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THE MANTLE [Please send your prayer requests to pray@marianmantle.com or maryann@marianmantle.com] Marian Mantle Prayer Group Update For December 1, 2006 ************************************************** ++MESSAGE FROM THE COORDINATOR ++PRAYER INTENTIONS ++LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ++GOD'S WORD FOR US ++WORDS OF HOPE ++WISH LIST ++FYI ************************************************** ++MESSAGE FROM THE COORDINATOR
Hi, Everyone, Advent is upon us. This is a season custom made for those of us who long for the return of a prodigal loved one to Catholicism! For now we are reminded that we are a people who are waiting. We are waiting anew for the Lord to come—into our loves and into the lives of those we love. We are waiting for our eyes to be opened so that we might see what and where we need change in our own lives so that we might be more effective intercessors for those we love. We are waiting for the hearts and minds of our loved ones to recognize the truth. My favorite Advent CD is an old album of the St. Louis Jesuits titled “Gentle Night.” It has beautiful songs for Advent meditation. I often say to my husband I wish I had written their title song. For me, it captures the wonderment of that first Christmas night. Another of the songs speaks directly to you and me as we join in prayer for these prodigals of ours:
Patience,
People. Steady your hearts You know of His compassion and His mercy. Patience, People! For the Lord is coming! And so, I invite you to join with me, and the rest of the Marian Mantle crew, as Advent begins. Let us Praise God for His Goodness and Mercy, thank Him for the answered prayers and miracles we have witnessed among the Marian Mantle Group members to date, and beg Him to come into our lives and those of our prodigals and grant us all the grace to recognize the truth. Let us pray together that great prayer, the last words in Scripture: Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus! May God grant each of us the perseverance of St. Monica and the unconditional love of the father of the Prodigal Son. May the day come swiftly when we, too, are able to say “the one for whom I have prayed has come home.” Peace, MaryAnn ………………………… ………………………… PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR December 1, 2006
[Prayer intentions submitted to this group are shared only in the semi-weekly email update sent to members of the online prayer group. Please keep all of us and our prodigals in your prayers--just as we will pray for you.]
+Our Lady of
Sorrows, pray for us and for our children. ………………………………………… GOD'S WORD FOR US [Note from MaryAnn: Several Scripture verses today from the book of Isaiah. A family can be considered a tiny “nation”. As with any nation, there are problems. So often in a family “nation” when one of the members is a lapsed Catholic, it can result in disagreement and argument among family members. Some walk away and lose touch. Others argue constantly. Others feel sad and lonely and experience great heartache. Family meals, especially on a holiday can be tense or lonely affairs. I believe the readings for the coming week, this first week of Advent, speak to those of us who pray for a prodigal Catholic’s return to Church and a return to unity and peace for both our family and our world. As we contemplate these words of Isaiah, let us strive to hold them in our hearts as promise of what lies ahead, and vow to persevere in prayer and unconditional love. Let us be willing to let God do things His way, while we pray for Him to touch our hearts and the hearts of those we pray for. ]
And many peoples shall come, and say: "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths." For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. ~Isaiah 2:3-4
The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. ~Isaiah 11:6
It will be said on that day, "Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the LORD; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation." ~Isaiah 25:9
Thou dost keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusts in thee. ~Isaiah 26:3
Yea, O people in Zion who dwell at Jerusalem; you shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when he hears it, he will answer you. ~Isaiah 30:19 ………………………………………. WORDS OF HOPE
Don't give in to
discouragement…. If you are discouraged it is a sign of pride because it shows
you trust in your own powers. Never bother about people's opinions. Be obedient
to truth. For with humble obedience, you will never be disturbed. ~Saint
Teresa of Calcutta LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
I am a new member of the prayer group and just want to THANK YOU so much for providing this apostolate! Please add my children to the list of prodigals to pray for. They are doing well by wordly standards but don't have Jesus in their lives. Please pray that they return to Jesus in the Eucharist. I also want to thank you for the newsletter last week. Reading how Bob's prayers have changed over time and how he now sees them as "stepping stones" on the path of our prodigals to walk on as they return touched my heart so deeply. It is such a beautiful image and one I will keep in mind everyday! I have already told my Bible Study group to check out your website. There are several of us struggling and it does help so much to know we are not alone. ~Mom in Colorado~ ………………………………………. WISH LIST
+ “Pray-from-home” volunteers. If you would be willing to spend time in prayer in your home, for special needs as they arise here at Marian Mantle, please email MaryAnn.
+ Articles for the print newsletter. This will be mailed around the 7th of January. Article deadline is December 15. 500 words or less. Email for more information.
+Eucharist Stories: Tell us about the Eucharist and how it has touched your life. Your words will help someone else! We will not print your name if you wish to remain anonymous. New members: You are most welcome to share your thoughts and experiences, too. Don’t be shy! We’re glad to hear from you!
+Rosary Stories: Do you pray the rosary for your prodigal loved one? Why do you choose the rosary? Reply to this email with your answer.
+Stamps and whatever type of help you can offer
……………………………………….. FOR YOUR INFORMATION (FYI)
+ Please print a copy of this update and take it to your next prayer meeting to share prayer requests, etc with everyone.
+Make a Virtual Pilgrimage on the Marian Mantle Web The purpose of this section to offer another way to focus on the grace and mercy of God while praying in your home or office. http://www.marianmantle.com/pilgrimage/p_menu.htm
+ If you would like a copy of, Tips for Saying the Rosary from Pope John Paul II, please send a self-addressed stamped envelope to Tips, Marian Mantle Group, PO Box 434, Gardner, KS 66085. Prayer group leaders if you would like multiples, please indicate how many and add an extra stamp. Thanks.
+Christmas Orders: If you wish to give any of our prayers or recordings as Christmas gifts, please order soon. Remember, the Rosary Novena, Way of the Cross, and Parents Litany are available in large print, also. To order: phone 913-526-8977, email MaryAnn@MarianMantle.com, or postal mail: Marian Mantle Group, PO Box 434, Gardner, KS 66030. Check our web site for information. Some Suggestions: 1. Combine the Rosary Novena booklet and the Audio recording to make a thoughtful gift. 2. Two items which have general themes and are not specifically for those who pray for prodigal Catholics are: >The book “Be Not Afraid” (with the words and pictures of Pope John Paul II) >The book Through Her Eyes and Other Mediations on the Mysteries of the Rosary (the mysteries as the Blessed Mother might have viewed them)
+“Silent Strength” Retreat-Seminar will be presented in the Sanctuary of Hope Chapel in Kansas City, Kansas on the afternoon of January 21, 2007, at 2:oo p.m.. MaryAnn will share her story. Father Dennis Wait will lead the short prayer service and Laurie Oswald will lead us in song. There is no charge. A free will offering will be taken—which will be given to Sanctuary of Hope in thanksgiving for their generosity to us. Please invite a friend to come with you. Your invitation may be the means of helping someone be able to find peace and let God into their situation—and may help to “clear the path” for a prodigal to return home. Call 913-526-8977 to reserve your seat. If you would be willing to provide transportation for someone who needs a ride to this retreat, please email maryann@marianmantle.com
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