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Today, Sunday 27th April, we have 674 people from all over the world and from many Christian and some non-Christian denominations joining together in prayer.

Last week our reflection was on the Divine Mercy of the Father and this week's is kind of linked into it. This week we look at Being Prepared, with a light-hearted reflection from Bob and Debbie Gass on the same theme called: 'Caught Unprepared' from The Word for Today

As I've said before, I never know from one week to the next what to write about then along comes something, and hey presto, it turns into the weekly reflection. Such was the case on Thursday evening when, half-way through the Rosary down at our Ann's house, she got a phone call to say her
best friend in the UK had died unexpectedly while on holiday in Cuba.

Now, Theresa was a nominal Catholic and her husband a non- practicing Christian. Not unlike most of us I'd say. We spoke of memories and then Ann spoke what was on both our minds - was she prepared? Theresa had died in a communist country, was expected to be flown home by air ambulance and it probably never occured to her husband to ask for a Priest, even if they could have found one!

"Take ye heed, watch and pray. For ye know not when the time is. Even as a man who, going into a far country, left his house and gave authority to his servants over every work and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore (for you know not when the lord of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cock crowing, or in the morning): Lest coming on a sudden, he find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch." Mark 13:33-36

Ann worried for Theresa's eternal soul. Was she ready to meet her Lord? Today was the culmination of the 9-day Novena to the Divine Mercy and we spent a beautiful 3 hours in prayer, offered up by both of us for Theresa and ending with Mass, then went out to a wee grotto to pray a Rosary especially for her and her family.

Catholics believe in the presence of Purgatory and it really makes sense. Heaven is open to those with a pure heart and a soul cleansed of all sin. How could anyone with sin on their soul enter
heaven? So it stands to reason that those of us who die with sin which has not been forgiven or those with an unrepentant heart must undergo a time of repentance and reparation. Hence Purgatory.

We only have that chance while alive to live a life as best we can and to seek the Lord's forgiveness when we fall, through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, as laid down by Our Divine Lord to His Apostles when He said to them after His Resurrection:

"He said therefore to them again: Peace be to you. As the Father hath sent me, I also send you. When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them: and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained." John; 20:21-23

"And that penance and remission of sins should be preached in his name, unto all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." Luke; 24:47

It is for this reason that it is so important to Catholics to be blessed with the presence of a Priest at death. Even if that person is comatosed the Priest can say their Act of Contrition on their behalf and give them absolution of their sins. It is then up to us to pray for our dead. We are the only ones who can pray for the Holy Souls in Purgatory for their happy release.

"It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins" (II Mach.; 12: 43-46). 

We say prayers for the souls of those who have departed us, both after each decade of the Rosary and as a conclusion to our other prayer time. They are:

"O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell,  lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of Your Mercy."

"May the Divine Assistance remain always with us and may their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the Mercy of God, rest in  peace. Amen"

Back to the link with the Divine Mercy prayers. Jesus asked that we pray these prayers for those most in need of His Mercy. Our consolation on the news of Therea's death is that we had been doing
the 9-day Novena and we continuously pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. As the words of the image say: 'Jesus, I trust in You' and so we can only trust in His Mercy so that when Theresa met Him He
did indeed show His Mercy and 'brought her home'.

We need to be in a constant state of readiness, for we never know the hour or the day. We need to aim for monthly confession and a daily Act of Contrition before we close our eyes for the night. Here's a lovely wee one our kids were taught at school and one we say daily:

"God our Father, I thank You for loving me. I am sorry for all my sins. For not loving others and not loving You. Help me to live like Jesus and not to sin again."

The weekly intentions are getting longer and longer and the numbers joining our Circle of Prayer are increasing hugely, thanks be to God. I've added the prayer requests that have come in since last Sunday but for those who can't print them off from their own page on the website or who find the list too long to add to their own prayer intentions, as is the case with me, there is a nice little prayer below to cover them all.

The Lord knows each and every one that comes in, He knows the heart of each and every one who sends in their requests, and He will answer those prayers as He sees fit and in a way that is best for us all.

"Father, bless all those who have requested prayers in whatever it is that you know they may be needing this day! Father, we ask You to heal the broken bodies, broken minds, broken hearts, broken spirits, and broken relationships and may all their lives be full of your peace, prosperity, and power as they seek to have a close relationship with you. Amen."

"Thank You Jesus for answering our prayers because we know You hear every prayer and never refuse to answer. You are providing answers and healings from the prayers of all these wonderful people. Praise God!"

God Bless you all and thanks a million for being part of the Circle of Prayer - the Prayer Warriors. Always in the prayers.

Mary Mullins in Galway, Ireland

PS, here's the link to our Reflections Archives in case any of you want to find one that was sent out earlier:
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Caught unprepared

" HE WILL APPEAR A SECOND TIME…TO THOSE WHO ARE WAITING FOR HIM "  HEBREWS 9 : 28 (NIV)

When President Eisenhower was holidaying in Denver, he was told about a six year-old boy, named Paul Haley, who was dying of an incurable cancer. Paul had one great dream - some day to meet the President. ‘Let’s go see him’, Eisenhower said to one of his aids. So they drove over to the boy’s house.

The flags on the bumper were flying that Sunday afternoon, as the big black limousine rolled up. Out stepped the president with his bodyguards and knocked on the door. Paul’s father answered,
wearing old jeans, a grubby shirt and a full day’s growth on his beard. ‘Can I help ya?’ he asked. Eisenhower responded, ‘Is Paul here? Tell him the President of the United States would like to meet him.’ Thrilled, little Paul Haley walked around his father’s legs and stood looking up into the face he admired most. The President kneeled down, hugged him, and took him out to sit in the presidential limousine. Before they said goodbye they shook hands, then just as suddenly as he appeared - he left.

The neighbours still talk about that day. But one man was not entirely happy about it, that was Paul’s dad, Donald Haley, who said: ‘I’ll never forget standing there in those old jeans, a dirty shirt and a grubby beard to meet the president. If only I’d known he was coming.’

He just wasn’t prepared. Are you? Listen: ‘…He will appear a second time…to those who are waiting for Him’ (Hebrews 9:28 NIV). If you want to go - you’ve got to be ready!

God Bless you all

Mary in Galway

Pray before the Cross:

"Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Father, send now Your Spirit over the earth. Let the Holy Spirit live in the hearts of all nations, that they may be preserved from degeneration, disaster and war. May
the Lady of All Nations, who once was Mary, be our Advocate. Amen."