Praise and worship In addition, Lou and his wife, Ann, who live in Post Falls, attend Mass at a local church during the evening. There, they are able to end their day in praise and worship. Lou and Ann are devoted to Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and attribute many blessings to the practice. Lou feels quite close to the Holy Souls in Purgatory and offers his prayers for their happy repose. He also credits the Sacrament of Reconciliation with showering him with the graces necessary to live out his vocation as a husband and father. Lou and Ann also have a great devotion to the Rosary of the Seven Sorrows, a prayer which dates back to the Middle Ages but is best known for its association with the Marian apparition in Rwanda, where the Blessed Mother appeared under the title of Our Lady of Kibeho. The feast day of Our Lady of Sorrows is Sept. 15. The Seven Sorrows of Mary include: the prophecy of Simeon; the flight into Egypt; the loss of Jesus in the Temple; meeting Jesus on the way to Calvary; standing at the foot of the Cross; receiving the dead Body of Jesus; and placing Jesus’ Body in the tomb. Hospital ministry As Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, Lou and Ann have the privilege of bringing Jesus to hospital patients. Lou also connects them with the Marian Fathers, texting them a link to the daily Mass from Stockbridge, Massachusetts. When he ministers to the patients, sharing with them the Sacred Host and the inspirational messages of the Marians, he sees a noticeable change in them. It is as if they become illuminated with the light of Christ. Lou describes his life as filled with miracles. Born in Canada, he was adopted as a child and raised in the state of New York. He has since lived in many different states, including Connecticut, Arizona, and California. In each location, he has felt as if he is surrounded by the miraculous. Perhaps the biggest miracle of all for the couple was the adoption of their son, a boy with special needs. “That’s why I am against abortion totally,” Lou says. An active member of the Knights of Columbus, Lou cherishes and reveres the tremendous gift of human life. ‘Use me, God’ Lou has also opened himself up to wherever the Holy Spirit leads, offering to God the simple prayer, “Use me to draw people to the faith however You want to do it.” The dedicated Catholic also offers the following recommendation to people searching for ways to strengthen their faith. “If you can’t get to daily Mass, stop at a church during the week,” he says. “Go light a candle, and say a prayer.” As active Marian Helpers, Lou and Ann also hold within their hearts a desire for an in-person meeting with the Marian priests who have inspired them so. “If my wife and I ever get the chance to visit the National Shrine, we would love to be able to just sit and have a cup of coffee with Fr. Chris and all the priests! We feel their love on livestream!” A pamphlet on “The Rosary of the Seven Sorrows” (Product Code: B59-SORROW) and a Seven Sorrows Rosary (Product Code: B59-RTOL) are available now on ShopMercy.org/b59. Marian Livestreams Visit DivineMercyPlus.org to watch live from the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Massachusetts: Mass: 9 a.m. EST, daily Divine Mercy Chaplet: 3 p.m. EST, daily The Rosary: 5 p.m. EST, daily “Explaining the Faith” talks: 11 a.m. EST, Saturdays You can also watch the livestreams on our YouTube channel “Divine Mercy” — please like us and subscribe! A New Podcast Between now and All Souls’ Day, Nov. 2, join Fr. Thaddaeus Lancton, MIC, as he walks us through 90 different groups of Holy Souls in Purgatory in need of our prayers and suffrages. Since their founding by St. Stanislaus Papczynski in 1670, the Marian Fathers have had a charism of praying and offering suffrages for the faithful departed. Listen today on: DivineMercyPlus.org/podcasts.
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