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from\u00a0spiritdaily.com Archives<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n By Michael H. Brown<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n IN RUMBLING AND TOPSY-TURVY TIMES, MANY ARE THOSE WITH THOUGHTS OF ‘PREPARATION’<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Are we called to be “prepared” — or is to be prepared a lack of faith?<\/span><\/p>\n Many feel they are being “called” to have certain items and plans on hand in the event that our infrastructure breaks down.<\/span><\/p>\n That seems prudent because things can happen many ways, of course — through the economy, through civil unrest, by way of terrorism (during 9\/11 our entire system of transportation was frozen), or due to natural disaster.<\/span><\/p>\n There is nothing wrong with that. It is always good to have an element of preparation (if for no reason other than the natural events which plague every part of the U.S.). <\/span><\/p>\n We just must be cautious not to wander into paranoia.<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Self-sufficiency? Yes. Running for the hills?<\/span><\/p>\n Isn’t the economy recovering? Or is it in a simple hiatus right now?<\/span><\/p>\n No one knows how matters will shape up. Some see the economy as starting a slow recovery — perhaps. Others see the current uplift as a temporary result of all the bailouts and “stimulus.” <\/span><\/p>\n Some believe that we have bottomed out while others say we have addressed less than a third of the credit losses (just $1.29 trillion of $4 trillion in total global debits). The International Monetary Fund has warned<\/a> of parallels to the Great Depression (when the stock market also had its rallies).<\/span><\/p>\n Does it matter?<\/span><\/p>\n Is the economy really the main player?<\/span><\/p>\n Or did the recent financial crisis come simply as a nudge for us to simplify (and prepare)?<\/span><\/p>\n At any rate, viewers weighed in with a number of comments (for your cautious discernment). <\/span><\/p>\n We present them because we believe in opening up the vessels of intuition (where prophecy can operate).<\/span><\/p>\n “This morning I stopped for a moment and asked the Lord, ‘What should my priorities be,'” writes Deacon Ed Grotpeter of St. Louis, who was asking not about world events but personal matters, and was surprised at the alleged answer. “I immediately received, ‘Food and prayer.’ (As our stock of stored food was running low, I presumed he meant to restock .)\u00a0To which I replied, ‘Why, Lord.’\u00a0 I then received, ‘Because your President is about to sign into law that which will bring about the death of your country.’\u00a0But what can we do, I asked? ‘Only prayer will mitigate the consequences of this action.’ I often hear the Lord on personal matters but never anything of this magnitude. I believe we must all heed His <\/span> Would the Lord single out a politician?<\/span><\/p>\n Interesting issues. Interesting times. Cautious discernment. There is good and bad in everyone. <\/span><\/p>\n Below, after this article, is a spiritual preparation kit.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n “I have felt the promptings to have food set aside for some time now,” writes Mary L. Nelson of Bridgeport, Connecticut. <\/span><\/p>\n “Certainly economic and world events would make this a prudent thing to do for anyone who takes some time to realize our society’s\u00a0vulnerability if there is any disruption. I have been trying in gentle ways to suggest to friends and family that this is prudent. <\/span><\/p>\n I think of how Joseph was given advance warning of the seven years of want in Egypt. As for the fire from the sky, last summer my sister in Tennessee, who is a Christian, called to tell me of a vivid dream she had of fire\/boulders raining down from the sky and she knew in the dream that everything after that incident would never be the same again.<\/span><\/p>\n “I am not particularly afraid by all this,” adds Mary, “but rather have a sense of resolution which could also be a sign that the promptings are from God. I hope you will find a way in your articles to write about the feedback you are undoubtedly getting on this issue in such a way that it will help other people to discern this for themselves in prayer and prepare as they are led by God.”<\/span><\/p>\n Fire? Brimstone? Metaphors? Or a glimpse beyond the confines of time?<\/span><\/p>\n “I am surprised at the frenzy of people who are stocking up on gold and silver, and even ammunition, as if that was going to protect them against the evil that is rising,” says a man with a contrary if equally apocalyptic view. <\/span><\/p>\n “When the proclamation for the mandatory chip or ‘mark’ on all humans and animals goes forth, gold and silver will most likely be completely outlawed by then. Our Blessed Mother has never counseled anyone to stock up on gold or silver, since Jesus will be our security in this time. Bullets will be of no use either unless of course it is to attract that element to us in order to accelerate the destruction of the faithful. No one who follows after these doctrines will be led to refuge by an angel, or even allowed in a true refuge, for the Rosary is to be our weapon, and survival will depend upon whether or not each individual person will commit to living in a religious community. All purchasing or trade will be strictly by the barter system, since only valid refuges set up and protected by the Angel of the Lord shall be free from the Mark of the Beast. In many messages to many different messengers both the Blessed Virgin and the Lord have repeatedly stated that the new era will be populated only by religious agrarian communities, whether lay or consecrated. There will be no ‘loners’ or survivalists in the New Era of Peace, and therefore there will be none in the refuge communities either, since they will be and are of a completely wrong spirit. Those whom the Lord will lead to refuge and community will be humble, broken, stripped of everything, and completely trusting on the Lord. No guns! No gold! Only humility, littleness, and submission!”<\/span><\/p>\n Again, we report, you discern.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n “I do believe national disasters are imminent and was wondering if you could do your Spirit Daily<\/em> ‘family’ a favor,” writes Lorraine Benton. <\/span><\/p>\n “Can you direct us as to what supplies<\/span><\/a> we should have on hand in the event of disaster(s)? I know you probably have this list in your archives<\/a><\/span> — may you share it with us again? <\/span><\/p>\n I see that the Protestant prophet in one of your current articles says to have 30 days of food on hand.”<\/span><\/p>\n The supplies recommended in the event of a hurricane or ice storm or terrorism seem like a good starting point.<\/span><\/p>\n Is it time to go back to the soil? Many are those who are doing that — in and out of religion.<\/span><\/p>\n See here<\/a>. See here too.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Times will unfold, and the Lord will guide all those who take time for prayer and to pray for others.<\/span><\/p>\n [resources: Tower of Light<\/a> and Catholic Warrior<\/a><\/span>]<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n [see also:<\/em> Economic survivalists<\/em><\/a>, <\/em>Goodbye bland affluenc<\/em>e<\/em><\/a>, and Meltdown losses of four trillion<\/a>]<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n [Further feedback,<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n “While two friends were praying and discerning, it became clear that they were to invite others to join them in preparing a ‘Spiritual Emergency Kit’ for times of illness, storms, etcetera \u2013 similar to a first-aid kit,” writes yet one more, again from Missouri. “In most times of an emergency, we\u2019re unprepared and sometimes, we even forget to pray.\u00a0So, to be ‘ready,’ the following is a list of items that can be placed in a large Ziploc bag for use in our homes and cars. A priest has reviewed the following:<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n “SPIRITUAL EMERGENCY KIT\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0“All sacramentals must be blessed by a priest.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n “POSSIBLE SUGGESTIONS FOR FAMILY AND HOME PROTECTION<\/u><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n “Please pray and discern how you are being led to protect your family and your home.<\/span><\/p>\n “Always be encouraged to be led by Jesus and His Holy Spirit in the present moment to do the Father\u2019s Will.\u00a0Ask Our Blessed Mother and Saint Joseph to continue to intercede for you and all of your needs.\u00a0 Divine Mercy Jesus, we trust in You!\u00a0May we always have hearts of gratitude to Our Triune God for His Guidance, Protection and Divine Providence.<\/span><\/p>\n “1.\u00a0Frequently receive the Sacraments, spend quiet time with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and try to pray the Rosary and Chaplet of Divine Mercy daily as a family.\u00a0The prayers of a family and those of a husband and wife are especially pleasing to God.\u00a0You are encouraged to fast Wednesdays and Fridays on bread, fruit and fluids.\u00a0Read daily from the Holy Scriptures.<\/span><\/p>\n “2.\u00a0Every day and frequently throughout the day, re-consecrate yourself to Mary.\u00a0Consecrate your family, the world and even people with whom you don\u2019t get along.\u00a0People don\u2019t have to know that you’re consecrating them.\u00a0If you don’t have time to say the whole Consecration Prayer, simply say, “Jesus, I ‘m Yours.\u00a0Mary, I’m Yours.\u00a0I give You the world.”\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0“3. Conversion of hearts is an ongoing spiritual process of coming to know Our Lord more deeply and walking intimately with Him.\u00a0The daily renewal of our Baptismal promises and our personal consecration to Our Lord and our Blessed Mother help us to receive the graces necessary for our state of life.\u00a0 Sacramentals are important faith reminders of our citizenship in God\u2019s Kingdom, and to show that we are consecrated to Our Lord and Our Lady and that we belong to Them.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0“4.\u00a0This is essential to protect the outside of your home: Get four small, plastic bags.\u00a0In each bag place one St. Benedict medal, one Miraculous Medal, one scapular and one rosary. You may use torn or frayed scapulars and broken rosaries as long as they\u2019re blessed and the rosaries are complete. Bury a bag on each of the four corners of your property line.\u00a0While doing this, make the Sign of the Cross and invite the Father, Son and Holy Spirit to lead you in praying various prayers, including the Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel.\u00a0Remember to invite Our Blessed Mother, St. Joseph and the Heavenly Court (Angels, Communion of Saints and Holy Souls in Purgatory) to surround your property and your family.\u00a0If you live in a condo or an apartment, place the bags on the interior four corners of your residence.\u00a0You may want to make extra bags of sacramentals for each family member\u2019s vehicle. Very important: Hang a St. Benedict Crucifix over the outside of every door, including the garage door. Use epoxy cement to prevent high winds and earthquakes from knocking the Crucifixes off.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n “5. Inside your home:\u00a0 Hang a small blessed Crucifix or cross over every door that leads outside.\u00a0Do this over the inside of your garage door too.\u00a0These don\u2019t need to be St. Benedict Crucifixes.\u00a0Any cross (wooden, plastic, etcetera.) will do.\u00a0Also hang a Crucifix or cross over every window inside your home, including the basement windows.\u00a0You could make crosses from blessed palms.\u00a0You could use ‘mounting putty’ (the sticky stuff for hanging posters) to hang the crosses, but use the putty indoors only.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0“6.\u00a0Sprinkle blessed salt on the inside of all window sills and on the base of all doors that exit outside.\u00a0Do this on a regular basis in case the salt gets swept or vacuumed.\u00a0Sprinkle blessed salt all around the outside of your property and in your vehicles.\u00a0You won\u2019t need a lot; a few grains are very powerful.\u00a0Discreetly sprinkle blessed salt on roads, highways, in your work places, doctor\u2019s offices, schools, public places, \u00a0etc.\u00a0 You won\u2019t be noticed if you just drop a small pinch of salt from your pocket.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0“7.\u00a0Frequently make the Sign of the Cross and\/or use holy water on yourself, your home, your vehicles,\u00a0 \u00a0bicycles, computer, telephones, etc.\u00a0 Pray and discreetly sprinkle holy water in your work places and public places.\u00a0 Remember that the Sign of the Cross is a simple and powerful prayer.\u00a0 We are also encouraged to bless all food, drinks and medications that we consume.<\/span><\/p>\n “8.\u00a0Display an image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in every room of your home.\u00a0Other than large images or icons, you can also use laminated holy cards.\u00a0Place them on the refrigerator, bathroom mirrors, basement and garage.\u00a0Place a small picture of Jesus or Mary or a saint on every window to face outside.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n “9.\u00a0Write three times on a small, thin piece of paper: ‘JESUS, JESUS, JESUS.’\u00a0Slip this paper over the top of each door frame of all doors that lead outside.\u00a0 There is enough space for a thin piece of paper.<\/span><\/p>\n “THE SIGN OF THE CROSS<\/span><\/p>\n “In the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.\u00a0 Amen.<\/span><\/p>\n + + +<\/span><\/p>\n “THE FIAT OF THE ETERNAL FATHER<\/span><\/p>\n “(God the Father desires that we begin each day with this prayer.)<\/span><\/p>\n “My beloved Father, Thy Will be done on earth as it is in heaven.\u00a0 Be Thou my Father, be always my Eternal Father.\u00a0 Do not leave my soul.\u00a0 Do not leave me out of Your sight, My Father, for I am Your child, whom You have created to please You, to adore You, to honor You, living my days as You have given me the license to live it.\u00a0 Amen.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n “PRAYER TO THE HOLY SPIRIT<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n “Cardinal Mercier:\u00a0 Pray this daily!\u00a0 This powerful way of praying will change your life!\u00a0 I am going to reveal to you the secret of sanctity & happiness.\u00a0 Every day for 5 minutes, control your imagination and close your eyes to the things of sense and your ears to all noises of the world, in order to enter into yourself.\u00a0 Then, in the sanctity of your baptized soul, which is the temple of the Holy Spirit, speak to that Divine Spirit, saying to Him:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n “O Holy Spirit, Beloved of my soul, I adore You.\u00a0 Enlighten me, guide me, strengthen me, console me.\u00a0 Tell me what I should do.\u00a0 Give me Your orders.\u00a0 I promise to submit myself to all that You desire of me and to accept all that You permit to happen to me.\u00a0 Let me only know Your Will.\u00a0 (If you do this, your life will flow along happily, serenely and full of consolation, even in the midst of trials.\u00a0 Grace will be proportioned to the trial, giving you the strength to carry it and you will arrive at the gate of Paradise, laden with merit.\u00a0 This submission to the Holy Spirit is the secret of sanctity.<\/span><\/p>\n + + +<\/span><\/p>\n “ACT OF CONTRITION<\/span><\/p>\n “Oh my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all of my sins because of Thy<\/span><\/p>\n just punishments, but most of all because I have offended Thee, my God, Who art all-good and<\/span><\/p>\n deserving of all my love. \u00a0I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near<\/span><\/p>\n occasions of sin.\u00a0 Amen.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n “By a rescript of November 24, 1922, the Sacred Congregation of Indulgences approved the following formula for a spiritual communion.\u00a0There is an indulgence of 500 days, if thrice repeated (129 The Raccolta 1944).\u00a0The Cure of Ars said, ‘A spiritual communion acts on the soul as blowing does on a cinder-covered fire which was about to go out. Whenever you feel your love of God growing cold, quickly make a spiritual communion.’<\/span><\/p>\n “O Jesus, I turn toward the holy tabernacle where You live hidden for love of me. I love you, O my God. \u00a0I cannot receive You in Holy Communion.\u00a0Come nevertheless and visit me with Your grace.\u00a0Come spiritually into my heart.\u00a0Purify it.\u00a0Sanctify it.\u00a0Render it like unto Your own. Amen. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n “Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldst enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n + + +<\/span><\/p>\n “CONSECRATION TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS<\/span><\/p>\n “Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, filled with infinite love, broken by my ingratitude, pierced by my sins, yet loving me still.\u00a0 Accept the consecration that I make to You of all that I am and all that I have.\u00a0 Take every faculty of my soul and body.\u00a0 Draw me day by day, nearer and nearer to Your Sacred Heart.\u00a0 And there, as I can bear the lesson, teach me Your blessed ways.\u00a0 Amen.<\/span><\/p>\n + + +<\/span><\/p>\n “CONSECRATION TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY<\/span><\/p>\n “Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, and tender Mother of all people, I consecrate myself to you and to your Immaculate Heart, and recommend to you my family, my country, and the whole human race.\u00a0 Please accept my consecration, dearest Mother, and use me as you wish to accomplish your designs upon the world.\u00a0 O Immaculate Heart of Mary, Queen of Heaven and Earth, rule over me and teach me how to allow the Heart of Jesus to rule and triumph in me and around me, as It has ruled and triumphed in you.\u00a0 Amen.<\/span><\/p>\n + + +\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n “DAILY MORNING OFFERING<\/span><\/p>\n “O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer You my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world.\u00a0 I offer them for all the intentions of Your Sacred Heart, the salvation of souls, reparation for sin, the union of all Christians.<\/span> + + +<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n “DAILY PRAYER TO PUT ON THE ARMOR OF GOD<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n “‘I put on God\u2019s armor so as to be able to resist the devil\u2019s tactics.’ I stand my ground ‘with truth buckled around my waist and integrity for a breastplate…’ \u00a0I carry the ‘shield of faith’ to ‘put out the burning arrows of the evil one …’ \u00a0I accept ‘salvation from God to be my helmet and receive the Word of God from the Spirit to use as a sword.’ (Ephesians<\/em> 6:10, 11, 14, 16, 17 NAS)<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0+ + +<\/span><\/p>\n “PRAYER TO SAINT JOSEPH<\/span><\/p>\n
\nwarnings.”<\/span><\/p>\n\n
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“DAILY RECOMMENDED PRAYERS<\/u><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
“THE SPIRITUAL COMMUNION<\/span><\/h2>\n
\nI offer them for the intentions of our Bishops and all Apostles of Prayer, and in particular for those recommended by our Holy Father this month.\u00a0 Amen.<\/span><\/p>\n