Come celebrate with me!
It was a little over four years when I put my fingers to the keyboard and wrote my first ever Imprisoned in My Bones blog post. And today, this very post that you are reading is post number 1000! Ta-da and woo-hoo!!!! Who would've guessed I had that many thoughts inside my head? (Ahem.) A lot of bloggers might celebrate this type of milestone by holding a give-away of some sort, but I thought, a give-away only benefits one person, the winner. I think that anybody who has been following this blog for any part of these past four years, or has taken the time to read or comment or offer a word of encouragement along the way, deserves some type of gift to show my gratitude.
So I thought that I would celebrate by thanking all of you, my dear readers, with a reward that will hopefully have everlasting benefits-the gift of prayer. I'm sure it's no surprise to you that I am deeply devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. So I have been praying the Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus for the sanctity, well-being and intentions of all of the Imprisoned in My Bones readers. On this Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus I hope that you can feel the benefit of my prayers for you.
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in thee!
And could I ask for a present from you, my friends? Would you please offer a prayer today for all of the special priests who have touched your lives in any way, whether large or small, on this the World Day of Prayer for Priests? Perhaps you'd be willing to pray my favorite prayer for priests by Fr. William Doyle,SJ along with me? I am certain that many a priest will be grateful to you for the kind words of prayer offered on his behalf.
O my God, pour out in abundance Thy spirit of sacrifice upon Thy priests. It is both their glory and their duty to become victims, to be burnt up for souls, to live without ordinary joys, to be often the objects of distrust, injustice, and persecution.
The words they say every day at the altar, “This is my Body, this is my Blood,” grant them to apply to themselves: “I am no longer myself, I am Jesus, Jesus crucified. I am, like the bread and wine, a substance no longer itself, but by consecration another.”
O my God, I burn with desire for the sanctification of Thy priests. I wish all the priestly hands which touch Thee were hands whose touch is gentle and pleasing to Thee, that all the mouths uttering such sublime words at the altar should never descend to speaking trivialities.
Let priests in all their person stay at the level of their lofty functions, let every man find them simple and great, like the Holy Eucharist, accessible to all yet above the rest of men. O my God, grant them to carry with them from the Mass of today, a thirst for the Mass of tomorrow, and grant them, ladened themselves with gifts, to share these abundantly with their fellow men. Amen.
Behold this Heart, which has so loved men!
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| Sacred Heart of Jesus by C. Jentz |
Oh Anne, Congratulations on one thousand posts!! It has been such a joy and so much insight reading your writing. You have a wonderful and
ReplyDeleteGod glorifying blog (with beautiful images too) and I am thankful for your gifts and sharing and friendship! Your prayers mean so very much and I will continue to pray for you and for priests. May God always bless you and your family and your writing!! With much gratitude...
Congratulations, Anne! Thank you so much for your prayers :) Praying for you and for priests also!
ReplyDeleteAnother God-incidence that your 1,000th post should fall on this great feast. All praise to the Sacred Heart of Jesus! Thank you for your friendship, encouragement, and the witness of your life shared through this blog.
ReplyDeleteWhat a perfect way to celebrate! I prayed the prayer, and it was a holy time of praying for so many priests I've known or known of throughout the years. And thank YOU for your prayers for us, your very grateful readers. Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your 1000th post. Anne. How appropriate, and what a beautiful tribute of love on this feast of Our Lord's Sacred Heart. Continued prayer for our priests and for you.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Congratulations! And thank you for the prayers. I was also praying the Sacred Heart Novena (thanks to www.praymorenovenas.com!) and one of the intentions was for priests. May God continue to bless your writing and also our holy priests.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Anne! I'm not at all surprised that you had that many thoughts in your head! :) And, I'm looking forward to your next thousand posts. When I read your blog, I do get a sense of that fire, imprisoned in your bones. There is real passion here. Thank you for sharing your many gifts.
ReplyDeleteI'm so grateful for the prayers, and have prayed your prayer for priests. I will remember you at adoration this week, and ask Jesus to continue to bless you with your burning love for Him, and your deep love for the priesthood. Hugs to you!
Congratulations, Anne, and thanks. Some days more than others, I need to read the words you write so well. And some days -- as those lately -- I surely need prayers. I thank you again.
ReplyDeleteThis week I'll hit post number 700 for me. Obviously I don't have as much to say, nor do I say it as well. You are appreciated.