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Hello everyone, 

Today, Monday 14th December we have 1740 people from all over the world and from many Christian and some non-Christian denominations joining together in prayer. Our reflection this week is all about Families with a little reflection from Bob and Debbie Gass of The Word for Today called: Who's On Your Wheel? 

Apologies for no reflection last week but we have a beautiful new family addition, a fine healthy boy, thanks be to God. Today is the third Sunday of Advent and a time of the year when the focus is really on the family. Let's look at the Family which features in the season we prepare for and celebrate in just 11 days - the Holy Family. 

This little family unit started out on a journey most of us would dread. The young mother was heavily pregnant, the 'father' worried about her and the child she carried. Their journey was long and arduous, none of our modern-day comforts or speedy means of travel. In fact, if it were today, we would have to make our journey overland too because of the late stage of  the pregnancy.

When they left their home neither of them knew it would be years before they would return, or that they would have to flee for the safety of their precious child. They had very little money and no pre-arranged accommodation. We all know the story so well. 

Joseph was so in tune with the will of God that he never once questioned the warning of the Angel to go to Egypt. He knew the responsibility he had in caring for his family. He also knew who this precious child was. And so Joseph placed all his trust in God knowing He would help him to provide for his little family in their need.

So many of the prayer requests that come in are based on family issues - separations and divorce, financial problems, broken or hurt relationships, family illnesses, addictions, worries about family members away from home - the list is endless.

In these days leading into Christmas perhaps we could use Saint Joseph as an example of prayerful trust and humility. St. Joseph is the Patron saint of families and also of fathers, and is it any wonder? He is a powerful advocate, especially for men, for fathers and for families. Here are a few prayers you might like to whisper to him, asking him in the first one to give them to the Heart of Our Blessed Lord, his step-son, whom he loved and cared for as his own.

"Good Saint Joseph, Your life and love protected and nourished the Mother of God and Jesus Christ, her son. Your fatherly care led to maturity He through whom all creation began. Through your 
intercession, may God guide and protect all human life from conception to natural death, and lead our nation in the ways of truth and love. Pray for us, good Saint Joseph, that joined with Christ Jesus, we might give praise to God forever.  Amen"

"The Lord is the giver of holiness. Let us turn to him and pray: Holy God, raise us up to new life in holiness.
Lord our God, you called our ancestors in faith to walk before you in holiness of heart. May we follow in their footsteps, and obey your command to be perfect.
You chose Joseph the righteous to care for your Son in childhood and youth. Teach us to care for Christ’s body by caring for our brothers and sisters.
You entrusted the earth to humankind, to people it and make it prosper. Inspire us to work wholeheartedly in this world, seeking always to give You glory.
Father of all humankind, do not forget what your hands have made.  
Grant that all who work may have secure employment and a fitting standard of living.
Loving and compassionate God, hear the prayers of your people."

Let us look too to Mary, whose heart beat in unison with that of Her Beloved Son. As mothers we travel a journey and our hearts too can be touched by the sword prophesised for Mary by Simeon in the Temple. In these days before Christmas let us travel that tough journey with them both, seeking their intercession on our behalf.

Here's a lovely prayer of consecration for the family, so much needed in these times when the family is under attack around every corner. The Two Hearts of Jesus and His Blessed Mother beat as one on that tough journey, beat as one for 33 years and beat as one through the toughest journey of all - the one to the Cross. Could the Sacred Heart of Jesus refuse the requests of His Blessed Mother? He didn't refuse Her on earth, He won't do it now they are united in Heaven. 

ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS & THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I consecrate myself and my whole family to You. We consecrate to You our very being and all our life, all that we are, all that we have and all that we love. To you we give our bodies, our hearts and our souls. To You we dedicate our home and our country.

Mindful of this consecration we now promise you to live the Christian way by the practice of Christian virtues without regard for human respect. O most Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary accept our humble confidence and this act of consecration by which we entrust ourselves and our family to you. In you we put all our hope, we shall never be confounded. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus have mercy on us. Immaculate Heart of Mary pray for us.

After the last reflection I received a lovely email telling of a family tradition that was so nice I wrote back and asked if I could share it with you all. A bit late for this year but, with God's Good Help, one to think on for next year: 

"When my girls were at home, we used Advent as a special time of year to pray for family/friends. I have an advent wreath (made of dough by a friend of mine, Marilyn) which sits on my dining room table all during Advent.
   
Each day when Christmas cards arrived in the mail, we would place them in the center of the Advent wreath. Then, at supper time when we all gathered at table, we would light the candle in our Advent wreath, read from the devotional (After the girls learned to read, I tried to always get one that had many "speakers" so that all family members could do some of the reading). We would eat supper by candle-glow and then after we were finished we would take turns opening the cards and reading them. Many included letters about people's lives and families. To end our meal, we prayed individually for each family who had sent us a card. A good tradition.
   
I always thought it was a good idea, but I never realized how good until one day when my youngest, Jamie, came home from school with a friend. She always stopped at the mailbox and collected the mail before she came in the door. I overheard this conversation with Jamie and her friend:

Jamie:  Ohhhhh, goodie!  I got a card from (the name of one of her church camp friends)!!! (She walked to the table to put the cards down in the Advent wreath.)
Friend:  Arent' you going to open it?  (she asked, incredulously)
Jamie:  (with scandalized look on her face) Oh, no!  I can't.
Friend: Why not?
Jamie:  Because we open all the cards together so we can pray for the families.

I knew then just how important that tradition was. She did not want to open the card and risk not having her friend and her friend's family prayed for! Since then, I've often gone to Christian bookstores after Christmas and bought all the "after Christmas sale" Advent wreaths and saved them for
wedding presents, telling couples how they can start a tradition that will keep their little one's focused on the TRUE meaning of Christmas (and thereby keep their OWN focus).  

Thank you Jackie for this sharing. Now isn't that just the nicest way to end this week's reflection?

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Who's On Your Wheel? 
 
"THE POTTER...MADE ANOTHER VESSEL...AS SEEMED BEST TO HIM." JEREMIAH 18:4 
 
Who do you have on your potter's wheel? Do yourself a favour - take them off and give them to God. He's the Potter, not you! The reason you don't know how to fix them is because you don't know what broke them in the first place. You can do a lot of damage, assuming things that may or may not be so.

One reader writes: 'For years I tried to change my family and almost drove them away. Finally, I turned them over to God. The amazing thing is that He either fixed them or He fixed me, because now I like them the way they are. Without my even knowing how, God took care of the problem.' Jesus said, '...whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven' (Mt 16:19). Think; through prayer you can enter any situation, declare God's will to be done in it and bring about change. God says when you do that on earth, He'll back you up in heaven. Consider these three things: 

(1) People can't change other people, only God can. Until you pray and involve Him, you won't get the results you want.

(2) God allows certain situations to build character in us. Until you first pray and allow Him to deal with the things that are wrong in you, nothing will change.

(3) In prayer, God can take you beneath the surface and show you the real problem. When that happens, attitudes change and answers come. Prayer - what a privilege!   

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So there you have it folks till next week. Two little reminders again for this week - Eucharistic Adoration for Vocations, the form on the website has the address included where they can be forwarded. And prayers for the Holy Souls, with prayers for them below. Did you know that Christmas Day is the day when most Holy Souls finish their journey home to their Father in Heaven? Please keep your deceased relatives, friends, neighbours and especially those who have no one to pray for them, in your prayers and at Masses you attend.

http://www.circleofprayer.com/vocations-poster.html
http://www.circleofprayer.com/vocations-form.html

Here's the Vocations website:

http://www.vocation.com

And here's the Holy Souls Crusade website:

http://www.holysoulscrusade.org

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

Mary Mullins in Galway, Ireland

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Chaplet of the Holy Souls

This Chaplet can be prayed on a set of Rosary Beads.

Begin with: The Creed, then 1 Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, 1 Glory Be for the Pope’s intentions.

On Large Beads Pray: 

O holy souls draw the fire of God’s Love into my soul to reveal Jesus crucified in me, here on earth, rather than hereafter in Purgatory.

On Small Beads Pray:

Crucified Lord Jesus have mercy on the souls in Purgatory

End with: Glory Be three times

Cardinal Newman’s Prayer for the Holy Souls

O most gentle heart of Jesus, ever present in the Blessed Sacrament, ever consumed with burning love for the poor captive souls in Purgatory, have mercy on the souls of Your servants. Bring them from the shadows of exile to Your bright home in Heaven, where we trust You and Your Blessed Mother have woven for them a crown of unfolding bliss. Amen.

Prayer of St. Gertrude for the Holy Souls

Eternal Father, I offer you the Most Precious Blood of your Divine Son, 
Jesus, in union with all the masses said throughout the world today for 
all the Holy Souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the 
Universal Church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen."

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

'The fruit of silence is prayer; the fruit of prayer is faith; the fruit of faith is love; the fruit of love is service; the fruit of service is peace.'