I never mind asking for graces but am a bit embarassed to ask for your prayers or a purely selfish motive. I intened retiring to Spain in about five years time. But as I was doing a novena to the Holy Spirit lately is suddenly occured to me the God could arrange things so I could retire now. It seems impossible on a human level , but we know nothing is impossible to God. Please join me in prayer to Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Our Lady of Montserrat. I notice one thing the Cure of Ars said about prayers of petition, that we should pray with confidence. Children can do this , but I think we often forget to do this. We loose trust. But this is a kind of fun prayer request for me. Sometimes its good just to do fun things, I think.
I have a prayer habit and I wonder if anyone else ever does this. If I am walking along the street and I meet a stranger(s) I sometimes pray for them. I aslooftne greet their Guardian Angels I think Guardian Anglels love this as they don;t often get much attention to by their charges ..or anyone else for that matter. They are especially touched if we pray for their charges. Yesterday , outside the cancer hospital I passed a young teen with his mother. He was far along in chome and very ill indeed. I prayed for them both. But sometimes when you look at people you have the funny sad feeling that they need someone to give them a prayer hug because they are so very,very far from God. They are like a dry desert and are screaming out for someone to pray. Hebrews 13:2 Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.
I love the lack of self criticism in young children - you know like when they do a drawing of something that looks nothing like what they tell you it is. They proudly hold it up for inspection - their own little masterpiece. Perfect.
They expect nothing but praise. They are confident. Lifting their work up for inspection is their prayer - like we raise our minds and hearts to God. Only they have no doubt about the response. They know they will find what they seek - love, praise, affection, affirmation, encouragement and more paper if it is needed.
Sadly for many children this does not reflect reality. But I reckon it should. Habete fidem Dei. I hope your dreams come true Padraig.
When I'm driving alone on longish journeys, I hold up a small crucifix in my hand (whilst still steering carefully, obviously) and ask Jesus to bless everyone coming the other way. However, I didn't think to acknowledge their Angels, so will do this, too.
That reminded me of an experience I had a good few years ago a person was using a metal cross to bless someone and I herd a nasty voice saying " You fool You fool that cross is no good your savoir Lord was crucified on wood" it kind of startled me and I wondered if I was reflecting on something I had read before,I have a wooden cross on my back door that is made from different types of wood from Jerusalem..
Oh soooo true. You can just look at these sad, distressed faces and you know they need your quiet prayer. Just look around you as you pass by in a car, in a store, on the streets. Suffering surrounds you daily...you do not need to know the details....you just need to pray for them. You might be the only person in the world who is interceding to God for them. You might see them in eternity because of that simple, brief plea to God on their behalf. Think of how you have gotten through your sufferings...God will show you whose prayer lifted you out of many trials...return the gift. Prayer is so powerful...and if we truly believe that, we would all pray without ceasing.
I assume that Spain is a much warmer, sunnier and cheaper place to live for North Atlantic Islander "Refugees" but ... is making a Big Move to foreign lands a good move "These Days"? Spain like Italy is one of the "sick" and unstable economies of the tottering EU. I Know!! The whole $#@^&*^ World is an unstable mess!Never spent much time in Spain .. only long enough to get my flight jacket rip-offed whilst checking in at the Torrejon AB "Q" GOD SAVE ALL HERE!!
I am doing as told Denis. I must pray more about it. Thanks for the prayers Am learning Spanish here: 1000 words so far: http://www.memrise.com/home/
