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Hello everyone,

Today, Thursday January 14th, we have 3876 people from all over the world and from many Christian and some non-Christian denominations joining together in prayer.

This is the first reflection in quite a while and will be short and sweet. It might also be a few weeks before I get down to writing the next one. The latest addition to the Mullins clan decided it would try to arrive a little earlier than expected so Michelle, my daughter, was ordered home to bed and Mom's heading over to the UK in a few hours to make sure she does what she's told!

Our additional little reflection comes from Bob and Debbie Gass of the Word for Today and is called 'Rejection Brings Intimacy with God'

I hope you all had a most blessed and peaceful Christmas and for the non-Christians among us that you too had a peaceful and restful break. 

The New Year slipped in with visions of death and destruction in the awful disaster in South East Asia. On our news report this evening one of the news correspondents confirmed a thought I've had since it happened. She reported that the surviving children are gradually getting back to school. In the Muslim schools the teachers are trying to explain to the children how and why such a thing could happen and they are being told that, among other things, this is a message from Allah. I too believe this is a wake-up call from God. 

And so, we pray for all those who lost loved ones, lost homes and lost businesses; we also pray that the rebuilding of the region will result in a better place for all. We ask God's Mercy on those who died and His consolation on those who survived or the bereaved from other lands; we ask God's protection on the vulnerable who are now left homeless and the children who are now orphaned; we ask God's blessing on the aid workers and all those who are striving to bring relief in any way; and we beg God's forgiveness as we say sorry for the actions carried out in the region that offended Him.

The one industry most affected by it all is the tourism industry. Funny that - this region of the world is one of the top areas for the sex industry - prostitution, pornography, child trafficking, transvestite entertainment, homosexuality - I could go on and on. It is also an area where many singles go on holiday together or in groups, and often spouses separate from each other to take a group holiday. These holiday resorts have become places of total and absolute sin. Now there's a word we don't hear too much of these days!

I've often spoken about the various visionaries and mystics around the world and some very interesting messages have arrived from Cleveland in recent days where Jesus spoke to the visionary about the disaster. 

On New Year's Eve this was the message to be made public:

"I am your Jesus, born Incarnate. My brothers and sisters, solemnly I remind you that we are about to step into a new year--a year which can hold much promise or a year which can call God's Justice down upon earth. Much depends on you, My brothers and sisters. You must become the message of Holy Love so that your lives in every present moment will propagate personal holiness to others. I place My Benediction upon your hearts tonight, and ask you to ponder what ways you can improve in Holy Love for the welfare of your country and the world. Tonight We're blessing you with the Blessing of Our United Hearts." (Jesus refers to both Himself and His Blessed Mother)

On New Year's Day He said this:

"I am your Jesus, born Incarnate. The world has suffered a great tragedy in loss of life and property in the recent earthquake and tsunami. But while everyone can agree on this event as tragic, most fail to see the greater tragedy--the greater loss of life through the sin of abortion. In the natural disaster the world sees the visible loss of life. In the sin of abortion the truth of the far greater loss of life lays hidden and concealed behind the curtain of lies and compromise. In truth the world should not be surprised by God's Justice, but should expect it in any form as retribution for the grievous loss of life by abortion. Understand how fragile and vulnerable all life is and learn from the recent tragedy the world now focuses upon. Everything is subject to change, but can only be changed through transforming love in the heart. This Holy Love can span the abyss that yawns wide between Heaven and earth. Thus the loving heart can suspend the laws of nature and bring peace to warring nations. Love can restore harmony between man's free will and the Divine Will of My Father. Love can uncover evil. Much lies just ahead. Many will stand convicted of false virtue. Pray for those who have given their hearts over to sin."

On January 5th. this was the message:

"I am your Jesus, born Incarnate. My brothers and sisters, today you must understand that the future of the world does not hinge upon modern technology, the abundance of natural resources, the stock market or even the tact of government leaders. The future of the world is dependent solely upon mankind's relationship with his God. This relationship must be based upon compliance with the Eternal Father's Divine Will. The Father's Will is always Holy Love in the present moment. This alone--to love God above all else and your neighbour as yourself--is the key to a promising future for the world at large. This alone brings peace into hearts and, so too, the world. Holy Love alone brings nature into harmony with God's Will. Do you search for answers for famine and disease? Place God first and all else will follow. My Father who is Creator of all things desires to be united with you. He desires that Heaven and earth be united so that the Kingdom of the Divine Will which is the New Jerusalem will be established. It is in and through Holy Love that Our United Hearts will triumph and scripture will be fulfilled. It is in this triumph My Father's Kingdom will be established in hearts and in the world and His Will shall be done. Do not be surprised that I ask you to refocus upon the present moment, for your victory over evil in the present moment strengthens the heart of the world and its struggle against evil. You may think there is no response to your efforts, but you are wrong, for we are winning. Today We are blessing you with Our Blessing of the United Hearts."

On January 9th this was the message:

"I am your Jesus, born Incarnate. My brothers and sisters, please realize that injustice is part of the human condition. You have racial bias, gender injustice--but the worst of all is the injustice perpetrated against the weakest--the unborn. Because these conditions exist does not mean you should let this be, but you must pray that the truth be exposed and these injustices be revealed for what they are. Most of all the crime of abortion needs to be eradicated, for this weighs heavy upon My Heart and plays an important role in the future of the world."

Modern-day prophets are really no different from biblical ones - they all carry the messages and warnings of God. Revelation ceased on the death of the last apostle and we are not bound to believe any private revelation. But somehow I think God still uses people as His voice. You see, many of our Priests, Bishops and Theologians are no longer the ministers and teachers He would have them be. They have changed His Holy words in the Scriptures; they have removed His Sacred presence from the centre of His Churches; they deny His teachings and those safe-guarded by the Church; they ridicule the successor of Peter; they promote pagan New Age rituals and philosophies; they no longer preach and teach the Ten Commandments or the Beatitudes. Oh, we hear plenty about love but very little about the salvation of our souls these days.

We too, as lay people, are called to discipleship which carries its own responsibilities. We too are called to be witnesses for Christ and true and honest children of God. We too must safe-guard His teachings - in our homes, our schools, our workplaces and even in our places of relaxation or entertainment. We too need the courage to speak out and defend the Truth. Our Priests and Bishops need the courage to bring the whole message of the Gospel to His children, even if it means a drop in popularity or numbers attending Church. The reflection below gives us all a little to meditate upon.

God Bless till next time,

Mary in Galway

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Rejection Brings Intimacy with God   

'...PAUL... TESTIFIED TO THE JEWS THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST. BUT...THEY OPPOSED HIM...' ACTS 18:5-6

It hurts to be rejected by those you love. When Paul tried to share his new faith with his old friends, 'they opposed him.' He was so hurt by their rejection that God had to encourage him saying, 'Do not be afraid...I am with you and no one is going to...harm you' (Acts 18:9-10 NIV). Later when he reached out to some of the disciples, they were wary of him too. They saw him as too Jewish to be Christian and too Christian to be Jewish. So, throughout his ministry Paul suffered at the hands of those he loved.

But being rejected by others can bring a greater intimacy with God. When they stoned Paul and left him for dead, he had a glorious vision of heaven (See Acts 14). You see, being rejected makes you lean on God like never before, because you have nowhere else to turn. In fact, at times like that unless you hear from God, there is no other word coming!

When others reject you, God has a way of opening doors to levels of blessing you would otherwise miss. Your greatest growth experiences generally result from your greatest trials. David said, 'Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies (vindication), thou anointest my head with oil (daily empowerment), my cup runneth over' (greater blessing), (See Psalm 23:5 NIV). Just think, without some pain and opposition, you would not get to sit at God's table and enjoy His best.

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Two little reminders again for this week - Eucharistic Adoration for Vocations, let's try and make it 1,000,000 hours of Adoration in 2004! You can log in your hours online at their own website below or do as we did here in our Perpetual Adoration Chapel, print off the poster and the forms and leave them in your own Chapel of Adoration, sending in the numbers every week via the website below.

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

Here's the Vocations website:

And don't forget those prayers for the Holy Souls, there are some below. 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.

Here's the Holy Souls Crusade website.

And below is a great little morning prayer to start the day off and help us to keep focused on the Lord.

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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Morning Offerings

Our Father Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Amen

Lord Jesus, I give You my hands to do Your work
I give You my feet to go Your way.
I give You my eyes to see as You do.
I give You my tongue to speak Your words.
I give You my mind that You may think in me.
I give You my spirit that You may pray in me.
Above all, I give You my heart that You may love in me, Your Father, and all mankind.
I give You my whole self that You may grow in me, so that it is You, Lord Jesus, who live and work and pray in me. Amen.

"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 may always 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"

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 to Saint Joseph, Patron Saint of Families

"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"

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.

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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The Current Reflection and all of the Reflections to date are available to read in the Archives on the website for anyone who's interested.

The Prayer Intentions are available in the prayer book on the website 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!"

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.' (Blessed Mother Theresa of Calcutta)