Prayer Requests and Praise Reports

A reader writes:

I would like to ask for your prayers for three intentions.

Firstly for myself. I am a final-year college student and I am struggling with bulimia. I was meant to be “giving up my eating disorder for Lent” but it’s Ash Wednesday and I’ve already made myself throw up. I’m finding things really difficult. I don’t know how to stop. I’m scared and frustrated.

Secondly for a friend of mine who is feeling suicidal. I can’t say much about her situation, except that she’s finding life very difficult.

Thirdly for a couple I know whom I went to see today. The wife is very sick – she has myalgic encephalomyeltis, can’t get out of bed except to use the commode (and she needs her husband to lift her) and is in constant pain. Her husband cannot work because he has to care for her 24/7 (she can’t feed herself and she needs him to open her packets of painkillers for her, among other things. Also she often has muscle spasms that make her fall out of bed and then she needs him to lift her back in) and he’s under a lot of stress.

Father, hear our prayer for my reader, that she would receive and rely on the grace, first to forgive herself when she fails and to trust in you to make changes one step at a time. Also, hear our prayer for her friend, that she will find the courage to embrace life in hope and to reject the whispers of the devil. Hear also our prayer for the married couple that the wife would find complete healing and her husband the grace, strength and peace to carry on. Mother Mary and St. Luke, pray for them all. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Another reader writes:

Just wanted to let you know that my great aunt–Sister Bernadette–passed away peacefully last night. Thank you to all who prayed for her in her final days; I am certain that it contributed to her peaceful passing.

Also, I have received an offer from that last opportunity I mentioned. God is great! Thank you to you and all who have prayed on my behalf as this absolutely would not have happened without such strong support. Prayers are of course appreciated that I thrive in this position–but, for now, prayers of great thanksgiving–and for all those who are continuing to struggle through this job market in this economy!

Thanks be to God through our Lord Jesus Christ!

Another reader writes:

I would like to request prayers for my sister. She recently attempted suicide by ODing on Tylenol after breaking up with her boyfriend. She is in a bad way. When she woke up in the hospital she said she’s not happy to be alive. I don’t know what else to tell her to snap her out of it and she is so hard headed. I would have never believed my sister could be so self-absorbed until now. I would like to request for prayer to God that my sister will have strength to stop wanting to die. Please pray that she’ll listen to sense because I’m running out of things to tell her and I’m afraid she’ll try this again and this time it might work.

Father, hear our prayer for this woman, that you would, by the sword of St. Michael and her guardian angel, repulse the attack of the enemy against her. Send your Holy Spirit to give her consolation, healing and hope and strengthen her in her heart and soul to decisively choose life and love. Mother Mary, pray for her. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord! Amen!

Finally, a reader writes:

Thank you for posting our prayer request for our friends’ little baby. It turns out that the cyst & the kidneys are not much of a concern because these issues usually resolve themselves as the baby develops. A ‘bright white’ spot was found on Baby’s heart, which *can* be an indicator of Down Syndrome, but isn’t necessarily so. Our friends are going for another ultrasound, hopefully next week, to try to get some more answers. In the meantime, there is much anxiety & fear as they await more information. Please keep those prayers coming…

On a side note, the baby’s father, another male friend, and I are planning to meet with our parish priest on Friday to discuss entering the Church at Easter. Each of us has struggled long and hard with this decision, and it’s very scary (for me, anyway) to be so close to taking that huge leap of faith. Prayers on our behalf would be most welcome!

Father, hear our continued prayer for complete health in body, soul, and spirit for that baby and her family, and for my reader and her friend, that you would guide them into your Holy Church and help them to find their place there as growing and active disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ. Mother Mary and St. Paul, pray for them! We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ!