Prayer Requests

These came in yesterday, and I apologize for being so late in posting them.

An abused seminarian who wrote recently to ask for prayer writes:

I would like to thank you once again for posting my prayer requests while recovering from the clergy sexual abuse I suffered while a young seminarian.

As you may recall, I last wrote when I was dealing with painful psychosomatic symptoms I suffered on Sunday mornings when I tried to attend Mass.  With the help of my doctor and your prayers, I have been symptom-free since made my prayer request.  Special thanks to all of you.

I am meeting this week with a senior member of the clerical group who abused me.  (I am being vague about who and when so they cannot identify me).  If you and your readers would please pray for me that I might: (1) have peace of mind as I prepare for the meeting; (2) be able to present my case with as much composure as I can; (3) that those who hear my plea might have their hearts and minds moved; and (4) that I might receive justice and help in dealing with the costs of my treatment.

Thanks again, and please know the gratitude I have for all of you from the depths of my heart.

Father, thank you for hearing our prayers for your son’s healing.  Hear and answer his petitions and carry through to completion that good work you have begun in him.  Mother Mary and St. Michael, pray for him.  We pray all this through Christ our Lord.  Amen!

Another reader writes:

I hope both you and your family are doing well.  I know that you often post prayer requests on your blog.  My wife is having surgery tomorrow.  It’s rather routine according to her doctor , and she isn’t anticipating any problems.  But it’s still surgery, and my wife is a tad nervous, as are the kiddos.  If you and your readers would keep us in your prayers, I’d greatly appreciate it.

Father, grant your daughter a completely safe and effective surgery today and complete healing by the power of your Spirit. Give grace, wisdom, knowledge, skill, and compassion to her caregivers and grace, peace, strength, faith, hope, and love to her and all who love her. Mother Mary and St. Luke, pray for her, her caregivers and all who love her.  We ask this this through Christ our Lord. Amen!

Another reader, who had written to ask prayer some time ago, for her grandson, writes with sad news:

My grandson, Sam Whetzel aged 12, passed away at 1 a.m. this morning.  While his health had deteriorated over the past couple of days, his death came suddenly, but peacefully.  Leukemia claimed his body, but Jesus claimed Sam.  Sam fought the good fight, finished the race and kept the faith.

Please pray for his family: mother, Abbey; father, Mike; twin brother Joe, and big sister, Claire.  Thank you, Mark for all the times you posted prayer requests for Sam.

She adds:

“And I saw the river over which every soul must pass to reach the kingdom of heaven and the name of that river was suffering and I saw a boat which carries souls across the river and the name of that boat was love.” –St. John of the Cross

Father, receive Sam into the light of your presence where there will be no more pain or tears but only joy.  Give grace, consolation, faith, hope and love to my reader and to all who loved him–especially Abbey, Mike, Joe and Claire.  May his soul and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.  Mother Mary, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.  We ask all this through Christ our Lord.  Amen.