Holy Relic Visitation: Our Lady of Fatima Prayer Group, 12/29/2012

At the Gruber Residence with (from left to

right) Anna, Eloise, & Dre', our host.

WOW - what a day this turned out to be!  From the extraordinary blessings received this morning to the blessings received tonight - it was quite overwhelming, but in a good sort of way.  I already had a sense that tonight's prayer meeting at the Gruber's was going to be extra-special and the Lord and our Blessed Mother did not disappoint.  Even before the opening prayer was said, there were a couple of gleaming Escarchas that were already manifested in our midst... and as the meeting progressed, the unseen presence of Christ and Our Lady became so tangible that almost all of us were deeply moved, even to tears. Furthermore, the atmosphere in the home was simply electrifying as God's love and peace overshadowed us.

 

Our Saint this month was Bl. Charles de

Foucauld - whose idea of being a "universal

brother" to all the needy and to those seeking

God's love, filled us with inspiration.

 

After the prayers were over, we shared our customary potluck meal and fellowshipped with lighthearted conversation over dessert and a few sips of wine.  On the way home, the group that rode in my car discussed the highlights of tonight's meeting, which included the mysterious sense of having the Lord and our Holy Mother invisibly with us... plus the faith-sharing of our Saint of the Month - Bl. Charles de Foucauld - whose "Prayer of Abandonment" (see below) left us all feeling very inspired; the warmth of his saintly presence was also felt during our prayers.

 

 

Dinner time after the prayers... and

the Colotario Family catching up with

our host, Dre'. 

 

In conclusion, the prayer meeting was a great way to close out yet another year of benediction and spiritual growth... and our little group is looking forward to 2013 and all the new graces Jesus and Mary have in store for us.  Ad Jesum per Mariam!

 

The Prayer of Abandonment

(by Bl. Charles de Foucauld)

 

Father,
I abandon myself into your

hands; do with me what you will.

Whatever you may do, I thank you:

I am ready for all, I accept all.

Let only your will be done in me,

and in all your creatures.  I wish

no more than this, O Lord.

Into your hands I commend

my soul; I offer it to you with all

the love of my heart, for I love

you, Lord, and so need to give

myself, to surrender myself into

your hands, without reserve,

and with boundless confidence,

for you are my Father.

Amen.