All Souls' Day

Today is All Souls' Day.

According to About.com's Catholicism site:

Often overshadowed by Halloween (October 31) and All Saints Day (November 1), All Souls Day is a solemn feast in the Roman Catholic Church commemorating all of those who have died and now are in Purgatory, being cleansed of their venial sins and atoning before entering fully into Heaven. The importance of the feast was made clear by Pope Benedict XV (1914-22), when he granted all priests the privilege of celebrating three Masses on All Souls Day: one, for the faithful departed; one for the priest's intentions; and one for the intentions of the Holy Father. Only on a handful of other very important feast days are priests allowed to celebrate more than two Masses.

All Souls' Day is not a holy day of obligation, but many use this solemn feast day to remember their friends and family members who have gone from this life.

Prayer for Eternal Rest:

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Keeping a prayer journal

I don't know if you know this or not, but I'm a writer.

That means that, often, I think better on paper.  So I keep a writing journal and a personal journal to help me think things out, but I've also started keeping a prayer journal to help think out that aspect of my life.

My prayer journal is in the same book as my personal journal (since many times what I'm writing about in my personal life leads to prayer), and it's both prayer request lists and actual written prayers, as well as helpful verses, quotes, and clippings.  Whatever I find spiritually helpful goes into my journal.

Starting a prayer journal was not a big leap for me because I do keep a personal journal.  And I do still pray aloud or silently without writing the prayers, but sometimes writing prayers helps me really think about what I'm praying and meditate on the issues at hand.

One of the big benefits I've found in keeping a prayer journal is the lists of prayer requests I have.  The physical act of writing prayer requests helps me remember them, and when I get my prayer journal out to pray, the lists are right there in front of me.  It works well for my prayer life.

I recommend that anyone who prays regularly keep a prayer journal.  You may not want to write out prayers in yours, but even if you just have a place to keep your prayer requests, your prayer journal would be a help to your prayer life.  (You could even get a notebook small enough to fit into your Bible bag.)

Do you have a prayer journal?  If so, how do you use it?

Prayer Requests

This week, please pray with me that:

• my cousin Joey, who has had a brain tumor return after only three years, will be able to be healed so he can continue to live his life fully.
• my mom's cousin, who was recently sent to Iraq, will stay safe, as will all men and women serving both overseas and at home.
• my brother's new job goes well, and he's able to continue to move forward in life toward his goals.
• my sister-in-law has a safe wilderness trip this week, and is ready for classes to start when she returns.

As always, if you have a prayer request you'd like to add, simply comment on this post, or email me. You're more than welcome to submit anonymous and/or unspoken requests, as well.

Prayer Requests

This week, please pray with me that:

• my mom continues to heal quickly from her surgery so that she can come down here when Bean is born.
• August mommies (and overdue July mommies) have a safe last few weeks (or less) of pregnancy, and deliver healthy babies easily.

Update on a Prayer Request

Thank you, everyone who kept my mom in your thoughts and prayers today. I'm happy to say her surgery went well. She's feeling good (as good as she can, at least), and she should be at home in her own bed tomorrow.

Now, hopefully she'll actually let my sister take care of her as she recovers! (She's always been an independent person, so I can see her trying to do too much too soon.)

Prayer Requests

This week please pray with me that:

• my mom's surgery, which is tomorrow, will go well, and she is able to recover quickly.
• CMerie's grandmother continues to heal, and that her upcoming mastectomy goes smoothly.
• Angie's preparation for the new school year (including getting trained for the new aspects of her job) goes well.
• my step-sister Amy finds peace in the midst of her emotionally difficult summer.

As always, if you have any prayer requests you'd like added, all you have to do is comment on this post or email me. Anonymous and unspoken prayer requests can also be emailed to me and will be added.

Another Prayer Request Update

Here's another update on CMerie's grandmother. Please continue to keep her in your prayers!

Prayer Request Update

Yesterday, I asked you to keep CMerie's grandmother in your prayers.

Today, there's an update! CMerie's grandmother's surgery went well, and will hopefully be able to fly home on Friday.

Please continue to pray that she recovers quickly.

Prayer Request

Please pray for CMerie's grandmother, who had surgery on her heart this morning. She'll have a few days to heal before flying home to Wyoming, and once she's healed from this surgery, she'll have a mastectomy to face, as well.

The post on CMerie's blog, Catholic Wife and Mother, is here if you'd like to pass along your thoughts and prayers.

Prayer Requests

This week, please pray with me that:

• my mother's surgery goes well on July 27th, and that she has a quick, uneventful recovery
• Hubby's friend's husband (did you get that?) continues to have a quick, uneventful recovery from his gall bladder surgery
• Lisa finds peace in the midst of her depression
• Lisa's husband can be supportive, and that he can find support of his own as he helps his wife

Prayer Requests

This week, please pray with me that:

• my Mom- and Dad-in-law have a safe and relaxing week out of town this week.
• my mother gets good news about her upcoming surgery.
• my friend, Lisa, finds comfort.
• Lisa's husband finds comfort.
• Hubby's appointment on Wednesday goes well.
• my prenatal appointment on Tuesday goes well.

Prayer Requests

This week please be in prayer with me for:

• my mother, who may have to have surgery at the end of July
• my sister-in-law, who is having a difficult time with her hectic schedule (which has caused her to become ill)
• my husband's parents, who will be traveling from July 10th until July 18th
• Frazzoo, who will be spending time getting her feet wet in her new position at work, and is nervous about what the added responsibility will bring
• my friend Lisa, who is currently going through a very severe depression
• Lisa's husband, who is doing all he can to be there for his wife
• my friend Pam, who starts a new job in August, but won't get a paycheck until October

Prayer Requests

This week, please join me in prayer that:

• Frazzoo will find confidence as she faces a new job
• Sisi and Ba have great birthdays (Wednesday and Thursday, respectively)
• Hubby's friend Dustin will have a safe flight back to Virginia (Thursday morning)
• Hubby and I will be able to come to a decision about a possible relocation opportunity

As always, if you have your own prayer requests to add, simply comment on this post or email me. You can even submit unspoken prayer requests!

Prayer Requests

This week, please pray with me that:

• Dustin will have a safe trip from Virginia to Florida on Tuesday when he comes to visit this week.
• D--, who works with my husband, will get a peaceful end to her current divorce frustrations.
• Erin, a friend from high school, and her new husband have a safe trip to their new home in California.
• my prenatal appointment goes well on Monday.

Prayer Request

Please keep a very dear friend of mine in your thoughts and prayers. She has a difficult career decision to make, with lots of pros and cons on both sides.

Please pray with me that she'll be able to make the best decision for her, and for her family, and will find peace once she makes the decision.

Prayer Requests

This week, please join me in prayer for:

• Hubby's coworker, D--, who's facing an unjust investigation by child welfare, and who may have struggles with her ex-husband as a result
• Frazzoo's camp, that they can find the money they need for this year, and that it will be a good year
• Scott, who died last week, and his friends and family who need comfort in this difficult time
• Mom & Dad P., who are traveling this week
• my sister, who hopes to purchase her own home in the near future
• all fathers and fathers-to-be
• a great year with Hubby, and for decades more (our anniversary is June 16th)

Guest Blogging

While Mike of The Big Stick is on vacation, I was asked to do a guest post for his blog. I was flattered, of course, and today my post on family prayer is up on his blog.

Enjoy!

Prayer Requests

This week, please pray with me that:

• my brother's interview goes well (Monday morning).
• my third year of marriage will be as blessed as my second year was.
• my prenatal appointment on Tuesday goes well.
• my sister is able to get a loan soon in order to buy the house she has her eye on.

As always, if you have any prayer requests you'd like to add, simply comment on this post or email me with the request.  I will add anonymous and unspoken requests, as well.

Prayer Requests

This week please join me in prayer that:

• all those who have been fired or laid off can find employment soon and have financial stability.
  
• all those with unspoken prayer requests can find peace and an answer.
• those who are finishing up their school years will continue to work hard despite the promise of summer nearby.
• those who are traveling this summer will stay safe.
• Hubby and I are able to continue making good decisions as we discuss important matters, as well as stick to the decisions we've already made.

Prayer Requests

This week, please pray with me that:

• an answer comes soon for an unspoken prayer request
• Pam's son-in-law is able to heal, and that he and his wife will find comfort in this very difficult time
• Rachel's son, who broke his femur, will heal quickly and have little pain
• Heather's baby, who was born prematurely, will continue to gain strength so he can come home soon and their family will be together
• my mother- and father-in-law have a safe trip this week (they'll be driving today, and they'll be back Wednesday)
• Hubby and I have a safe trip to Illinois on Wednesday and Thursday