who cannot accept the healing forgiveness of God. Hail Mary…
8. For the emotional death of a man who would abandon his lover and his child as a matter of convenience. Hail Mary…
9. For the physician who uses his life-giving training to terminate the lives of children in the womb. Hail Mary…
10. For the moral death of the clinic counselor who spends his days counseling women to kill their babies. Hail Mary…

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, it is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Next: The Glorious Mystery of the Resurrection

Filed Under: Inspired by the Virgin Mary, prayers Tagged With: abortion, prayer, pro-life, Rachel Rosary, rosary, Virgin Mary

A Decade of the Rachel Rosary: "Carrying the Cross"

October 5, 2006 By Sarah Reinhard Leave a Comment

The Rachel Rosary, by Rev. Larry Kupferman, is beautiful and heartbreaking. It’s an intercessory prayer for victims of post-abortion syndrome, and in this, the month of the Rosary and respect life month, seems to be the time to share it with you and invite you to pray with me for an end to abortion and healing for those who have been involved in abortions.

The Fourth Sorrowful Mystery: Carrying the Cross
So they took Jesus, and carrying the cross himself he went out to what is called the Place of the Skull, in Hebrew, Golgotha. (John 19:17)

We pray this decade, keeping in mind the guilt that burdens those who are victims of abortion.

Our Father…

Ten Hail Marys
1. For the girl who cannot look her parents in the eye because of what she has done. Hail Mary…
2. For the teenager who contemplates suicide, convinced that she no longer deserves to live. Hail Mary…
3. For the young woman who cannot enter a church because she feels so unclean. Hail Mary…
4. For the couple who believe they will not be able to conceive another child as a punishment for their “crime.” Hail Mary…
5. For the woman whose guilt keeps her from allowing anyone to love her. Hail Mary…
6. For the woman whose guilt will not allow her to discipline her own children. Hail Mary…
7. For the woman or man who, filled with guilt, cannot accept even the sacramental forgiveness of God. Hail Mary…
8. For the man who insists that his wife have an abortion and feels no responsibility himself. Hail Mary…
9. For the physician who kills babies on a daily basis, yet feels no remorse. Hail Mary…
10. For the counselor who encourages abortion as a means of birth control. Hail Mary…

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, it is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Next: The Crucifixion

Filed Under: Inspired by the Virgin Mary, prayers Tagged With: abortion, prayer, pro-life, Rachel Rosary, rosary, Virgin Mary

A Decade of the Rachel Rosary: "Crowning with Thorns"

October 4, 2006 By Sarah Reinhard 1 Comment

The Third Sorrowful Mystery: Crowning with Thorns
The soldiers led him away inside the palace, that is, the praetorium and assembled the whole cohort. They clothed him in purple and weaving a crown of thorns, placed it on him. They began to salute him with, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and kept striking his head with a reed and spitting upon him. They knelt before him in homage. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak, dressed him in his own clothes, and led him out to crucify him. (Mark 15:16-20)

We pray this decade, keeping in mind the humiliation that a person who has an abortion must endure, if not initially, then inevitably

Our Father…

Ten Hail Marys
1. For the fourteen-year-old girl who cannot face her own mother. Hail Mary…
2. For the woman who cannot read articles related to abortion without feeling great humiliation. Hail Mary…
3. For the teenage girl who stays active in her youth group at church, fearfully hiding the truth during their devotions and discussions. Hail Mary…
4. For the teenager who becomes pregnant after boasting about how “careful” she and her boyfriend are. Hail Mary…
5. For the man or woman who is a parish minister and who cries inside when the issue of abortion is raised. Hail Mary…
6. For the woman who has had to see her daughter become a woman but does not feel equipped to speak about sex. Hail Mary…
7. For the woman whose humiliation at being pregnant forces her to act against her values. Hail Mary…
8. For the man who knows the humiliation of having decided to end the life of his own first-born son or daughter. Hail Mary…
9. For the physician who teaches interns to deliver babies while he himself is killing them. Hail Mary…
10. For the counselor who allows the pressure of “political correctness” to influence her counsel. Hail Mary…