Acapella Rendition of Little Drummer Boy

Here is an acapella rendition of Little Drummer Boy...  fresh and amazing!

Church-Approved Apparitions of Mary

The Lord loves us so much that He never leaves us alone in our troubles.

How do we know this?

Throughout the history of mankind, He has always communicated with us.  Telling us of miracles and giving us warnings.  In our more godly days, He even walked among us.  Remember the story of God and his two angels going to Abraham's tent to tell Abraham that he would have a son?  In those days, people prayed in groups everyday.  Their days began with prayers and ended with prayers.  They even made sacrifices.  Do we still do that now?  Maybe some of us...but not all.  

In more recent times, it has been Blessed Mary who has been coming with messages asking us to pray more, sacrifice more and love more.  

These are the nine major approved Marian apparitions of modern times as listed at www.theotokos.org.

The Apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe in MexicoMary appeared four times to Juan Diego in 1531 at Tepeyac hill near Mexico City. She proclaimed herself the spiritual mother of all mankind and left her miraculous image on Juan Diego's outer garment, his tilma. To this day Mexicans have a great devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe. The Apparitions at Rue du Bac, Paris, France Mary appeared to Catherine Labouré, in the chapel of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, at Rue du Bac in Paris, three times in 1830. She showed her the design of the the medal of the Immaculate Conception, the "Miraculous Medal." This medal, when propagated, helped to renew devotion to Our Lady, both in France and eventually around the world. The Apparition at La Salette, France Mary appeared to two children, Maximin Giraud, aged 11, and Mélanie Calvat, aged 14, in 1846, one afternoon while they were looking after the animals high up on the mountain. She appealed for penance and an end to Sabbath breaking and blasphemy in the region. This apparition is credited with a major revival of Catholicism in the area. The Apparitions at Lourdes, France Mary appeared to Bernadette Soubirous, aged 14, a total of eighteen times at Lourdes in southern France, at the Grotto of Massabielle. She asked for penance and prayer for the conversion of sinners, and described herself as the "the Immaculate Conception." Lourdes is most famous for the miraculous spring which has been responsible for many cures accepted by the Church. The Apparition at Pontmain, France Mary appeared in the sky over the small town of Pontmain in north-western France to a group of young children for about three hours in January 1871, as the Franco-Prussian war was threatening the area. Her message appeared on a banner under her feet, and encouraged prayer while emphasising Jesus' love and concern. The village was spared invasion. The Apparition at Knock, Ireland Mary appeared at Knock, a small village in Count Mayo, Ireland in August 1879. A number of villagers of diverse ages saw a silent apparition, which lasted about three hours, outside the gable end of the local church. They saw three figures, Mary, Joseph, and St John the Apostle, as well as a lamb on an altar and angels. The Apparitions at Fatima, Portugal Three children, Lucia de Santos, aged 10, and her two cousins, Francisco Marto, aged 9, and Jacinta Marto, aged 7, saw Mary six times between May and October 1917. She described herself as "Our Lady of the Rosary," while urging prayer, and particularly the rosary, as well as penance for the conversion of sinners, and the consecration of Russia to her Immaculate Heart. The Apparitions at Beauraing, Belgium Mary appeared thirty-three times to a group of children in the winter of 1932-33 at Beauraing in Belgium, in a convent garden near a hawthorn tree. She described herself as "the Immaculate Virgin" and "Mother of God, Queen of Heaven," while calling for prayer for the conversion of sinners. The Apparitions at Banneux, Belgium Mary appeared eight times to Mariette Beco, aged 11, outside the family home at Banneux, a small village, in Belgium. She described herself as the "Virgin of the Poor," and promised to intercede for the poor, the sick and the suffering.

You Do Not Know On What Day Your Lord Is Coming

One of the important parts of a Catholic's faith is preparing for the coming of Jesus.  Some people do not like to talk about this because they think it is talk about the end of the world, the apocalypse, death, destruction ... as always portrayed in the Hollywood movies.

However, our focus should not be on that as we should be so happy that Jesus is coming, to bring in the new world.  This new world refers to the world that was originally given to Adam and Eve.  Of course, we know what happened to them.  Disobedience made them lose that wonderful world.

Jesus is our second chance... Jesus is our saviour.  But will we be ready when he comes?

Here are some bible verses that warn us to be ready for we do not know when Jesus will come.  Never ever think it cannot be during your time...for nobody knows the time, except for our Eternal Father.

Bible verses from Matthew Chapter 24

36   "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.

37   As were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of man.

38   For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark,

39   and they did not know until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of man.

40   Then two men will be in the field; one is taken and one is left.

41   Two women will be grinding at the mill; one is taken and one is left.

42   Watch therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.

43   But know this, that if the householder had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched and would not have let his house be broken into.

44   Therefore you also must be ready; for the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

45   "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time?

The Heroic Act of Charity

There may be some among us who feel sad for the neglected and forgotten Holy Souls in Purgatory and want to help as much as possible.  Besides the Prayer of St Gertrude, we can also offer all the satisfactory value of our prayers, alms, fasts, penances, and the suffrages given to us after our deaths, without reserving anything at all with which to discharge our own debts. We do not do this of our own, but instead deposit our offering with the Blessed Virgin Mary that she might distribute them, as the Mediatrix of All Graces, according to her good pleasure, to those souls she chooses to deliver from Purgatory.

Since by doing this, we forgo the lessening of our own time in Purgatory, hence the title Heroic Act.  St Gertrude and St Therese of Lisieux made this vow while still alive.

This vow is revocable at any time.

By making this vow, we greatly increase our merits in Heaven, especially because we put our total faith in God's Mercy on us.

The Heroic Act of Charity

O Holy and Adorable Trinity, desiring to aid in the relief and release of the Holy Souls in Purgatory, through my devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, I cede and renounce, on behalf of these souls, all the satisfactory part of my works, and all the suffrages which may be given to me after my death. In their entirety, I offer them to Mary, the Most Holy Mother of God, that she may use them, according to her good pleasure, for those souls of the faithful departed whom she desires to alleviate their suffering. O my God, deign to accept and bless my offering which I make to Thee through the most august Queen of Heaven and Earth. Amen.

For those who may argue against praying 'for the dead'.

II Maccabees 12:43-46 : "And making a gathering, he [Judas] sent twelve thousand drachms of silver to Jerusalem for sacrifice to be offered for the sins of the dead, thinking well and religiously concerning the resurrection, (For if he had not hoped that they that were slain should rise again, it would have seemed superfluous and vain to pray for the dead,) And because he considered that they who had fallen asleep with godliness, had great grace laid up for them. It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins."

Hunting For Scapulars

First, a quick intro to the Brown Scapular.

The scapular is a small piece of cloth that is a part of the Carmelite Order, a religious community. Those who wear the scapular are sharing in the order's special devotion to the Mother of Christ. They who wear the scapular in a spirit of true devotion and love have a special claim to Mary's intercession and protection.

On the surface, some people may think scapulars are superstitious "good luck charms" that guarantee our entrance into heaven. They do not. Only living in a state of grace will guarantee us eternal salvation. However, scapulars are a special gift from God by which we attain protective graces.

The Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to St. Simon Stock in the year 1251. She promised that all who wear the brown scapular "shall not suffer eternal fire; if wearing it when they die, they shall be saved." This assumes, of course, that one does not deliberately lead a sinful life and make a mockery of God's law.

For me, the brown scapular has been a constant source of comfort.  I also believe that when I wear it, I am showing our blessed Mother my faith in Her intercession.

All these years, I've been buying countless pieces of scapulars.  Where I live, the pieces sold are of poor quality.  They fall apart so easily.  The cords are thin and the images on the felt pieces look weird.  One friend even said it reminded him of Chucky.  Brrrr.

This scapular is a better-looking version compared to the ones I can buy in my hometown. 

I tried searching in religious shops for better-looking and more durable scapulars.  Finally I gave up.  Today I ventured online and what a treasure trove of scapulars have I found.  Here are some of the available scapulars... gorgeous!

 The Brown Scapular of Mount Carmel
(the traditional scapular)

 The Scapular of Mount Carmel

 The Divine Mercy Scapular

 The Red Passion Scapular

 

Children's Scapular

 The Crusader Scapular

For more information about the Brown Scapular, read 'Garment of Grace'.

P/S : I have found an absolutely wonderful supplier of scapulars at Rosescapular.net.  I've been buying from them and shipments are prompt.  Requests via email have been handled well (and I've even made friends!).  The scapulars are also of good quality (I'm super satisfied!).  My favourites are the Mount of Carmel scapulars, the St Michael scapular, the Crusader Scapular and the Trinity Scapular.  Friends have been reporting that the scapulars have helped them a lot.  Some have reported better sleep (they had been troubled with restless dreams or nightmares... even actual disturbances in their rooms.).

The 15 Prayers of St Bridget Saved Me!

After ten years of dealing with problems and troubles, I was at my wits' end.  The least of which was terrible headaches that the doctors couldn't help me with.  I was just looking for a solution...ANYTHING.  I truly understood why some people were willing to believe in charlatans and quacks... when you suffer enough, you will try anything.  Even if that person is wearing a grass skirt and waving a black chicken around his head.

Then, by providence... or perhaps by God's Will, a friend told me to try reciting the 15 Prayers of St Bridget.  I'd never heard of these prayers but I was willing to try.  Then the very first day, things started happening around me.  Crazy things.

I called up my friend and demanded to know what sort of prayer was this.  He asked why I would query something good.

This is what he said :
The St Bridget Prayers uncover malice around you.
The St Bridget Prayers force people to speak truth.

Just those two was enough to upset my life... before it settled it in a different state, changed forever.

When I did research, I found out that St Bridget of Sweden was a mystic (but then most of the saints were!) and this prayer was a mystical one.

For me, the prayer took away old addictions and gave me strength to renew my spiritual life.  It has changed my life and my destiny.  Besides taking away my headaches.

And this prayer is the reason I became a Sunday School teacher.  But of course, the real story is a bit more complex than that :)

One of my ongoing discoveries about myself is that the more I read and learn about God, about Jesus and all His Saints and Angels, the more revelations and wonders I uncover and understand.

I had been guilty of thinking of my God as removed from me and my life when the truth is that He is very much part of my life and so are his saints and angels.  And when I read of incidents such as the one below, I feel such a surge of love and warmth... I also wonder just how many times my own guardian angel 'saved' me without my knowledge.  Such 'rescues' may not be as obvious as the one experienced by Michael the soldier but I have no doubt that they were just as critical.

What I repost below comes from another website ... just click on the title below to go to that website.

Incredible Miracle: U.S. Marine Saved by Saint Michael

This is the true story of a Marine wounded in Korea in 1950. Writing to his mother, he told her of a fascinating encounter he experienced in the war.  Father Walter Muldy, a navy chaplain who spoke to the young Marine and his mother as well as to the outfit commander, always affirmed the veracity of this narrative. We heard it from someone who read the original letter and retell the story here in all its details and in the first person to better convey some of the impact it must have had when first told by the son to his mother.

• Click here to print the novena to Saint Michael
• Michael, Michael of the Morning Prayer
• Saint Michael Chaplet
• Prayer to Saint Michael
• Video:  Where Saint Michael Appeared

Dear Mom,

I am writing to you from a hospital bed. Don't worry, Mom, I am okay. I was wounded, but the doctor says that I will be up in no time.

But that's not what I have to tell you, Mom. Something happened to me that I don't dare tell anyone else for fear of their disbelief. But I have to tell you, the one person I can confide in, though even you may find it hard to believe.

You remember the prayer to Saint Michael that you taught me to pray when I was little: "Michael, Michael of the morning,…" Before I left home for Korea, you urged me to remember this prayer before any confrontation with the enemy. But you really didn't have to remind me, Mom. I have always prayed it, and when I got to Korea, I sometimes said it a couple of times a day while marching or resting.

Well, one day, we were told to move forward to scout for Commies. It was a really cold day. As I was walking along, I perceived another fellow walking beside me, and I looked to see who it was.

He was a big fellow, a Marine about 6'4" and built proportionally. Funny, but I didn't know him, and I thought I knew everyone in my unit. I was glad to have the company and broke the silence between us:

"Chilly today, isn't it?" Then I chuckled because suddenly it seemed absurd to talk about the weather when we were advancing to meet the enemy.
He chuckled too, softly.

"I thought I knew everyone in my outfit," I continued, " but I have never seen you before."

"No," he agreed, "I have just joined. The name is Michael."

"Really?! That's mine, too."

"I know," the Marine said, "Michael, Michael of the morning…."

Mom, I was really surprised that he knew about my prayer, but I had taught  it to many of the other guys, so I supposed that the newcomer must have picked it up from someone else. As a matter of fact, it had gotten around to the extent that some of the fellows were calling me "Saint Michael."

Then, out of the blue, Michael said, "There's going to be trouble ahead."

I wondered how he could know that. I was breathing hard from the march, and my breath hit the cold air like dense clouds of fog. Michael seemed to be in top shape because I couldn't see his breath at all. Just then, it started to snow heavily, and soon it was so dense I could no longer hear or see the rest of my outfit. I got a little scared and yelled, "Michael!" Then I felt his strong hand on my shoulder and heard his voice in my ear, "It's going to clear up soon."

It did clear up, suddenly. And then, just a short distance ahead of us, like so many dreadful realities, were seven Commies, looking rather comical in their funny hats. But there was nothing funny about them now; their guns were steady and pointed straight in our direction.

"Down, Michael!!" I yelled as I dove for cover. Even as I was hitting the ground, I looked up and saw Michael still standing, as if paralyzed by fear, or so I thought at the time. Bullets were spurting all over the place, and Mom, there was no way those Commies could have missed at that short distance. I jumped up to pull him down, and then I was hit. The pain was like a hot fire in my chest, and as I fell, my head swooned and I remember thinking, "I must be dying…" Someone was laying me down, strong arms were holding me and laying me gently on the snow. Through the daze, I opened my eyes, and the sun seemed to blaze in my eyes. Michael was standing still, and there was a terrible splendor in his face. Suddenly, he seemed to grow, like the sun, the splendor increasing intensely around him like the wings of an angel. As I slipped into unconsciousness, I saw that Michael held a sword in his hand, and it flashed like a million lights.

Later on, when I woke up, the rest of the guys came to see me with the sergeant.

"How did you do it, son?" he asked me.

"Where's Michael?" I asked in reply.

"Michael who?" The sergeant seemed puzzled.

"Michael, the big Marine walking with me, right up to the last moment. I saw him there as I fell."

"Son," the sergeant said gravely, "you're the only Michael in my unit. I hand-picked all you fellows, and there's only one Michael. You. And son, you weren't walking with anyone. I was watching you because you were too far off from us, and I was worried.

Now tell me, son," he repeated, "how did you do it?"

It was the second time he had asked me that, and I found it irritating.

"How did I do what?"

"How did you kill those seven Commies? There wasn't a single bullet fired from your rifle."

"What?"

"Come on, son. They were strewn all around you, each one killed by a swordstroke."

And that, Mom, is the end of my story. It may have been the pain, or the blazing sun, or the chilling cold. I don't know, Mom, but there is one thing I am sure about. It happened.

Love your son, Michael

• Print your novena to Saint Michael
• Michael, Michael of the Morning Prayer
• Saint Michael Chaplet
• Prayer to Saint Michael
• Video:  Where Saint Michael Appeared