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ARMY
NOVEMBER 2014
PRAYER TO THE GUARDIAN ANGEL Oh my dear guardian Angel, protect me from all dangers. Help me, so that I may remain a beloved child of my Jesus. Safeguard me from all dangers and bad dreams tonight.
PRAYER TO ST. MICHAEL, THE ARCH ANGEL St. Michael the Arch Angel, be our guide and our guard during the time of our spiritual warfare. Protect us from the evil designs of Satan, our enemy. We humbly pray that God rebuke him. Oh chief of the heavenly army, expel all the wicked spiritual forces that roam the earth with the intention of destroying souls. Drive them to the fires of hell by the power of God.
ANGELS ARMY MAGAZINE
OCTOBER 2014
Editor Sunil Elias Executive Editor Preetha Joseph Executive Manager Sinjo P.K. Editorial Board Fr. Cherian Nereveettil, Renny Njarakulam, Tintu Sony Suja Siju Martin Jose, Rose, Mini Wilson, Justin Printer & Publisher Jose Dominic Layout : Diason D’Silva
ANGELS ARMY
Patrons Bishop Mar Raphael Thattil (Chairman, Charismatic Commission, KCBC) Rt. Rev. Dr. Joseph Karikkassery (Charismatic Commission, Vice Chairman, KCBC) Bishop Samuel Mar Irenios (Charismatic Commission, Vice Chairman, KCBC) Spiritual Advisor Rev. Fr. Varghese Manavalan Advisory Board : Rev. Fr. Justin Kaiparambadan, Sr. Sergius, Dr. Edward Edezhath, Baby Chacko, Boney Chellanam Animator Rev. Fr. Abraham Pallivathukal S.J. Jesus Youth, Emmaus, H.M.T.Colony P.O. Kalamassery-683503, Kochi, Kerala Ph: 0484 6444702. Email: info@angelsarmy.in www.angelsarmy.in
A girl like a lamb St. Agnes lived in an age when Christians were persecuted by emperors like Nero, Diocletian and Domitian. Agnes is believed to have been born in the year A.D. 290 in the wealthy Claudy Palace of Rome. Nothing much is known about her parents or family. However, it is assumed that her family background was instrumental for her saintly life. There were noble families who adopted Christianity and lived according to the Word of God. Her family was one among them. During that time a large majority were involved in pleasures of life, immorality and luxuries. Christians were considered to be enemies of the Roman Empire. Natural calamities and other mishaps were 4
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considered as the result of Christians not worshiping the Roman Gods. Because of this, Christians were harassed and were forced to denounce their faith. However, in all these struggles, Christian faith flourished in that land.
Christians used to secretly gather and pray in the catacombs of Rome. Those who serve in these prayer services were known as ‘Servants of God’. Agnes too was such a servant of God. Agnes embraced Christ as her groom through acts of love like teaching the illiterate, bringing back the strayed ones to God’s love, nursing the sick and guiding those who were leading troubled lives. Being beautiful and of good character the 14 year old Agnes had many marriage proposals coming her way. One among them was Procop, the son of Roman prefect Sempronius, to whom Agnes gave the following response. “Please forget me. I have another groom to whom I have given my wholehearted love”. When the prefect learnt that it was Christ who had stolen her heart he became furious. He tried to get her on his side
but Agnes refused and this made him put her in the prison. Being the servant of the Lord, her handcuffs and chains fell off her. Agnes then calmly walked to the prison along with the soldier. In the prison she was forced to worship the goddess Vesta and renounce God but she did not obey. Since Agnes was even ready to die they decided to strip her and send her to a brothel as a punishment. On hearing this she said “I know the power of my God. Enemies cannot defile me. My beloved would protect me”. Ignoring this, the soldiers tried to strip her but then her hair grew and covered her body. On returning to the prison she was enveloped by a halo and she was clothed in a dress as white as snow. She thanked God for proving her with a dress woven by the angels. Procop, the son of prefect was struck dead by a lightenNOVEMBER 2014
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ing when he approached Agnes with evil intentions. On hearing this, the prefect arrived and pleaded with Agnes to pray to God for His mercy. God heard Agnes’ prayer and brought Procop back to life. He then shouted that there is only one Lord and that is the God of the Christians. The prefect wanted to save her life but owing to the agitation of the people decided to kill her. Agnes was thrown into fire but she was safe in the middle of the flames. She thanked the God for miraculously saving her from the brothel and the burning fire. 6
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In AD 304, she said the following to the executioner who came to kill her. "You may stain your sword with my blood, but will never be able to profane my body, consecrated to Christ”. By saying this she gave up her life into the hands of her beloved and embraced death bravely. The feast of St.Agnes is celebrated on January 21st. Her tombstone reads the following “With the strength of a child she overcame the intensity of fear. A noble and holy model of purity, servant of God, listen to our prayers earnestly” Friends, in this age where impurity and vulgarity are not considered a sin; the life of St. Agnes gives us the following message. In any adverse conditions there is only one formula to live a holy life – love God with all your might. Let the life of St. Agnes give us the inspiration to overcome every evil.
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TIN DE PO AR
RR
ES
ST. M
(Sam's selections of stories from the lives of Saints)
God had performed many miracles through Martin de Porres while he was alive. These miracles continued even after his death.
Outside the Friary O Catherine, your withered hand has been healed! Thank you Martin! And thanks be to God who answered Martin's prayer and healed me.
Brother Martin, friend of the poor, I will always keep this piece of cloth safe, in your memory.
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Brothers, please replace the torn tunic with a new one. It is time for the funeral.
The Brothers dress up Martin in a new tunic.
We desire to carry the body of Brother Martin.
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It is a great honor for us to carry the holy body of Martin.
Martin de Porres was canonized by Pope John XXIII on 6th of May, 1962. He is the patron saint of schools and the television. We will meet next week with the story of a new saint. Till then; Good Bye.
to be continued...
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Alone with Jesus “My personal prayer is going on well. I find time for this every morning. As I do it every day without fail, I can feel the presence and power of God in my life” – Savio Children, how are you doing your personal prayer? Some children told me that personal prayer brought them close to Jesus. Mother Mary appeared in Medjugorje and said the following. “ Children, I exhort you to pray. Renew your personal prayers”. Many children are thanking God for being able to pray. Did you also find time to pray? If not please start today itself, find time in the morning or in the evening. Let us ask the intercession of St Agnes to help us to pray. 10
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u u KittM itt
Mother, don't you want to eat?
Why is everyone silent today?
Our Jesus is preparing for a long journey. It looks like he is setting out on His mission.
It’s okay dear. I will have later.
God, I put my trust in you. Please strengthen me.
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Mother, don't stay alone at home. You can stay with your relatives. At times, they can come and stay with you too. I shall try to come home often.
Mother, this hour had to come. The day the angel appeared, the hour began. The bell is ringing. Shouldn't we overcome this hour and emerge victorious? Come Mother, let us pray the Psalms together.
I lift up my eyes to the mountains. Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord‌ 12
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Jesus makes the final preparations for the journey. Mary places a dry apple in his bag
Here Son, keep this too
Mother, I already have more than enough.
Oh, the pain that our dear Mother had to bear! But even in the midst of great sorrows, she submits to the will of God. As a fruit of all her sufferings, she was glorified by Heaven. Let us pray for the grace to say Amen to the will of God, however painful it might seem to be.
to be continued... NOVEMBER 2014
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YOUCAT 342 CCC 2012-2016, 2028-2029
Are we all supposed to become ‘saints’? Yes. The purpose of our life is to be united with God in love and to correspond entirely to God’s wishes. We should allow God” to live His life in us” (Mother Teresa). This is what it means to be holy: a ‘saint’. Child Grandma Child Grandma Child Grandma
Child Grandma
Child
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: Grandma, Daddy says that I should study well and become a doctor. What do you want me to become when I grow up? : My dear, while studying or working, I would want you to lead a saintly life all the time. That’s what I wish. : What does it mean to live a saintly life, grandma? : I will explain that.... Why do you tell me everything when you come home? : That’s because... I love you... so much! : Thank you, dear. I love you too! Listen, Jesus lives in your heart. He is always with you wherever you go. You should love Jesus more than you love me and always put Him first in your life. He should be your best friend. : Jesus, as my close friend! I love that! Then he will guide me in all that I do, right? : Yes my dear. You can trust him to lead your path. You can go to him with all things and at any time. Also make it a practice to tell him,”let your will be done, not mine”. : Oh! That was what Nannolina and St Teresa did. I too want to become a saint like them and I am sure Jesus will help me. I will also tell my friends to live a saintly
NOVEMBER 2014
November 1-8 “”I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die”. John 11:25 Ejaculation: Lord, teach me the way of life November 9-15 “And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life”. 1 John 2:25 Ejaculation: Help me to attain eternal life November 16-22 “Whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life” John 5:24 Ejaculation: Help me Holy Spirit, to live the Word November 23-30 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life”John 6:47 Ejaculation: Jesus, increase my faith
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Hey John, the month of November begins tomorrow, right. Shouldn't we pray for the souls in purgatory?
A piggy bank for heaven
Oh yeah, that's true. Do you remember what Noah once shared in the prayer group about something special that he and his family had done last year? Oh, here he comes.
Let us ask him.
Hey Noah, can you please tell us how you prayed for the souls in purgatory last year?
Sure.
Purg ator y
Hea ven
We took two boxes and wrote "Purgatory" on one and "Heaven" on the other.
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Then we wrote down the "Prayer of St.Gertrude" on the "Purgatory" box.
Me W HeartnAdied of in mohtoordied ttack acciden t We then grouped souls
uls
For oliP
e y tre d b the die om h o fr W own d ng lli fa
according to the way in which they had met their death and noted them down Who died between on strips of paper. e.g; "The ones the age of 1-5 who had died at the age of 10", " the ones who had died of fever" Pr Prieiesstt likewise... In this way, we made as many lists as we could and put those strips in the "Purgatory" box. That day, we would all Daily, before going for pray for those souls during Mass, each member of the Mass and while praying the family would take one strip Rosary. from the box and pray for their souls. Then, he or she would put that strip in the box named "Heaven."
Eter n I ofal Fa fer ther
Noah, just imagine how many souls would have gone to heaven with your prayers?
This time, we will also do the same. Let us go home right now and make the boxes and the lists.
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Let us pray for the souls in purgatory Did you know that this activity that we are going to do in November will be of great value in heaven? After our death we all need to become purified spiritually so that we can enjoy the Eternal Bliss of Heaven with God. Therefore let us use this time to pray for all those who have passed away and are in the process of purification. Little children, these souls wait eagerly for our prayers, because they cannot do anything but wait for our prayers once they have died. This is why the Church considers the prayers for the departed souls as a great act of Love and Mercy. In addition once these souls have completed their time of purification in the purgatory, they will go to heaven and intercede for us. So the more we pray for them, the more we guarantee ourselves help in our times of need, therefore let us pray for all those souls who have no one to pray for them. • Let us pray for them in our daily masses. • Let us also offer the 4th decade of our rosary for them.
Prayer of St. Gertrude "Eternal Father, I offer thee the Most Precious Blood of thy Divine Son Jesus, in union with the masses being said throughout the world today for all the holy souls in purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the Universal Church, those in my own home, and within my family." (Jesus promised St.Gertrude that every time this prayer was said, many souls would be released from purgatory and allowed into God's presence.) 18
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You may already have heard that many saints used to pray very specially for the many holy souls in purgatory. By offering a lot of sacrifices, penances and prayers, these saints have released numerous souls from purgatory to Heaven. In fact some saints were granted visions of the intense sufferings the souls in Purgatory faced. This was to help them pray more fervently for these suffering souls. Do you know St. Padre Pio? He is a perfect example of a saint who prayed for Visit to the cemetery many souls, who in return expressed their gratitude toward him after reaching heaven. Once, the LORD granted a vision of the suffering in Hell to St. Veronica Juliana who also bore the stigmata. She was extremely pained to see the amount of suffering that Also if possible, let us souls faced in Hell that she offered visit the cemetery during her life as a sacrifice after this the first week of vision. She held her hands out in November and pray for the form of a cross and prayed. “As the departed souls. long as I stand at the door, I will not Prayer allow anyone to enter into Hell. O Eternal God grant rest Lord, I do not ask anything from unto them, O Lord, you except to save those who are and let perpetual light going to Hell.� shine upon them. So Children, let us dedicate this May the souls of the month for all the Holy Souls in faithful departed, Purgatory and pray for them. through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen. NOVEMBER 2014
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ARMY
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