LEAVES Website for Mar-Apr 2022 Issue
Excerpted from “Leaflets” column:
In this loud and busy world, we would do well to recall the words of our Holy Father. Pope Francis advises that we should try “to cultivate spaces for silence in which another Word can emerge, that of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us” (General Audience, 12/15/21). The Lenten Season is a perfect time to do just that.
Fasting from unnecessary words can be challenging at times. Idle chatter can sometimes turn cruel, even if unintended. Gossip can inadvertently slip into conversation, as can sharing information that may not be entirely accurate.
Making a conscious effort to step away from noise and talking for a time can assist in evaluating our conversations in general. Some have a tendency to fill the void in a conversation with details of people and places that add no value. During our moment of silence we ought to evaluate the necessity and quality of our interactions with others.
In his catechesis, Pope Francis reminds us that St. Joseph combined silence and action. Silence opens us to the efforts of the Holy Spirit “to regenerate us, to console us, to correct us.” This, then, promotes healing within and guides us to be better.
Perhaps we might carve out some time each day to simply be in God’s presence and end our meditative session with the following prayer from the Holy Father:
St. Joseph, man of silence, you who in the Gospel did not utter a single word, teach us to fast from vain words, to rediscover the value of words that edify, encourage, console and support
Be close to those who suffer from words that hurt, like slander and backbiting, and help us always to match words with deeds. Amen.
When we have finished our prayerful quiet time, let us go forth working to heal those who have been hurt, by our words or by the words of others. Let us use our words to “edify, encourage and support” always!
The Holy Father’s Apostleship of Prayer Intention for April is for health care workers, asking that we pray for “health care workers who serve the sick and the elderly, especially in the poorest countries.” Due to the worldwide pandemic, many of those who work in healthcare have been on overload throughout the world. The stress for some has been overwhelming.
Those who care for the sick and elderly often work long hours with very few breaks, even to sit for a moment or eat regular meals. Their skill in their job is often matched by their compassion. As a result, the emotional toll can be even more excruciating than the physical.
Many are those who are health caregivers who do so for family members or friends without any expectation of compensation, and sometimes without any relief or time off. They do so simply out of love, heading Our Lord’s call: “Whatsoever you do for the least of my brothers; that you do unto me” (Mt 25:31-46). These righteous will inherit eternal life.
May we remember to pray this April, and always, for those who spend their lives in service to the sick and the elderly. In addition, let us look to find ways to encourage them and support them in their important work.
Easter, the Church’s most significant feast of the Church’s entire liturgical year, is celebrated on April 17 this year. On this most glorious day, Christ conquered death! The resurrection gives us hope that we too may enjoy eternal life with the Lord, our God.
Happy Easter to our dear LEAVES family! We sing joyful Alleluias for you! May God grant you abundant blessings at Easter and always – Fr. Thomas Heier, C.M.M.
Excerpted from “Our Family Album”:
Yellow Rose Received
From St. Therese
My donation is to honor and thank, once again, St. Therese the Little Flower. Fourteen years ago, our daughter was murdered in another state. I prayed for St. Therese to send me a yellow rose to let me know that my daughter was in heaven.
Out of the blue, our pastor gave me a dozen yellow roses on our 50th wedding anniversary. He had never done this for anyone else. Then today, I just finished my daily prayer to St. Therese asking for help for our 39-year-old granddaughter who is suffering from injuries from two different auto accidents and now an abusive boyfriend. My husband came home from helping at a friend’s funeral and had picked me two red roses from the many floral arrangements.
Thank you St. Therese, for giving me some hope for her – Arleen K.
Prayer to
St. Anthony Answered
I prayed to St. Anthony and said I would send a donation if I was able to find my wedding ring. I knew it had to be in the house somewhere. I spent two days of looking everywhere – in pockets, under the small bureau and drawer stand where I would put it on top whenever I came back from anywhere.
I am sensitive to metals. My husband passed away two years ago. I felt lost without my wedding ring.
Anyway, on the second day of prayer to St. Anthony I was just getting ready to take a shower and the thought came into my head to check the jewelry box in the nightstand. Mind you, I had already checked it twice.
I checked the jewelry box. First I looked where I would normally put a ring and it was not there. Then I scanned to the right of that where I put my earrings and other jewelry. At first I didn’t see it because of the way it was laying, but I kept looking.
Sure enough, I saw something that looked like a ring. I couldn’t believe it. I knew I had worn it to church and also had on my Our Lady of Guadalupe medal. When I put my medal away I must have put my ring down too. I am so thankful – Alice B.
Daughter Devoted
To St. Anthony
Please pray for my daughter Erin who has received LEAVES for years. She died in 2019 of a second brain tumor called glioblastoma. Many people who knew her have called her a saint.
My daughter was devoted to St. Anthony and wanted to stay alive until his feast day of June 13, but she died on May 27. To our surprise, the nurse holding her pulse called her death at 6:13 p.m., so we thought that St. Anthony was there with her.
Erin was 42, single and had taught many children about Jesus and Mary and about prayers. She attended Adoration frequently. She was always smiling and befriended anyone.
Please continue to send LEAVES to me, her mother, and pray for Erin’s two sisters and her brother Michael who does not attend church. Her father, who left me and the kids in 1982, does not attend church either.
Thank you – Elaine.
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.
I am sending a donation for a novena that was answered. I said the novenas to St. Therese and Fr. Engelmar Unzeitig. I was diagnosed with Stage 1 cancer. The doctor operated on me to remove the cancer and was able to remove all of it. I received a phone call from the doctor’s office letting me know that I was cancer free. I was so pleased to hear the good news.
I went for an eight-week checkup after my surgery. They noticed small masses, removed them and sent them off for testing. I just got the phone call letting me know that it was scar tissue. I was so excited to hear the news!
Please keep me in your prayers – Name Withheld.
+ + +
My donation was promised for an answer of prayers for my son. This spring he had a job opportunity and I was not sure he should take it. I said novenas to Fr. Engelmar to ask God to answer and to let my son know if the job was right for him.
Unforeseen circumstances occurred to help him decide whether to take the job. He did not and he is so happy with the decision. I now need prayers for my daughter who is having problems at her job. I’m praying again to Fr. Engelmar to ask God to enlighten her and guide her to a new job if that is His wish. I love LEAVES magazine. It is so refreshing and uplifting – Joanne R.
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 to My
Guardian Angel
Good night, my guardian angel.
The day has sped away.
Well spent or ill, its story is
Written down for “aye.”
And now of God’s kind providence
Thy image pure and bright
Watch over me while I’m sleeping
My angel dear “Good Night.”
[Shared by Theresa Gabriel, who learned it from her mother and prays it every night. It appeared in LEAVES magazine in the 1940s.]
The Miraculous Prayer
Dear Heart of Jesus, in the past, I have asked for many favors. This time I ask you this very special one (mention your request here). Take it, dear Jesus, and place it within your own broken Heart, where your father sees it. Then, in your merciful eyes, it will become your favor, not mine. Amen.
(Say this prayer for three days.)
Little Calvary
By Grace E. Easley
There is a little Calvary
I have to climb each day,
I struggle with my little cross,
And fall along the way.
My steps are slow and painful
With the heartache that I bear,
I tremble as I reach the top
At what awaits me there.
My ears ring with the unkind words
That I so often hear,
My back is bruised by thoughtlessness
That is so hard to bear.
My once so spotless garment
Is torn and streaked with gray
And some I used to think my friends
… Now look the other way.
But then, dear Lord, I think of You,
And looking down I find
I step into Your Footprints
The higher that I climb.
My little cross seems light beside
The one You bore for me,
And I discover just how small
… My little Calvary.
Jesus Is Placed in the
Arms of His Mother
By Margaret Peterson
When Jesus was taken down from the cross
And placed in the arms of His mother,
It broke her heart completely in two,
For she loved Him as no other.
And yet His death was not in vain.
Who else could take His place
As savior on a wooden cross
For every time and race?
No one else could love so much
Or give His all for each.
Only Jesus could give His life
So heaven was within our reach!
The best of all had died and yet
No grace could hold Him fast,
For three days hence He would rise again
And all of the pain would be past.
Be There
By Bernice Laux
When my life is ending,
pain my escort seems to be,
and I’m calling out to Thee,
be there, my God, for me.
When my health is gone –
doctors did their best for me –
in helpless state I lie,
be there, my God, for me.
When lips can form no prayer,
frail hands are raised to Thee,
death is knocking at the door,
be there, my God, for me.
When nothing matters anymore
except to be with Thee,
my heart now slowly beats,
be there, my God, for me.
When darkness fills my mind,
the light I seek is Thee;
I cling in hope for comfort,
be there, my God, for me.
Disbelief
By Josephine Mastrangelo Mosera
Forgive me, Father,
I cannot believe …
You abandoned my Brother
When Mother’s heart was broken.
On that dark Friday,
Were You parted from
Your Spirit and Your Son?
Each lash of whip,
Each jab of thorn,
Each hammer’s blow,
Which sunk the nails
That pierced His Flesh,
You did not feel?
Did You not answer because,
Upon that Cross,
Precious Blood gushed from Jesus?
Your Spirit writhed in anguish?
Father most holy,
Were You not
With Him and in Him
Through His agony?
Excerpted from “Leaflets” column:
In this loud and busy world, we would do well to recall the words of our Holy Father. Pope Francis advises that we should try “to cultivate spaces for silence in which another Word can emerge, that of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us” (General Audience, 12/15/21). The Lenten Season is a perfect time to do just that.
Fasting from unnecessary words can be challenging at times. Idle chatter can sometimes turn cruel, even if unintended. Gossip can inadvertently slip into conversation, as can sharing information that may not be entirely accurate.
Making a conscious effort to step away from noise and talking for a time can assist in evaluating our conversations in general. Some have a tendency to fill the void in a conversation with details of people and places that add no value. During our moment of silence we ought to evaluate the necessity and quality of our interactions with others.
In his catechesis, Pope Francis reminds us that St. Joseph combined silence and action. Silence opens us to the efforts of the Holy Spirit “to regenerate us, to console us, to correct us.” This, then, promotes healing within and guides us to be better.
Perhaps we might carve out some time each day to simply be in God’s presence and end our meditative session with the following prayer from the Holy Father:
St. Joseph, man of silence, you who in the Gospel did not utter a single word, teach us to fast from vain words, to rediscover the value of words that edify, encourage, console and support
Be close to those who suffer from words that hurt, like slander and backbiting, and help us always to match words with deeds. Amen.
When we have finished our prayerful quiet time, let us go forth working to heal those who have been hurt, by our words or by the words of others. Let us use our words to “edify, encourage and support” always!
The Holy Father’s Apostleship of Prayer Intention for April is for health care workers, asking that we pray for “health care workers who serve the sick and the elderly, especially in the poorest countries.” Due to the worldwide pandemic, many of those who work in healthcare have been on overload throughout the world. The stress for some has been overwhelming.
Those who care for the sick and elderly often work long hours with very few breaks, even to sit for a moment or eat regular meals. Their skill in their job is often matched by their compassion. As a result, the emotional toll can be even more excruciating than the physical.
Many are those who are health caregivers who do so for family members or friends without any expectation of compensation, and sometimes without any relief or time off. They do so simply out of love, heading Our Lord’s call: “Whatsoever you do for the least of my brothers; that you do unto me” (Mt 25:31-46). These righteous will inherit eternal life.
May we remember to pray this April, and always, for those who spend their lives in service to the sick and the elderly. In addition, let us look to find ways to encourage them and support them in their important work.
Easter, the Church’s most significant feast of the Church’s entire liturgical year, is celebrated on April 17 this year. On this most glorious day, Christ conquered death! The resurrection gives us hope that we too may enjoy eternal life with the Lord, our God.
Happy Easter to our dear LEAVES family! We sing joyful Alleluias for you! May God grant you abundant blessings at Easter and always – Fr. Thomas Heier, C.M.M.
Excerpted from “Our Family Album”:
Yellow Rose Received
From St. Therese
My donation is to honor and thank, once again, St. Therese the Little Flower. Fourteen years ago, our daughter was murdered in another state. I prayed for St. Therese to send me a yellow rose to let me know that my daughter was in heaven.
Out of the blue, our pastor gave me a dozen yellow roses on our 50th wedding anniversary. He had never done this for anyone else. Then today, I just finished my daily prayer to St. Therese asking for help for our 39-year-old granddaughter who is suffering from injuries from two different auto accidents and now an abusive boyfriend. My husband came home from helping at a friend’s funeral and had picked me two red roses from the many floral arrangements.
Thank you St. Therese, for giving me some hope for her – Arleen K.
Prayer to
St. Anthony Answered
I prayed to St. Anthony and said I would send a donation if I was able to find my wedding ring. I knew it had to be in the house somewhere. I spent two days of looking everywhere – in pockets, under the small bureau and drawer stand where I would put it on top whenever I came back from anywhere.
I am sensitive to metals. My husband passed away two years ago. I felt lost without my wedding ring.
Anyway, on the second day of prayer to St. Anthony I was just getting ready to take a shower and the thought came into my head to check the jewelry box in the nightstand. Mind you, I had already checked it twice.
I checked the jewelry box. First I looked where I would normally put a ring and it was not there. Then I scanned to the right of that where I put my earrings and other jewelry. At first I didn’t see it because of the way it was laying, but I kept looking.
Sure enough, I saw something that looked like a ring. I couldn’t believe it. I knew I had worn it to church and also had on my Our Lady of Guadalupe medal. When I put my medal away I must have put my ring down too. I am so thankful – Alice B.
Daughter Devoted
To St. Anthony
Please pray for my daughter Erin who has received LEAVES for years. She died in 2019 of a second brain tumor called glioblastoma. Many people who knew her have called her a saint.
My daughter was devoted to St. Anthony and wanted to stay alive until his feast day of June 13, but she died on May 27. To our surprise, the nurse holding her pulse called her death at 6:13 p.m., so we thought that St. Anthony was there with her.
Erin was 42, single and had taught many children about Jesus and Mary and about prayers. She attended Adoration frequently. She was always smiling and befriended anyone.
Please continue to send LEAVES to me, her mother, and pray for Erin’s two sisters and her brother Michael who does not attend church. Her father, who left me and the kids in 1982, does not attend church either.
Thank you – Elaine.
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.
I am sending a donation for a novena that was answered. I said the novenas to St. Therese and Fr. Engelmar Unzeitig. I was diagnosed with Stage 1 cancer. The doctor operated on me to remove the cancer and was able to remove all of it. I received a phone call from the doctor’s office letting me know that I was cancer free. I was so pleased to hear the good news.
I went for an eight-week checkup after my surgery. They noticed small masses, removed them and sent them off for testing. I just got the phone call letting me know that it was scar tissue. I was so excited to hear the news!
Please keep me in your prayers – Name Withheld.
+ + +
My donation was promised for an answer of prayers for my son. This spring he had a job opportunity and I was not sure he should take it. I said novenas to Fr. Engelmar to ask God to answer and to let my son know if the job was right for him.
Unforeseen circumstances occurred to help him decide whether to take the job. He did not and he is so happy with the decision. I now need prayers for my daughter who is having problems at her job. I’m praying again to Fr. Engelmar to ask God to enlighten her and guide her to a new job if that is His wish. I love LEAVES magazine. It is so refreshing and uplifting – Joanne R.
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 to My
Guardian Angel
Good night, my guardian angel.
The day has sped away.
Well spent or ill, its story is
Written down for “aye.”
And now of God’s kind providence
Thy image pure and bright
Watch over me while I’m sleeping
My angel dear “Good Night.”
[Shared by Theresa Gabriel, who learned it from her mother and prays it every night. It appeared in LEAVES magazine in the 1940s.]
The Miraculous Prayer
Dear Heart of Jesus, in the past, I have asked for many favors. This time I ask you this very special one (mention your request here). Take it, dear Jesus, and place it within your own broken Heart, where your father sees it. Then, in your merciful eyes, it will become your favor, not mine. Amen.
(Say this prayer for three days.)
Little Calvary
By Grace E. Easley
There is a little Calvary
I have to climb each day,
I struggle with my little cross,
And fall along the way.
My steps are slow and painful
With the heartache that I bear,
I tremble as I reach the top
At what awaits me there.
My ears ring with the unkind words
That I so often hear,
My back is bruised by thoughtlessness
That is so hard to bear.
My once so spotless garment
Is torn and streaked with gray
And some I used to think my friends
… Now look the other way.
But then, dear Lord, I think of You,
And looking down I find
I step into Your Footprints
The higher that I climb.
My little cross seems light beside
The one You bore for me,
And I discover just how small
… My little Calvary.
Jesus Is Placed in the
Arms of His Mother
By Margaret Peterson
When Jesus was taken down from the cross
And placed in the arms of His mother,
It broke her heart completely in two,
For she loved Him as no other.
And yet His death was not in vain.
Who else could take His place
As savior on a wooden cross
For every time and race?
No one else could love so much
Or give His all for each.
Only Jesus could give His life
So heaven was within our reach!
The best of all had died and yet
No grace could hold Him fast,
For three days hence He would rise again
And all of the pain would be past.
Be There
By Bernice Laux
When my life is ending,
pain my escort seems to be,
and I’m calling out to Thee,
be there, my God, for me.
When my health is gone –
doctors did their best for me –
in helpless state I lie,
be there, my God, for me.
When lips can form no prayer,
frail hands are raised to Thee,
death is knocking at the door,
be there, my God, for me.
When nothing matters anymore
except to be with Thee,
my heart now slowly beats,
be there, my God, for me.
When darkness fills my mind,
the light I seek is Thee;
I cling in hope for comfort,
be there, my God, for me.
Disbelief
By Josephine Mastrangelo Mosera
Forgive me, Father,
I cannot believe …
You abandoned my Brother
When Mother’s heart was broken.
On that dark Friday,
Were You parted from
Your Spirit and Your Son?
Each lash of whip,
Each jab of thorn,
Each hammer’s blow,
Which sunk the nails
That pierced His Flesh,
You did not feel?
Did You not answer because,
Upon that Cross,
Precious Blood gushed from Jesus?
Your Spirit writhed in anguish?
Father most holy,
Were You not
With Him and in Him
Through His agony?