What Came to Me in Prayer

Volume XXVIII, Number 11
August 28, 2024

Thank You

Beloved readers, this came to me through multiple machine-gun-style signs from God over a twelve hour period, including a grocery bag in a movie scene, an obvious prompting during prayer, and an out-of-left-field penance during Confession:

Thank you for being such a faithful part of my life and our little project together for Our Lady and Saint Joseph.

For praying with me and your fellow readers, thank you.

For your amazing support, through thick and thin, thank you.

For being a good Catholic, thank you.

For caring about the eternal destiny of our loved ones and fellow citizens enough to sacrifice and take action, thank you.

For being honest.

For being generous.

For your zeal.

For carrying the True Cross with me.

For keeping our doors open every Christmas.

For caring about our country.

For putting up with me and reading this message.

Thank you.

And finally, on behalf of all the people who probably should thank you but rarely or never do (but are, on some interior level, thankful), know that I am truly grateful for your charity towards them.

I am thankful beyond words—even if I just attempted to put into words what makes my heart full.

Sent to us by Immaculate Mary herself, I can never say it enough: You guys are the best!

Onward to victory, my friends.

You Probably Already Do This

I like to call it my Boy Scout Good Deed of the Day. That is, performing a small daily act of charity such as letting someone go before me in line at a store—which I really don't like doing! Or offering a prayer for a stranger as I drive by, especially placing them in the care of Saint Anthony for their conversion through the final moments of life. Sometimes it means picking up a bit of litter.

Do you do this? I looked it up and indeed, the Boy Scouts actually call it doing "good turns."

What 365 Resolutions Will Do to You

In two weeks we will officially release our amazing new 37-page book, How to Pray, by Saint Francis de Sales.

It's been a passion project as my personal gift for you because—through God's grace—this great saint's wisdom will improve every minute of every day of your life. I promise.

This is because Saint Francis teaches methods and skills that improve your life—fast. In fact, he does so in under thirty minutes of reading.

Resolution Revolution

As just one example, he explains the crucial importance of having the Holy Spirit guide you to making a concrete resolution toward the end of your prayer time.

This resolution stays with you for the rest of your day. The effect is instantaneously transformational the very first time you try it. This skill builds upon itself over the next few weeks and months.

Then imagine the "holiness impact" on your life of making a resolution to improve a practical, prudential, or spiritual habit three-hundred and sixty-five times a year.

Then, the profound changes over a few years. Over a decade. Guided by the Holy Spirit!

And "making resolutions" is just one of several "all day long" habits Saint Francis has been teaching for over four hundred years.

Soldiers in Heaven

I've been making new daily resolutions for months. For example, I was meditating on the Coronation of Mary last week and found myself (in my imagination) in the heavenly court. I have been a spiritual warrior all my life, and I was surrounded by centurions from the New Testament, soldiers throughout history, and American Marines, all of us celebrating the crowning of our queen!

Seeking a resolution, towards the end of this (frankly) enjoyable meditation, I wondered what distinguishes soldiers as a group?

Discipline.

Not exactly my strong suit. I resolved to be modestly more disciplined in fulfilling my daily responsibilities for work and the people in my life—in the little things—as if I was training for battle, for the rest of that day. Turns out I indulged myself less often, ate more moderately, and prayed more during breaks. I "got right to whatever it was" better—not perfectly, but better.

It did not only affect me on that particular day—but it probably also helped all my coworkers and loved ones in some small way.

And, on the following day, I had less stuff to get done!

Overall, it was a noticeably different day, more peaceful, and the "discipline" resolution has lingered—thanks to Saint Francis de Sales. He is an anointed teacher.

Why Wait? Get How to Pray
Right Now (only $1)

Quotations

"Have patience with all things—but first, with yourself. Never confuse your mistakes with your worth as a human being. You are a perfectly valuable, creative, and worthwhile person simply because you exist—and no amount of triumphs or tribulations can ever change that."
- Saint Francis de Sales

"Happiness can only be achieved by looking inward and learning to enjoy whatever life presents to you, and this requires transforming greed into gratitude."
- Saint John Chysostom

"Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."
- Saint Paul

"The only way I can prove my love is by scattering flowers—and these flowers are every little sacrifice, every glance and word, and doing the least actions for love."
- Saint Thérèse of Lisieux

"Begin the habit of saying 'thank you' to everyone. All the time. Find a reason. It's easy."
- Joseph Wood

Full Stadium Praying

Let's pray. Imagine you are in an arena filled with tens of thousands of Christians, because with other readers all over the world, you really are—in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit...

God and Father, please give me everything.
I want everything you have for me.

Thank you.

Saint Monica, pray for us.
Saint Augustine, pray for us.
Saint Francis de Sales, pray for us.

Saint Michael the Archangel, protect us.
Guardian Angel of America, defend us.
Operation True Cross Angel, guide us.
O Mighty Seraphim of Saint Francis of Assisi, pray for us.
Mary, Queen of Angels, pray for us.
Jesus, King of the Universe,
grant us the grace to love you.

O Father, thank you for every single thing—
past, present, and future.
Amen.

And Amen. Keep your eye on your inbox and real-world mailbox for the How to Pray announcement.

Stay frosty.

Let nothing disturb you.

Divine intervention is coming.

I love you.

With Saint Cletus, Pope and Martyr,

Bud Macfarlane
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