LEAVES Website for Jan-Feb 2022 Issue
Excerpted from “Leaflets” column:
On Jan. 9 the Church celebrates the feast of The Baptism of the Lord. Our baptism brought us into the Faith. What an extraordinary gift! If we know the date of our baptism we might want to celebrate the day in a special way this year. Attend Mass on this day and then share a meal with family or friends. If unable to get to Mass, drop in at church to offer prayers of thanksgiving for the precious gift of Faith.
Many of us were baptized as infants and therefore do not know the date of our baptism. If after some investigation we still do not know when we received the Sacrament of Baptism, we could choose to celebrate the gift of baptism on Jan. 9.
Our celebrations might include prayers to our patron saints. Ask for their help and intercession. Read about them and use their sanctity as a model for our lives today.
We should pray for those who brought us to baptism – our parents, godparents or others. Whether they are living or dead, our prayers can assist them. If we have godchildren, we should be sure to keep them in prayer and guide them throughout their lives to be holy in the eyes of the Lord.
As we learn from the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
Baptism is God’s most beautiful and magnificent gift. . . .We call it gift, grace, anointing, enlightenment, garment of immortality, bath of rebirth, seal, and most precious gift. It is called gift because it is conferred on those who bring nothing of their own; grace since it is given even to the guilty; Baptism because sin is buried in the water; anointing for it is priestly and royal as are those who are anointed; enlightenment because it radiates light; clothing since it veils our shame; bath because it washes; and seal as it is our guard and the sign of God’s Lordship (CCC 1216).
Let us all recommit to living a life worthy of the magnificent gift of baptism.
The month of February is Catholic Press Month. The readers of LEAVES are a particularly extraordinary family. Our faith brings us together and our love is shared so generously.
Do you have any family or friends who you believe might benefit from joining our LEAVES family? Together we celebrate the joys of life and share the burdens of our sufferings. The care that extends throughout our LEAVES family is a gift beyond measure, a gift we wish to share with as many people as possible.
On the back page of this issue is a form to send someone LEAVES magazine. A subscription to LEAVES is free, but the benefits of joining our LEAVES family are immeasurable. Each issue offers prayerful support and encouragement to live faith-filled lives.
As always, the LEAVES staff and the Mariannhill Missionaries offer you our heartfelt prayers, love and gratitude for your wonderful support of us and our mission. God love you for it! Wishing you good health and happiness in the New Year! May God grant you abundant blessings always - Fr. Thomas Heier, C.M.M.
Excerpted from “Our Family Album”:
St. Therese Sends Sign
My mother died in 1988 from Lymphoma cancer. She had always been very devoted to St. Therese the Little Flower and she prayed constantly to her. She asked St. Therese to send her a sign that she was going to heaven.
After six months of being sick with chemotherapy, my mother was diagnosed with cancer in her spine and her brain. She was bedridden, but she could talk, and she would ask when St. Therese was coming for her.
One Thursday my mother was in quite a state, as she thought St. Therese had forgotten her. My sister-in-law was attending her when there was a knock on the front door. A nun from our church had a dozen roses in her hands and she was crying. Someone had dropped them off at the convent, and Sister thought of my mother and took them straight to her. My mother saw the roses and she was ready to die. She passed away the next day.
At the funeral home, as my mom lay in the casket, a beautiful aroma came off her body, as if it were like being in a flower shop of nothing but roses: the entire place smelled of roses! The next day during rosary at the church, when the casket was opened, the aroma of roses filled the church!
I believe that St. Therese came and took my mom to heaven with her – Patrick.
Prayers Answered and
Prayers Requested
I received LEAVES magazine today and read it from cover to cover. I had previously written and asked for prayers for my health and for my daughter. I prayed two or three novenas to St. Jude and one to the Blessed Mother, as I had cancer in my breasts, a twisted aorta and gallstones.
A miracle has happened and I am clear of all illnesses! I have also prayed to God and St. Anthony for lost items and they have been found! Now I pray for my daughter and granddaughter as they both need good-paying jobs.
My granddaughter needs mental help, as she has quit her job and has personal problems, as well. I ask my LEAVES family for your prayers and I thank you for prayers that already have been answered. I love my LEAVES family as my own and I thank the Fathers at Mariannhill. May God bless all of you and keep peace in your hearts – Mary L.
Miracles Always Occurring
Thank you so much for the LEAVES magazine. I love to read it as soon as I get it. I have been receiving it for many years now.
When I read the stories about Fr. Engelmar Unzeitig, I remember the years 1944 and 1945. In 1944 I was only 10 years old. At that time, my family and I lived in East Prussia in the city of Allenstein. Our mother and we four children tried to help the Jewish people and lots of other prisoners, because we saw so much hardship and a lot of suffering.
I know that we always put our lives at risk by doing so, but somehow we could still help a lot of people. But then in the winter of 1945, in January, we had to flee from the Russians. I will never forget the night of the 21st. It was a miracle to find a freight train at the station.
After that night and in the many difficult days that followed, we went through a lot and were never able to go back home. And yet there were always miracles occurring, and we had faith that the angels would help us through this experience.
God bless you and thanks again — Brunhilde Olsen.
Excerpted from Blessed Engelmar Testimonies:
A Life of
Blessed Engelmar
There is now available a booklet of the life of Blessed Engelmar Unzeitig, C.M.M. You may receive a free copy of it by sending a stamped (postage for one ounce), self-addressed envelope to us at: LEAVES, P.O. Box 87, Dearborn, MI 48121-0087.
My offering is for favors received from the Virgin Mary, Ss. Jude, Rita and Therese the Little Flower and Bl. Engelmar — Lisa R.
+ + +
This offering is in honor of favors received from Bl. Engelmar and St. Rita. Please keep my son in your prayers. He is struggling with mental issues. Thank you – Name Withheld.
+ + +
I have enclosed a donation that I promised for my special intention to Bl. Engelmar. My prayer was answered. I continue to pray to Jesus, Blessed Mary, Ss. Joseph, Anthony, Jude, Padre Pio, Therese, Francis, and oh so many more for my family, extended family and friends and for myself. Please pray for my vision to improve and for continued health and blessings for all. May God bless the Mariannhill Fathers and their wonderful work. With love and prayers – Mrs. H.D.
Novena in Honor of
Abbot Francis Pfanner
Abbot Francis Pfanner founded Mariannhill Monastery, and 100 years ago its monks became the Congregation of Missionaries of Mariannhill. He was not only a great missionary, but also a holy man. The cause for his beatification has begun. We have available a novena in his honor and will send you a free copy of it when you send a stamped (postage for one ounce), self-addressed envelope to us at: LEAVES, P.O. Box 87, Dearborn, MI 48121-0087.
Prayer for Peace
By St. John Paul II
Immaculate Heart of Mary, help us to conquer the menace of evil which so easily takes root in the hearts of the people of today and whose immeasurable effects already weigh down upon our modern world and seem to block the paths toward the future. From famine and war, deliver us. From nuclear war, from incalculable self-destruction, from every kind of war, deliver us. From sins against human life from its very beginning, deliver us.
From hatred and from the demeaning of the dignity of the children of God, deliver us. From every kind of injustice in the life of society, both national and international, deliver us. From readiness to trample on the commandments of God, deliver us. From attempts to stifle in human hearts the very truth of God, deliver us. From the loss of awareness of good and evil, deliver us. From sins against the Holy Spirit, deliver us.
Accept, O Mother of Christ, this cry laden with the sufferings of all individual human beings, laden with the sufferings of whole societies. Help us with the power of the Holy Spirit to conquer all sin: individual sin and the “sin of the world,” sin in all of its manifestations. Let there be revealed once more in the history of the world, the infinite saving power of the redemption: the power of merciful love. May it put a stop to evil. May it transform consciences. May your Immaculate Heart reveal for all the light of hope. Amen.
Prayer to
The Immaculate
Heart of Mary
O Immaculate Heart of Mary,
full of goodness,
show your love towards us.
Let the flame of your heart,
O Mary, descend on all people.
We love you immensely.
Impress true love in our hearts
so that we have a continuous desire for you.
O Mary, gentle and humble of heart, remember us when we are in sin.
You know that all men sin.
Give us, by means of your Immaculate Heart, spiritual health.
Let us always see the goodness of your motherly heart
and may we be converted by means of the flame of your heart.
Amen.
Warmth
By Isabel Uselton
The alabaster shades of snow
whirled about;
Frosty aid cut through
with briskness …
And I needed warmth.
Around the corner, I walked
and up the steps …
Inside and into a small pew;
His unending love was the
warmth I sought …
On this blustery morn.
Together
By Margaret Peterson
Whenever it feels like you’re all alone,
And no one seems to care,
And even the sun refuses to shine,
God is always there.
When trouble comes knocking and no one can help –
There seems to be no way out –
God is beside you to hear your prayers.
There isn’t any doubt.
For all of the troubles are reasons to need Him.,
They come to you right from His hand,
Meant to be too much to bear all alone,
Just the way that He planned.
For now when you pray and things come together,
There is no question at all:
You never were suffering all by yourself,
God was waiting and hoped you would call.
No Reservations, Please
By Bea Waltz
Loving is easy when you’re loved back,
And it matters not what social grace you lack,
But loving is hard when it’s not returned,
And gossip proceeds once your back is turned.
If love depends on whether we’re friends
And follow the same communal trends,
Then what we feel is mere pretense,
A gross charade of recompense.
Love is not love if there’s a condition,
Nor is it reward with some admonition
For our Father’s love know no reservation.
It is life’s utmost expectation.
Excerpted from “Leaflets” column:
On Jan. 9 the Church celebrates the feast of The Baptism of the Lord. Our baptism brought us into the Faith. What an extraordinary gift! If we know the date of our baptism we might want to celebrate the day in a special way this year. Attend Mass on this day and then share a meal with family or friends. If unable to get to Mass, drop in at church to offer prayers of thanksgiving for the precious gift of Faith.
Many of us were baptized as infants and therefore do not know the date of our baptism. If after some investigation we still do not know when we received the Sacrament of Baptism, we could choose to celebrate the gift of baptism on Jan. 9.
Our celebrations might include prayers to our patron saints. Ask for their help and intercession. Read about them and use their sanctity as a model for our lives today.
We should pray for those who brought us to baptism – our parents, godparents or others. Whether they are living or dead, our prayers can assist them. If we have godchildren, we should be sure to keep them in prayer and guide them throughout their lives to be holy in the eyes of the Lord.
As we learn from the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
Baptism is God’s most beautiful and magnificent gift. . . .We call it gift, grace, anointing, enlightenment, garment of immortality, bath of rebirth, seal, and most precious gift. It is called gift because it is conferred on those who bring nothing of their own; grace since it is given even to the guilty; Baptism because sin is buried in the water; anointing for it is priestly and royal as are those who are anointed; enlightenment because it radiates light; clothing since it veils our shame; bath because it washes; and seal as it is our guard and the sign of God’s Lordship (CCC 1216).
Let us all recommit to living a life worthy of the magnificent gift of baptism.
The month of February is Catholic Press Month. The readers of LEAVES are a particularly extraordinary family. Our faith brings us together and our love is shared so generously.
Do you have any family or friends who you believe might benefit from joining our LEAVES family? Together we celebrate the joys of life and share the burdens of our sufferings. The care that extends throughout our LEAVES family is a gift beyond measure, a gift we wish to share with as many people as possible.
On the back page of this issue is a form to send someone LEAVES magazine. A subscription to LEAVES is free, but the benefits of joining our LEAVES family are immeasurable. Each issue offers prayerful support and encouragement to live faith-filled lives.
As always, the LEAVES staff and the Mariannhill Missionaries offer you our heartfelt prayers, love and gratitude for your wonderful support of us and our mission. God love you for it! Wishing you good health and happiness in the New Year! May God grant you abundant blessings always - Fr. Thomas Heier, C.M.M.
Excerpted from “Our Family Album”:
St. Therese Sends Sign
My mother died in 1988 from Lymphoma cancer. She had always been very devoted to St. Therese the Little Flower and she prayed constantly to her. She asked St. Therese to send her a sign that she was going to heaven.
After six months of being sick with chemotherapy, my mother was diagnosed with cancer in her spine and her brain. She was bedridden, but she could talk, and she would ask when St. Therese was coming for her.
One Thursday my mother was in quite a state, as she thought St. Therese had forgotten her. My sister-in-law was attending her when there was a knock on the front door. A nun from our church had a dozen roses in her hands and she was crying. Someone had dropped them off at the convent, and Sister thought of my mother and took them straight to her. My mother saw the roses and she was ready to die. She passed away the next day.
At the funeral home, as my mom lay in the casket, a beautiful aroma came off her body, as if it were like being in a flower shop of nothing but roses: the entire place smelled of roses! The next day during rosary at the church, when the casket was opened, the aroma of roses filled the church!
I believe that St. Therese came and took my mom to heaven with her – Patrick.
Prayers Answered and
Prayers Requested
I received LEAVES magazine today and read it from cover to cover. I had previously written and asked for prayers for my health and for my daughter. I prayed two or three novenas to St. Jude and one to the Blessed Mother, as I had cancer in my breasts, a twisted aorta and gallstones.
A miracle has happened and I am clear of all illnesses! I have also prayed to God and St. Anthony for lost items and they have been found! Now I pray for my daughter and granddaughter as they both need good-paying jobs.
My granddaughter needs mental help, as she has quit her job and has personal problems, as well. I ask my LEAVES family for your prayers and I thank you for prayers that already have been answered. I love my LEAVES family as my own and I thank the Fathers at Mariannhill. May God bless all of you and keep peace in your hearts – Mary L.
Miracles Always Occurring
Thank you so much for the LEAVES magazine. I love to read it as soon as I get it. I have been receiving it for many years now.
When I read the stories about Fr. Engelmar Unzeitig, I remember the years 1944 and 1945. In 1944 I was only 10 years old. At that time, my family and I lived in East Prussia in the city of Allenstein. Our mother and we four children tried to help the Jewish people and lots of other prisoners, because we saw so much hardship and a lot of suffering.
I know that we always put our lives at risk by doing so, but somehow we could still help a lot of people. But then in the winter of 1945, in January, we had to flee from the Russians. I will never forget the night of the 21st. It was a miracle to find a freight train at the station.
After that night and in the many difficult days that followed, we went through a lot and were never able to go back home. And yet there were always miracles occurring, and we had faith that the angels would help us through this experience.
God bless you and thanks again — Brunhilde Olsen.
Excerpted from Blessed Engelmar Testimonies:
A Life of
Blessed Engelmar
There is now available a booklet of the life of Blessed Engelmar Unzeitig, C.M.M. You may receive a free copy of it by sending a stamped (postage for one ounce), self-addressed envelope to us at: LEAVES, P.O. Box 87, Dearborn, MI 48121-0087.
My offering is for favors received from the Virgin Mary, Ss. Jude, Rita and Therese the Little Flower and Bl. Engelmar — Lisa R.
+ + +
This offering is in honor of favors received from Bl. Engelmar and St. Rita. Please keep my son in your prayers. He is struggling with mental issues. Thank you – Name Withheld.
+ + +
I have enclosed a donation that I promised for my special intention to Bl. Engelmar. My prayer was answered. I continue to pray to Jesus, Blessed Mary, Ss. Joseph, Anthony, Jude, Padre Pio, Therese, Francis, and oh so many more for my family, extended family and friends and for myself. Please pray for my vision to improve and for continued health and blessings for all. May God bless the Mariannhill Fathers and their wonderful work. With love and prayers – Mrs. H.D.
Novena in Honor of
Abbot Francis Pfanner
Abbot Francis Pfanner founded Mariannhill Monastery, and 100 years ago its monks became the Congregation of Missionaries of Mariannhill. He was not only a great missionary, but also a holy man. The cause for his beatification has begun. We have available a novena in his honor and will send you a free copy of it when you send a stamped (postage for one ounce), self-addressed envelope to us at: LEAVES, P.O. Box 87, Dearborn, MI 48121-0087.
Prayer for Peace
By St. John Paul II
Immaculate Heart of Mary, help us to conquer the menace of evil which so easily takes root in the hearts of the people of today and whose immeasurable effects already weigh down upon our modern world and seem to block the paths toward the future. From famine and war, deliver us. From nuclear war, from incalculable self-destruction, from every kind of war, deliver us. From sins against human life from its very beginning, deliver us.
From hatred and from the demeaning of the dignity of the children of God, deliver us. From every kind of injustice in the life of society, both national and international, deliver us. From readiness to trample on the commandments of God, deliver us. From attempts to stifle in human hearts the very truth of God, deliver us. From the loss of awareness of good and evil, deliver us. From sins against the Holy Spirit, deliver us.
Accept, O Mother of Christ, this cry laden with the sufferings of all individual human beings, laden with the sufferings of whole societies. Help us with the power of the Holy Spirit to conquer all sin: individual sin and the “sin of the world,” sin in all of its manifestations. Let there be revealed once more in the history of the world, the infinite saving power of the redemption: the power of merciful love. May it put a stop to evil. May it transform consciences. May your Immaculate Heart reveal for all the light of hope. Amen.
Prayer to
The Immaculate
Heart of Mary
O Immaculate Heart of Mary,
full of goodness,
show your love towards us.
Let the flame of your heart,
O Mary, descend on all people.
We love you immensely.
Impress true love in our hearts
so that we have a continuous desire for you.
O Mary, gentle and humble of heart, remember us when we are in sin.
You know that all men sin.
Give us, by means of your Immaculate Heart, spiritual health.
Let us always see the goodness of your motherly heart
and may we be converted by means of the flame of your heart.
Amen.
Warmth
By Isabel Uselton
The alabaster shades of snow
whirled about;
Frosty aid cut through
with briskness …
And I needed warmth.
Around the corner, I walked
and up the steps …
Inside and into a small pew;
His unending love was the
warmth I sought …
On this blustery morn.
Together
By Margaret Peterson
Whenever it feels like you’re all alone,
And no one seems to care,
And even the sun refuses to shine,
God is always there.
When trouble comes knocking and no one can help –
There seems to be no way out –
God is beside you to hear your prayers.
There isn’t any doubt.
For all of the troubles are reasons to need Him.,
They come to you right from His hand,
Meant to be too much to bear all alone,
Just the way that He planned.
For now when you pray and things come together,
There is no question at all:
You never were suffering all by yourself,
God was waiting and hoped you would call.
No Reservations, Please
By Bea Waltz
Loving is easy when you’re loved back,
And it matters not what social grace you lack,
But loving is hard when it’s not returned,
And gossip proceeds once your back is turned.
If love depends on whether we’re friends
And follow the same communal trends,
Then what we feel is mere pretense,
A gross charade of recompense.
Love is not love if there’s a condition,
Nor is it reward with some admonition
For our Father’s love know no reservation.
It is life’s utmost expectation.