Author | |
Willa Forum All-Star
Joined: Jan 28 2005 Location: California
Online Status: Offline Posts: 3881
|
Posted: Dec 29 2005 at 12:01pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I sure hope it is OK to move Molly's prayer request to this forum. I know you prayer warriors have helped me so many times.
Perhaps we could say the Express Memorare novena that Mother Teresa used to have her nuns say in cases of quick need -- for wisdom and good counsel for Molly and Court and their ds. SOmeone led one of these for Aidan when he was in a medical crisis and I believe it was very efficacious.
Memorare Prayer
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known
that any one who fled to thy protection,
implored thy help or sought thy intercession,
was left unaided.
Inspired with this confidence,
I fly unto thee,
O Virgin of virgins my Mother;
to thee do I come,
before thee I stand,
sinful and sorrowful;
O Mother of the Word Incarnate,
despise not my petitions,
but in thy clemency hear and answer me.
Amen.
mother Teresa stated), "whenever I need a special favor, I do an Express Novena. An Express Novena is 9 Memorares in a row. In 1983, one of our Superior sisters had gotten sick in Eastern Berlin, and Mother Teresa had to appoint a replacement that could handle the Communist government. The sister that they appointed as the successor for Eastern Berlin needed a Visa. Mother Teresa gathered her nuns and started praying the Express Novena (9 Memorare’s). On the 8th Memorare, the phone rang, it was a Communist official stating that it would be 6 months until they would receive the Visa. After the 9th prayer, Mother Teresa started the novena again. On the 8th Memorare the second time, the telephone rang this time, it was a Communist official who stated you will have your Visa immediately!"
REflections by Those Touched by Mother Teresa
__________________ AMDG
Willa
hsing boys ages 11, 14, almost 18 (+ 4 homeschool grads ages 20 to 27)
Take Up and Read
|
Back to Top |
|
|
Jen L. Forum All-Star
Joined: Oct 18 2005 Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline Posts: 2148
|
Posted: Dec 29 2005 at 1:13pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I have prayed the Express Novena. Thanks for posting this idea.
My prayers are with you, Molly.
__________________ Jen
dh Klete,ds (8/95),dd (12/97), dd (11/00), and ^2^ in heaven
"...the best state in which to glorify God is our actual state; the best grace is that of the moment..." St. Peter Eymard
|
Back to Top |
|
|
Marybeth Forum All-Star
Joined: May 02 2005 Location: Illinois
Online Status: Offline Posts: 1277
|
Posted: Dec 29 2005 at 1:55pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Molly,
I have my holy candle burning for your family's intentions. I have prayed the Express Novena.
My heart just breaks for you being in so much pain.
I am so sorry.
All our love and prayers,
Marybeth and family
|
Back to Top |
|
|
amyable Forum All-Star
Joined: March 07 2005
Online Status: Offline Posts: 3798
|
Posted: Dec 29 2005 at 2:13pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I said the express novena also. My prayers are with you!
__________________ Amy
mom of 5, ages 6-16, and happy wife of
The Highly Sensitive Homeschooler
|
Back to Top |
|
|
Angie Mc Board Moderator
Joined: Jan 31 2005 Location: Arizona
Online Status: Offline Posts: 11400
|
Posted: Dec 29 2005 at 2:54pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Oh Molly, I'm sorry and I'm praying. I hope that you can feel uplifted by our collective prayers and that God's love will shine through this dark time, bringing peace.
Love,
__________________ Angie Mc
Maimeo to Henry! Dave's wife, mom to Mrs. Devin+Michael Pope, Aiden 20,Ian 17,John Paul 11,Catherine (heaven 6/07)
About Me
|
Back to Top |
|
|
Bridget Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2005 Location: Michigan
Online Status: Offline Posts: 2198
|
Posted: Dec 29 2005 at 3:06pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Dear Molly, I'm praying. You are not alone. We stand with you in prayer.
__________________ God Bless,
Bridget, happily married to Kevin, mom to 8 on earth and a small army in heaven
Our Magnum Opus
|
Back to Top |
|
|
Karen E. Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 27 2005 Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline Posts: 1161
|
Posted: Dec 29 2005 at 4:42pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Praying, Molly. I'm so sorry you're going through this. I'll be praying the Memorare novena ....
__________________ God bless,
Karen E.
mom to three on earth, and several souls in God's care
Visit my blog, with its shockingly clever title, "Karen Edmisten."
|
Back to Top |
|
|
Erica Sanchez Forum All-Star
Joined: March 05 2005 Location: California
Online Status: Offline Posts: 1538
|
Posted: Dec 29 2005 at 6:51pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
We'll pray tonight after dinner, Molly. I'm sorry this is happening right now in your family. Thank you, Willa, for reminding of us of this powerful prayer.
__________________ Have a beautiful and fun day!
Erica in San Diego
(dh)Cash, Emily, Grace, Nicholas, Isabella, Annie, Luke, Max, Peter, 2 little souls ++, and sweet Rose who is legally ours!
|
Back to Top |
|
|
guitarnan Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 07 2005 Location: Maryland
Online Status: Offline Posts: 10883
|
Posted: Dec 29 2005 at 7:14pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Molly,
I've prayed the express novena for you, too. Remember that the Blessed Mother knows what it's like to panic about her lost son...and I know she will bring your intentions to God, because she knows so well what motherhood is all about.
Please know that your intentions will be close to my heart...remembered in prayer...may the Holy Spirit bring you consolation and peace.
__________________ Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
|
Back to Top |
|
|
cathhomeschool Board Moderator
Texas Bluebonnets
Joined: Jan 26 2005 Location: Texas
Online Status: Offline Posts: 7303
|
Posted: Dec 29 2005 at 8:01pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Willa, thank you for posting the novena. I had never heard of it.
Molly, I prayed the novena and will continue to hold your family in my prayers. I am so sorry!
__________________ Janette (4 boys - 22, 21, 15, 14)
|
Back to Top |
|
|
ladybugs Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2005 Location: California
Online Status: Offline Posts: 3732
|
Posted: Dec 29 2005 at 8:07pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Molly,
I'm sorry.
I will do the novena tonight for you and your precious son and family.
__________________ Love and God Bless,
Maria P
My etsy store - all proceeds go to help my fencing daughters!
|
Back to Top |
|
|
teachingmyown Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 20 2005 Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline Posts: 5128
|
Posted: Dec 29 2005 at 10:08pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Thank you all. You are such wonderful friends and prayer warriors. It is so humbling to have such ugliness in my own family, even more so to share it (even vaguely) here. But I am floundering on my own and you all are my strength.
God bless you.
__________________ In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
Remembering Today
|
Back to Top |
|
|
mumofsix Forum All-Star
Joined: April 07 2005
Online Status: Offline Posts: 205
|
Posted: Dec 30 2005 at 10:25am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Hang in there, Molly. We have prayed the novena. Steve Wood on his website says that one difficult child in a family does NOT make a dysfunctional family. In the world in which we live, it is common enough to have one child go off the rails. Your others are fine: you are great parents.
As for your dear lost sheep, he is still the loveable boy you held in your arms as a newborn. He hasn't really changed fundamentally. He is baptised, a chosen one, and God through his Blessed Mother WILL get him back. Which of us would have been proud to be Saint Peter's mother when he denied Christ, or Mary Magdalen's, or Saint Augustine's while they were still great sinners? Who would have put any bets on them?
I too have five "easy" children and one more "difficult" one. I too have spent nights like yours talking and crying with my husband. Yet my ds now 18 is making huge changes and moving forward so positively. I watched him serve midnight Mass at the Oratory on Christmas Eve.
Molly, you may be in for a rough ride but there is great hope for your son. He is under diabolic attack, which says a lot for him. Put him under Our Lady's protection and never give in to despair.
Jane.
|
Back to Top |
|
|
alicegunther Forum All-Star
Joined: Jan 28 2005 Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline Posts: 1992
|
Posted: Dec 30 2005 at 10:46am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Praying, Molly.
__________________ Love, Alice
mother of seven!
Cottage Blessings
Brew yourself a cup of tea, and come for a visit!
|
Back to Top |
|
|
Leonie Forum All-Star
Joined: Jan 28 2005
Online Status: Offline Posts: 2831
|
Posted: Dec 30 2005 at 11:29pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I am saying the novena for Charlie, dear Molly.
__________________ Leonie in Sydney
Living Without School
|
Back to Top |
|
|
Kathryn UK Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 27 2005 Location: England
Online Status: Offline Posts: 924
|
Posted: Dec 31 2005 at 2:55am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Prayed it here too, Molly.
__________________ Kathryn
Dh Michael, Rachel(3/95) Hannah(8/98) Naomi(6/06) (11/07)
The Bookworm
|
Back to Top |
|
|
Jamberry77 Forum Pro
Joined: Feb 15 2005
Online Status: Offline Posts: 243
|
Posted: Dec 31 2005 at 9:57am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Molly,
I'm praying the Memorare everytime I think of you and your family today.
Kelly in NC
|
Back to Top |
|
|
Cay Gibson Forum All-Star
Joined: July 16 2005 Location: Louisiana
Online Status: Offline Posts: 5193
|
Posted: Dec 31 2005 at 10:51am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Molly,
Have you seen Narnia?
We saw it yesterday and I thought of you the whole time.
In it the witch comes into the camp and tells Aslan "You have a traitor in your mist." Everyone draws their sword in protection of Edmund.
Right now Charlie is on the same path Edmund took. We must hope and pray he returns to the fold, asks for forgiveness from God and you, and embraces the faith...just as Edmund did.
You'll notice how Edmund is treated at the start of the movie by his siblings. They are very hard on him and quick to criticize him. We are all hard on our dc (out of love). We want them to be the best and good is never good enough to parents. We expect only the best. God's expectation aren't as harsh. He doesn't expect us to be good at academics, good at athletics, good at writing, good at everything.
He does give us talents that he expects us to use and improve. He does give us careers and vocations that He expects us to be faithful to and do to the best of our abilities. But He is so much easier to please than parents are .
The point I'm trying to make it that we all (as Christians) holds up our sword in defense of your son. He is a child of God and loved even to the point of death, no matter his faults or his sins.
Has Charlie seen the movie? Perhaps it would be a turning point for him. If nothing else, it would help plant a seed of faith and hope.
You are all in my prayers.
__________________ Cay Gibson
"There are 49 states, then there is Louisiana." ~ Chef Emeril
wife to Mark '86
mom to 5
Cajun Cottage Under the Oaks
|
Back to Top |
|
|
teachingmyown Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 20 2005 Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline Posts: 5128
|
Posted: Jan 01 2006 at 9:31pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Thank you all for your prayers. I have felt your support these last few days. I am calmer now and had time to reflect on things and also have had the opportunity to spend time with some very wise friends who have helped me focus.
We sat with Charlie for hours last night, after praying for the right words, and I think we made some progress. He went from his defiant, cool demeanor to a willingness to discuss things. I am still so saddened by choices he has made and he apparent lack of understanding about why certain behaviors and attitudes are wrong. But I do think he heard what we were saying.
He was a nicer child today, almost as if a burden has been lifted from him. He still won't go to confession and won't admit to being wrong, but I think he appreciated our candor. In the end, I reiterated the limits and the reasons and he seemed less angry. Perhaps, he can see now that it is all about our love for him.
This is far from over I am sure. But our eyes our open and he knows it. I am brushing up on my parenting skills and keeping the lines of communication open. (Not my strong point!!)
Cay, you are so right: we have been so angry for so long that I am sure we did much more damage than if we had been able to approach him calmly and rationally like we did last night. I was too busy focusing on what he was doing to me and to the family, even to himself, and how bad he was instead of tackling the problem while assuring him of my love and ultimately my faith in him to be the good man that we have raised him to be.
One interesting and promising thing: I gave him The Screwtape Letters and Mere Christianity for Christmas, not very hopeful that he would read it unless I pushed it or even read it to him. He made a comment about The Screwtape Letters today that tells me he is actually reading it!
Please keep praying! You all are the best.
__________________ In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
Remembering Today
|
Back to Top |
|
|
ALmom Forum All-Star
Joined: May 18 2005
Online Status: Offline Posts: 3299
|
Posted: Jan 02 2006 at 2:30am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Molly,
Prayed the Express Memorare Novena today. Will continue to remember you and your family in prayer. Thought of today being the feast of Our Lady, Mother of God.
Janet
|
Back to Top |
|
|