LEAVES Website for May-June 2023 Issue
Excerpted from “Leaflets” column:
May, the Month of Mary is the perfect time to draw ever closer to our dear Blessed Mother. Some parishes or Catholic schools have a May crowning at the beginning of the month. If there is one near one, consider attending, if possible.
A beautiful way to show our love for Mary is to set aside a little prayer corner with a statue or a picture of Mary, surrounded by some flowers and a candle. As you pass by throughout the day, a quick Hail Mary can be offered.
As we celebrate our own mothers on Mother’s Day, let us also remember our Blessed Mother on this day. Take a moment before or after Mass to visit her statue or shrine at church. Offer prayers of thanksgiving for her powerful intercession during the many times we have called upon her. Ask her to bless all mothers, young and old, living and deceased.
Look over the liturgical calendar for May for days that celebrate the Blessed Mother: 13th – Our Lady of Fatima; 29th – Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church; 31st – Visitation of Virgin Mary to Elizabeth. Read about these days and mark them in some particular way.
Miracles abound in the story of Our Lady of Fatima, so we should bring before her situations we believe are in need of a miracle in order to resolve them. She appeared before three children, so we should pray for little ones. Our Lady requested prayers to be said for the conversion of sinners, so let us pray for those who most need to turn from sin.
On the 29 and 31st of May we honor first the Mother of the Church and then the Visitation of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth, both are certainly celebrations with family connotations. Families can appreciate the value of prayer, so let us join together to pray for our own families and for our dear LEAVES family. May God bless all and give to each according to their need.
Last, but not least, Mary’s month offers us an opportunity to spend time with her and her Divine Son through praying the rosary. As we pray the Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious and Luminous Mysteries we draw ever closer to Our Lady and Our Lord through a focus on their life, death and resurrection.
Let us pray the oldest intercessory prayer to Our Blessed Mother that has been used since the early fourth century: “We fly to your patronage, O holy Mother of God; despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us from all danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen.”
May God grant you abundant blessings always – Fr. Thomas Heier, C.M.M.
Excerpted from “Our Family Album”:
Precious Memory of
A Mother’s Grotto
I would like to share with you the story of my mother’s grotto. In 1954 she decided she wanted her own grotto for Mary on our farmyard. She recruited her girls to help find and carry rocks for what we thought was going to be a grotto the size of the pilgrimage sites we attended every year. It finally got done to her satisfaction, but she did not stop there.
It was the year that my twin sister and I were going to be received as the children of Mary at 14 years old. My mother asked our priest if he would come and bless Mary’s grotto and consider doing the consecration to Mary there that year.
The priest agreed to the consecration, so my mother contacted as many crippled and sick people she knew to add the blessing of the sick as well. It was a wonderful evening of prayer.
I am now 82 years old and that evening is one of my fondest memories growing up — Madeleine G.
St. Rita Aids Reconciliation
Some weeks ago I made a special request to St. Rita, the “Saint of the Impossible.” I live with my oldest daughter who is taking care of me. My daughter had made an urgent call to her youngest sister.
The call was related to a health issue of mine. When the call was not returned, my oldest daughter decided that she would never talk to her sister again! The situation got worse as the weeks went by.
I started the novena to St. Rita. Suddenly, my oldest daughter called her younger sister and arranged to have a meeting. They met and resolved their problems. My donation is in thanksgiving – F.D.S.
Life Changes Difficult
I just finished reading a stack of past issues of LEAVES magazine and I was so inspired. I also read some other magazines of inspiration, too. Some were left where I am staying at this time.
I was always independent and energetic and a good worker. I helped others too, in many ways. Within a short time after the COVID pandemic, I found my whole life changing suddenly.
Now I am no longer financially independent. I can’t work. My entire body seems to be falling apart and I am losing my memory.
I am 75 years old, a never-married woman, who is suddenly unable to take care of my immediate needs. My family cannot help me either as they live far away.
Please pray for me that God will show me what to do and give me the strength to do it and to send someone to help me along the way. I need subsidized housing in a safe place. I wish it could be Catholic-affiliated, but waiting lists are long everywhere.
I will never give up my faith and hope, but I am feeling weak and weary right now. It is hard for me to get to Mass right now. Thank you – L.W.
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.
We love LEAVES magazine. God bless the Mariannhill Missionaries for all your good work. We love and pray for all who ask for prayers as we too have many of the same problems. Please remember our family in all your good works. We need more novena booklets in honor of Fr. Engelmar. We pray to him for intercession in our worries and concerns and we want to share his life and stories with others – Peggy and Joseph A.
+ + +
I am requesting prayers for my neuropathy that upsets me a great deal. I ask the wonderful LEAVES family to pray for me. May the future saint Bl. Engelmar intercede on my behalf. Thank you to all — Nick S.
+ + +
I am asking for prayers by the LEAVES family for the health of my sister that she may return home to be united with her family soon. I am also requesting on her behalf a booklet of the life of Bl. Engelmar Unzeitig, C.M.M. Thank you – M.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 to the Apostles
Ss. Peter & Paul
O holy Apostles, Peter and Paul, intercede for us. Protect, O Lord, your people who trust in the patronage of your Apostles, Peter and Paul, and by their constant protection protect your people. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. [Feast day of Ss. Peter & Paul is June 29.]
St. Rita Novena Prayer
Holy patroness of those in need, St. Rita, so humble, pure and patient, who pleadings with your Divine Spouse are irresistible, obtain for us from your crucified Jesus our request (mention your request here). Be favorable towards us for the greater glory of God and yourself, and we promise to honor and sing your praises ever afterward. Amen.
Pray each three times: Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be.
[Feast day of St. Rita is May 22. She is a patron of hopeless cases.]
What Is the Loneliest Thing in the World?
By Margaret Peterson
Nothing is lonelier than life without God,
No trip of pleasure can take
The loneliness of life away
That makes the spirit ache.
For we were meant to love the Lord
With heart and soul and mind
And strength as long as we may live,
Or peace we cannot find.
St. Augustine learned this law:
“Our hearts were made for Thee
Alone, O Lord, and they are restless
Till they rest in Thee.”
Jesus Our Savior
By Dolores Tate
The prize of the living, O Master Divine,
We come in thanksgiving, sweet Savior of mine,
To partake of You hidden in the form of mere bread,
To drink the red wine which is Thy Blood instead.
O Master, forgive me for I did not know
Just how great is Your mercy through which blessings flow.
It took years of just living and plodding along,
Till my eyes were reopened like the morning at dawn.
As the rays that are streaming from Thy Sacred Heart,
Your mercy and goodness to us You impart;
Our sins are forgiven.
He draws ever nearer;
We receive that great Prize: Holy Eucharist, Redeemer.
Singing God’s Love
By Cindy Tuttle
As I listen to the birds,
I wonder what they are singing.
I imagine flying and singing
along with them.
What would I sing?
I would sing of the
joy of God and the
beginning of a new day.
I would sing how we are
all precious in God’s eyes
and notice the beauty of creation.
I would sing of the unity
and the love we
can give each other.
Oh, what a song I would sing!
You know what?
I don’t have to be a bird.
I can sing those songs
every day as me!
Excerpted from “Leaflets” column:
May, the Month of Mary is the perfect time to draw ever closer to our dear Blessed Mother. Some parishes or Catholic schools have a May crowning at the beginning of the month. If there is one near one, consider attending, if possible.
A beautiful way to show our love for Mary is to set aside a little prayer corner with a statue or a picture of Mary, surrounded by some flowers and a candle. As you pass by throughout the day, a quick Hail Mary can be offered.
As we celebrate our own mothers on Mother’s Day, let us also remember our Blessed Mother on this day. Take a moment before or after Mass to visit her statue or shrine at church. Offer prayers of thanksgiving for her powerful intercession during the many times we have called upon her. Ask her to bless all mothers, young and old, living and deceased.
Look over the liturgical calendar for May for days that celebrate the Blessed Mother: 13th – Our Lady of Fatima; 29th – Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church; 31st – Visitation of Virgin Mary to Elizabeth. Read about these days and mark them in some particular way.
Miracles abound in the story of Our Lady of Fatima, so we should bring before her situations we believe are in need of a miracle in order to resolve them. She appeared before three children, so we should pray for little ones. Our Lady requested prayers to be said for the conversion of sinners, so let us pray for those who most need to turn from sin.
On the 29 and 31st of May we honor first the Mother of the Church and then the Visitation of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth, both are certainly celebrations with family connotations. Families can appreciate the value of prayer, so let us join together to pray for our own families and for our dear LEAVES family. May God bless all and give to each according to their need.
Last, but not least, Mary’s month offers us an opportunity to spend time with her and her Divine Son through praying the rosary. As we pray the Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious and Luminous Mysteries we draw ever closer to Our Lady and Our Lord through a focus on their life, death and resurrection.
Let us pray the oldest intercessory prayer to Our Blessed Mother that has been used since the early fourth century: “We fly to your patronage, O holy Mother of God; despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us from all danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen.”
May God grant you abundant blessings always – Fr. Thomas Heier, C.M.M.
Excerpted from “Our Family Album”:
Precious Memory of
A Mother’s Grotto
I would like to share with you the story of my mother’s grotto. In 1954 she decided she wanted her own grotto for Mary on our farmyard. She recruited her girls to help find and carry rocks for what we thought was going to be a grotto the size of the pilgrimage sites we attended every year. It finally got done to her satisfaction, but she did not stop there.
It was the year that my twin sister and I were going to be received as the children of Mary at 14 years old. My mother asked our priest if he would come and bless Mary’s grotto and consider doing the consecration to Mary there that year.
The priest agreed to the consecration, so my mother contacted as many crippled and sick people she knew to add the blessing of the sick as well. It was a wonderful evening of prayer.
I am now 82 years old and that evening is one of my fondest memories growing up — Madeleine G.
St. Rita Aids Reconciliation
Some weeks ago I made a special request to St. Rita, the “Saint of the Impossible.” I live with my oldest daughter who is taking care of me. My daughter had made an urgent call to her youngest sister.
The call was related to a health issue of mine. When the call was not returned, my oldest daughter decided that she would never talk to her sister again! The situation got worse as the weeks went by.
I started the novena to St. Rita. Suddenly, my oldest daughter called her younger sister and arranged to have a meeting. They met and resolved their problems. My donation is in thanksgiving – F.D.S.
Life Changes Difficult
I just finished reading a stack of past issues of LEAVES magazine and I was so inspired. I also read some other magazines of inspiration, too. Some were left where I am staying at this time.
I was always independent and energetic and a good worker. I helped others too, in many ways. Within a short time after the COVID pandemic, I found my whole life changing suddenly.
Now I am no longer financially independent. I can’t work. My entire body seems to be falling apart and I am losing my memory.
I am 75 years old, a never-married woman, who is suddenly unable to take care of my immediate needs. My family cannot help me either as they live far away.
Please pray for me that God will show me what to do and give me the strength to do it and to send someone to help me along the way. I need subsidized housing in a safe place. I wish it could be Catholic-affiliated, but waiting lists are long everywhere.
I will never give up my faith and hope, but I am feeling weak and weary right now. It is hard for me to get to Mass right now. Thank you – L.W.
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.
We love LEAVES magazine. God bless the Mariannhill Missionaries for all your good work. We love and pray for all who ask for prayers as we too have many of the same problems. Please remember our family in all your good works. We need more novena booklets in honor of Fr. Engelmar. We pray to him for intercession in our worries and concerns and we want to share his life and stories with others – Peggy and Joseph A.
+ + +
I am requesting prayers for my neuropathy that upsets me a great deal. I ask the wonderful LEAVES family to pray for me. May the future saint Bl. Engelmar intercede on my behalf. Thank you to all — Nick S.
+ + +
I am asking for prayers by the LEAVES family for the health of my sister that she may return home to be united with her family soon. I am also requesting on her behalf a booklet of the life of Bl. Engelmar Unzeitig, C.M.M. Thank you – M.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 to the Apostles
Ss. Peter & Paul
O holy Apostles, Peter and Paul, intercede for us. Protect, O Lord, your people who trust in the patronage of your Apostles, Peter and Paul, and by their constant protection protect your people. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. [Feast day of Ss. Peter & Paul is June 29.]
St. Rita Novena Prayer
Holy patroness of those in need, St. Rita, so humble, pure and patient, who pleadings with your Divine Spouse are irresistible, obtain for us from your crucified Jesus our request (mention your request here). Be favorable towards us for the greater glory of God and yourself, and we promise to honor and sing your praises ever afterward. Amen.
Pray each three times: Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be.
[Feast day of St. Rita is May 22. She is a patron of hopeless cases.]
What Is the Loneliest Thing in the World?
By Margaret Peterson
Nothing is lonelier than life without God,
No trip of pleasure can take
The loneliness of life away
That makes the spirit ache.
For we were meant to love the Lord
With heart and soul and mind
And strength as long as we may live,
Or peace we cannot find.
St. Augustine learned this law:
“Our hearts were made for Thee
Alone, O Lord, and they are restless
Till they rest in Thee.”
Jesus Our Savior
By Dolores Tate
The prize of the living, O Master Divine,
We come in thanksgiving, sweet Savior of mine,
To partake of You hidden in the form of mere bread,
To drink the red wine which is Thy Blood instead.
O Master, forgive me for I did not know
Just how great is Your mercy through which blessings flow.
It took years of just living and plodding along,
Till my eyes were reopened like the morning at dawn.
As the rays that are streaming from Thy Sacred Heart,
Your mercy and goodness to us You impart;
Our sins are forgiven.
He draws ever nearer;
We receive that great Prize: Holy Eucharist, Redeemer.
Singing God’s Love
By Cindy Tuttle
As I listen to the birds,
I wonder what they are singing.
I imagine flying and singing
along with them.
What would I sing?
I would sing of the
joy of God and the
beginning of a new day.
I would sing how we are
all precious in God’s eyes
and notice the beauty of creation.
I would sing of the unity
and the love we
can give each other.
Oh, what a song I would sing!
You know what?
I don’t have to be a bird.
I can sing those songs
every day as me!