Chaldean Thoughts

Oh St. Peregrine,

you who have been called "The Wonder-Worker" because of the numerous miracles which you have obtained from God for those who have had recourse to you, who for so many years bore in your own flesh this cancerous disease that destroys the very fiber of our being, and who had recourse to the source of all grace when human power could do no more.

You who were favored with the vision of Jesus coming down from His Cross to heal your affliction, ask of God and Our Lady the cure of these sick persons whom we entrust to you (names of those whom you are praying).

Aided in this way by your powerful intercession, we shall praise God for His great goodness and mercy.

Amen.

Source: Prayer card

St. Peregrine

St. Peregrine,

You answered your calling with a ready spirit, and gave up the comforts of a life of ease to dedicate yourself to Jesus and His Holy Mother.

You labored for the salvation of souls. In union with Jesus, you endured painful sufferings with such patience that you were healed of an incurable cancer in your leg by a touch of His divine hand.

Help me to answer every call of God and to fulfill His will in all the events of life. Place in my heart a consuming desire for the salvation of all.

Deliver me from the infirmities that afflict my body, and help me to willingly accept the sufferings that are sent to me so that, imitating our crucified Savior and his sorrowful Mother, I may one day be united with them in heave.

Amen

Our Lady, Counsoler of the afflicted,
please see me among the many who seek your love and comfort.

Please hear my prayers of healing and carry my needs to God.

As others have found solace in your embrace, please calm my fears and ease my pain.

Please, help me keep the strength of faith I need on my journey to renewed health.

Amen

Source: Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate

It cannot cripple love,
It cannot shatter hope,
It cannot corrode faith,
It cannot eat away peace,
It cannot destroy confidence,
It cannot shut out memories,
It cannot silence courage,
It cannot invade the soul,
It cannot reduce eternal life,
It cannot quench the spirit,
It cannot lessen the power of the Resurrection.

Source: Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate

Issa before and after the start of his chemo treatment.


Ankawa Online brought the ordeal of Issa Adil to my attention, a 16-month-old Iraqi Christian baby from Al-Dora district in Baghdad.

As if life isn't hard enough for an Iraqi Christian living in Al-Dora, Issa's family must deal with young Issa being diagnosed with cancer.

I'm simply tired. Before publishing Issa's story, I told myself it's selfish to write about one sick baby when other millions are suffering too. But, the Star Thrower story reminds me that we need to at least try to help.

Click on the medical reports below to assess Issa's medical condition. Your help and suggestions are welcome. A prayer would help too.

Medical report - Section 1

Medical report - Section 2

Medical report - Section 3

Medical report - Section 4

Medical report - Section 5

Medical report - Section 6

Medical report - Section 7

Medical report - Section 8

Medical report - Section 9

Medical report - Section 10

Medical report - Section 11

The family is doing well financially. The issue is with his chemo treatment in Baghdad, where it's hard to travel to the hospital and the unavailability of the chemo shots at times. He'd be in a much better shape if an overseas hospital is willing to treat him before it's too late.

It wasn't that long ago when a study claimed praying with sick people have no benefits. A new research team has a different opinion:

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Praying online in a support group may help women with breast cancer cope with the disease more effectively, a new study shows.

Dr. Bret Shaw of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and colleagues found that breast cancer patients who used a higher percentage of religion-related words in their communications with an Internet support group had lower levels of negative emotions, better functional well-being, and more confidence in their ability to deal with their illness.

"Breast cancer patients who want to pray can use online support groups as a place to cope with their illness with other people going through similar situations," Shaw told Reuters Health. "Our data suggest that this might make you feel better."

Read more...

From a personal experience, group prayer helps. It can make a cold room feel so warm. But, that's just my opinion.