The Life of Mary As Seen By The Mystics

This is a wonderful book written by Raphael Brown, who referenced the writings of four great mystics; St Bridget of Sweden, Ven. Anne Catherine Emmerich, Ven. Maria of Agreda and St Elizabeth Schoenau.  There is no way one could intently read or listen to this book without experiencing a change within.

You can get the audiobook MP3 files here http://www.soulofmary.com/life.html.

My Very Own Prayer Booklet!

After years of carrying around various prayer booklets (because I liked two prayers in one, three in another and one in yet another), I suddenly had an idea...why don't I make my own prayer booklet?

I mean, I've been making booklets for various purposes at work...why not for my own use?

And so I got down to work.

And this is the result...I'm very happy with it.  My handbag's so much lighter now.  The best thing is...I can change it any time I want.

Prayer booklet in MS Publisher format

http://www.mediafire.com/view/6nlq3d9ih50wahh/Prayer_Booklet_14_May_2014.pub

Prayer booklet in PDF (single page format, portrait)
http://www.mediafire.com/view/p7y3u16kd34jnp9/Prayer_Booklet_Single_Page_Format_14_May_2014.pdf

Prayer booklet in PDF (side fold, double page, landscape, running pages)
http://www.mediafire.com/view/u3ct5s69n2bdgpw/Prayer_Booklet_Side_Fold_Running_Pages_14_May_2014.pdf

Contents:

St Michael the Archangel prayer                                           

Saints’ Quotations on Prayer                                                          

How To Pray The Rosary                                                   

Mysteries of the Rosary                                                      

Prayers of the Rosary                                                          

Marian Consecration Prayer                                                   
Prayer to the Two Hearts 
Double Great Novena 

The 15 Prayers of St Bridget                                             

The Chaplet of Divine Mercy 

Other Prayers

Prayer of St Gertrude 

Prayer to St Joseph 

The Miracle Prayers

-Prayer To Apply The Blood of Christ 

-Prayer Before Reading the Bible

-Prayer For Salvation 

-Prayer of Healing 

-Prayer To Break Generational Curses 

-Prayer Against Fear 

-House Dedication Prayer 

Chaplet of the Most Precious Blood 

Litany of the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ 

Consecration to the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ

Prayers in Latin 

Aspirations (Short Prayers)

Sacramentals 

Five Crowns Promised by God 

Armour of God 

Spiritual Communion 

Keys to Heaven 

Anima Christi (Soul of Christ)

Indulgences 

Original St Michael the Archangel Prayer 

Angel of God Prayer 

The Great Battle Has Begun

Last month, I decided to visit the website belonging to Dr Kelly Bowring who wrote that bestseller 'Secrets, Chastisement and Triumph of the Two Hearts of Jesus and Mary.'  Much to my delight, he had written a second book.  I noticed the title 'The Great Battle Has Begun.'

Just as quickly, my attention was taken by the title of his latest post 'Catholic Prophecy Fulfilled'.  Curiosity piqued, I read it and found out that there was a lady who was getting messages from Heaven and one of those messages in 2012 mentioned that Pope Benedict would step down.  And so he did about a year later. I followed the link to this lady's website and found more messages.  Very interesting messages.

Were they for real?  Well, as with all revelations, only time will tell.   But I read them out of curiosity.

However the purpose of my post is Dr Kelly Bowring's book.  I quickly bought the Kindle ebook and wasted no time reading it.

This is what I found :

'The Great Battle Has Begun' talks of the Signs of the Times.  Dr Bowring shows how Heaven is telling us that we are the generation of the fulfillment of the biblical prophecies of the latter times.  And he shows us what to do to get safely through these times.

Here are the list of chapters :
Chapter One : The Signs of Our Time
Chapter Two : The Final Confrontation
Chapter Three : The Seven Seals
Chapter Four : The Seven Trumpets
PHASE 1 : THE GREAT TRIBULATION HAS BEGUN!
Chapter Five : The Three Waves of Disruptions
Chapter Six : First Wave : Economic Turmoil & Collapse
Chapter Seven : Second Wave : Israel Is The Target
Chapter Eight : Third Wave : Communist Russia Will Rise Again... Aligned With China
Chapter Nine : The Importance of Medjugorje
PHASE 2 : THE GREAT APOSTASY
Chapter Ten : A False Christ & A False Church
Chapter Eleven : How The False Prophet Will Take Control From Within The Church
Chapter Twelve : The True Pope : Peter The Roman
Chapter Thirteen : Russia Will Raise Her Flag Over St. Peter's Dome
Chapter Fourteen : China Is The Red Dragon
Chapter Fifteen : The European Union Is Babylon Falling
PHASE 3 : THE GREAT HAVOC OF WAR & DISASTER... INCLUDING IN AMERICA
PHASE 4 : THE GREAT WARNING ... OF GOD'S MERCY
Chapter Sixteen : The Great Miracle... of God's Love
PHASE 5 : THE GREAT RENEWAL
Chapter Seventeen : The New Ark
Chapter Eighteen : The False Prophet
Chapter Nineteen : Who Is The False Prophet?  The One Who Leads The False Church From Rome
Chapter Twenty : The Antichrist
Chapter Twenty-One : Who Is The Antichrist? The One Who Brokers The Middle East Peace Plan
Chapter Twenty-Two : The Chastisements Are Necessary
PHASE 6 : THE GREAT PERSECUTION
Chapter Twenty-Three : The Two Witnesses
Chapter Twenty-Four : The Anti-Trinity of Evil
Chapter Twenty-Five : The Image of the Beast
PHASE 7 : THE GREAT CHASTISEMENT
Chapter Twenty-Six : The People of God Will Be Crucified & Rise Again
Chapter Twenty-Seven : The Antichrist Will Not Fully Succeed
PHASE 8 : THE GREAT VICTORY
Chapter Twenty-Eight : The 3 Days of Darkness
Chapter Twenty-Nine : The Second Coming of Christ - NOT the Final Coming at The End of Time
Chapter Thirty : The Era of Peace
Chapter Thirty-One : Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary & New Global Reign of Eucharistic Heart of Christ
Chapter Thirty-Two : The Two Hearts -Side by Side
Chapter Thirty-Three : The Universal Kingdom of the Divine Will
Chapter Thirty-Four : What is God Asking Us To Do Right Now?
Chapter Thirty-Five : Three Heavenly Requests for The Church Leaders
Chapter Thirty-Six : No Time Left To Delay!
Chapter Thirty-Seven : Become The Great Apostles of the Latter Times!
Chapter Thirty-Eight : Fight... Children of the Light!
Chapter Thirty-Nine : Go & Spread This Heavenly Message NOW!
Chapter Forty : This Is Your Final Call : Enter The Two Hearts And the Divine Will

Friends ask me, how do you know if it's true?  How do you know what to believe?  My answer is very simple :  Pray and ask for discernment.  Read the bible and see if the words in the book contradict what is said in the Book of Revelation.

In the end, does it matter whether it happens now or later?  All of us have souls to look after.  We should begin NOW.  For tomorrow may not come.


For those who are very particular about dots and dashes, the Holy See has guidelines regarding private revelations.

Extracted from Catholic News Agency's article :

Cardinal Levada of The Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith made clear in his preface to the guidelines that, unlike public revelation, Catholics are not bound to accept the veracity or content of any private revelation, not even those officially approved by church authorities.

Ecclesiastical approval “essentially means that its message contains nothing contrary to faith and morals.” He added, however, that private revelations can have a “certain prophetic character” and can also “introduce new emphases, give rise to new forms of piety, or deepen older ones.”

I'm all for deepening of piety!

For those who may be interested in buying the book, you can get them at :
Two Hearts Press
Book Depository.com
Amazon.com

Vainglory : An Enemy of Those Consecrated To The Lord

When I was in San Giovanni Rotondo, I visited the bookshop at Padre Pio Pilgrimage Church and bought a few books.  In one of those books (Saint Pio of Pietrelcina : 100 Letters For You), I came across a very thought-provoking missive where Padre Pio gave some advice regarding vainglory.  The most riveting statement he made was this : 

Vainglory ..is an enemy that assails those who have consecrated themselves to the Lord and embraced the spiritual life.... can rightly be called the consuming moth of souls tending to perfection.  

Here is the letter is its entirety.

St. Padre Pio to Father Agostino

"My very dear Father, In your last, to which I am replying after a long delay, you asked me for something to say to those two people. I recommended the matter a number of times to Our Lord and it seems to me that he wants me to speak of vainglory so as to put them on their guard against such a powerful enemy.

This is an enemy that assails those who have consecrated themselves to the Lord and embraced the spiritual life. Hence it can rightly be called the consuming moth of souls tending to perfection. The Saints refer to it as the woodworm of holiness.

In order that we might understand how opposed vainglory is to perfection Our Lord shows how he reproved the Apostles when he found them full of complacency and vainglory because the devils had obeyed their commands: "Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you."

Moreover, to fix firmly in their minds the sad effects of this abominable vice when it creeps into their hearts, he terrifies them by drawing their attention to the example of Lucifer, who was flung headlong from a great height because of the vain complacency he took in the gifts with which God had endowed him: "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven."

This vice is all the more to be feared by reason of the fact that there is no contrary virtue by which it can be fought. In point of face, every vice has a remedy and an opposite virtue: anger is demolished by meekness, envy by charity, pride by humility and so forth. Vainglory alone has no contrary virtue by which it can be combated. It seeps into the holiest acts and even in humility itself, if one is not watchful, it proudly sets up its tent.

St. John Chrysostom in speaking of vainglory says: "Do as much as you will for the purpose of repressing vainglory in yourself; you will in fact only excite it all the more." And why? Let us hear the same holy Doctor again: "Every evil is born from evil; only vainglory proceeds from good and therefore it is not extinguished by good but on the contrary is increased."

The devil, my dear Father, knows very well that a man who is lustful, greedy or avaricious, a sinner, has more reason to be confused and to blush than to glory in his actions, and therefore he takes care not to tempt him on this score, but if he spares such persons from this battle he does not spare good people, especially those who are striving for perfection. All the other vices hold sway only over those who allow themselves to be vanquished and mastered by them, but vainglory raises its head against those very persons who combat and defeat it. It has the courage to assail the very ones who vanquish it, through the victories they win over it. It is an enemy that is never wearied, an enemy that enters into all our actions to wage war on us, and if we are not on our guard we fall a victim to it.

In order to avoid praise by others we prefer secret and hidden fasts to those which are known, we prefer silence to eloquent speaking, we prefer to be despised than to be held in esteem, we prefer contempt to honours. Alas, my God, in this also vainglory wants to poke its nose, as they say, by inducing us to vain complacency.

St. Jerome was quite right when he compared vainglory to one's shadow. In point of face, our shadow follows us everywhere and even marks our steps. If we run, it runs too. If we proceed at a slow pace, the shadow does likewise. If we sit down, our shadow takes the same posture.

Vainglory acts in the same way; it follows virtue everywhere. It would be useless for the body to try to escape from its shadow which accompanies it always and everywhere. The same thing happens to anyone who is striving for virtue, for perfection; the more he flees from vainglory the more he is beset by it. Dear Father, let us all fear this great enemy of ours. Those two souls should fear it still more, for there is something impregnable about this enemy.

They must always be on the alert and not allow this formidable enemy to invade their minds and hearts, because once it gets in it mars every virtue, corrodes all holiness and corrupts everything that is beautiful and good.

They should strive to ask God constantly for the grace to be preserved from this pestilential vice, for "every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the father of lights." Let them open wide their hearts to trust in God, always bearing in mind that all that is good in them is a pure gift of the heavenly Bridegroom's supreme bounty.

They should impress on their minds, engrave deeply in their hearts and be convinced that none is good except God and that all we have is nothing. They must continue to meditate assiduously on what St. Paul wrote to the faithful of Corinth: "What have you that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if it were not a gift? Not that we are sufficient of ourselves," he writes elsewhere, "to claim anything as coming from us, our sufficiency is from God."

When these two people feel tempted to vainglory, they should repeat with St. Bernard: "I haven't begun for you, nor do I want to finish for you." Hence by these paths I intend to pursue my way. If the enemy attacks them on the score of the holiness of their lives, let them shout in his face: "my holiness is not an affect of my own spirit, but it  is the Spirit of God who sanctifies me. This is a gift from God, it is a talent lent to me by my Spouse so that I can trade with it and when the time comes give him an exact account of the profit I have gained."

They should conceal the good their Beloved is operating in them. The virtues are to be kept as a person keeps a treasure which if not hidden from the sight of envious people, will be seized. The devil is always on the watch; he is the most envious of all and he seeks to seize at once this treasure consisting of the virtues as soon as he recognizes it. This he does by having us attacked by this powerful enemy which is vainglory.

In order to preserve us from this great adversary, Our Lord who is always concerned for our good, warns us on this point in various parts o the Gospel. Does he not tell us that when we want to pray we should go into our room, shut the door so as not to be seen by men and pray to Our Father who is in secret? That when we fast we should wash our faces so that others may not see that we are fasting, as they observe our dismal and disfigured countenance? That when we give alms we should not let our right hand know what our left hand is doing?

They should be careful never to speak to others of the things with which our good Jesus favours them, except in the case of their director and confessor. Let them invariably direct their actions to the pure glory of God as the Apostle wishes: "So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." They should renew this holy intention every now and then. They should examine themselves after each action and if they recognize any imperfection in it, not be upset but repent and humble themselves before the goodness of God, ask pardon of the Lord and implore him to make them more careful in future.

They must avoid all vanity in dress, for the Lord allows souls to fall because of such vanity.

A woman who is frivolous as regards dress can never be clothed in the life of Jesus Christ and she loses all adornment of soul once this idol enters into her heart. Let these women adorn themselves, as St. Paul would have it, modestly and sensibly in seemly apparel, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly attire which are a sign of luxury and ostentation.

Thank them on my behalf for the prayers they send up to the Lord for me and ask them to continue to do so, as I am in very great need of prayers. Assure them that I shall not forget to do the same for them in my own poor prayers.

Every affectionate wish to yourself and to Father Provincial.

Yours, Fra Pio, Capuchin"

"Get Us Out Of Here!"

I just finished reading a book so riveting that I couldn't put it down. 

"Get Us Out Of Here" is a record of interviews with Maria Simma which was written by Nicky Eltz.  For those who have never heard of Maria Simma, she was an Austrian mystic who had the charism of being visited by souls from purgatory who were allowed to make requests of her.  Most of the requests were of masses and prayers and some were for messages to be conveyed to family.

This book was given an imprimatur in its eighth printing (October, 2010).  Which means that there is nothing in the book that is against church teaching.

Here are some excerpts from the book:

Excerpt 1
Maria, what happened the first time a Poor Soul visited you?
             The very first time I woke up because someone was pacing back and forth in my room.  I was never scared easily and really wouldn't be unless someone actually jumped into my face.  So I thought,"Who's this?"  It was a complete stranger walking impatiently back and forth at the foot of my bed and I called out,"Hey! Who are you?"  No answer.  Then I jumped out of bed, ran at him and tried to grab him, calling,"Now see to it that you  get out of here.  Get lost!  There's nothing here of yours!"  But nothing was there!  Then I thought,"I wasn't dreaming.  I saw him, I heard him."
.......
The next day, I quickly went over to my Priest and told him what had happened.  "I don't know what happened to me last night.  Have I gone mad?"  To this he said,"Why should you have gone mad?  If it was to happen again, do not ask,'Who are you?', but rather ask,'What is it that you need from me?'  It could be a Poor Soul."
.......
The next night, there he was again!  This time I did ask,"What is it that you need of me?"  The fellow stopped, turned and looked at me, saying,"Have three Masses celebrated for me: then I will be delivered."  And he disappeared instantly.

Excerpt 2

Is there any official recognition by the Church when it comes to your particular experience?
            I am obedient to my Priest and to my Bishops who have said that as long as everything is theologically correct, as it has been so far, to continue with my apostolate.
            At first, Bishop Wechner did have problems with my being able to get answers for other people.  He called me in to see him and asked me from where these answers came, so I responded exactly the way I had found out myself when all this started.
           Very early on I asked a soul where it was getting the information.  I thought perhaps that it would go out into Purgatory to find the other soul and then ask the second what it needed to be delivered.  But the one in front of me instead answered,"No, all the information that we bring to you comes from and with the permission of the Mother of Mercy."  When the good Bishop heard this he said,"Well, in that case I cannot and will not say anything against it."

What do you mean by the mother of mercy?
           Oh, the Mother of Mercy is one of the many titles given to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus and therefore the mother of all of us.

Excerpt 3

What exactly is the difference between your experience and that of spiritists or so-called mediums or channelers?
           If the public believes only one thing that I say, I would want it to be this.  The difference is very simple and very clear, and we MUST hold to it with ALL SERIOUSNESS.  What happens with spiritists is that they THINK they are calling the souls of the deceased; but if there is any reaction to their calling them, it is ALWAYS and without exception SATAN and his agents who are responding.  Spiritists and channelers are doing something extremely dangerous both to themselves and to the people who go to them for advice.  They are living an enormous pack of lies.  We are NOT permitted to call the deceased!  That is STRICTLY FORBIDDEN!  In my case, I NEVER called them, NEVER do and NEVER will.  Jesus has permitted this through His Mother.
           But Satan, of course, can and does copy and fake anything and everything that comes from God.  He monkeys God and monkeys everything God does.  He can copy the souls' voices, and he can copy their looks, but whatever reaction there is, it's ALWAYS from the Evil One.  Don't forget, Satan can even heal, but these healings never last.

Excerpt 3 is supported by so many other sources, among which is the Bible.  Plus a book I read recently written by Father Jose Francisco C. Syquia of the Archdiocese of Manila, Philippines also mentions this very crucial difference.

If someone you know calls souls or spirits, that is a clear sign that what he is doing is NOT good.  It is a signal for all discerning people to quickly distance themselves from the person doing the calling.  It is not worth the risk to your soul.

I tried to find Nicky Eltz's book on local online bookstores but they didn't carry it.  I tried to locate ebook formats but no such luck.  All I have is a photocopy... sigh...

Reading The Lives of The Saints

In the beginning of my quest to learn more about God and to become closer to Him, I came across a suggestion by someone.  That person suggested that one can read the lives of the saints.  I forgotten who said it but I also came across the same thing in Sr Emmanuel's book where she wrote that the Gospa wishes us to read about the lives of the saints.

Since then I have read countless books and articles on saints such as :

St Bridget of Sweden
St Therese of Lisieux
The Cure of Ars
Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich
St Anne
St Joachim
Blessed Mary of Agreda
St Gertrude

and many more!

What I have found is the great love they all had for God.  The way they lived their lives were done as closely as possible to what they thought God wanted.  And as a result, they put into word and action their love for their fellow men, in whose faces they saw Jesus.

In the beginning, I found it hard to accept some of the things I read, for I am a product of this world... I have read the magazines & books and I have watched thousands of hours of television programs that keep on telling me, in a sort of mantra :

Put yourself first.
Go for success.
Money is king.
Image is important.
Be assertive and don't let others push you around.
Don't let others cheat you.

But all of these things are WRONG for...

How can I put myself first when God wants me to put myself least?
Success in this world is symbolized by bank account total and size of assets...but how can I accumulate all that if I am required to be charitable and to share what I have with those in need??  And there are so many more people in need than there is money in my pocket :(
To have the right image for this world requires a certain amount of vanity and money invested in hair saloons makeup studios boutiques.
The saints accepted all their suffering and even calumny in silence.  They didn't hit back and just offered their suffering up to God. 
The best part yet, all the suffering offered up to God were able to save souls!

But it's been three years now... and I have not stopped reading the lives of the saints.  Amazingly my way of thinking is also changing.  For once in my life, I now understand the bible verses Matthew 5:38-40. 

I will tell anyone that reading the lives of the saints would be very very beneficial... just read with an open heart and you'd be amazed at the gems you will discover.

The Divine Mercy Chaplet In Action!

My sister is attending a course that may decide her future... but it all depends on her performance in four assessments.  Truth be told, she didn't fare very well in her interview.  Especially in the part where she was supposed to show how she'd sell certain products.  I found this very perplexing as my sister has the so-called gift of the gab.  She can talk and talk and talk.  Plus she'd sold software for an ICT company and also homes for a property developer.  It didn't make sense that she couldn't even do a demo on selling a product.  Interview nervousness?  Perhaps.

Anyway, I asked my mum to tell me the times of her assessments.  The first one was yesterday (Friday).  During the time of her assessment, I was in a car and did one cycle of the Chaplet.  Well, at least that was what I planned to do.  I planned to do a cycle as I picked my little niece up from playschool and brought her home.   The process was supposed to take only about 15 minutes.  However, traffic was extra bad and instead of 15 minutes, it took me more than an hour.  Somehow or other, I ended up doing uncounted cycles in the space of an hour plus.

Later when I called to check on her,  I heard that she did so well, she was held up as an example to the others.  She told me that she felt light and confident.  Unlike her experience during the interview.  By right, if she truly had a problem with nerves, she would've performed worse in front of an audience than in front of a single interviewer. 

I firmly believe that the chaplet helped in keeping her mind clear and her delivery focused.  She's got three more assessments to get through. So I will be doing the chaplet again.

Some may scoff and shake their heads... but please don't do it in front of me.  For I will pity your lack of faith in God.  Well, who knows... if I pity you enough, I'll add you to my list of people to pray for.  LOL.  That can be scary.

Let me explain why I use the word 'scary'.

Previously I mentioned a friend who had a problem with a jealous colleague.  Well, let me tell you the ending to that story.  Over months, that colleague tried to undermine the bosses' belief in her integrity and performance in the office.  She actually fell ill under all the stress and tension.  She suspected him of being the one behind a poison letter that led to an investigation of her office.  All the while, another friend had been counselling her to 'radiate loving kindness.'  In the beginning, she would just shake her head and say,"I can't.  I just can't."  But towards the end, she just caved in under all the pain and just offered all her sufferings up to God.  Let it be.  Thy will be done.  AND she began praying the Divine Mercy chaplet for that colleague.  I was so happy that she had made the journey from anger to forgiveness. 

And you know what?  The man fell sick.  The day she began praying for him, he fell ill and took three days off. 

Well, she was only human, so she doubled her prayers for him.  LOL.

After that, things turned around for her in the office.  The people who supported this man began deserting him.  The investigation turned up many great things that made her star shine even more, while it made him and his cronies look execrably bad.  He was so busy plotting that he neglected to do his job properly.  Stupid man.  Didn't he realise that a poison pen letter would spark off an investigation?  Now he just sits in the office, more alone than ever and gives her perplexed looks.
What I found interesting was that in the beginning, when he was using magic and she responded with prayers, he was informed by his witch doctor that her witch doctor was really powerful.  That was when he stepped up the hostilities.  HOWEVER, the only 'witch doctor' she had was God.

How did she know all this, you may ask?  Well, when rats abandon a sinking ship, they open their mouths really wide.

What I learned from her sharing is that when we call upon God to help us, He responds.  Otherwise what 'presence' was that, that the witch doctor detected??

The further I go on this journey, the more evidence I uncover about how much God loves us and wants to protect us.  So when I come upon a person who questions the existence of God, I really feel sad at the lack of glory in his or her life.

E, S, Z : As I type this, my chest is hurting.

Reviewing The Secrets, Chastisement and Triumph of the Two Hearts of Jesus & Mary

I finished reading Dr Kelly Bowring's book last month.  And now I am waiting for a further 5 copies that friends have requested.

This book is GOOD.

If you are a Catholic who wonders what is going on in this world nowadays, what the apparitions in Fatima, Lourdes, Medjugorje etc collectively mean and what needs to be done, then you MUST read this book. Especially when it has been given an imprimatur. Dr Kelly Bowring pulls together statements, messages from various sources (approved by the Catholic Church) and distils the main themes into an easily-understood book as well as provides a manual of sorts. This book is not a book foretelling doom and armageddon... it is one of hope and of optimism. It is one which calls us all to return to God and bring about a wondrous future. 

The ebook version is available from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

My Experience With The Divine Mercy Chaplet

I'd known about the Divine Mercy Chaplet for a while now... and most especially after Bro. Stanley Villavicencio's visit but I never really put it into practice until recently.

A month ago, an old friend (a member of the local Divine Mercy Apostolate) sent a strange sms.  Without any preliminaries whatsoever, she asked me to please do a 9-day Divine Mercy novena at 3 a.m. and the 3 o'clock prayer & chaplet if possible.  She urged me to get my whole family (also my sister-in-law's family) to do it.  She specified praying for the breaking of ancestral bondage, conversion of family members, spiritual and physical healing of every member of our families.

My reaction was 'Wow.'  It seemed a bit strong.  I looked around me.. things seemed okay at home.  Well, one family member was facing a bit of a hard time at work and in her personal life.

So, at first, I didn't start straightaway.  A day later, I began.  I already had this Virtual Chaplet tool on my notebook so it wasn't a difficult thing to do.  Then when I mentioned this to my relative, she told me that she had issues with God & religion.  I also felt as if she had a spirit of failure hanging onto her life.  Nothing in her life seemed to be working or improving.  So I recommended that she go for confession.  But she didn't look enthusiastic.

By the third day of my novena (this relative didn't know I was doing it), she suddenly mentioned that she wanted to go for confession.  Oh joy!  I was so happy!  So far she hasn't gone yet but at least the thought had come to her. 

Strangely on the ninth day of my novena, I woke up around midnight and couldn't go to sleep.  So I read a book until 3 a.m.  When I realised the time, I remembered how The Lord Jesus promised St Faustina Kowalska regarding the time 3 o'clock :  "In this hour you can obtain everything for yourself and for others for the asking; it was the hour of grace for the whole world – mercy triumphed over justice" (Diary, 1572) 

I thought that there was a reason I couldn't sleep till 3 a.m. for I didn't have the intention to stay awake till then.  And so I finished my novena at 3 a.m. on the ninth day.

By then, I had gotten used to the chaplet.  It is remarkably soothing and comforting to recite.  The Divine Mercy Chaplet audio I had is also very beautiful to listen to.  The very next day, some trouble resurfaced in that relative's life.  So I decided to do another novena.  I am now in the fifth day of that second novena and I am beginning to truly believe that there is a unseen struggle going on in that relative's life.   Yesterday, I made the resolution to take her for confession at 3pm.  But just as she walked in through the gates at 2.50p.m., a headache I'd been nursing spiked so badly I could barely walk.  I took a pill and went to sleep.  By the time I awoke at 6p.m., the time for confession was past.

I will continue saying this chaplet for her sake until she goes for confession.  I truly believe that confession is exorcism of the soul.  May God grant my wish.

Latest Update :
Today is 10 Feb 2011.  I finished the second novena..at EXACTLY 3pm.  And this wasn't by design.  So that makes the second novena that finished at that special hour.  Coincidence?  Well, I stopped believing in coincidences about two years ago.  AND today is also the day I got some insight into the possible source of this relative's problems. 

So I am starting another novena.  I will do this until she is back on her feet.  They say that persistence gets prayers answered :)

I'm getting questions answered too... as I move from novena to novena.

The Two Hearts Of Jesus and Mary

In my quest to be closer to God, I have come to realise something.  I need to read, see, speak and hear His Word every day... otherwise the heart grows forgetful and cold.  But when I pray, when I read the Word of God, when I hear the Word of God, the small fire within burns a little bit brighter.  And the amazing thing is I wil 'hear' and 'see' more of Him in everything.

I use the word 'amazing' because sometimes some things happen and it's too much of a coincidence to be ignored.

In the last three weeks, the avalanche of work (which includes work at the office and also work in charity) kept me so busy that I neglected my prayers and my readings.  Sometimes I think it is true that too much of labouring overmuch like Martha makes us neglectful of God (see Luke 10:38-42).

When I realised that, I quickly cut back on the work and did more praying.  The very same day, I was online and came across a reference to a saint (St Catherine of Laboure), which brought me to a book review about a book written by Dr Kelly Bowring.  My heart jumped when I read the review and I knew I had to read this book.

It was also the novena I began last month.  But unbelievably, both Amazon dan Barnes & Noble 'do not sell the book to those in my location.'  I tried to get a friend in Australia to buy it but they didn't sell the book to people in her location either.  It turned out that the publisher of the book didn't have the rights and blah blah blah to sell the book outside of the US.

I stopped trying... wondering how else I was to get it.

Then the very next day, an old friend suddenly smsed me, asking me what I wanted for my birthday.  She'd never done such a thing before.  THEN I remembered she had a sister who lived in Texas.  Was this how I was to get this book???  So I asked her to get the book for me.. only about USD10 in ebook form.  So far, there is no response yet from her sister as she wanted to figure out if the book would be coded to her credit card or to her computer.

But last night, I thought of a local online book reseller Acmamall.  And I wondered if perhaps they had the book.  Unbelievably, they did. Hmm, does that mean they have the rights to sell the book outside of the US??? Peculiar thing.  Well, I just bought the book.  Hopefully I get it by next week.  If I get the ebook, that would be another plus... mobile books don't tear, wear down or weigh down the purse :)

I just know I must read this book.

Revelations Revelations Revelations

Just an hour into surfing the net, I found myself with almost twenty opened tabs of different revelations.  This also included their supporters and detractors.  I even found a list of 'true' and 'false' private revelations compiled by Ron Conte, the administrator of the Catholic Planet forum. Ron Conte lists Stanley Villavicencio (who I have blogged about) as false.

Most confusing.  And frustrating.

But why am I so surprised? 

Matthew 7:15 (King James Version)¹⁵Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Matthew 24:11 (KJV)
¹¹And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

1 Timothy 4 (KJV)
¹Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

So now what am I to do?  What am I to believe in?  WHO am I to believe in?

The answer is very simple.  Ask a question and answer it..LOL.I will believe in God.

He speaks to us all and has been speaking to us all via his prophets... His words are all in the Bible. Not that I will confine myself purely to the Bible.

Difficult to verbalise... but most reasonable people will know what to do.  If I come across any claims of private revelation, I will consider what is said very carefully.  And I will also consider its effect on me.

Back to Stanley Villavicencio.  He was asked how to tell a false prophet from a true one.  He replied,"By the fruits."  I like that answer very much.  If the effect of a revelation on me is of fervent piety and more attention to my spiritual life, then I will focus on the effect.  People can say whatever they want...what matters is our reaction to it.

Sometimes we need to make our own decisions.  After all, jewels come from the darkest of places.  Didn't 'Amazing Grace' come from a convict?