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I am currently building up a new Living Rosary Circle consisting of 20 people.
Members of the Living Rosary say one allocated decade of the Rosary each day
Full details here:
http://missionbell.homestead.com/missionbellorganisationbook.html
If you would like to join, please email me: Mary Ann at
The Second International 54 Day Rosary Novena for the healing of autism
will commence on October 1 and will be completed on November 23, 2011.
Full details about the novena can be found here:
http://missionbell.homestead.com/54-Day-Rosary-Novena-for-the-healing-of-autism.html
(Please spread the word. Thank you.)
If you know of any Lourdes grottoes in any part of the world, please tell us about it here and give some details. I will start; there is a beautiful one at Earlwood in Sydney, Australia in the grounds of the parish church. I have a Lourdes shrine in my backyard. It is pictured below.
Have you always dreamed of going to Lourdes, but alas you live in Sydney, Australia and can’t afford to go there? Here is the next best thing. There is a beautiful Lourdes grotto in the grounds of the parish church at Earlwood in Sydney.
Father George Byers has started a new chapter in his life as a hermit in the Blue Ridge Mountains. He is going to pray for priests who are still on this earth, and for priests who are in Purgatory. To learn more about his apostolate and to find out how you can help, please visit:
If you would like to join a Living Rosary please go to the following link:
http://missionbell.homestead.com/missionbellorganisationbook.html
for more information.
Here is my latest poem
Learn to crochet
Grab yourself a ball of yarn
and a crocheting hook
You will also need
a good instructional book.
First you make a slipknot
then you make a chain
How to make other stitches
The book will explain.
When you’ve mastered the basics
It time to try out your skill
Your first completed garment
Will bring you a big thrill.
Below is my latest poem.
The Right Choice (a pro-life poem)
Sharon was expecting a baby
What would her family say?
The school counselor pressured her
To abort without delay
Fortunately friends stepped in
and did all that they could do
to help Sharon keep her baby
and to make it through
Today Sharon is so happy
that she made the choice for life
As she proudly watched the wedding
of her son and his sweet wife.
Other Matters
Learn special ways to help the Holy Souls in Purgatory and read inspiring stories of how the Holy Souls in Purgatory have helped their benefactors
A 54 day Rosary Novena for the healing of autism has been set up. It will run from September 25 – November 17, 2010
More details at this link:
http://missionbell.homestead.com/54-Day-Rosary-Novena-for-the-healing-of-autism.html
Please let others know about this novena and share the link with them.
The Memorare
Remember O most loving Virgin Mary that never was it known in any age that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help or sought your intercession was left unaided, inspired by this confidence, therefore I fly to thee O Virgin of Virgins my Mother, to you do I come, before you I stand sinful and sorrowful, do not O Mother of the Word Incarnate despise my prayers but in thy mercy graciously hear and answer them. Amen.
Here is my latest poem.
Saint Philomena the princess of paradise (poem)
Saint Philomena’s life
was a shinning light
that shone through the darkness
strong and bright.
The world’s false promises
we will not swallow
Saint Philomena’s example
we shall follow.
Saint Philomena Virgin Martyr,
from your throne of grace
cast a look of pity
upon the human race.
Saint Philomena the Wonder Worker
please hear us when we pray
and guide us through the challenges
that come to us today.
Please hear our prayers
and calm our fears
and guide us through
this vale of tears.
Hear us when we cry out to you
in our time of need
and your heavenly assistance
to us please do concede.
About 17 days ago I got a really bad throat infection. The doctor prescribed antibiotics for me. I also took garlic, horseradish and Vitamin C tablets. I had a really bad cough due to my irritated throat. The cough just went on and on and on. Nothing helped and I was feeling desperate. I confidently prayed the prayer on the Miraculous Medal which is: “O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee”
I also prayed for and to the Holy Souls in Purgatory asking them for a healing.
Yesterday I thought of doing some crocheting. I thought that it might have a soothing effect on my mind, that might translate in a positive way to my highly irritated throat. It worked. I am much better today and the cough is almost gone.
(The throat infection was very real, but it seems that when I felt the problems in the throat and started to cough, it set up a pattern of coughing and the crocheting was a calming influence on the mind that distracted it from noticing the trouble in my throat. If it works for this, the distraction therapy (crochet) might also help those who are experiencing pain, even if the pain is due to real physical problems.)
Some more thoughts on the subject
The more I coughed, the more my poor throat was irritated, and the more that it was irritated, the more that I noticed it, and the more that I noticed it, the more I coughed! A vicious cycle was set up, that the calming influence of doing crocheting interrupted.
I have no financial interest in this case. Today I listened twice to the 70′s hit song, which the judge decided took part of the Kookaburra song, and which he then awarded part of the royalties to the owner of the Kookaburra song. For the life of me, I can’t see any part of the Kookaburra song in the other song. I wonder how the judge can.
(Today the hit song was played twice on the radio on 2ch in Sydney.)
Give your angel
some work to do
he will not mind at all.
Invoke him in all situations
whether big or small.
Send him in ahead of you
to prepare and smooth your way
and take care of all the details
that crop up in your day.
Talk to your angel
as you’d talk to a friend
and his wonderful assistance
to you he’ll extend.
Read my book an answers to prayer free on-line by clicking here
Share these two links with your family and friends.
Internet Etiquette and more
On email on twitter on facebook
on forum,
write your messages with
heaps of decorum
If you can’t put it on a postcard
then don’t put it on the net.
Don’t send off something
you’ll live to regret!
Reputations are ruined
and jobs have been lost.
Bad behaviour on the internet
comes at high cost.
Don’t criticise work mates
Don’t slander your neighbour.
Make Christianity the standard
for internet behaviour.
The cyber bullies and
the hackers who steal,
need to stop and think
how their victims will feel.
Some spread viruses that
computers do wreak
and congratulate themselves
on being hi-tech.
In reality
their just plain mean,
no matter how clever
to themselves they seem.
If you have failed
there’s no need for despair.
A simple apology
will start to repair.
When paying bills
on the net,
Security
do not neglect!
Cyber criminals
Will always trim,
any bank account
that they can skim!
Your WiFi connection
should be password protected
To stop it from being
intercepted.
This is an updated version of my poem.
The king and queen no baby had;
They longed to be a mum and dad;
To pagan gods they prayed each day;
But still no baby came their way.
Then good advice was given them;
It proved to be a priceless gem;
Christians are what you should be;
Then a baby blessing;
You shall see!
When this was done; 
The grace was granted;
And with little Philomena;
They were enchanted!
When little Philomena had reached twelve years;
Bad news filled up their eyes with tears;
On their country small and poor;
The emperor of Rome;
declared a war !
Let’s go to Rome;
The King told wife and daughter;
To plead with the emperor;
to prevent this slaughter.
At the mighty
Emperor’s court;
They pleaded with him;
the war to abort.
The emperor had a new idea;
He said there’s nothing more to fear.
Give me your daughter;
To be my wife;
And I promise her;
A wonderful life!
The offer took them
By surprise;
A refusal would mean;
Their country’s demise.
The king and queen were filled with gladness;
But Philomena was overcome by sadness.
To be a bride of Christ;
She’d already taken a vow;
No way would Philomena;
Let it be broken now.
The answer was a steadfast no;
The emperor now his force would show!
To the dungeon Philomena was deployed;
All manner of torture was employed;
It was all to no avail;
The emperor’s methods were doomed to fail.
Because God Himself defended her soul;
Philomena kept her eyes on her heavenly goal.
The maiden Philomena;
Was strengthened by faith and grace;
Until the day she could behold;
God face to face.
Finally the maiden Philomena was beheaded;
And the onlookers wept;
For many centuries in the catacombs;
She silently slept.
At last her relics were located;
And the excavators were elated;
When Philomena’s relics,
Were brought up to the ground;
Miracles started to abound !
Some folks thought that miracles;
Had stopped with the Bible;
With Philomena;
They had a revival.
The sneering cynics;
Who had announced God’s demise;
Were by Philomena’s miracles;
Dealt a surprise.
Saint Philomena’s fame;
Spread everywhere;
And people ran to her;
Pleading in prayer.
No one was forgotten;
No one was left out;
The cripples;
The dying;
The sad;
And the needy;
All of them found;
Her miracles speedy.
From heaven she surveys;
All of our needs;
And on our behalf;
With God she pleads.
Say a prayer to Saint Philomena;
And light her a candle;
Because there is no problem;
That she cannot handle.
There’s one thing more;
We should not ignore;
From her grave of silent obscurity;
She has come back to teach us;
About goodness and purity.
Electrocuted!
Joanna’s younger brother and sister both had the bad habit of putting their wet hands on the electric light switches. One night Joanna’s mother received a striking sign from Saint Philomena and straight after that, she heard Joanna scream. When Joanna turned on the light she got electrocuted. Joanna felt the 240 Volts travel right down her arm, despite this she was alright and no real harm was done. Joanna’s mother attributes this protection to Saint Philomena. A priest who heard about this incident quipped that “You could say that she is a girl with good connections!”
An unexpected visit from the doctor
The following event took place in Ireland over seventy years ago. A lady was seriously ill and needed urgent medical attention, however the family did not send for a doctor, because they could not afford the necessary fee. They knew that the doctor would not come to the house unless they could pay the fee. Later in the day the doctor arrived (unexpectedly) at the house. He said that a tall girl with long hair had come into his office that day and had paid the fee on their behalf. The family had not mentioned the matter to anyone except to Saint Philomena in prayer.
The poem and the stories are from my book: Help from Heaven (Answers to Prayer) which can be read free on line at the following link:
Our local council had a Medieval Fair over the weekend. I met these two characters at the fair. This set me off into a poetic mood and I have been having a shot at writing a poem on Robin Hood.
Robin Hood (poem)
In Sherwood Forest
in a leafy glen
lived Robin Hood
and the Merry men.
To the poor they gave
from the rich they stole
their daring exploits
have often been told.
An expert archer
was Robin Hood
no one else
could shoot as good!
There was a price
on Robin’s head
if he was caught
He’d soon be dead!
The Lady Marion
became his wife
she now shared
the outlaw’s life.
Was he a hero?
Was he a saint?
Robin Hood a saint?
He sure aint!
Stealing from the rich
to give to the poor
is not a moral act
that’s for sure!
The commos still work
like this today
wealth redistribution
is their way!
Beware of governments
when this they do
Robin Hood did it first
it’s nothing new!
I was watching a lady cook this dish today at an outdoor festival, and she told me how to make the dish. Marinate chicken drumsticks in red wine and then brown the chicken drumsticks in oil. Place the browned chicken drumsticks, with the contents of one bottle of red wine, the contents of one carton of (commercial) chicken stock, salt, pepper, onions, garlic and mushrooms into an oven proof pot with a lid and bake at 150 C for about 80 minutes, then test to see if it is cooked. If it is needed, cook longer.
Surviving a heart attack
This following story comes from the USA. The priest mentioned in this story was born in Australia and grew up there. He was educated at a school run by the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart (the order founded by Blessed Mary MacKillop) in Adelaide, South Australia.
Here is Father’s story. On Saturday the January 29th, 2005 I woke up feeling really out of sorts. I confess that I hadn’t felt this bad since the morning after my 21st birthday party in 1965! Puzzled, I showered, and then noticed that both shoulders were aching badly; I had been treated a few years earlier for Bursitis in one shoulder, but this was like a double dose! I fed my dogs and then made a cup of tea. (Things are always better after a cuppa!) and sat on the sofa, looking out the front door, but the aching got worse, and it became hard to breathe. For the life of me, I couldn’t think what was wrong. (At that time my only knowledge of coronary symptoms was numbness in the left arm and jaw.) I was wondering what to do, and what on earth was wrong. I suddenly saw a movement out the corner of my eye, in the small hallway to my right. I automatically turned to see what it was. In the hallway were standing Father David my assistant, and a Josephite nun, being an old Saint Joseph’s Russell Street boy, I immediately recognised “Mother Mary of the Cross” as we called her, the foundress of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart, in Adelaide in 1866. Father David, had died of Pancreatic Cancer in 2002! Yet, there they both stood; quite real, no lights, clouds, or music. And oddly, I felt too ill to be impressed or surprised at the time!
I blurted out to Father David (who was 64 at the time of death, but who now looked late twenties in cassock and surplice, but easily recognisable); “is this the big one?” – a private joke of ours from the TV show “Sanford & Son”. He just smiled and shook his head – he never actually spoke. I got the impression that he had somehow wrangled a “ride” on this expedition, and Blessed Mary had agreed, as I’d pay more attention if he was seen(?). Mary, however, spoke; she was dressed in her usual habit; plus traveling mantle; (I still find Religious, disguised in lay clothes these days to be somehow dishonest, as if they’re ashamed to be identified.) She seemed also to be in her late twenties, quite alive, and solid, like Father David. Her welcoming smile changed to an expression of concern, and she said with a slight Scottish accent; “Quickly now, go and take two aspirin, and start coughing! You are having a heart attack, you must get help!” They then looked at each other, with a smile of satisfaction (I guess at completing their task?) Then they seemed to step back – and weren’t there!
So I got up, took the aspirin, and began coughing; it actually eased the chest discomfort. Then, I drove myself to the medical Center. I had Angioplasty two days later (after the entire nursing staff all peeked in to see the “idiot priest who drove himself here with a heart attack”.) During the Angioplasty, Blessed Mary Mackillop and Father David appeared again, and helped me when a problem developed. The Cardiologist later informed me that the coughing most likely saved my life, as they were experimenting, and it appeared coughing kept the heart and lungs steady. Sure enough, ten months later, the AMA publicly announced on TV that aspirin combined with coughing was the way to go-until medical help arrived, yet, Blessed Mary of the Cross, came from heaven and gave me that information ten months earlier! So to (soon to be) Saint Mary of the Cross I owe my life! As soon as I recovered I erected a shrine to her in our Chapel, and we celebrate her feast each year on the first Sunday in August.
The story above is one of several stories that have recently been added to my book: Help from Heaven (Answers to Prayer), that will be added to the second print edition of the book. The online version of the book is at:
