LEAVES Website for September-October 2022 Issue
Excerpted from “Leaflets” column:
The months of September and October are rich in celebrations honoring saints and holy ones. We sometimes think of those who have been elevated to the status of saints as people from long ago. That is not necessarily the case.
Two relatively recent saints were Italian born. St. John XXIII, 1881-1963, a beloved pope who reigned from 1958-1963, convoked the Second Vatican Council. His feast day is Oct. 11. St. Pius of Pietrelcina, whose feast day is Sept. 23, was a Capuchin priest who was born in 1887 and died in 1968. Padre Pio possessed many spiritual gifts, including bearing the wounds of Christ.
St. John Paul II, 1920-2005, a Polish pope who reigned from 1978-2005 is sometimes called the “saint-maker,” as he beatified or canonized more than 1,800 people. His feast day is Oct. 22. In fact, he beatified and canonized another modern saint – Faustina Kowalska. St. Faustina, 1905-1938, was a humble Polish nun who received the message of Divine Mercy in revelations. The Church celebrates her feast day on Oct. 5.
Review the list of feast days on page 2 of this issue. You will find a diverse group of people who have risen to the ranks of sainthood. What special attributes do they possess? How can we emulate them?
Intercessory prayer is powerful. Pray to our most recent saints and all the others we celebrate this fall season. Remember these holy ones, especially on their feast days, and ask that they help make us holy. May God grant you abundant blessings always – Fr. Thomas Heier, C.M.M.
Excerpted from “Our Family Album”:
St. Therese Provides
Comfort after Loss
My mother died suddenly of a heart attack in 2003. I was very close to her but lived several states away and did not get home in time to see her before they took her away to the funeral home. My brother and father told me that she did have a look of total peace on her face. The shock of her loss was deep.
My mother had a devotion to St. Therese, and I in turn have one also. When I would pray to her, I would always ask for yellow roses because they are my favorite. Only my mother knew of the yellow roses. After my mother’s death, I asked St. Therese to send me yellow roses.
After a few days my father asked me if I wanted to go to my mother’s grave. I decided not to go. I did some errands while my father went alone.
I walked into the kitchen later that day and I saw a yellow rose in a vase. My father was not a flower guy, but he bought my mom yellow roses. He had no idea of my devotion to yellow roses. In addition, when I returned to my home a few days later, there was an envelope with a bookmark with a huge yellow rose on it (from the Society of the Little Flower).
St. Therese is truly a compassionate and generous soul for helping me with my mother’s death – Name Withheld.
Powerful St. Anthony
What a powerful saint we have in St. Anthony! I had lost two hearing aids, which were expensive, $3,000 each. After searching high and low, no one could find them! I finally gave up and ordered a new pair for another $6,000.
The next day, while cleaning my car, I found them in an unlikely place, in my car. They had fallen into the crease of a waxed bag from the grocery store and they fell out when I opened the bag. The bag was in the passenger seat.
The very next day I was able to cancel the order for the new hearing aids with no money exchanged. All gift and grace! Thank you, St. Anthony – Betty Ann B.
St. Joseph Assists
Parenting Teen Boys
I just finished reading my Mar-Apr LEAVES magazine cover to cover and loved the dedication prayers to our beloved St. Joseph. He helped me so many times raising boys in their teens during the Vietnam era of the 60s. Whew! Of course, we made it, in spite of periods of drug abuse and the many temptations of that era so alien to me, having grown up in the innocent years of the 40s.
Today these boys are successful grandfathers with grandchildren in college struggling through their teens under the continued support of St. Joseph, as well as support from Ss. Jude, Thomas, David, and my list goes on. Through their intercession, Jesus always came through even better than I could have expected or imagined. I have continued to keep my prayers going because they work.
It has been a delightful and blessed journey through all the years of dependence on our loving God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I so enjoy the answers to prayers and the stories of miracles the LEAVES magazine shares with us from the many who have had answers. I am just as happy with the requests of prayers from LEAVES readers, knowing they too will have answers. Praying for them is exciting to me.
St. Joseph reminded me this morning that I promised several months ago, not “if” I got my answers but “when,” that I would donate to the Mariannhill Fathers for your missionary work to save so many of my brothers and sisters all over the world.
I am one of God’s many senior children who have lived long enough to recognize that I could not have made it through these 94 years without Him and all our family of saints. I pray that I will be among them one day soon.
Thank you, dear Mariannhill Fathers, for your wonderful support for so many – Sheila F.
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.
Bl. Engelmar always answers my prayers. His novena is so beautiful. It touches my heart each time I pray it. He especially has helped with employment challenges and financial difficulties. I feel like he is a friend who is always willing to help me during my time of need. Knowing he is there gives me great comfort. Thank you for LEAVES – Name Withheld.
+ + +
My donation is in thanksgiving for very special help I have received from Bl. Engelmar. Thank you again for LEAVES, a great magazine, and your prayers for us all – John D.
+ + +
This donation is for favors received and prayers answered from Bl. Engelmar, Ss. Philomena (who has helped me so much that she is a wonder worker), Jude, Joseph (who helped in selling a house that my son had remodeled) and our Mother Mary (for always being with me). LEAVES family, please pray for my grandson’s girlfriend. She has a blood clot in her leg. Thank you for your prayers and for a beautiful magazine – R.C.
Novena in Honor of
Abbot Francis Pfanner
Abbot Francis Pfanner founded Mariannhill Monastery, and 113 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.
St. Vincent DePaul Prayer
O glorious St. Vincent, heavenly patron of all charitable associations and father of all who are in misery, while you were on earth, you never refused to help any who came to you. Consider now by what evils we are oppressed and come to our assistance! Obtain from our Lord help for the poor, relief for the infirm, consolation for the afflicted, protection for the abandoned, a spirit of generosity for the rich, the grace of conversion for sinners, zeal for priests, peace for the Church, tranquility and order for all nations, and salvation for them all.
Let all prove the effects of your merciful intercession, so that being helped by you in the miseries of this life, we may be united to you in the life to come, where there shall be no more grief, nor weeping, nor sorrow, but joy and gladness and everlasting happiness.
Prayer to St. Maximilian Kolbe for Courage
Martyr of our age, you gave your life in place of another man. You have reflected the self-sacrifice of our Savior and, having shared His sufferings, you rejoice now in His glory.
Through your prayers, we ask for the same courage, the same dedication, that whatever may come against us, we may always remain strong in faith, generous in the love of God and our brethren, and especially devoted to our Immaculate Mother.
Amen.
The Midnight in My Heart
By Margaret Peterson
When sadness comes or doubts assail me,
tearing me apart,
a darkness settles deep within.
It’s midnight in my heart.
When family struggles weigh me down,
answers I can’t impart,
I know it’s darkest before the dawn,
but it’s midnight in my heart.
Yet He who made the darkest night
made the brightest dawn!
When I feel my worst, I pray my best.
In God’s time cares are gone.
With deep prayer comes deeper love.
New thoughts of God can start,
thoughts that all began when it
was midnight in my heart.
So Soon
By Sr. Marcella LaKoske, OP
Where did summer go?
I think it just slipped by,
and now comes autumn
in all its glory.
Who has seen such
heavenly colors of
red, yellow, russet and gold?
They’re not very gentle, just a little bold.
The days are shorter
and nights grow longer,
with brilliant stars
in the sky.
Look up and see the velvet pattern
knowing that God’s in His heaven,
giving us inklings of what’s to be,
if only your eyes could see.
Enjoy the beauty
of this proud season.
Enjoy the love
of God Who gives the reason.
Love’s Necessity
By Leslie Jean Anderson
So perfect the sacrifice,
so spotless the lamb,
th’Eternal One, the great I AM!
Nailed to the wood
of a rugged tree,
scorned by His chosen,
Love’s necessity.
Buried in a tomb,
stretched upon a stone,
who will remain
cold, with Him alone?
Let ev’ry loving heart
fly to find some space
in the tomb with Jesus,
from every time and place.
From the quiet garden
that first Easter morn
arose our gentle Savior,
in Him all souls reborn.
Oh, let us love our Jesus,
whose gift has set us free,
and ne’er forget His suffering –
Love’s necessity!
My Rosary
By Janet Collins
My rosary is a string
Of many colored beads,
Which I touch with care,
Praying for my needs.
I talk to holy Mary,
As I count each one,
And ask her for the blessings
Of her loving Son.
Each time I say the rosary,
I gain a special grace,
And I can say this prayer
When I am anyplace.
Excerpted from “Leaflets” column:
The months of September and October are rich in celebrations honoring saints and holy ones. We sometimes think of those who have been elevated to the status of saints as people from long ago. That is not necessarily the case.
Two relatively recent saints were Italian born. St. John XXIII, 1881-1963, a beloved pope who reigned from 1958-1963, convoked the Second Vatican Council. His feast day is Oct. 11. St. Pius of Pietrelcina, whose feast day is Sept. 23, was a Capuchin priest who was born in 1887 and died in 1968. Padre Pio possessed many spiritual gifts, including bearing the wounds of Christ.
St. John Paul II, 1920-2005, a Polish pope who reigned from 1978-2005 is sometimes called the “saint-maker,” as he beatified or canonized more than 1,800 people. His feast day is Oct. 22. In fact, he beatified and canonized another modern saint – Faustina Kowalska. St. Faustina, 1905-1938, was a humble Polish nun who received the message of Divine Mercy in revelations. The Church celebrates her feast day on Oct. 5.
Review the list of feast days on page 2 of this issue. You will find a diverse group of people who have risen to the ranks of sainthood. What special attributes do they possess? How can we emulate them?
Intercessory prayer is powerful. Pray to our most recent saints and all the others we celebrate this fall season. Remember these holy ones, especially on their feast days, and ask that they help make us holy. May God grant you abundant blessings always – Fr. Thomas Heier, C.M.M.
Excerpted from “Our Family Album”:
St. Therese Provides
Comfort after Loss
My mother died suddenly of a heart attack in 2003. I was very close to her but lived several states away and did not get home in time to see her before they took her away to the funeral home. My brother and father told me that she did have a look of total peace on her face. The shock of her loss was deep.
My mother had a devotion to St. Therese, and I in turn have one also. When I would pray to her, I would always ask for yellow roses because they are my favorite. Only my mother knew of the yellow roses. After my mother’s death, I asked St. Therese to send me yellow roses.
After a few days my father asked me if I wanted to go to my mother’s grave. I decided not to go. I did some errands while my father went alone.
I walked into the kitchen later that day and I saw a yellow rose in a vase. My father was not a flower guy, but he bought my mom yellow roses. He had no idea of my devotion to yellow roses. In addition, when I returned to my home a few days later, there was an envelope with a bookmark with a huge yellow rose on it (from the Society of the Little Flower).
St. Therese is truly a compassionate and generous soul for helping me with my mother’s death – Name Withheld.
Powerful St. Anthony
What a powerful saint we have in St. Anthony! I had lost two hearing aids, which were expensive, $3,000 each. After searching high and low, no one could find them! I finally gave up and ordered a new pair for another $6,000.
The next day, while cleaning my car, I found them in an unlikely place, in my car. They had fallen into the crease of a waxed bag from the grocery store and they fell out when I opened the bag. The bag was in the passenger seat.
The very next day I was able to cancel the order for the new hearing aids with no money exchanged. All gift and grace! Thank you, St. Anthony – Betty Ann B.
St. Joseph Assists
Parenting Teen Boys
I just finished reading my Mar-Apr LEAVES magazine cover to cover and loved the dedication prayers to our beloved St. Joseph. He helped me so many times raising boys in their teens during the Vietnam era of the 60s. Whew! Of course, we made it, in spite of periods of drug abuse and the many temptations of that era so alien to me, having grown up in the innocent years of the 40s.
Today these boys are successful grandfathers with grandchildren in college struggling through their teens under the continued support of St. Joseph, as well as support from Ss. Jude, Thomas, David, and my list goes on. Through their intercession, Jesus always came through even better than I could have expected or imagined. I have continued to keep my prayers going because they work.
It has been a delightful and blessed journey through all the years of dependence on our loving God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I so enjoy the answers to prayers and the stories of miracles the LEAVES magazine shares with us from the many who have had answers. I am just as happy with the requests of prayers from LEAVES readers, knowing they too will have answers. Praying for them is exciting to me.
St. Joseph reminded me this morning that I promised several months ago, not “if” I got my answers but “when,” that I would donate to the Mariannhill Fathers for your missionary work to save so many of my brothers and sisters all over the world.
I am one of God’s many senior children who have lived long enough to recognize that I could not have made it through these 94 years without Him and all our family of saints. I pray that I will be among them one day soon.
Thank you, dear Mariannhill Fathers, for your wonderful support for so many – Sheila F.
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.
Bl. Engelmar always answers my prayers. His novena is so beautiful. It touches my heart each time I pray it. He especially has helped with employment challenges and financial difficulties. I feel like he is a friend who is always willing to help me during my time of need. Knowing he is there gives me great comfort. Thank you for LEAVES – Name Withheld.
+ + +
My donation is in thanksgiving for very special help I have received from Bl. Engelmar. Thank you again for LEAVES, a great magazine, and your prayers for us all – John D.
+ + +
This donation is for favors received and prayers answered from Bl. Engelmar, Ss. Philomena (who has helped me so much that she is a wonder worker), Jude, Joseph (who helped in selling a house that my son had remodeled) and our Mother Mary (for always being with me). LEAVES family, please pray for my grandson’s girlfriend. She has a blood clot in her leg. Thank you for your prayers and for a beautiful magazine – R.C.
Novena in Honor of
Abbot Francis Pfanner
Abbot Francis Pfanner founded Mariannhill Monastery, and 113 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.
St. Vincent DePaul Prayer
O glorious St. Vincent, heavenly patron of all charitable associations and father of all who are in misery, while you were on earth, you never refused to help any who came to you. Consider now by what evils we are oppressed and come to our assistance! Obtain from our Lord help for the poor, relief for the infirm, consolation for the afflicted, protection for the abandoned, a spirit of generosity for the rich, the grace of conversion for sinners, zeal for priests, peace for the Church, tranquility and order for all nations, and salvation for them all.
Let all prove the effects of your merciful intercession, so that being helped by you in the miseries of this life, we may be united to you in the life to come, where there shall be no more grief, nor weeping, nor sorrow, but joy and gladness and everlasting happiness.
Prayer to St. Maximilian Kolbe for Courage
Martyr of our age, you gave your life in place of another man. You have reflected the self-sacrifice of our Savior and, having shared His sufferings, you rejoice now in His glory.
Through your prayers, we ask for the same courage, the same dedication, that whatever may come against us, we may always remain strong in faith, generous in the love of God and our brethren, and especially devoted to our Immaculate Mother.
Amen.
The Midnight in My Heart
By Margaret Peterson
When sadness comes or doubts assail me,
tearing me apart,
a darkness settles deep within.
It’s midnight in my heart.
When family struggles weigh me down,
answers I can’t impart,
I know it’s darkest before the dawn,
but it’s midnight in my heart.
Yet He who made the darkest night
made the brightest dawn!
When I feel my worst, I pray my best.
In God’s time cares are gone.
With deep prayer comes deeper love.
New thoughts of God can start,
thoughts that all began when it
was midnight in my heart.
So Soon
By Sr. Marcella LaKoske, OP
Where did summer go?
I think it just slipped by,
and now comes autumn
in all its glory.
Who has seen such
heavenly colors of
red, yellow, russet and gold?
They’re not very gentle, just a little bold.
The days are shorter
and nights grow longer,
with brilliant stars
in the sky.
Look up and see the velvet pattern
knowing that God’s in His heaven,
giving us inklings of what’s to be,
if only your eyes could see.
Enjoy the beauty
of this proud season.
Enjoy the love
of God Who gives the reason.
Love’s Necessity
By Leslie Jean Anderson
So perfect the sacrifice,
so spotless the lamb,
th’Eternal One, the great I AM!
Nailed to the wood
of a rugged tree,
scorned by His chosen,
Love’s necessity.
Buried in a tomb,
stretched upon a stone,
who will remain
cold, with Him alone?
Let ev’ry loving heart
fly to find some space
in the tomb with Jesus,
from every time and place.
From the quiet garden
that first Easter morn
arose our gentle Savior,
in Him all souls reborn.
Oh, let us love our Jesus,
whose gift has set us free,
and ne’er forget His suffering –
Love’s necessity!
My Rosary
By Janet Collins
My rosary is a string
Of many colored beads,
Which I touch with care,
Praying for my needs.
I talk to holy Mary,
As I count each one,
And ask her for the blessings
Of her loving Son.
Each time I say the rosary,
I gain a special grace,
And I can say this prayer
When I am anyplace.