Those who pray for our prodigal Catholics are often asked, "Have you had any success?" In this issue we share more of your reports of answered prayer, praise and thanksgiving. Note: All reports are as we received them from our members.

In accord with the decree of Pope Urban VIII, October 30, 1625, we state that the authenticity of all reports of answered prayer published here rest solely upon the human word of the person reporting. They are simply what our members have told us.

A woman in our prayer group told us her daughter is going to Sunday mass again. Her boyfriend, who is not Catholic has been going with her. The girl was ill and not able to attend mass last week. The boyfriend went by himself!

My son [in Wisconsin] was very far from the Church and even from God. I asked St Monica for her prayers and he is now a wonderful man of God.  God worked through his wife who was also an agnostic.  Something moved her and within a year their marriage was blessed and they were back in the Church.  He is even a 4th degree Knight of Columbus.  Had I been asked if this were possible I'm sure I would have been skeptical but shame on me.  ALL things are possible with God who never ceases to amaze me with His mercy.

A dear friend left the church when she married.  Her daughter became a Catholic through the RCIA program before she married.  Now, my friend’s son, is taking instructions and about to marry a young Catholic girl. May the Holy Spirit give my friend grace to follow her children. 

One of our group [Kansas]has had the annulment of her previous marriage granted after more than 30 years of trying to get this done.  She visited with our bishop a while back and he told her it would be accomplished by Pentecost.  She got word a few days after Pentecost Sunday.  This same woman saw a Christmas miracle when her sister returned to the Sacraments.

My son has started to go back to church and now wants to baptize his two little ones.

While at our son’s home, we noticed the little statue of Our Lady of Lourdes his grandmother had given them several years ago has found her way onto a shelf overlooking the living area of the house. Since we added a prayer for them to Our Lady of Lourdes in our evening prayers lately, we believe she is answering.

We [in rural Missouri] hold our prayer meetings in the rectory basement. At our last meeting, we said a special prayer that Mary would hear and answer us. We were saying the Joyful Mysteries. On the second decade, the Visitation, one of our members saw a vision of Our Lady smiling. The member was too moved to tell us until after our meeting. We feel she was very blessed. We are grateful that Mary chose to give us a sign that she was listening to our prayer.

As you said to us in La Crosse this Spring, prayers ARE answered. My son and his girlfriend of 8 years were just married, by a Catholic priest. We are thrilled and thank God and the Marian Mantle for their help. I will continue my prayers with renewed faith.

In 2001, [California] before we knew of the Marian Mantle Group, our oldest of five children was arrested on drug charges. He was sentenced to six months in a live-in Salvation Army drug treatment program. Thus, he ended twenty-three years of drug making, selling, and taking. He is now married, has a new baby (seven months old), gainfully employed, and very active in Couples for Christ. Since we have been with the Marian Mantle Group, two more of our children have returned to church. This makes praying the rosary every night more meaningful. Last Ash Wednesday, when I heard that our eldest daughter went to services, I was absolutely floored. When I heard she went to the Cathedral in Sacramento to the Lenten Communal Reconciliation service, I just couldn't hold back the tears. Now we have two more to go. One is totally away and says she doesn't believe anymore. The other, I'm not sure where he stands. I thank Fr David for introducing us to you and your group. ♥

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I Will Praise You, O God!

Then I will proclaim your name to the assembly;
in the community I will praise you.
You who fear the LORD, give praise!
For God did not turn away from me,
but heard me when I cried out

~Psalm 22: 22-24

A voice coming from the throne said:
"Praise our God, all you his servants,
(and) you who revere him, small and great."

~Rev 19:5

Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing.
In all circumstances give thanks,
for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus..

1 Thessalonians 5:16-19

Blessed be the LORD,
who has heard the sound of my pleading.
The LORD is my strength and my shield,
in whom my heart trusted
and found help.
So my heart rejoices;
with my song I praise my God.
~Psalm 28:6-7

From "Silent Strength"  The Newsletter of the Marian Mantle Group, July, 2006
Copyright © Marian Mantle Group, Inc.  All rights reserved.  Permission to reprint must be requested in writing.  For permission to reprint email the Newsletter editor.