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Hello everyone,

Today, Sunday 31st August we have 1204 people from all over the world and from many Christian and some non-Christian denominations joining together in prayer. The reflection at the bottom this week is a list of Scriptural references on Fasting and Prayer, the theme for this week's reflection. It also offers sound teachings on the benefit and power of prayer with fasting.

But before that I'd like to share with you another one of those 'That was The Week That Was' jobbies! 

On Monday I got a call from Chris, my friend, telling me of a group visiting that night from Cleveland, speaking on devotion to the United Hearts of Jesus and Mary, in one of the city hotels. Off I went and it was super. Rosary, prayers and Mass. Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary can be traced to at least 350 years ago.

The history of devotion to the United Hearts of Jesus and Mary goes back to Saint John Eudes in 1643. Mother and Son with hearts united from the moment of conception, through life, cruel death and resurrection. Today, in the 21st century, hearts united to bring all to the Father. The motherly heart to guide Her earthly children to the Son. The Sacred Heart of Jesus to guide us all to the Father through love for all, forgiveness, and peace.

The Two Hearts are a constant theme since the 1600's - Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647-1690) was inspired by Christ to establish the Holy Hour in front of the Blessed Sacrament and to promote devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus - that Heart of Divine Love and Divine Mercy.

The Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary and of the Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar was founded in 1768 by Father Coudrin in France.

In 1830 Sister Catherine Labore, a sister with the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul in Rue de Bac, was visited three times by the Blessed Virgin and given a vision of the Blessed Virgin who appeared as if standing on a globe, and bearing a globe in her hands. As if from rings set with precious stones dazzling rays of light were emitted from her fingers. These, she said, were symbols of the graces which would be bestowed on all who asked for them. Sister Catherine adds that around the figure appeared an oval frame bearing in golden letters the words "O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee"; on the back appeared the letter M, surmounted by a cross, with a crossbar beneath it, and under all the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, the former surrounded by a crown of thorns, and the latter pierced by a sword. She was to get amedal struck with these images and it has become world famousas the Miraculous Medal.

And so devotion to the United Hearts and Perpetual Adoration continued and with a massive resurgence in recent years.

On Tuesday evening a call came from a friend of Father who had said Mass on Monday night and who also shares our world views after much studying and reading. It turned out to be a very 
prayerful visit as well as most informative. Rosary with Ann and Mom sitting on Mom's bed and a midnight hour in front of the Blessed Sacrament, as much chat had taken place after the Rosary! I put him on the high road for Ballintubber Abbey and Croagh Patrick in Mayo the next morning.

Thursday's Family Tree Mass was just beautiful, it being the Feast Day of Saint Augustine and his Mom's, Saint Monica, the day before. Father Martin spoke on persistence in prayer, using Saint Helena as the perfect example of never giving up praying for our children! I was reminded of the words of Father John Corapi - "My mother prayed for me for 20 years!"

Friday I discover I'm 'back to school' - accepted to do the Divinity degree, and then spent the day making a poster for the Tuam Diocese Apostolic Works Society for their annual weekend Open Days. It was great to be able to share that they now are helping the Church in Russia in a big way, as well as Africa and Asia, and to show where the stuff they gave us went to last week.

Saturday on the road to Castlebar, about 60 miles away, with their poster and what a display they had! Anything and everything available for the Church in need wherever existing and new mission
work takes her.

Today, up the road again to share with them all at Mass and to celebrate their work. So much happening quietly and without fanfare. So much to offer to those who need financial and material 
support.

I'll be in the UK - 'first day at school' - from Thursday 'till Monday so this week you're all getting a double whammy to keep you going 'till the weekend after next! I hope it's not too much? Maybe
you could read it in multiple sessions, bit by bit?

Prayer intentions will be added as soon as I get back but everything that comes in is already a prayer from the heart and included by you all, I know.

Now on to Prayer and Fasting!

It was mentioned very briefly last week in the piece on prayer. The power of fasting is enormous. Many of you know I go to Medugorje and follow the messages. All they ask us to do is Pray, Fast,
Convert our Hearts, Return to the Sacraments, especially Confession and Communion, and Read the Bible Daily. So I'm taking a section from Father Slavco's book: Mary is the Queen of the Prophets, where he discusses Her call to us to fast regularly. It's the lazy man's way but he says it all so eloquently. Father Slavco was one of the Franciscans in Medugorje and is now in Heaven. (Our
Lady told us all he went straight there!)

Mary is the Queen of the Prophets

"All the Prophets called for conversion, fasting and prayer as conditions for peace. She does not have any better or different means than those by which the Prophets called to peace, namely: conversion, prayer, fasting and firm faith.

In calling us to fast on two days a week, Mary remains in the tradition of her Israelite nation and reminds us of the multi-century tradition of the Eastern and the Western Church.

While the Second Vatican Council calls everyone to return to “the source”, we must admit that we have not discovered fasting but, instead, the opposite has happened. In the past decades, fasting has been reduced to the least possible measure – to two days a year: Ash Wednesday and 
Good Friday.

The apparitions in Medjugorje have not presented anything new nor have they revealed anything unknown. Instead, they help us accept what God asked for through the prophets – what Mary did and Jesus Himself has done.

In Biblical revelation, fasting is connected with the call to prayer and conversion. Prophets fasted before accepting their service as prophets and before special revelations. Individuals fasted in various 
circumstances of life – of joy, gratitude, sorrow and sinfulness. Even the entire nation fasted in preparation for certain feasts, to be saved from a catastrophe or to come out of a catastrophe once they had fallen into it.

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Fasting and Peace - Peace is a fruit of the Spirit.

The deepest longing of man´s heart is actually for peace. In everything we do, whether good or bad, we seek peace. When a person loves, looks for and experiences peace, or even when he hates and wants revenge, he seeks peace. When he stays sober or fights against addiction, he seeks peace. When he becomes drunk, he also seeks peace. When he fights for his life and the lives of those he loves, he realizes peace. Even when he raises his own hand against himself and commits suicide or kills someone, again he seeks peace. Therefore, every decision of man is, in its essence, a decision for peace. Clearly when good is being done, personal peace and the peace of others are being realized. On the other hand, when evil is being committed, it is a search for one´s own peace at the expense of the peace of others.

Looking at it from yet another perspective, we can see how often we lose peace because we are egotistical, selfish, envious, jealous, avaricious and consumed by power and honour. Experience confirms that through fasting and prayer, evil, egoism, and selfishness are overcome; the heart is opened and love and humility, generosity and goodness grow. Thus, true conditions for peace are realized. Whoever has peace because he loves and forgives also remains spiritually and physically healthy. He remains capable of shaping his own life in a manner worthy of man, who is the most exalted of God´s creatures. Through fasting and prayer, human needs are also diminished and 
brought to proportion. Also by this, conditions for peace along with a proper relationship with others and material things are being created.

This is why a misunderstanding comes about when fasting is experienced in a negative way, as a renunciation of something: namely, when its benefit is not recognized on the spiritual level. For this reason, it is not possible to speak about replacing fasting with good works or anything else. In this context, we can understand why peace is always promised after conversion and after fasting and prayer.

It is, therefore, through fasting that a person comes to understand what he must fight against in himself. In this way, our subconscious is also freed from everything that drives us to restlessness and disorder. The soul then becomes still and conditions for peace are realized. The following text beautifully presents an image of this battle:

“When a king wants to occupy a city of the enemy he first seizes the water source and stops every supply. When the inhabitants begin to die from hunger and thirst, they surrender to him. This is what it is like with physical cravings: when a religious comes against them with fasting and hunger, the enemies of the soul lose strength.”

Experience clearly confirms that without a battle against internal enemies of peace, it is not possible to come to peace. This is why fasting is a very tried and tested means. This is also why it is not accidental that all of the prophets, together with Jesus and then the entire Church tradition, have 
called man to fasting and prayer, so that he may open himself to true peace. The problem is that man is inclined to follow the way of false prophets who promise an easy peace that actually does not exist.

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Fasting and Prayer

Fasting, prayer and good works are often mentioned together both by Jews and Christians. Prayer does not stand ahead of fasting, and good works independent of them, but as something that binds them from within. The most complete understanding of prayer is particularly offered in its connection with fasting. When we briefly look at what is said about prayer and how it is defined, we can see that the emphasis is naturally more on the state of the heart and soul and less on the body as a possible expression of prayer or of prayer generally.

The answer to the question, “What is prayer?” is found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. It is the definition of St. Therese of the Child Jesus: “For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy.” It is also the definition of St. John Damascene: “Prayer is the raising of one´s mind and heart to God or the requisition of good things from God.”

Primarily, the conversation with God as a spiritual activity is emphasised. However, there is also the practice and the experience that not only thoughts, conversation and spiritual acts on their own are included in prayer, but so is the body. Prayer becomes more complete by means of the body and the movement, which accompanies the words of prayer. The body and its movement support prayer making it more complete and expressive so that it may more easily encompass the entire person.

The unification of the body and soul in prayer are particularly manifested in fasting and prayer. The physical fast makes prayer more complete. A person who fasts prays better and a person, who prays, fasts more easily. In this way, prayer does not only remain an expression or words, but includes the entire human being. Physical fasting is an admission to God before men that one cannot do it alone and needs help. A person experiences his helplessness more easily when he fasts and that is why, by means of the physical fast, the soul is more open to God. Without fasting, our words of prayer remain without a true foundation. In the Old Testament the faithful fasted and prayed individually, in groups and in various life situations. Because of this, they always experienced God´s help. (Cf. Ezr 8,21-23; 2 Chr 20,12) Jesus ascribes a special power to fasting and prayer, especially in the battle against evil spirits (cf. Mk 9,29). The same practice is found in the tradition of the Catholic Church and is most evident in the rules of all orders and religious communities. St. Bernard wrote about the relationship between fasting and prayer saying:

“I will tell you something that you will understand easily and that you have often experienced, if I am not mistaken: fasting gives certainty to prayer and makes it fervent… By means of prayer, strength is gained for fasting and through fasting the grace of prayer. Fasting strengthens prayer and prayer strengthens fasting and offers it to the Lord.”

This is apparent because by means of fasting one becomes more awake and open to God and to what is spiritual. For the same reason, fasting is connected to the Eucharist. While a person practises renunciation and lives for a period of time with bread, he prepares himself for a meeting 
with the Divine Bread. This exceptional meeting with God, especially in connection with the Eucharist, is evidence of how fasting is positive in itself and how it enables us to realize the fundamental goal of prayer – the meeting of the entire person with God, the Saviour.

In our time, Gandhi is known as a man who fasted and prayed. He said: “My religion teaches me that in every affliction which cannot be alleviated, it is necessary to fast and pray.” Although it is known that Gandhi fasted and prayed with political goals in mind, he deeply believed that only God could change the heart and man´s intentions through fasting and prayer. He believed that with fasting and prayer, man is purified within and frees himself from guilt, which, at the same time, is an expression of solidarity with those who suffer.

From the above, it must be concluded that fasting and prayer are inseparable just as man as a whole, comprised of the spirit, soul and body, is inseparable."

Pheweeee - you made it to the end! Don't forget the Mothers and Fathers Prayers group in the UK. Do try to get a few of you together weekly to pray for your children and grandchildren. They need all the prayers they can get in this crazy world! Drop an email to the address below for 
information and details.

May God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit bless you and yours and may Mary keep you in Her heavenly mother's care.

Mary in Galway, Ireland

PS. Please keep a prayer going for me this week and for a wee while. Remember I mentioned I needed funding for this course? Well, I had the answer here all the time! I'm a heavy smoker, mea culpa, and would spend twice the cost of the degree per year on fags! So if I can quit - course paid! But I'll need your prayers big time! The Holy Spirit brings us to back to spiritual and physical health in a real round-about way eh? But Mr. Lucifer won't be too happy to see me fag-free - self denial ain't too big on his list of 'things to do'!

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Scriptural References to Fasting:

Fasting and Visions: Ex 34:27-28; Dt 9:9-11; Dn 10:1-8.
Lamentation of Sins: 1 Sm 7:3-6; 1 Kgs 21:20-29; Dn 9:3-5.
Fasting in a Time of Sorrow: 1 Sm 31:11-13; 2 Sm 1:11-12; 1 Chr 10:11-12.
Prayer and fasting for healing: 2 Sm 12:13-17.
Fasting and Inner Healing in an Experience of God: 1 Kgs 19:6-13.
Fasting and Danger of War: 2 Chr 20:2-4; Jdt 4:12-13; 1 Mc 3:44.47; 2 Mc 13:11-12; John 3:4-9.
Prayer and Fasting for a Blessing and a Safe Journey: Ezr 8:21-23.
Fasting after Destruction of War: Neh 1:3-4.
Fasting after Returning to the True God: Neh 9:1-2.
Fasting, Prayer, Almsgiving and Righteousness: Tob 12:8.
Life-long Fasting out of Sorrow: Jdt 8:5-6; Lk 2:36-38.
Fasting in a Situation Endangering the people: Est 4:1-3.15-16,17k.
Fasting in Psalms: Ps 35:13; Ps 69:11-12; Ps 109:24-25; Sir 34:26.
The Meaning of Fasting – a New Relationship: Is 58:1-6; Jer 14:11-12; Zeh 7:4-5; Zeh 8:18-19.
Fasting and Preparation for Listening to the Word of God: Jer 36:5-7.
Responding to the Word of God with Prayer and Fasting: Bar 1:3-6.
Fasting and Prayer as a Way out of a Common Sinful State: Jl 1,13-14; Jl 2,12-15; 
Jesus' Fast: Mt 4,1-11.
Jesus Speaks about Fasting: Mt 6,16-18; Lk 18,10-14; Mt 9,14-15; Mk 2,18-20; Lk 5,33-35.
Fasting and Prayer Strengthen Faith: Mt 17,20-21.
Fasting and Prayer Used Against Satan: Mk 9,25-29.
Fasting and Prayer Before Being sent to Serve: Acts 13,2-3; Acts 14,21-23. 
St. Paul Fasts: 2 Cor 6,3-8; 2 Cor 11,25-28.

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Prayer for Your Family

"O Dear Jesus, I humbly implore You to grant Your special graces to our family this day. In Your Divine Mercy make our home a shrine of peace, love and faith. I beg You, Dear Jesus, to protect and bless all of us and our families absent and present, living and dead. O Mary loving Mother of Jesus and our Mother, pray to Jesus the Divine Mercy for our family, and for all the families of the world. Ask Him to guard the tiny infant in the womb, the cradle of the newborn, the young in the schools and those about to start their vocations in life. Amen"

Prayer for Your Adult Children

"Heavenly Mother, keep us always in mind of Your Son's great mercy and understanding as we pray for our children. They are grown up now and have left us and are living their own lives according to their own ideals. We feel anxious and worried because they do not seem to feel the need for Christ. to understand the wisdom of His ways, or to be fully at ease with us or themselves. Intervene, dearest Mother, in their lives at the moment You know to be right and help them to understand the things that lead to their peace. Help them to see the need of Christ and to experience the greatness of His love, so that we may all proclaim as You did, that His mercy truly is from generation to generation. Amen"

Prayer for the World

"JESUS of NAZARETH has triumphed over Death. His Reign is Eternal. He is coming to conquer the
world and the time.

"Mercy, my God on those who blaspheme You,
Forgive them, they know not what they do.

"Mercy, my God, for the scandal in the world,
Deliver them from the spirit of Satan.

"Mercy, my God, on those who run away from You
Give them an appreciation for the Holy Eucharist.

"Mercy, my God, on those who come to repent at the foot of the Glorious Cross. May they find Peace and Joy in God our Saviour.

"Mercy, my God, so that Your Kingdom may come, but save souls, there is still time; for the time is near, behold, I am coming. Amen

Come, Lord Jesus."

Recite one decade of the Rosary

"Lord, pour out on the whole world the treasures of Your Infinite Mercy."

"Through the Mystery of Your Holy Incarnation,
deliver us from all evil, Lord.

Through Your Nativity,
deliver us from all evil, Lord.

Through Your Baptism and Holy Fasting,
deliver us from all evil, Lord.

Through Your Cross and Passion,
deliver us from all evil, Lord.

Through Your Death and Burial,
deliver us from all evil, Lord.

Through Your Holy Resurrection,
deliver us from all evil, Lord.

Through Your Admirable Ascension,
deliver us from all evil, Lord.

Through the coming of the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete,
deliver us from all evil, Lord.

Through Him whose Name reigns eternal,
deliver us from all evil, Lord."

Prayer of Protection

Blessed Michael the Archangel, protect us in the hour of conflict. Be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God restrain him, we humbly pray, and do thou, Oh Prince of the Heavenly Hosts, by the Power of God, thrust satan down to hell and with him all the wicked spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls. Amen

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All of the Reflections to date are available to read in the Archives on the website for anyone who's interested.

The Weekly Intentions are available on a plain page to be able to print off and kept to hand for your own prayer time. The list has become too long now to include each week but please say the
two wee prayers below. The Loving Father knows the heart of each person requesting prayer.

"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 spirits, broken hearts and broken marriages 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!"

"Breathe in me O Holy Spirit that my thoughts may all be holy;
Act in me O Holy Spirit that my work, too, may be holy;
Strengthen me O Holy Spirit to defend all that is holy;
Guard me then O Holy Spirit that I always may be holy."

"O Holy Spirit, beloved of my soul, I adore You. Enlighten me, guide me, strengthen me, console me, tell me what I should do. Give me Your orders. I promise to submit myself to all that You desire of me and to accept all that You permit to happen to me. Let me only know Your will. Amen"

May God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit bless and guide you and yours and may Mary keep you in Her heavenly mother's care.

Mary in Galway