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When was the last time you had some Son?

Lately, it has been cold, snowy, and very cloudy. Not a good combination in order to keep spirits up and optimistic. On top of that, yesterday was Ash Wednesday...where we begin a journey with Christ in suffering, prayer, fasting, alms giving, and life in the desert.

We need some sort of spiritual nourishment. We need God in this time more than ever.

At the CSC, there is a GREAT opportunity every Wednesday night at 8 p.m. for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Eucharistic Adoration, if you are not sure, is where the true presence-the real presence-of Christ is right in front of us through the consecrated host. The consecrated host is in what is called a monstrance that is placed on the altar for individuals to come and worship and pray. The monstrance is like a stand that is normally made of gold that can be in the shape of a cross, sun, or some combination of both. This experience can be in silence, with praise and worship, during liturgy of the hours, and several other occasions. At the CSC we incorporate some silence as well as praise and worship music.

I really like to think of it as "Son Bathing." Here you are, just you and Christ and he sends out His rays of love and openness to us. The Son of God offers warmth and comfort to those who come to Him. A friend from college used to tell me how he would like to sit in the back with his arms stretched out on the pew back and literally feel the warmth of Christ's presence.

I invite you to take this Lenten Season and come to Eucharistic Adoration with us. We are asked 3 things of Lent including prayer. This is a great opportunity to increase your prayer life and grow with Christ on this journey.

Story of the Power of Prayer

Today I would like to share a personal story of the power of prayer.

Several months ago I had received an email from a good friend from college. Her and her husband were expecting a child, but there were immense problems. At just over a month into the pregnancy, my friend was put on bed rest. There was some sort of tumor that had the possibility of loosing the child. She asked friends and family to pray for the safety of the child and for God's will to happen. Several weeks after that, and after tons of prayers. The baby was healthy and no longer could the tumor be detected. (Praise God!)

Though, this is just one simple story of prayer and it's power. It is just one of the numerous examples of the power of prayer.

*****

Today's prayer intentions: Continue to pray for Haiti, for those students starting classes this week, for all those who are suffering physically, spiritually, and mentally, and finally for those seeking employment.

Thank you for praying

Some small changes to the Blog

I want to make some small changes to this blog. Rather than talking about what to pray for I also want to hear how prayer has helped you. When have your prayers been successfully answered? How did God work in your life?

As for intentions for the CSC community this day, please pray for the IST group as they return from Kenya this evening. Please also keep a family who has recently lost their child in your prayers. Finally, pray for all those students who will be returning for the Spring semester that God give them the needed strength and faith to persevere and grow this year.

Thank you for praying with me!

Prayers for Haiti

Over the past couple of days there has been lots of news about the earthquake in Haiti including the destruction, deaths, and those injured. I ask you all humbly to keep those who have been effected from this natural disaster in your prayers.

Prayers for those afflicted from violence

Lately, I have been hearing/reading lots more about abuse and violence in this world. It is a serious tragedy. Today I read that in Fort Hood, Texas was on a lock down due to some individual(s) shooting. 7 are dead and 12 are injured.

Beyond that, I have been reading articles in relation to rape, domestic violence, and homicides.

I ask you each to spend a moment today in prayer for an end of violence and protection for all those who suffer because of it. Not just in America but all across the world.

Let us pray

Intentions to keep in your own hearts and prayers:

-All those seeking comfort and peace in their lives
-For the tweens, teens, and young adults facing challenges against their chasity and purity
-Those who are unjustly accused or spoken of through gossip and harsh words
-All those who are ill in the community ranging from colds to more severe cancers and diseases
-Those will be adventuring out this Halloween weekend, that they may make good choices in their actions and words
-Those of us who get angry over things, that God may give us the graces to move beyond our anger and strive towards good
-Those planning and going on service trips as well as retreats and conferences, may they be enlightened and have God's love surround them
-For all those who feel stretched thin and are needing graces from God to keep on going

Thank you for praying!!

Prayers for Awakening

Today is the day for WashU's Awakening and Growth retreats. Let us pray that each person going on these retreats is enlightened and is encouraged to continue to pursue their faith.

Also, a special prayer for my University (Texas A&M) as they host Bush Sr. and Obama discussing service. That they have safe travels, a safe and friendly stay, and that people make wise decisions to not deface integrity.

St. Jude, pray for us

Oh glorious apostle St. Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the name of the traitor who delivered thy beloved Master into the hands of His enemies has caused thee to be forgotten by many, but the Church honors and invokes thee universally as the patron of hopeless cases--of things despaired of. Pray for me who am so miserable; make use, I implore thee, of that particular privilege accorded thee of bringing visible and speedy help where help is almost despaired of. Come to my assistance in this great need, that I may receive the consolations and succor of heaven in all my necessities, tribulations and sufferings, particularly (mention your request), and that I may bless God with thee and all the elect throughout eternity. I promise thee, O blessed St. Jude, to be ever mindful of this great favor, and I will never cease to honor thee as my special and powerful patron, and to do all in my power to encourage devotion to thee.

We lift up the prayers for all those who are missionaries in the world that God may bless them in all their joys and sufferings. We lift up all those who are suffering in body, mind and spirit. We lift up in prayer those working and planning Awakening retreats across the nation. We lift up all those broken and torn families. We lift up in prayer in thanksgiving all the opportunities God has given us. We lift up all those out in the cold tonight.

Amen

Lord, teach us to pray

Tonight, we lift up all these intentions:

• For a community member's father who just had triple bi-pass surgery
• For a friend's grandparents that their health will improve
  
• For all those planning Awakening retreats across the nation
• For a successful Newman Gala last night and in thanksgiving for all those who dedicated their time and talent for the CSC
• Those stranded in the cold because they have no home to go to
• Students as they continue to persevere through tests, papers, quizzes, etc

Thanks for praying with me tonight!

Learning to pray? (Part 2)

A few weeks ago I started a post about learning to pray and how to start. The next step is starting a conversation with God. God wants to know what is going on in your life. He wants to know your joys and sorrows.

You may think, "Why do I need to share if God knows everything anyway?" Fair enough question. Think of a really great relationship you have. What did you have to do to have it be that way? I am sure you shared experiences, stories, and what was going on in your life. Similarly, God wants a great relationship with us. He wants to be invited into the experiences we have, He wants to hear your stories, and He wants to know what is going on in your life.

So, today I invite you to share with God what is going on whether it be as simple as "God, I am really busy with classes, homework, and papers I am feeling stressed out." or "God, I am really joyful today because I found something I had been looking for since September."

These are some intentions that you can also lift up in prayer.

• For Matt C. who is having surgery on Wednesday morning
• For all those who have been affected with diseases of body, mind, and spirit
• Students as they continue to persevere through the semester in their tests, papers, projects, homework, studying, reading, quizzes, and other classwork
• All those facing destruction of their homes from natural disasters that God may be with them in their distress and sorrow
• All those planning Awakenings across the country as well as those who will attend; that their hearts may be set on God and faith increased by this experience

Thank you for joining me in prayer today!

The Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Rapael

Today is one of my favorite saint's feast days: The Archangels! You can read about them here. I know I shouldn't really have a favorite...but if I had to choose it would be Raphael. There are several reasons why, but the big one is healing. St. Raphael came to heal Tobit physically and Sarah spiritually. I really pray to him for those that need healing and those who are ill.

I ask you to pray with me to the Archangels for their intercession on all of us, especially those ill in body, mind, or spirit.

For a friend's mom

One of my friends lost his mother to cancer this afternoon. What makes it even more heart wrenching is she died just 2 weeks before her son's wedding. Please pray for this family.

Love in Marriage

Today I would like to focus our intentions on marriages. (Today is my parents anniversary is the big reason why I am...) Rather than focusing on the negatives that seem to be appearing daily in the news with marriages I want to draw our attention to fruitfulness and the blessings that come forth.

I read this article a couple of days ago and was really touched by it. What a great example of a beautiful, loving, and holy marriage! I wish we had more articles in the news about this kind of thing!

Let us pray today for all married couples as well as engaged couples that God may continue to bless them with His love and grace.

Anima Christi of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

Soul of Jesus,
Sanctify me.

Blood of Jesus,
Wash me,

Passion of Jesus,
Comfort me.

Wounds of Jesus,
Hide me.

Heart of Jesus,
Receive me.

Spirit of Jesus,
Enliven me.

Goodness of Jesus,
Pardon me.

Beauty of Jesus,
Draw me.

Humility of Jesus,
Humble me.

Peace of Jesus,
Pacify me.

Love of Jesus,
Inflame me.

Kingdom of Jesus,
Come to me.

Grace of Jesus,
Replenish me.

Mercy of Jesus,
Pity me.

Sanctity of Jesus,
Sanctify me.

Purity of Jesus,
Purify me.

Cross of Jesus,
Support me.

Nails of Jesus,
Hold me.

Mouth of Jesus,
Bless me in life, in death, in time and eternity.

Mouth of Jesus,
Defend me in the hour of death.

Mouth of Jesus,
Call me to come to Thee.

Mouth of Jesus,
Receive me with Thy saints in glory evermore.

Let Us Pray

Unite me to You Lord,
O adorable Victim. 
Life-giving heavenly Bread,
feed me,
sanctify me,
reign in me,
transform me to Yourself,
live in me;
let me live in You;
let me adore You in Your life-giving Sacrament as my God,
listen to You as to my Master,
obey You as my King,
imitate You as my Model,
follow You as my Shepherd,
love You as my Father,
seek You as my Physician
who wilt heal all the maladies of my soul. 
Be indeed my Way,
Truth and Life;
sustain me,
O heavenly Manna,
through the desert of this world,
till I shall behold You unveiled in Your glory.

Amen

More intentions

Here are a few more things to add to the list to pray for today:

• For all those who are sick in body or mind or spirit
• For those still looking for work
  
• For all parents that they may be blessed and feel God's presence in the good, the bad, and ugly in dealing with their children
• For students that have a lot on their plates between homework, classes, relationships, family relations, extra curricular activities, etc.

Thank you for praying!

Prayer intentions

There are a lot of intentions from lots of different places today. Please keep all the following intentions in your prayers:

• One of my previous campus minister's sister, she is suffering from her cancer and treatments for it. Pray for her healing and God's love be outpoured to her and her family at this time.
• For peace in the Gaza strip, Uganda, Iraq, Afghanistan, and all those parts suffering in violence
• For the student stabbed to death in a High School in Florida
• For upcoming Awakening retreats across the nation that their hearts may be turned toward God's love and faith grow
  
• For those still suffering set backs from Hurricane Ike as well as any other natural disaster
• In Thanksgiving for the rain that has been in the south for the past several days

Thank you for praying with me! God bless you!

Learning to pray?

I cannot tell you in words how amazing prayer is. For those of you who may not know how to pray or do pray I invite you today, in this moment to start. You do not need to do anything formal or extravagant, nor does it need to be long or on your knees. Simply sit, take a deep breath in and then out, and pause. Think about where you are in your life right now, student? looking for work? employed for several years? What is God showing you through your life today? I challenge those of you who may not be engaged in prayer to think of that question for a moment today.

I also invite all of you to join me in the following intentions:

• In thanksgiving of the past several days of rain Texas has been getting
  
• For the Freshmen at the CSC who will be joining the staff on a getaway day today
• For all those who feel they do not have anyone to turn to

Good News!

Good news: Hours after posting the need for rain in Texas I get informed from some family that in fact rained because part of the river bank was filled with water again. Praise God! Still continue to pray for rain though; they still need it!

Other things that I invite you to pray for:

• Students who are all now back to school, that God will inspire them and guide them in their work
• Educators that they may be given the wisdom, patience, and understanding to teach their students well and effectively this new school year