“For me I have longed believed that our responsibility as Christ followers is to live out the fruits of the Holy Spirit: to be peacemakers . . . to demonstrate kindness . . . to offer grace where it’s not deserved; to love others  . . .” Steve Mayer

Steve Mayer was the Superintendent of  Robbinsville School District in New Jersey. Steve was killed last week after being struck by a car while jogging.

But Steve was not just a Superintendent.  Steve was a husband, a father, a caring friend and a faithful Christian. He was a close friend and mentor of my brother.  He was a father-figure and extremely close friend to my sister-in-law. He was loved so much.  He was one of those men that when you met him, you could feel his connection to the Lord.  His smile was so genuine, his demeanor so sincere, his way was so Christlike that it gave you a glimpse of how the Lord looks at all of us.

Steve Mayer lived a life that shows how much prayer can bring true joy and happiness. When he was alive, he prayed constantly – alone and with others.  Now that he is gone, we pray for him. We pray for his soul.  We pray for his family and friends.  We also pray for the driver that struck him and for her family.

“But of that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.”  Matthew 24:36

In today’s world we hear so much about “self-care”.  We are bombarded with ads, articles and commercials about what we should eat and how we should care for our physical health.

We are inundated with advice on how to deal with stress and other mental health issues.

When I think of what we hear about our spiritual health and the care of one’s soul . . . I hear crickets chirping.

Whether you are agnostic, atheist, “spiritual”, a Catholic Christian, a non-Denominational Christian, a Christian of any denomination, a Muslim, a Jew, a Buddhist or a Sikh – you have a soul and it needs to be nourished!

No one argues the existence of Jesus.  He died on the cross.  He did this because He loved the world.

He died on the cross because He loved you.  He still loves you.

When someone loves you, you talk to him or her.

Talk to Jesus.  Tell Him you are angry.  Tell Him you are confused.  Tell Him you are so happy and grateful.  Whatever it is – tell Him!  Believe He is listening!

Watch your heart change.  Watch your perception of the world change.  Embrace that change and find peace in it.

I hate writing like I know something.  Because if you know me personally – I’m not the brightest crayon in the box.  I’m okay with that.  But I want you to feel the love of Christ. It’s an incredibly happy feeling.  I want you to be happy.  How amazing would this world be if we encountered more happy people?

Pray for the living and the dead is the last “Work of Mercy” I have left to write about.

Pray for the people in your life.  Pray for those you like and don’t like.  Pray for your enemies. Pray for your family.

Pray for those you are worried about.  What do you have to lose by doing this?

If you miss someone who has passed away, pray for his or her soul.  Here is a great prayer for those who are deceased.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon them.
May they rest in peace.

Amen.

As Catholics, we believe that Our Lord told Saint Gertrude that the following prayer would release 1000 souls from purgatory each time it is said. The prayer was extended to include living sinners as well.

“Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen.”

I love these two prayers because, honestly, they are short.  Many of us lead very busy lives. Prayer doesn’t have to interrupt your life.  Prayer is meant to make life more meaningful.

In the words of Padre Pio:

“Pray, hope, and don’t worry”

What an amazing mantra.

Let’s live it!

If you enjoyed reading about the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy, here is an awesome resource (this is an affiliate link):

The Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy: Pastoral Resources for Living the Jubilee (Jubilee Year of Mercy)

More about prayer:

When There is No Time for Prayer

God Hears Us: A Spiritual Adoption Miracle {Free Printable}

More about the Works of Mercy:

Mocha, Mercy and Mondays

Mocha, Mercy, and Mondays – Clothe the Naked

Mocha and Mercy : Visit the Imprisoned

The post Mocha, Mercy and Mondays: Pray for the Living and the Dead appeared first on Prayer Wine Chocolate.

I think of an attorney giving legal advice. But more often, I think of giving advice.

But, before I write about a Work of Mercy, I read a little about it first. I prepared to write this post about Counseling the Doubtful on Divine Mercy Sunday. I came across a brief summary on the Spiritual Works of Mercy at The Divine Mercy website.  I thought, “Perfect.  There are no coincidences – let me read what this article has to offer.”

The article stressed the importance of listening. 

Yep, that’s the Holy Spirit talking to me for sure.  I talk – a lot.  I don’t listen enough.

I love the counsel this article gives.  In order to give counsel to others, we must first be in tune with the Holy Spirit.  We must take time to listen to His voice.  We must nourish our soul and our relationship with the Lord.  I am reminded of the Scripture passage:

Psalm 46:10

Be Still, and know that I am God . . .

Before we can “Counsel the Doubtful” we must be counseled ourselves.  As theDivineMercy.org article states: first we must listen and reflect in prayer; then we must discuss our prayer life with a Spiritual Director.

How many of us have a Spiritual Director? I don’t.  Although I have been thinking a lot lately about how nice it would be to have one.  Maybe this is the Lord pushing me to go on the search.  He does say “Seek and you shall find” right?

I love how much the author,Dr. Robert Stackpole, stresses listening.

Listen to the person who is in doubt.

Listen to the Holy Spirit.

Listen to your Spiritual Director.

Then, after you have listened to those three, pray some more.  Then we may be ready to give good counsel.

Isn’t this such great advice?  Stackpole is reminding us of Matthew 7:5:

Hypocrite! Take the log out of your own eye first, and then you will see clearly enough to take the splinter out of your brother’s eye.

I notice that Matthew doesn’t instruct us not to take the splinter out of our brother’s eye – but he certainly stresses to look at ourselves first.

Stackpole explains how we must look at ourselves.  That we must take our introspection seriously.  We must take time to examine our actions, our thoughts and our goals.  We must take time to listen.  More time must be spent listening than giving counsel.

In an effort to listen more – I am going to attempt taking the “Heroic Minute” Challenge.

Two Catholic Bloggers Debbie Gancila Gaudino at Saints365 and Allision Gringras over at Reconciled To You will be beginning the 14 Day Heroic Minute Challenge on Monday April 4 – based on St. Josemarie Escriva’s concept of the Heroic Minute. I figured I would share this with you incase you also want to take the challenge!  It’s about starting the day early and starting the day listening and talking to God!  

Perhaps if I start with this “heroic minute” I will take more time to listen to the Lord throughout the day.  Then perhaps someday I will be able to give good counsel to the doubtful. Until then . .

What is the best counsel you have been given in times of doubt?

The post Mocha, Mercy and Mondays: Counsel the Doubtful appeared first on Prayer Wine Chocolate.

“I need help with this one.”

Talking to a three-year-old about Jesus’ death and Resurrection is a challenge to say the least.

I found myself talking much more about the Easter Bunny than Jesus.

And wow . . . that was not what I pictured myself doing before I was a parent.

Meanwhile I am finding myself researching The Works of Mercy.  In my search I found The Happy Saints eBook: Works of Mercy.  I wrote to Happy Saints and asked them if I could review the book.  They sent me a copy in exchange for this review.  All opinions are my own. 

I absolutely love the first line of the book is from Scripture; specifically Matthew 25:40.

“The King will answer them ‘Most certainly I tell you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of my brothers, you didi it to me”.

This is definitely a teaching I can embrace, discuss and promote with my 3 year old or a child of any age. In fact, it’s a topic I can easily discuss with an adult.

The next line in the book translates that verse into an easy way for a child to “get it”.

“Jesus is close to those who suffer.  He is so close to them that He consoles our acts of kindness that are done for them as if they were done for Him.”

There it is – the word suffer.  My gateway to Good Friday and its meaning – in a way a child can comprehend.

• Children will tell you how they got that boo boo
• Children know what it is like to have their feelings hurt
• Children know how they desire to be comforted when they are hurt (or suffering).

It amazes me how much my son mirrors my actions when the tables are turned and I am the one who is sick.  He totally gets it.  He rubs my back.  He “checks on me”.  He tells me he loves me.  He gets it.  If a three year old can reflect on that, how much more can an older child grasp helping those who suffer.

Since I only have a three year old, I printed out some of the Black and White Posters included in the book and headed up the street to my neighbors’ house.  The family has a nine year old boy and a 6 year old girl.

The six year old, with her face painted like a kitten, enthusiastically started to color her saint poster. The nine year old, super cool for school boy, had to be told to start coloring, but jumped right into the task.

After they colored their masterpieces, their mother had her son read his paper out loud. He had lots of pride as he read at least one big word.  Then the mother read the poster that discussed “Bearing Wrongs Patiently”.  I could hear her emphasis on almost every word. Apparently, the two siblings have been bickering lately and this was the perfect message from above that was desperately needed. I actually chuckled as I heard her reading it – then stopping and explaining how it relates to picking on your little sister!

The ebook contains more than just coloring posters.  There are posters provided which are already colored (which will help in discussing what colors nuns wear and how people in the middle ages did not have green hair).

The book contains holy cards (in color) which can be printed out.  I love these holy cards because the art and the text are written for children.  They could also be used for any young person’s prayer journal. The prayer cards come in two different sizes which is a neat way to give your child some freedom to pick what they feel suits them best.

The eBook also contains printable greeting cards.  These could come in handy for some extension activities, and really come in handy when a child’s friend of loved one loses a family member.

The eBook also includes badges – both colored and black and white for more coloring.  What a great way to motivate your child to act out each Work of Mercy.

If you are interested in purchasing Happy Saints Works of Mercy or other Christian ebooks click here:

Happy Saints Works of Mercy

Enjoy your spiritual journey to our Lord with your child!

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