Bringing Light Into a World of Darkness
What Will Your Spiritual Legacy Be?
Precious Relics of the True Cross
The Power of Prayer
THOUGHT FOR TODAY
Psalm 130
- Out of the depths I cry to you, LORD;
- Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.
- If you, LORD, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand?
- But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you.
- I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.
- I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.
Jesus his reaching out to you. Take his hand. He has Redeemed You.
Christ The Lamb of God, Became Sin for Us.
Christ comes to be a sinner as Isaiah 53 [:6] says: “The Lord has laid on Him the iniquity
of us all.” For since we all like sheep have gone astray” God found this remedy: He took
the sins of all human beings and hung them all around the neck of Him who alone was
without sin. He thus becomes a great sinner—indeed, the greatest sinner of all for our
sake.
Short Story of Jesus, the Son of the King who took away the ledger of all sins against humanity.
Once, in a kingdom hidden beyond time, there stood a radiant city whose people were
meant to live forever in the light of their King. But over the ages, the people
wandered. Some lied, some stole, some hated, and some forgot the King altogether.
With every sin, a dark stain appeared upon a great ledger that recorded every human
heart.
The ledger grew heavier with each generation. Its pages filled with pride, greed,
cruelty, lust, violence, and every hidden fault. No one could erase a single mark. The
debt of mankind became so immense that the ledger seemed to cast a shadow over
the entire world.
Then one day, the King’s Son came into the city.
He was unlike anyone who had ever lived. No stain appeared beside His name. No lie
had passed His lips. No selfish thought had entered His heart. He loved perfectly,
obeyed perfectly, and walked in complete union with His Father.
Yet the Son saw the burden that weighed upon the people. He saw mothers and
fathers, kings and beggars, saints and sinners—all unable to free themselves from the
debt they had accumulated.
On the day appointed by the King, the Son stepped forward and said, “Place the
ledger upon Me.”
The people were astonished.
“You cannot do that,” they cried. “The sins are not Yours.”
“I know,” He answered. “But I will bear them for you.”
And so, the impossible happened. Every stain from every page was transferred to
Him. The lies of every liar. The hatred of every murderer. The lust of every adulterer.
The greed of every thief. The sins of every age—past, present, and future—were laid
upon His shoulders.
Though He Himself remained pure and innocent, He appeared before divine justice
carrying the guilt of the entire world.
The Son became the One treated as the greatest sinner, not because He had
committed sin, but because He willingly carried the sins of all mankind. The weight
was crushing. The sorrow was beyond words. Yet He refused to cast it aside.
When He offered Himself in perfect obedience and love, the debt was paid. The ledger
was cleared. The pages that once condemned humanity were washed clean.
Then the King declared, “Whoever comes to My Son in faith shall no longer be judged
by the stains of the ledger, but by the righteousness of My Son.”
And so it was that the only truly innocent man became the bearer of all guilt, that the
guilty might become children of God.
For as Scripture says, “God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that in
Him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)
He paid the price of sin, and took upon Himself
Your sins. He wants you to believe that He did
This for you. Reach out. Grab the Saviors Hand.
Be Saved.
Blessings to All:
By: Richard Pickard
What Will Your Spiritual Legacy Be?
If you were to leave this world today, what spiritual legacy would you leave behind for
your family and loved ones? What would remain to help them withstand the
temptations, trials, and confusion of this world?
Scripture warns us that the battle for souls is real. St. Peter reminds us that “your
adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1
Peter 5:8). Yet God has given each of us the opportunity to be a light in the darkness
and a witness to His truth.
The Christian life you live today may become one of the greatest gifts you leave behind tomorrow.
Long after we are gone, our influence remains. We continue to live in the hearts of
those who knew us. A kind word spoken in faith, a prayer offered for a struggling
child, an act of forgiveness, a life lived with integrity and devotion to Christ—these
become seeds planted in the souls of others. Over time, those seeds can bear fruit in
ways we may never fully see during our earthly lives.
Many people leave behind money, property, accomplishments, and successful careers.
These are not necessarily bad things. They can be blessings and may provide comfort
and security for those we love. But if our legacy consists only of material success,
what lasting benefit does it provide for the eternal souls of those we leave behind?
Many of us have family members or friends who have drifted away from God. Some
have lost their sense of sin. Others have become consumed by the pursuit of
pleasure, wealth, status, or acceptance. For many, Christ and His sacrifice on the
Cross have become distant memories or are ignored altogether.
Yet the spiritual battle continues.
As St. Paul writes:
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12)
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12)
God calls each of us to participate in His work of bringing souls to Him. We may not all
have the same role, but every role is important.
St. Paul explains this beautifully:
“I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.” (1 Corinthians 3:6)
St. Paul explains this beautifully:
“I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.” (1 Corinthians 3:6)
In the work of salvation:
- Some are called to plant the seeds of faith through their words and example.
- Others are called to water those seeds through encouragement, prayer, and discipleship.
- But it is God alone who causes the growth.
Never underestimate the power of your witness. A conversation, a prayer, an
invitation to church, or a life lived faithfully may become the turning point in
someone’s journey back to God.
Jesus told His disciples: “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew
4:19) That call has not changed. Christ continues to invite us to participate in His
mission of saving souls. Salvation comes through His grace, His death on the Cross,
and His Resurrection. Yet He chooses to work through ordinary people—through our
prayers, our example, our kindness, and our faithfulness.
We may never know in this life whose soul was touched because of our witness. We
may never see the full harvest. But every act of faith plants a seed.
When your life on earth is complete, may your greatest legacy not be what you
accumulated, but whom you inspired to follow Christ. May your children,
grandchildren, friends, and neighbors remember not only what you achieved, but how
you loved God, how you served others, and how you pointed them toward eternal life.
The seeds you plant today may help save a soul tomorrow. Plant them generously.
Precious Relics of the True Cross
Shrine of the True Cross Catholic Church
Dickinson, TX
“He brought you to life along with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions;
obliterating the bond against us, with its legal claims, which was opposed to us, He
also removed it from our midst, nailing it to the Cross.”
- Colossians 2:13-14
“Ave Crux, spes unica! (Hail O Cross, our only hope!) May this acclamation … remain
ever on our lips, for the Cross is a mystery of life and death. The Cross has become
for the Church a ‘tree of life’. For this reason we proclaim that life has triumphed over
death.”
- Pope John Paul II, Apostolic Exhortation Pastores Gregis,
When the Body of Jesus was removed from the Cross, to prevent His followers from
finding it, the Cross was thrown in a ditch or well, and then covered with stones and
earth.
In the year 312 A.D., almost 300 years later, while
Constantine, who had not yet converted to Christianity, was in combat with Maxentius
for the throne of the Roman Empire, he prayed to the Lord God of the Christians to
help him in his battle. In answer to his prayer, a sign appeared in the sky. A
luminous cross was seen with the words “BY THIS SIGN YOU WILL CONQUER” (in
Latin, “IN HOC SIGNO VINCES”) inscribed on it.
Constantine won the battle over Maxentius. Indebted to God for his victory at the
Milvian Bridge on October 28, 312, Constantine commanded that the Sign of
Christianity be placed on the Roman standards and on the shields of all the soldiers.
Then, on September 14, 326, Emperor Constantine’s mother, St. Helena, found in
Jerusalem the True Cross on which Jesus was crucified. The legend of the story of the
discovery of the True Cross is that when visiting the holy places in Palestine, St.
Helena was guided to the site of the Crucifixion by an aged Jew who had inherited
traditional knowledge as to its location. After the ground had been dug to a
considerable depth, three crosses were found, as well as the superscription placed
over the Savior’s head on the Cross, and the nails with which He had been crucified.
The Cross of the Lord was distinguished from the other two by laying the crosses on a
dead youth who was revived by the touch of the third Cross.
To commemorate the finding of the Holy
Cross, Constantine dedicated two Churches upon Calvary, “Anastasis” and “Golgotha,”
both within the precincts of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Beginning in those
days, the Feast of the “Exaltation of the Holy Cross” was commemorated annually on
May 3.
In 614, Chosroes II, the King of Persia, invaded Syria and Palestine, at which time he
carried away many of the great treasures of Jerusalem, including the relic of the True
Cross. In 629, Emperor Heraclius of Constantinople marched into Persia and
recaptured the True Cross, seeing to it that Heraclius piously bring it back to
Jerusalem while being clothed in sackcloth of penance and barefoot. On September
14, the Sacred Cross was restored to its place in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in
Jerusalem.
To commemorate this victory, in the seventh century A.D., the Church of Rome
adopted the “Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross” on September 14.
Today one may visit the Basilica Church of Santa Croce in Jerusalemme (The Holy Cross in Jerusalem), located in
Rome, in which a sizable portion
of the Holy Cross is enshrined
along with numerous other
associated relics of the Passion,
including a large portion of the
sign that had been placed on the
Cross saying “Jesus of Nazareth,
King of the Jews”. It is from this
church that the relic in our Shrine
of the True Cross was obtained.
In 1934 Father Thomas Carney
was appointed Pastor of St.
Joseph’s Church, in Dickinson.
Shortly after his assignment, he
asked Bishop Christopher Byrne of
Galveston to allow the church in Dickinson to be named Shrine of the True Cross
instead of St. Joseph. Bishop Byrne acceded, obtained permission from the Holy See
and commissioned Father Andrew B. Deslatte (who was then studying in Rome) to
secure a relic of the Cross for Father Carney. A relic was obtained and sent to Bishop
Byrne in 1936.
In that year the parish was changed from St. Joseph to Shrine of the True Cross in an
elaborate dedication ceremony conducted by Bishop Byrne and many church
dignitaries. At the request of Bishop Byrne, the Shrine of the True Cross was affiliated
with the Church of Santa Croce in Rome, and to it were attached special indulgences.
A piece of the True Cross encased in silver.
A piece of the True Cross encased in silver. Front
A piece of the True Cross encased in silver. Back is sealed
We venerate the relic of the True Cross because it was the instrument on which our
Lord made His supreme sacrifice for our salvation. It was soaked in His most precious
Blood. And through this we recognize that the cross of Christ has become the Tree of
Life.
The assembled faithful venerate the relic of the Cross with a kiss on Good Friday each
year. The Church has attached a plenary indulgence to this act of faith when all the
usual conditions are met.
On the celebration of the Exaltation of the Cross the assembled faithful receive a
solemn blessing with the relic of the Holy Cross. All are welcome to come and pray at
the Shrine of the True Cross and venerate the relic of the Cross whenever the church
is open throughout the year.
The Power of Prayer
In Mark 11:2, Jesus tells His followers:
“So, I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and
it will be yours.”
There’s immense power in the prayer of a righteous Christian.
The knowledge that there is power in prayer is not new. Many of the greatest
stalwarts in the Bible turned to prayer constantly because they understood what it
could do for them.
Today, thousands of people see miracles in their lives by tapping into this very same
power in prayer. And this power of God is available to you.
Let’s look at what this power is, why it works, and how to tap into it.
What is the power of prayer?
There are many times we feel powerless in our lives, especially in the face of difficult
circumstances. By ourselves, we can do nothing.
The scriptures confirm this. In John 15:5, Jesus says, “Apart from me you can do nothing.”
We recognize the need for God’s power. This is the same power by which God created the heavens and the Earth. It’s the same power that parted the sea for Moses and that Jesus used to heal the sick and cast out demons.
All these miracles happened through the power of prayer. Moses prayed before Yahweh. Jesus prayed to the Father for miracles. The early Christians prayed together in the Upper Room.
Whether it was Daniel in the lion’s den or Elijah before the false prophets, prayer constantly served the important figures of the Bible. And we can harness that same power in our lives today.
The scriptures confirm this. In John 15:5, Jesus says, “Apart from me you can do nothing.”
We recognize the need for God’s power. This is the same power by which God created the heavens and the Earth. It’s the same power that parted the sea for Moses and that Jesus used to heal the sick and cast out demons.
All these miracles happened through the power of prayer. Moses prayed before Yahweh. Jesus prayed to the Father for miracles. The early Christians prayed together in the Upper Room.
Whether it was Daniel in the lion’s den or Elijah before the false prophets, prayer constantly served the important figures of the Bible. And we can harness that same power in our lives today.
God gives us this power through His Holy Spirit.
10 Paul tells the Ephesians in 1:18-19:
“I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know Him …and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power for us who believe, according to the working of His great power.”
Our Heavenly Father gives us this power through His son Jesus. There is power in Jesus’s name.
In John 14:13, Jesus says:
“I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”
10 Paul tells the Ephesians in 1:18-19:
“I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know Him …and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power for us who believe, according to the working of His great power.”
Our Heavenly Father gives us this power through His son Jesus. There is power in Jesus’s name.
In John 14:13, Jesus says:
“I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”
Why prayer works.
God is the source of our fulfillment. He is and wants us to make Him the answer to
our longings. Prayer draws us into a deep relationship with God.
Our prayer life brings us closer to Him through honest communication, just as any
child does with their parents.
What does it achieve?
Prayer changes us first. In our busy lives, too often, we don’t pray enough. Or we
pray for our most pressing needs and treat God as a genie.
Deep, intimate prayer draws us close to the heart of God. It helps us become more
like Him. Prayer lets us hear the Father’s voice and direction. It inspires us and gives
us answers. It reveals our flaws and perfects us. It is an avenue by which we can
repent and be forgiven for our sins.
As we share our deepest longings with God, we change and become the people God
wants us to be.
Collective prayer
Jesus Christ Himself teaches us the power of collective prayer.
In Matthew 18:19, Jesus says:
“If two of you agree on Earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my
Father in heaven.”
He even gives the template of the “Our Father,” or “The Lord’s Prayer,” to show us
how we must pray.
Faith in collective prayer is encouraged. Throughout the Old Testament, collective
prayer is demonstrated — in some cases, even national prayer is depicted. In
scripture, God lays out specific guidelines for the Passover for the nation of Israel and
the Ark of the Covenant.
In James 5, Christians are encouraged to pray with and for each other in times of
sickness and suffering.
Scriptures about the power of prayer
The Holy Bible has numerous scriptures and stories about the power of prayer and
how it works in people’s lives.
Hannah’s powerful prayer in 1 Samuel is a good example of how this power works.
Hannah was married to Elkanah, who loved her deeply. However, Hannah was
barren.
In her story, her deep longing for a child drove her to despair. She cried out to God in
prayer to bless her, and He did.
The birth of the prophet Samuel made Hannah sing a beautiful song of praise in
response to the answered prayer. Her story demonstrates the Lord God’s omnipotence
and how He does hear us when we pray — and He loves us.
God asks us to abide in Him through our Bible and prayer life, and we can ask Him for
anything that is good. If we don’t abide by God’s word and follow His precepts, then
we are powerless.
Being open to God’s will
While God will always hear our prayers, He may not answer them in a way we expect
or think is best. But we must trust the Lord God’s will, for He truly knows what is best
for us.
We should spend time trusting and understanding God’s plan for us. When we do, we
can be sure God listens to us.
God’s power is too precious to let loose on a soul that is not open to God’s will. Jesus
repeatedly asks and prays for God to be glorified. We should do the same. Amen
June 25, 2026, Annual Message to Mirjana, Our Lady of Medjugorje
Dear children,
Rejoice with me because the Most High permits me to be with you, to lead you to Him Who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Rejoice, little children, and be joyful also in difficulties and you will have the strength, because you will be aware that you are transient and you will know to offer everything to God. That is why, do not forget: I am your Mother and I love you. Thank you for having responded to my call.”
Rejoice with me because the Most High permits me to be with you, to lead you to Him Who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Rejoice, little children, and be joyful also in difficulties and you will have the strength, because you will be aware that you are transient and you will know to offer everything to God. That is why, do not forget: I am your Mother and I love you. Thank you for having responded to my call.”
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Our mission statement is to motivate people to pray and to be
Christian examples in their work, home and with others, for
those needing the Light in a world of Darkness.
The Rosary is the ‘weapon’ for these times. – St. Padre Pio