Catholicism TV/DVD series

This TV/DVD series (5 DVDs 10 sessions) by Fr. Robert Barron of the Archdiocese of Chicago, USA, and Word on Fire Catholic Ministries,which is currently being shown on EWTN has been brought to my attention recently.

Click Here for Full Details of Catholicism DVD Series

It has been suggested that Theotokos Prayer Group buy and show the DVDs during the Year of Faith.

If anyone has watched any of the DVDs or the EWTN broadcasts then please let us know what you made of it.
Also let us know if you would be interested in coming along to the sessions.

Click here to email us

Happy Christmas 2012



WISHING YOU ALL A HAPPY AND HOLY CHRISTMAS

AND A FAITH FILLED 2013



By your saving power raise me up

Notes from Night of Praise and Intercession for the Year of Faith, 4 December 2012

Picture of Golgotha in darkness with Jesus on the Cross.

We are called to carry the Cross in our own lives.

From the Cross comes light and new birth.

Prayer for the gift of Faith

Let us not lose sight of Jesus, who leads us in our FAITH and brings it to perfection (Heb 12 v 2)

Lord Jesus, have mercy on me a sinner. Open my heart to your gift of faith. Give me light that I may have eyes to see You, ears to hear You, and a heart to understand love and obey You.

Remove any obstacles in me to your saving grace, and enable me to surrender completely with joy and gratitude to You as my Lord and my God. I repent of any rebellion, whether known or unknown.

Mother Mary, model of faith and Spouse of the Holy Spirit, help me now with your prayers, and lead me to your Son Jesus. Amen

John 20 v 1

1 It was very early on the first day of the week and still dark, when Mary of Magdala came to the tomb. She saw that the stone had been moved away from the tomb

Psalm 69 v 29-35

29 For myself, wounded wretch that I am, by your saving power raise me up!

30 I will praise God's name in song, I will extol him by thanksgiving,

31 for this will please Yahweh more than an ox, than a bullock horned and hoofed.

32 The humble have seen and are glad. Let your courage revive, you who seek God.

33 For God listens to the poor, he has never scorned his captive people.

34 Let heaven and earth and seas, and all that stirs in them, acclaim him!

35 For God will save Zion, and rebuild the cities of Judah, and people will live there on their own land;

Pray and battle for lost souls

Notes from Praise and Intercession Night 27 November 2012

A dream: I was in the middle of a large battle and the smell of evil and fear all around was nauseating.
This was a clash between two forces and a total fight to the death.
I was weary I felt as if I had used up all my inner being I mean my spirit was dejected and I felt that the enemy was winning. I had no weapons left, I felt small, dejected and about to die.
At the edge of the battle I saw a man on a donkey riding towards me and he rode quietly through the cacophony right up to me. He dismounted and helped me to get on the donkey, he touched my hand and I immediately felt courage flood in to my inner being.
I felt so grateful not to be in the battle on my own. He smiled and quietly led the donkey and me out of the battle.

What did the dream mean - the simple answer is that when you feel battle weary call upon Jesus but not when in the battle but before you do battle. Battle we must because time is running out. Jesus is asking us to increase our efforts.

Picture of Mary in silence praying for her children and as she prayed a strong light enveloped her and the silence became a strong song of prayer and the light got larger and brighter and many people saw and heard her and joined with her praying and doing battle for lost souls, those that do not know God or want to. All is not lost if we join her and continue to give praise, pray and fast.

Ezekiel 21 v 14 -22

14 'Son of man, prophesy. Say, "The Lord says this. Say: The sword, the sword has been sharpened and polished,
15 sharpened for slaughter, polished to flash like lightning . . .
16 He has had it polished to be wielded, this sword sharpened and polished to put in the slaughterer's hand!
17 Shout and wail, son of man, for it will come on my people, on all the chief men of Israel doomed like my people to the sword! So beat your breast,
18 for this will be an ordeal . . . declares the Lord Yahweh.
19 So prophesy, son of man, and clap your hands! Let the sword pass three times, that sword for victims, that sword for a great victim, threatening them from every side!
20 To make hearts sink and make sure many fall, I have posted the slaughtering sword at every gate to flash like lightning, polished for slaughter.
21 Be sharp, on the right, be ready on the left, whichever way your blade is needed!
22 I too shall clap my hands and sate my fury! I, Yahweh, have spoken." '

Year of Faith 2012 - 2013 - Post No. 3

Prayer for the gift of Faith

Let us not lose sight of Jesus, who leads us in our FAITH and brings it to perfection (Heb 12 v 2)

Lord Jesus, have mercy on me a sinner. Open my heart to your gift of faith. Give me light that I may have eyes to see You, ears to hear You, and a heart to understand love and obey You.
Remove any obstacles in me to your saving grace, and enable me to surrender completely with joy and gratitude to You as my Lord and my God. I repent of any rebellion, whether known or unknown.
Mother Mary, model of faith and Spouse of the Holy Spirit, help me now with your prayers, and lead me to your Son Jesus. Amen

Intercessions for the Year of Faith:

For the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, and for all bishops, that God will give them the grace and wisdom to touch the lives and hearts of many during this Year of Faith.

For the Church throughout the world, that this Year of Faith may be a time of spiritual renewal and personal encounter with Christ for people everywhere.

For the sick and the suffering, that this Year of Faith may be a time for them to experience Christ even in the midst of their illnesses and needs.

May this Year of Faith be a time to renew our love for Christ and the Church and to enter into a deeper devotion to the Virgin Mary.

May our deepening of faith during this Year of Faith help us to long for justice and peace in the world.

Through reading and studying the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the documents of the Second Vatican Council, may all Catholics come to know and love the doctrines of the faith and grow in a desire to share the saving truths of Jesus Christ in our homes, places of work and community.

May this Year of Faith fill us and our parish communities with an outpouring of virtue.

May God the Father watch over and bless all families during the Year of Faith, that it may be a time for families to grow closer to one another and to Christ.

May the Year of Faith be an opportunity for Catholics to renew their baptismal vocation and grow in zeal to share the gospel with others.

As this Year of Faith begins, may it be a time of an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all parents, catechists, clergy and lay faithful who share the gift of the faith with others.

May the Year of Faith enrich us with a greater love for God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, in such a way that others ask God the reason for our hope.

May the Year of Faith be a time for all Catholics to renew their desire and zeal for the Eucharist and to avail themselves regularly of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Penance.

During this Year of Faith, may all Catholics publicly proclaim their love for Christ and his Church.

May this Year of Faith remind us of ways to serve those in our midst who are overlooked, ignored or rejected, so that all may experience the peace and healing of Christ’s love.

May the Holy Spirit guide the Church during the Year of Faith so that all Catholics may experience a deepened renewal of faith, hope and love.

May young people be inspired by this Year of Faith to listen attentively and respond to God’s call to priesthood and religious life.

May the faithful grow in understanding and love of the calls to marriage and the single life, realising the vital role these vocations play in the work of the Church.

............................................................................

Extract from the Popes  'APOSTOLIC LETTER ,“MOTU PROPRIO DATA” - PORTA FIDEI':

9. We want this Year to arouse in every believer the aspiration to profess the faith in fullness and with renewed conviction, with confidence and hope. It will also be a good opportunity to intensify the celebration of the faith in the liturgy, especially in the Eucharist, which is “the summit towards which the activity of the Church is directed; ... and also the source from which all its power flows.”[14] At the same time, we make it our prayer that believers’ witness of life may grow in credibility. To rediscover the content of the faith that is professed, celebrated, lived and prayed,[15] and to reflect on the act of faith, is a task that every believer must make his own, especially in the course of this Year.
.............................................................................

List of the things people in the group are doing during the Year of Faith:

*Praying the Nicene Creed each day
*Fighting for Life - I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10
*Praying a Novena each month for specific intentions

Any additions? Please let me know.

Be at peace my people

Notes of meeting on 20 November 2012

           Love

Peace           Hope

            Joy

Be at peace my people.

Lift up your hands in praise as mine are raised out to you.
Take hold of my hands.
Believe in me explicitly.
Don't waiver in your faith.
Do my will and follow me.
Relax in obedience so that my Kingdom may be born in you my children.

Psalm 146
1 Alleluia! Praise Yahweh, my soul!
2 I will praise Yahweh all my life, I will make music to my God as long as I live.
3 Do not put your trust in princes, in any child of Adam, who has no power to save.
4 When his spirit goes forth he returns to the earth, on that very day all his plans come to nothing.
5 How blessed is he who has Jacob's God to help him, his hope is in Yahweh his God,
6 who made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them. He keeps faith for ever,
7 gives justice to the oppressed, gives food to the hungry; Yahweh sets prisoners free.
8 Yahweh gives sight to the blind, lifts up those who are bowed down.
9 Yahweh protects the stranger, he sustains the orphan and the widow. Yahweh loves the upright,but he frustrates the wicked.
10 Yahweh reigns for ever, your God, Zion, from age to age.



Matthew 24  v 42 - 54
42 'So stay awake, because you do not know the day when your master is coming.
43 You may be quite sure of this, that if the householder had known at what time of the night the burglar would come, he would have stayed awake and would not have allowed anyone to break through the wall of his house.
44 Therefore, you too must stand ready because the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
45 'Who, then, is the wise and trustworthy servant whom the master placed over his household to give them their food at the proper time?
46 Blessed that servant if his master's arrival finds him doing exactly that.
47 In truth I tell you, he will put him in charge of everything he owns.
48 But if the servant is dishonest and says to himself, "My master is taking his time,"
49 and sets about beating his fellow-servants and eating and drinking with drunkards,
50 his master will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not know.
51 The master will cut him off and send him to the same fate as the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.'

Be with Me, Pray with Me, Watch with Me

Notes from meeting on 6 November 2012

Picture of a large Mirror.
Each person in this group was asked to go and sit in front of it and then to go back to the group.
When we each looked at ourselves we could see, just that, ourselves.
When back in the group we were all asked to spend time praying for the world in front of the Cross of Jesus. Our Mother accompanied us.
We were then asked if once again one at a time in front of the Mirror reflected there was the face of Jesus it was as though we had become like Him, resembling His qualities, His gifts, His fruits and all from spending time with Him and His Mother before His Cross.
Jesus said "Don't worry about your needs they are taken care of. Pray for the fulfilment of God's Promise, this is being accomplished even as we speak and pray together. My faithful ones will truly see the Glory of Heaven. Be with Me, Pray with Me, Watch with Me.

Ephesians 1 v 17-23
17 May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give you a spirit of wisdom and perception of what is revealed, to bring you to full knowledge of him.
18 May he enlighten the eyes of your mind so that you can see what hope his call holds for you, how rich is the glory of the heritage he offers among his holy people,
19 and how extraordinarily great is the power that he has exercised for us believers; this accords with the strength of his power
20 at work in Christ, the power which he exercised in raising him from the dead and enthroning him at his right hand, in heaven,
21 far above every principality, ruling force, power or sovereignty, or any other name that can be named, not only in this age but also in the age to come.
22 He has put all things under his feet, and made him, as he is above all things, the head of the Church;
23 which is his Body, the fullness of him who is filled, all in all.


Where is your faith... Use the gifts I have given you, use the faith I have given you...
Go out and do the work I have commissioned you to do

Receive the gifts and fruits of the Spirit

My deliverer is my God

Notes of Praise & Intercession Night 30 October 2012

Picture of all of us in the group in what appeared to be some form of rock garden. We were all asleep.
Gradually we became aware of a plaintive song that issued from the Mother of Jesus. The music got louder and more urgent. Beings of Light came and shook us to waken us from our slumber. This music was melodic and we understood with our hearts not our ears. the music seemed to say be quick for there is work to be done.
The angels and Our Mother started to praise God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. We obediently followed and praised and worshipped too. We could see the Earth and a great light moved across it, within the light was the Blessed Sacrament bleeding. It hovered over a very dark area.
People in that dark area were drawn upwards into the light away from the darkness. Gradually as the praise abated and became quiet the light moved back in to the heavens with the Blessed Sacrament. Our Lady and the angels still quietly praising till they disappeared.
Our Mother smiled at us and blessed us and we somehow knew in our hearts we had helped as a whole body to accomplish some plan of the Heavenly Fathers.

1 Corinthians 15 v 54 - 58
54 And after this perishable nature has put on imperishability and this mortal nature has put on immortality, then will the words of scripture come true: Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your sting?
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin comes from the Law.
57 Thank God, then, for giving us the victory through Jesus Christ our Lord.
58 So, my dear brothers, keep firm and immovable, always abounding in energy for the Lord's work, being sure that in the Lord none of your labours is wasted.


Pray for the persecuted Church.

Deep calls to deep; heart calls to heart.


Psalm 18 v 1 - 3
1 [For the choirmaster Of David, the servant of Yahweh, who addressed the words of this song to Yahweh when Yahweh had delivered him from all his enemies and from the clutches of Saul. He said:] I love you, Yahweh, my strength (my Saviour, you have saved me from violence).
2 Yahweh is my rock and my fortress, my deliverer is my God. I take refuge in him, my rock, my shield, my saving strength, my stronghold, my place of refuge.
3 I call to Yahweh who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my foes.

Rocking the unborn children deprived of a childhood.

1 Corinthians 3 v 16 - 23
16 Do you not realise that you are a temple of God with the Spirit of God living in you?
17 If anybody should destroy the temple of God, God will destroy that person, because God's temple is holy; and you are that temple.
18 There is no room for self-delusion. Any one of you who thinks he is wise by worldly standards must learn to be a fool in order to be really wise.
19 For the wisdom of the world is folly to God. As scripture says: He traps the crafty in the snare of their own cunning
20 and again: The Lord knows the plans of the wise and how insipid they are.
21 So there is to be no boasting about human beings: everything belongs to you,
22 whether it is Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, the world, life or death, the present or the future -- all belong to you;
23 but you belong to Christ and Christ belongs to God.

Blood and Water signs of God's Mercy

Notes of meeting on 16 October 2012



ST MICHAEL

 Picture of many angels, leading them was a mighty warrior angel, Michael. He was carrying a large Cross. All the angels revered and praised the Cross. Michael stood and held the Cross high above his head and the angels increased their praises. In the centre of the Cross was the exposed Blessed Sacrament and slowly Michale set the Cross into a fixing.
Many people gathered in front, many from this prayer group who had already gone before us and all of us at the foot of the Cross.
The Blessed Sacrament began to weep blood and water; these mixed and fell down upon those gathered. The blood and water became a rivulet which grew larger cascading down and surrounding all of those gathered.
Many others came and joined us together with the angels. The praising grew louder and sounded beautiful. the more they praised the more the great Mercy of God flowed. Many others who heard and saw joined in and were touched by this Mercy feeling it deep in their very being.
Whatever come or befalls us Our Lords Blood and Water will protect us drawing us closer to Him and so calling others also


Daniel 12
1 'At that time Michael will arise -- the great Prince, defender of your people. That will be a time of great distress, unparallelled since nations first came into existence. When that time comes, your own people will be spared -- all those whose names are found written in the Book.
2 'Of those who are sleeping in the Land of Dust, many will awaken, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting disgrace.
3 Those who are wise will shine as brightly as the expanse of the heavens, and those who have instructed many in uprightness, as bright as stars for all eternity.
4 'But you, Daniel, must keep these words secret and keep the book sealed until the time of the End. Many will roam about, this way and that, and wickedness will continue to increase.'
5 I, Daniel, then looked and saw two other people standing, one on the near bank of the river, the other on the far.
6 One of them said to the man dressed in linen who was standing further up the stream, 'How long until these wonders take place?'
7 I heard the man speak who was dressed in linen, standing further up the stream: he raised his right hand and his left to heaven and swore by him who lives for ever, 'A time and two times, and half a time; and all these things will come true, once the crushing of the holy people's power is over.'
8 I listened but did not understand. I then said, 'My lord, what is to be the outcome?'
9 'Go, Daniel,' he said. 'These words are to remain secret and sealed until the time of the End.
10 Many will be cleansed, made white and purged; the wicked will persist in doing wrong; the wicked will never understand; those who are wise will understand.
11 From the moment that the perpetual sacrifice is abolished and the appalling abomination set up: a thousand two hundred and ninety days.
12 Blessed is he who perseveres and attains a thousand three hundred and thirty-five days.
13 But you, go away and rest; and you will rise for your reward at the end of time.'


Revelation 21 v 1-7
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; the first heaven and the first earth had disappeared now, and there was no longer any sea.
2 I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride dressed for her husband.
3 Then I heard a loud voice call from the throne, 'Look, here God lives among human beings. He will make his home among them; they will be his people, and he will be their God, God-with-them.
4 He will wipe away all tears from their eyes; there will be no more death, and no more mourning or sadness or pain. The world of the past has gone.'
5 Then the One sitting on the throne spoke. 'Look, I am making the whole of creation new. Write this, "What I am saying is trustworthy and will come true."
6 Then he said to me, 'It has already happened. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give water from the well of life free to anybody who is thirsty;
7 anyone who proves victorious will inherit these things; and I will be his God and he will be my son.


Matthew 26 v 26 - 29
26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had said the blessing he broke it and gave it to the disciples. 'Take it and eat,' he said, 'this is my body.'
27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he handed it to them saying, 'Drink from this, all of you,
28 for this is my blood, the blood of the covenant, poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
29 From now on, I tell you, I shall never again drink wine until the day I drink the new wine with you in the kingdom of my Father.'

Mass in Preparation For Year of Faith 2012 - 2013

Mass in Preparation For Year of Faith 2012 - 2013 held on 9 October 2012

Many thanks to all who attended this Mass, our first Year of Faith event!
Special thanks to Father Bill Rooke for his support.

After the opening praise:

Sense that we need to Praise God in all the differing circumstances of our lives good and bad

God we love you, we bless you, we praise you.

Reading 1, Galatians 1:13-24

13 You have surely heard how I lived in the past, within Judaism, and how there was simply no limit to the way I persecuted the Church of God in my attempts to destroy it;
14 and how, in Judaism, I outstripped most of my Jewish contemporaries in my limitless enthusiasm for the traditions of my ancestors.
15 But when God, who had set me apart from the time when I was in my mother's womb, called me through his grace and chose
16 to reveal his Son in me, so that I should preach him to the gentiles, I was in no hurry to confer with any human being,
17 or to go up to Jerusalem to see those who were already apostles before me. Instead, I went off to Arabia, and later I came back to Damascus.
18 Only after three years did I go up to Jerusalem to meet Cephas. I stayed fifteen days with him
19 but did not set eyes on any of the rest of the apostles, only James, the Lord's brother.
20 I swear before God that what I have written is the truth.
21 After that I went to places in Syria and Cilicia;
22 and was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judaea which are in Christ,
23 they simply kept hearing it said, 'The man once so eager to persecute us is now preaching the faith that he used to try to destroy,'
24 and they gave glory to God for me.

Gospel, Luke 10:38-42

38 In the course of their journey he came to a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house.
39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat down at the Lord's feet and listened to him speaking.
40 Now Martha, who was distracted with all the serving, came to him and said, 'Lord, do you not care that my sister is leaving me to do the serving all by myself? Please tell her to help me.'
41 But the Lord answered, 'Martha, Martha,' he said, 'you worry and fret about so many things,
42 and yet few are needed, indeed only one. It is Mary who has chosen the better part, and it is not to be taken from her.'

Where is our heart? ; Do we listen? ;  Do we act? ; What is the balance in our lives between listening and doing?

Let us keep one another in our hearts  

Picture of a chrysalis changing eventually into a beautiful Butterfly or Moth. The time spent in the chrysalis stage may be prolonged and it may look as if nothing is happening - but it is!

Trust in Me

Notes of meeting on 2 October 2012

Trust in me, I will not leave you orphaned.

Paul shipwrecked - Lord save us from the storms of life external and internal
Job under the shade of the tree - Lord despite all the difficulties and hardfships we face let us trust in you
Woman with oil and meal - Lord you can use what little we have to provide great abundance

Micah 4 v 1-7
1 But in days to come Yahweh's Temple Mountain will tower above the mountains, rise higher than the hills.

2 Then the peoples will stream to it, then many nations will come and say, 'Come, we will go up to Yahweh's mountain, to the Temple of the God of Jacob, so that he may teach us his ways and we may walk in his paths; for the Law issues from Zion and Yahweh's word from Jerusalem.'
3 He will judge between many peoples and arbitrate between mighty nations. They will hammer their swords into ploughshares and their spears into bill-hooks. Nation will not lift sword against nation or ever again be trained to make war.
4 But each man will sit under his vine and fig tree with no one to trouble him. The mouth of Yahweh Sabaoth has spoken.
5 For all peoples go forward, each in the name of its god, while we go forward in the name of Yahweh our God for ever and ever.
6 That day -- declares Yahweh- I shall gather in the lame and bring together the strays and those whom I have treated harshly.
7 From the footsore I shall make a remnant, and from the far-flung a mighty nation. And Yahweh will reign over them on Mount Zion thenceforth and for ever.

Psalm 129 (130)
1 [Song of Ascents] From the depths I call to you, Yahweh:

2 Lord, hear my cry. Listen attentively to the sound of my pleading!
3 If you kept a record of our sins, Lord, who could stand their ground?
4 But with you is forgiveness, that you may be revered.
5 I rely, my whole being relies, Yahweh, on your promise.
6 My whole being hopes in the Lord, more than watchmen for daybreak; more than watchmen for daybreak
7 let Israel hope in Yahweh. For with Yahweh is faithful love, with him generous ransom;
8 and he will ransom Israel from all its sins.

Notes of meeting 25 September 2010

We sang "Remember the first love His Spirit within", and all the other songs where about our heart in one way or another.
We must try to hold on to our "First love experience with God" the first time Gods love became special to us as an individual, and regaining and holding on to that.
In "The Imitation of Christ" Thomas A Kempis encourages us not to be defeated by our weaknesses for they are always with us, no matter how holy we are, or secluded. Our task is to endure and progress with Gods help for He is always there to raise us up from sin, or depression.
At Sacred Heart Church for what was Fr John Paul's last mass before going to Rome to teach new Priests. He quoted two phrases, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. He did not like that or find it true. The second was no pain no gain! This he preferred linking it with the command from Christ to, take up our cross and follow Him. I felt a determination come into my mind to carry my cross with less moaning and more acceptance. The link is the state of our heart, is it full of love for God or pity for our weaknesses and failures.

Year of Faith 2012 - 2013 Post No 2

The Year of Faith begins today.

What will you do?

Let me know by email stephen.ann@ntlworld.com or comment on the blog site http://www.theotokosprayergroup.blogspot.co.uk or tell me at the meeting and I will then compile a list. The list will be anonymous!

I'm going to start small by praying the Nicence Creed every day and try to think about what I'm saying...

THE NICENE CREED IS THE PRAYER FOR THE YEAR OF FAITH

IT IS BY BELIEVING WITH THE HEART THAT YOU ARE JUSTIFIED, AND BY MAKING THE DECLARATION WITH YOUR LIPS THAT YOU ARE SAVED

The Profession of Faith

I believe in one God, the Father almighty,

maker of heaven and earth,

of all things visible and invisible.

I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ ,

the Only Begotten Son of God,

born of the Father before all ages.

God from God, Light from Light ,

true God from true God,

begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father ;

through him all things were made.

For us men and for our salvation

he came down from heaven,

and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,

and became man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,

he suffered death and was buried,

and rose again on the third day

in accordance with the Scriptures.

He ascended into heaven

and is seated at the right hand of the Father .

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead

and his kingdom will have no end.

I believe in the Holy Spirit ,

the Lord, the giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father and the Son,

who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,

who has spoken through the prophets.

I believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.

I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins

and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead

and the life of the world to come.

Amen.

Year of Faith 2012 - 2013 Post No.1

The 'Year of Faith' will begin on 11 October 2012, the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council and also the twentieth anniversary of the publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. It will conclude on 24 November 2013, the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Universal King.

The Pope has said of the Year of Faith that ''This will be a good opportunity to usher the whole Church into a time of particular reflection and rediscovery of the faith." and that it "is a summons to an authentic and renewed conversion to the Lord, the one Saviour of the world. In the mystery of his death and resurrection, God has revealed in its fullness the Love that saves and calls us to conversion of life through the forgiveness of sins (cf. Acts 5:31)."
See his document Porte Fidei (Door of Faith)*see the link at the bottom of the post.

Please note the following Year of Faith events:

A Mass in preparation for the Year of Faith is to be held on Tuesday 9th October 2012 at 8pm (Rosary 7.30) celebrated by Fr Bill Rooke at Theotokos Prayer Group,  St Mary's Presbytery, 2 Major Street, Stockton on Tees TS18 2DD. All welcome.

A Night of Intercession for the Year of Faith will be held on Tuesday 4 December 2012 at 8pm (Rosary 7.30) hosted by Theotokos Prayer Group with Ann Liddell  at St Mary's Presbytery, 2 Major Street, Stockton on Tees TS18 2DD. All welcome.

We hope to have other Year of Faith events throughout the Year of Faith. More details will follow as and when they are arranged.
I will be posting articles, information and links related to the Year of Faith as the year progresses.
If anyone knows of  any events that are taking place in their own Diocese/Parish /Group feel free to let me know and I can advertise them on the blog.

Stephen
Theotokos Prayer Group

* Porta Fidei (Door of Faith) - Pope Benedict XVI
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/motu_proprio/documents/hf_ben-xvi_motu-proprio_20111011_porta-fidei_en.html

Mary lead us to Jesus' Sacred Heart

Notes of meeting on 18 September 2012

Picture of Our Lady beckoning us to her Immaculate Heart. As we gazed upon her Heart she filled us and surrounded us with her grace.
She said "I will always lead you to my Son's Sacred Heart because it is the will of the Father in Heaven".
Our Lady moved to one side and there was Jesus, his Heart exposed calling us to come closer. As we neared Him we could see right into his Heart and feel the love and mercy for each of us. As we looked further in we could see a jagged cross enmeshed cruelly in the depths of his Heart. This cross was the terrible pain of being parted from the mankind who ignored and repulsed his great love.

It was felt that Our Lady was asking us again to redouble our efforts of prayer, fasting and good works to bring comfort to her Son by plucking men from the abyss of sin and to the Mercy of God through her Son Jesus

Hebrews 2 v 9-10
9 but we do see Jesus, who was for a short while made less than the angels, now crowned with glory and honour because he submitted to death; so that by God's grace his experience of death should benefit all humanity.
10 It was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should, in bringing many sons to glory, make perfect through suffering the leader of their salvation.


Galatians 3 v 1 -14
1 You stupid people in Galatia! After you have had a clear picture of Jesus Christ crucified, right in front of your eyes, who has put a spell on you?
2 There is only one thing I should like you to tell me: How was it that you received the Spirit -- was it by the practice of the Law, or by believing in the message you heard?
3 Having begun in the Spirit, can you be so stupid as to end in the flesh?
4 Can all the favours you have received have had no effect at all -- if there really has been no effect?
5 Would you say, then, that he who so lavishly sends the Spirit to you, and causes the miracles among you, is doing this through your practice of the Law or because you believed the message you heard?
6 Abraham, you remember, put his faith in God, and this was reckoned to him as uprightness.
7 Be sure, then, that it is people of faith who are the children of Abraham.
8 And it was because scripture foresaw that God would give saving justice to the gentiles through faith, that it announced the future gospel to Abraham in the words: All nations will be blessed in you.
9 So it is people of faith who receive the same blessing as Abraham, the man of faith.
10 On the other hand, all those who depend on the works of the Law are under a curse, since scripture says: Accursed be he who does not make what is written in the book of the Law effective, by putting it into practice.
11 Now it is obvious that nobody is reckoned as upright in God's sight by the Law, since the upright will live through faith;
12 and the Law is based not on faith but on the principle, whoever complies with it will find life in it.
13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law by being cursed for our sake since scripture says: Anyone hanged is accursed,
14 so that the blessing of Abraham might come to the gentiles in Christ Jesus, and so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.




Daily Reflection from Bible Alive, Tuesday 18 September

Luke 7:11-17

What an explosion of joy there must have been when Jesus raised the young man of Nain from death and gave him back to his mother! How amazed this widow must have been when she realized that her dead son was alive again and talking to her! Luke tells us that the crowd was awestruck and filled the air with God’s praises.
This powerful miracle fills our hearts with joy also, for it proclaims the wonderful truth that Jesus is the Lord of life, with the power to overcome death. It reveals him as the tender-hearted and compassionate Son of God. The crowd are absolutely correct in their exclamation: ‘God has visited his people!’ (v. 16).
With Jesus’ coming, the kingdom of God breaks into our world. The power of Satan’s kingdom, that has held men and women bound in sin since the Fall, is broken. The marks of Satan’s kingdom are well known to us: sin, strife, suffering and, most of all, death. Jesus came with the purpose of undoing all the works of the devil and setting free all who had fallen under his power. The raising of this dead man highlights the fact that God is acting among his people in a radically new and powerful way.
This sounds tremendous good news, but how can we relate it to our daily lives? There is a sense in which each of us is like the young man being carried out to burial. We are, to some degree, dead. Sin has ravaged us and taken its toll. Perhaps we have stopped praying or no longer open the Scriptures. Perhaps we cannot share what God has done for us, and we are silent about Jesus. Maybe we have lost the ability to show love and compassion. In each of these situations, Jesus can come and touch us in our deadness. When we turn to him with faith and humbly repent of our sin, he can raise us up with his resurrection life.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever (Heb. 13:8). His power is as real today as it was on that day in Nain. His care and love are as strong towards us as to the widow and her son.

Father, we thank you that your Son has the power to set us free from death and fill us with the new life of the Spirit. Come, Lord Jesus, and take possession of our lives today.

Year of Faith 2012 - 2013

The Year of Faith is coming.....watch out for more information on this blog!

Bring lost souls back to Jesus through prayer

Notes of meeting 11 September 2012

Isaiah 61 v 1-7
1 The spirit of Lord Yahweh is on me for Yahweh has anointed me. He has sent me to bring the news to the afflicted, to soothe the broken-hearted,
2 to proclaim liberty to captives, release to those in prison, to proclaim a year of favour from Yahweh and a day of vengeance for our God, to comfort all who mourn
3 (to give to Zion's mourners), to give them for ashes a garland, for mourning-dress, the oil of gladness, for despondency, festal attire; and they will be called 'terebinths of saving justice', planted by Yahweh to glorify him.
4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins, they will raise what has long lain waste, they will restore the ruined cities, all that has lain waste for ages past.
5 Strangers will come forward to feed your flocks, foreigners be your ploughmen and vinedressers;
6 but you will be called 'priests of Yahweh' and be addressed as 'ministers of our God'. You will feed on the wealth of nations, you will supplant them in their glory.
7 To make up for your shame, you will receive double; instead of disgrace, shouts of joy will be their lot; yes, they will have a double portion in their country and everlasting joy will be theirs.

Picture of Our Mother full of Joy. This Joy was brimming over, her laughter like a tinkling brook almost musical. The Joy was because one soul had been saved and not lost and she was utterly delighted.
She showed how when carrying Jesus she surrounded him with prayer, love and good example. She asks us to do the same to bring lost souls back to her Son Jesus carrying them in prayer and love and to try at all times to be a good example and if you fail get up and try again. We are to surround these poor souls who are so far away from her Son Jesus and more victories will be had for Heaven and then she and Heaven will smile and rejoice again.
We are part of Her great plan, her Holy Army who co-operate with her Immaculate Heart and Heaven.

1 Chronicles 17 v 1 -14
1 It happened, once David had settled into his palace, that David said to the prophet Nathan, 'Here am I living in a cedar-wood palace, while the ark of the covenant of Yahweh is under awnings.'
2 Nathan said to David, 'Do whatever you have in mind, for God is with you.'
3 But that very night the word of God came to Nathan, as follows:
4 'Go and tell my servant David, "Yahweh says this: You must not build a temple for me to live in.
5 I have never lived in a house from the day when I brought Israel out until today, but have kept travelling from tent to tent and from shelter to shelter.
6 In all my travels with all Israel, did I say to any of the judges of Israel, whom I had commanded to shepherd my people: Why do you not build me a cedar-wood temple?
7 This is what you must say to my servant David: Yahweh Sabaoth says this: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be leader of my people Israel.
8 I have been with you wherever you went; I have got rid of all your enemies for you. I am going to make your fame like that of the greatest men on earth.
9 I am going to provide a place for my people Israel; I shall plant them there and there they will live and never be disturbed again; nor will they be oppressed by the wicked as they were in former times
10 ever since I instituted judges to govern my people Israel; I shall subdue all your enemies. Yahweh moreover tells you that he will build you a dynasty.
11 And when your days are over and you have gone to join your ancestors, I shall appoint your heir -- who will be one of your sons -- to succeed you, and I shall make his sovereignty secure.
12 He will build a temple for me and I shall make his throne secure for ever.
13 I shall be his father and he will be my son, and I shall not withdraw my favour from him, as I withdrew it from your predecessor.
14 I shall set him over my temple and kingdom for ever and his throne will be for ever secure." '


2 Corinthians 6 v 16-18 16 The temple of God cannot compromise with false gods, and that is what we are -- the temple of the living God. We have God's word for it: I shall fix my home among them and live among them; I will be their God and they will be my people.

17 Get away from them, purify yourselves, says the Lord. Do not touch anything unclean, and then I shall welcome you.
18 I shall be father to you, and you will be sons and daughters to me, says the almighty Lord.




Notes of meeting 4 September 2012
Mark 4 v 35-41
35 With the coming of evening that same day, he said to them, 'Let us cross over to the other side.'
36 And leaving the crowd behind they took him, just as he was, in the boat; and there were other boats with him.
37 Then it began to blow a great gale and the waves were breaking into the boat so that it was almost swamped.
38 But he was in the stern, his head on the cushion, asleep.
39 They woke him and said to him, 'Master, do you not care? We are lost!' And he woke up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, 'Quiet now! Be calm!' And the wind dropped, and there followed a great calm.
40 Then he said to them, 'Why are you so frightened? Have you still no faith?'
41 They were overcome with awe and said to one another, 'Who can this be? Even the wind and the sea obey him.'

Lord we pray that you would keep us safe from the storms that threaten us.
The storms of the sinfulness and weakness within our hearts.
The storms of sinfulness and weakness at work in the world.
Lord bring us faith and trust in you as the one who will still these storms bring us your peace, 

Sense of the Northern Saints, Aiden, Cuthbert, Bede St Margaret Clitheroe  and many others praying with us. Thank you Lord for all those who have gone before us in the faith.

John 4 v 5 -14
 5 On the way he came to the Samaritan town called Sychar near the land that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.
6 Jacob's well was there and Jesus, tired by the journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour.
7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, 'Give me something to drink.'
8 His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.
9 The Samaritan woman said to him, 'You are a Jew. How is it that you ask me, a Samaritan, for something to drink?' -- Jews, of course, do not associate with Samaritans.
10 Jesus replied to her: If you only knew what God is offering and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me something to drink,' you would have been the one to ask, and he would have given you living water.
11 'You have no bucket, sir,' she answered, 'and the well is deep: how do you get this living water?
12 Are you a greater man than our father Jacob, who gave us this well and drank from it himself with his sons and his cattle?'
13 Jesus replied: Whoever drinks this water will be thirsty again;
14 but no one who drinks the water that I shall give will ever be thirsty again: the water that I shall give will become a spring of water within, welling up for eternal life.

Living Water

Notes of Praise and Intercession Meeting 28 August 2012

Psalm 42
1 As a deer yearns for running streams, so I yearn for you, my God.
2 I thirst for God, the living God; when shall I go to see the face of God?
3 I have no food but tears day and night, as all day long I am taunted, 'Where is your God?'
4 This I remember as I pour out my heart, how I used to pass under the roof of the Most High used to go to the house of God, among cries of joy and praise, the sound of the feast.
5 Why be so downcast, why all these sighs? Hope in God! I will praise him still, my Saviour,

6 my God. When I am downcast I think of you: from the land of Jordan and Hermon, I think of you, humble mountain.

7 Deep is calling to deep by the roar of your cataracts, all your waves and breakers have rolled over me.

8 In the daytime God sends his faithful love, and even at night; the song it inspires in me is a prayer to my living God.

9 I shall say to God, my rock, 'Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go around in mourning, harrassed by the enemy?'
10 With death in my bones, my enemies taunt me, all day long they ask me, 'Where is your God?'
11 Why so downcast, why all these sighs? Hope in God! I will praise him still, my Saviour, my God.


Sense of the suffering of the children lost through abortion

In the desert of our hearts you bring your living water
In the darkness of our hearts you bring your light
In the deep of our hearts you overshadow us with your Spirit

Picture of water flowing down from the hands of Jesus

See below Ann's article in Good News - we get a mention............

From darkness to the Kingdom of Light

Notes of meeting 21 August 2012

A picture of darkness coming toward the light. The darkness was peopled with beings of malice and the light with beings of love.
Those in the darkness looked as though they were trying to defend their area and were out for one last assault to try and dispel the light.
The beings of light quietly carried on praising and glorifying God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. The beings were filled with light and God's power. The light overcame the darkness and its beings retreated.

It was felt that through the above picture Jesus was telling us that never will he leave us in the dark, if we turn to him in our most terrible trials even in our greatest of sins he will come for he is light that same light that the demoniacs recognised in his time on earth. When Jesus cast out demons they always knew he was the Son of God and had authority over them.
If we open ourselves and let his light in nothing can harm us. All fear is dispelled thanks to the love and power of our God. These are the days to take that truth to ourselves, Satan cannot overcome God. Jesus the Light of the World will prevail and we are called to be part of his army of light.

Psalm 115 v 9-13

9 All you Israelites, trust in the Lord—
he is their help and shield.
10 House of Aaron, trust in the Lord—
he is their help and shield.
11 You who fear him, trust in the Lord—
he is their help and shield.
12 The Lord remembers us and will bless us:
He will bless his people Israel,
he will bless the house of Aaron,
13 he will bless those who fear the Lord—
small and great alike.


Psalm 119 v 145 - 160

145 I call with all my heart; answer me, Lord,
and I will obey your decrees.
146 I call out to you; save me
and I will keep your statutes.
147 I rise before dawn and cry for help;
I have put my hope in your word.
148 My eyes stay open through the watches of the night,
that I may meditate on your promises.
149 Hear my voice in accordance with your love;
preserve my life, Lord, according to your laws.
150 Those who devise wicked schemes are near,
but they are far from your law.
151 Yet you are near, Lord,
and all your commands are true.
152 Long ago I learned from your statutes
that you established them to last forever.
153 Look on my suffering and deliver me,
for I have not forgotten your law.
154 Defend my cause and redeem me;
preserve my life according to your promise.
155 Salvation is far from the wicked,
for they do not seek out your decrees.
156 Your compassion, Lord, is great;
preserve my life according to your laws.
157 Many are the foes who persecute me,
but I have not turned from your statutes.
158 I look on the faithless with loathing,
for they do not obey your word.
159 See how I love your precepts;
preserve my life, Lord, in accordance with your love.
160 All your words are true;
all your righteous laws are eternal.


1 Kings  17 v 7 - 15
Elijah and the Widow at Zarephath

7 Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land. 8 Then the word of the Lord came to him: 9 “Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.” 10 So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, “Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?” 11 As she was going to get it, he called, “And bring me, please, a piece of bread.”
12 “As surely as the Lord your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.”
13 Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. 14 For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.’”
15 She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. 16 For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah.

[New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.]

We are to do as God tells us..God can work abundantly through the small and insignificant
..He can put even our meagre praise and prayer to use.


See below words from the New Dawn Conference, which seemed very much to fit in with the word we received:

Intergenerational Healing Mass

Called to serve

Notes of Meeting 14 August 2012

Picture of Our Lady we had all arrived at her house she led us to a cool courtyard where vines kept the heat of the day out. She put out soft towels and fresh cool water to refresh and cleanse ourselves with. She went off and returned with plates of grapes, figs, bread and cheese. She asked us to sit down and share her meal with her. She said grace thanking the Father for the food and for us and as she finished Jesus came and sat with us.
There was much laughter, good will and love around the table each sharing his company no one trying to be the best or anything like that. Jesus was very happy. Mary started to clear away and she would have no help but told us to listen to Jesus.
Jesus then said he would speak a private special word with each person present and all of us eagerly waited for his or her turn. Each person returned to the courtyard filled, anointed, happy and blissful brimming with his words, aching with his love and wanting to impart this wonderful feeling with others.

I felt Our Lady who shared her simple feast with us was in fact telling us to do the same! We have a feast of blessings and gifts which others need to meet Jesus personally as we have. We have these blessing and gifts by the grace of God and we need to lead others to this encounter of grace with God.

Matthew 20 v 25-28
25 But Jesus called them to him and said, 'You know that among the gentiles the rulers lord it over them, and great men make their authority felt.
26 Among you this is not to happen. No; anyone who wants to become great among you must be your servant,
27 and anyone who wants to be first among you must be your slave,
28 just as the Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'


Luke 13 v 18-30
18 He went on to say, 'What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it with?
19 It is like a mustard seed which a man took and threw into his garden: it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air sheltered in its branches.'
20 Again he said, 'What shall I compare the kingdom of God with?
21 It is like the yeast a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour till it was leavened all through.'
22 Through towns and villages he went teaching, making his way to Jerusalem.
23 Someone said to him, 'Sir, will there be only a few saved?' He said to them,
24 'Try your hardest to enter by the narrow door, because, I tell you, many will try to enter and will not succeed.
25 'Once the master of the house has got up and locked the door, you may find yourself standing outside knocking on the door, saying, "Lord, open to us," but he will answer, "I do not know where you come from."
26 Then you will start saying, "We once ate and drank in your company; you taught in our streets,"
27 but he will reply, "I do not know where you come from; away from me, all evil doers!"
28 'Then there will be weeping and grinding of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrown out.
29 And people from east and west, from north and south, will come and sit down at the feast in the kingdom of God.
30 'Look, there are those now last who will be first, and those now first who will be last.'


Matthew 11 v 2 -6
2 Now John had heard in prison what Christ was doing and he sent his disciples to ask him,
3 'Are you the one who is to come, or are we to expect someone else?'
4 Jesus answered, 'Go back and tell John what you hear and see;
5 the blind see again, and the lame walk, those suffering from virulent skin-diseases are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life and the good news is proclaimed to the poor;
6 and blessed is anyone who does not find me a cause of falling.'


I died for you, rose for you, ascended for you.
I want to fill you with My Power.
I desire to fill you with My Spirit.
To fill you with My Love, to fill you with My Mercy, to fill you with My Healing.
My children I love you, how much I love you.

The True Shepherd

Notes from Meeting 24 July 2012

Picture of Jesus in a field with his sheep. All the very young sheep were jumping and gambolling around him as he stroked each one. They loved him and he loved them.
Jesus asked his flock to follow him. The young followed straight away. The older ones were comfortable eating the lush grass and hedges, still most of them complied, some though were stubborn and carried on eating ignoring their masters call to move.
Some even thought they knew better as this seemed good pasture and they ignored his call.
Jesus called a second time and a few more joined him.
In the distance wolves were moving steadily closer toward them.
Jesus called a third time. All the other sheep were safe with Jesus in the sheepfold. The sheep outside the sheepfold realised they were in  great danger and started to panic and tremble.
Jesus came among them and lifted his crook to the wolves, they turned away and slunk off.
Jesus said "Come follow me, none shall harm my own, I lay down my for my own, if you follow me I will lead you to rich pasture, come my beloved flock, heed my call, be with me the true shepherd".

Matthew 9 v 35- 37
35 Jesus made a tour through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing all kinds of disease and all kinds of illness.

36 And when he saw the crowds he felt sorry for them because they were harassed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd.
37 Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers to his harvest.'

Hebrews 6 v 1-3 
1 Let us leave behind us then all the elementary teaching about Christ and go on to its completion, without going over the fundamental doctrines again: the turning away from dead actions, faith in God,
2 the teaching about baptisms and the laying -- on of hands, about the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgement.
3 This, God willing, is what we propose to do.