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  • Writer's pictureProfiles in Catholicism
    • May 27, 2021
    • 26 min read

The Franciscans

Updated: Jun 16



A Message from the Editor


What is the Dollar Value of a Child's Life?


St Francis of Assisi chose poverty as a way of life. Unfortunately, in many places, poverty is a way of death if one cannot pay for life-saving drugs. That is what has happened to my friend Francis Otieno with whom I have worked for many years. Francis and his wife live in Kenya and have no more funds to pay for the HIV/AIDS drugs to save the lives of the children for whom they care.


These drugs cost a fraction of what they cost in many countries and even a few dollars could help save a child's life, I have worked all over the world for nearly twenty years in helping address HIV/AIDS care - especially for infants and children, I worked with the Vatican in 2000 in convincing the South African government to allow HIV/AIDS drugs into the country to prevent mother–to-child transmission of HIV disease. Here are some notes on my advocacy efforts.


I am praying, even begging, that our readers will make a donation in any amount to save a child's life by sending it to Francis's PayPal account at Nyarambafutureinterventions@gmail.com


I have held the bodies of dead children in my arms - an experience that has seared my soul forever. Please help Francis and consider that Pope Francis has questioned what society values more-- children or money.


A Quote to Remember


“Men lose all the material things they leave behind them in this world, but they carry with them the reward of their charity and the alms they give. For these, they will receive from the Lord the reward and recompense they deserve. by Saint Francis of Assisi


Special Prayer


Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi


Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred let me sow love;

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

Where there is sadness, joy.


O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek

To be consoled as to console;

To be understood as to understand;

To be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Amen.

by Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration


A Prayer for Children In Kenya Who Need HIV Drugs or They Will Die:


A friend of the editor, Gordon Nary, called Francis Otieno[1], lives in Africa and has been caring for children with HIV for many years. He is totally out of money which means that the children could die. Gordon is addressing this challenge in the June 1st issue of “Profiles in Catholicism”. Francis: “Nothing is too little to make a positive difference. Every dollar counts. Please send donations to PayPal:


“Hoping against Hope” (cf. CCC, 1819)

A Prayer for Children Living in Poverty who Need HIV Drugs:


Lord, you know how much it cost to come to our aid:


To leave and to remain in the mystery of your dwelling in eternity;

The years of being in the family; working; going on pilgrimage; Walking; the friendships; wasting time with each one of us; the Miracles; the rejections; the celebrations that turned into a Crucifixion; the resurrection and the many visitations; and, in the end,


You have sent us the abiding presence of Your Holy Spirit.


Lord, you know how much is sealed in our pocket:


You know our choice of clothes; the bags and jewellery we buy; the Money we spend on “treats” and “sweets”, whether they are bigger Cars than we need; better dishwashers; bigger screens; longer Holidays; quicker and slicker phones; trainers with a trade name; Socks with a face; an outfit for climbing, running, and more – So


You sent us the Holy Spirit to loosen us from our baggage.


Lord, you know the neediness of those who need our help:


You know the help we need to understand being too poor to provide For orphans; to buy medicines; to buy the underclothes and other Helpful items we need; to pay for travel; school; school clothes; rent; Food; to support widows; to help the carers care; to keep in contact With each other; and to further the gifts of each and everyone here –


So send us the Holy Spirit to make it possible for us to be generous!


by Francis Etheredge, author of the forthcoming:

Within Reach of You: A Book of Prose and Prayers:


Prayer for the Victims of the Violence in the Middle East


Oh Lord, we join together with Pope Francis, praying for an end to the conflict between Israel and the terrorist Hamas, and between Israeli Jews and Palestinians. We join together in prayer for all of the victims of this conflict, men, women, parents, and especially the children who have died or been wounded. May you take them into your infinite Love, Oh Lord, and give them and their families peace and hope for a better future for all. Oh Lord, we pray that our country and other democracies around the world will be able to work together to help to end this terrible conflict so that those who have been harmed and the families of children who have been killed or hurt may mourn and begin to heal in a way that will ensure a peaceful resolution of this conflict and find a path to lasting peace, living together in harmony and community rather than conflict. by Dr. Eugene Fisher Profiles in Catholicism


A Prayer for Unity


We are one

Give us the strength of mind and heart, with friendship by our side,

knowing we are not alone but in family love we are grounded and reside.

The power to meet the challenge of each and every day.

Is within us to endure and heal and overcome the pain no matter what they say.

Blessed are those who truly care and with us endure and take a stand

In oneness and in friendship will give a hug and hold our hand.

It is that love that holds us and makes us resilient, wise and strong,

With your inspiration Lord we can endure the pain until it is dead and gone.

We wait in your presence, Goodness and enduring love,

We see the freedom and embrace the light descending from above,

You give us faith and power to overcome,

We are together, as true family, we are one.

Amen by Father Shay Cullen Profiles in Catholicism



Dear Lord


Welcome the souls of those who were murdered in San Jose and comforter their

families and friends. Please inspire our politicians to propose and pass effective legislation that will reduce and hopefully eliminate such incomprehensible crimes.

by Sarah Lyon Profiles in Catholicism


A Prayer for Siluvaimuthu Lazer


Loving Lord,


Please welcome your loving servant Siluvaimuthu Lazer into your infinite loving embrace after dying from Covid-19. Pease comfort his son Alwinrex Lazar and all of his family for their loss and remind them that Siluvaimuthu is infinitely happy with the Lord whom he loves.

by Gordon Nary Profiles in Catholicism


A Prayer for the Bishops and Priests have died from Covid 19 in Mexico


Good and Gracious God,


We ask you to bless the people of Mexico who have lost 5 bishops and 220 priest during the time of this pandemic. We ask you to bless them with your love in their seemingly unending pain. Help them to realize that you will stay with them and help them at this time and always.


We ask you to bless their country and all countries by providing the call to serve you, Lord, as a priest. Fill the hearts of young men with your love and desire to serve you as they continue on their journey in life. Bless all who live in the horror of this pandemic and rid it from us. We ask you this through Jesus Christ your Son, Our Lord

by Eileen Quinn Knight, Ph.D. Profiles in Catholicism


A Prayer to Prevent Antisemitism


Creator God, your Son, our brother Jesus, would have died in the

Holocaust because of the antisemitic attitudes that too many

Christians promoted since he was a faithful Jew. Keeping

in mind Jesus' strong rootage in Judaism and our many

failures in the past with regard to antisemitism we offer our prayer

and our support to our Jewish brothers and sisters as they face

yet another outbreak of this cancer in our body politic. Our

prayer today is a proclamation of solidarity and a

commitment to public action against this continuing scourge. by Father John Pawlikowski,OSM Profiles in Catholicism


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