SOUTH AFRICA: VOICE OF UNBORN BABIES HEARD AS PARENTS GIVEN RIGHT TO BURY STILLBORNS, ALLEGED NEWS

 

We pray for all babies who have died in the womb

and for their dear parents and families

PRETORIA SOUTH AFRICA: THE "VOICE OF THE UNBORN BABY" HAS FINALLY BEEN HEARD, ALLEGED NEWS. [1] Parents opting to bury their dead unborn child, even if the unborn is less than 26 weeks old, may now do so: Alleged News. [1] Previously, an unborn deceased child less than 26 weeks old was discarded as medical waste. This led to endless heartache in families for many years.

JUDGEMENT A VICTORY

While this judgement is considered a victory for prospective parents,  the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria has excluded the right to bury unborn children who have been medically terminated, including abortions; Alleged News. [1] 

VOICE OF THE UNBORN BABY

A group called the "Voice of the Unborn Baby", as well as the Catholic Archdiocese of Durban, challenged the constitutionality of some of the provisions of the Births and Deaths Registration Act (Badra) as it related to how the remains of a spontaneous pregnancy loss of less than 26 weeks and the remains of an induced loss of pregnancy should be disposed of; Alleged News. [1] 

JUDGE NOMONDE MNGQIBISA-THUSI

Judge Nomonde Mngqibisa-Thusi said that in the case of pregnancy loss, other than by medical intervention, bereaved parents should have the choice to bury the foetus, Alleged News. [1] The Judge moreover declared the provisions of Badra unconstitutional and invalid where it did not make provision for this: Alleged News. [1]

Parliament has a year to amend the act to make provision for the burial of an unborn child younger than 26 weeks; Alleged News. [1] The Constitutional Court will firstly need to confirm the judgment before it can come into effect: Alleged News. [1]

TRAUMA

The Judge said there was no doubt that pregnancy loss results in emotional and psychological pain or trauma to the prospective parents: Alleged News. [1]  

AN UNBORN BABY IS NOT MEDICAL WASTE

The applicants had argued that the emotional pain and grief these parents suffer was no different from those of parents of a stillbirth, taking into account the emotional investment made and the bonding between the parents and the unborn child, Alleged News. [1]

“The emotional pain is exacerbated by the manner in which the foetal remains are dealt with after separation from the mother, and the lack of sympathy received from hospital staff during the separation. These foetal remains are put together with other medical waste and incinerated.

“It cannot be disputed that to the medical staff the foetal remains may be just trash or waste. But to the would-be parents it is not just a thing to be thrown away. To them the foetal remains represent what could have been a child, in some instances a long-awaited child,” the Judge said.

She added that treating the foetal remains as waste was “to say the least, insensitive and disrespectful to the parents who procreated with the hope that the foetus will result in a living being”.

The Judge said there was no reason why the provisions cannot be adapted to cater for a loss of pregnancy other than a stillbirth for those who wish to perform the last rites for the prospective baby and conduct a burial.

“The dignity of the parents who have suffered a loss will be restored. There is no rational link between the purpose of incinerating the foetal remains of a pregnancy loss other than a stillbirth and the cause of the loss.

“Allowing the parents’ to bury the foetal remains under the circumstances will go a long way towards ameliorating the pain caused by the loss and will assist in the process of healing,” the Judge said; Alleged News. [1]  

Judge Mngqibisa-Thusi concluded that those parents who request a burial (excluding medical terminations) should be given the right to do so: Alleged News. [1]

MISCARRIAGE

Miscarriage can be a very frightening, unhappy and lonely experience. If you have been affected by a miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy or molar pregnancy, you may wish to turn to a miscarriage association such as 

https://www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk/

MISCARRIAGE MINISTRY: CHURCH SUPPORT

"A pregnancy that ends in miscarriage is devastating. Epiphany's Miscarriage Ministry aids mothers, fathers, couples, and families with support, education and compassion following the loss of their unborn child, whether it was very recently or many years ago. [2]

"The experience of those grieving their baby lost to miscarriage can be very isolating. There are many questions during the time of miscarriage. Why is this happening? Where can I go for support and answers? Can I have a funeral or memorial service? Should I name the baby? How do I talk to friends and family who have lost a baby? This important ministry helps those grieving find answers and comfort. "[2]

HOW DOES EPIPHANY'S MISCARRIAGE MINISTRY HELP?

If you have experienced the loss of an unborn child, know that you are not alone. Epiphany embraces you as a supportive community during this time of grief. The Church cares for every life no matter how fragile or brief. Epiphany's Miscarriage Ministry, run by mothers who have little ones waiting for them in heaven, offer support to anyone suffering from such a loss; Alleged News. [2]

To request more information, click in the following link:

https://epiphanycatholic.org/miscarriageministry

• 
   
  [1] Voice of unborn babies heard as parents given right to bury stillborns, Alleged News
• https://www.iol.co.za/pretoria-news/news/voice-of-unborn-babies-heard-as-parents-given-right-to-bury-stillborns-dfc72ac5-3ce5-482d-b644-95b396731b42
• [2] Miscarriage Ministry: Ephiphany of the Lord
• https://epiphanycatholic.org/miscarriageministry
  
• Voice of the Unborn Baby, Alleged News
• https://www.concourt.org.za/index.php/judgement/472-voice-of-the-unborn-baby-npc-and-another-v-minister-of-home-affairs-and-another-cct120-21#:~:text=The%20High%20Court%20order%20declared,pregnancy%20through%20%E2%80%9Chuman%20intervention%E2%80%9D.
  
• Lumiere Charity: Miscarriage: Who can help?http://lumierecharity.blogspot.com/2014/04/miscarriage-who-can-help.html
• With thanks to www.iol.co.za, causeforjustice.org, miscarriageassociation.org.uk and epiphanycatholic.org

RUSSIA HAS PROPOSED PLANS TO PROTECT UNBORN CHILDREN AND TRADITIONAL FAMILY VALUES; ALLEGED NEWS

 

RUSSIA HAS PROPOSED PLANS TO PROTECT UNBORN CHILDREN AND TRADITIONAL FAMILY VALUES, ALLEGED NEWS. [1] A conference entitled "Legal and legislative aspects of supporting families and family values in the Russian Federation" - which is part of a United Russia project called "Strong Family" was held in early March 2021; Alleged News. [1] A series of legislation to protect unborn children and traditional family values was proposed, in part to fight Russia's demographic crisis: Alleged News. [1]  Deputies of the State Duma and Moscow City Duma. members of the Federation Council and the Public Chamber, as well as representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church, the Union of Orthodox Women and the Association of Large Families in Moscow attended the conference; Alleged News. [1]  

BANNING ABORTIONS

The proposals included banning private clinics from carrying out abortions, along with the removal of abortions from coverage from Russia's compulsory health insurance system: Alleged News. [1] Further included would be laws intended to change Russia's culture into a culture of life, including the banning of the "propaganda of abortion", Alleged News. [1] Propaganda that would be banned include a ban on information promoting abortion, calls for abortions and advocates for the safety of abortions; Alleged News. [1] 

DEPUTY VLADIMIR KRUPENNIKOV

Deputy Vladimir Krupennikov proposed to strengthen punishment for abortion promotion; Alleged News. [1]

DEPUTY INGA YUMASHEVA 

Deputy Inga Yumasheva, a member of the State Duma Committee on Family, Women and Children, proposed banning abortions in private clinics, along with abortions for minors without parental consent: Alleged News. [1]  

INCREASED PAYMENTS 

In support of large families, State Duma Deputy Speaker Pyotr Tolstoy proposed to introduce progressive maternity capital, the size of which will grow with each new child, Alleged News. [1]  Deputy Speaker Tolstoy explained this was “Because the family in which children are born should become richer, not poorer,” Alleged News. [1] He further considers that in order to  correct the demographic situation, it is also necessary to increase payments to families with children; Alleged News. [1]

PRO-LIFE GENEVA CONSENSUS

Deputy Speaker Tolstoy furthermore insisted that Russia should join the pro-life Geneva Consensus, which believes that abortion cannot be considered a means of family planning, and that the family is the basis of the state; Alleged News. [1]

PRESIDENT PUTIN

In October 2020, Russian President Vladimir Putin issued an order to improve Russia's abortion prevention efforts [1] in an effort to reduce the number of terminated pregnancies and offset Russia's population decline; Alleged News. [2]  

DECREASE IN ABORTION NUMBERS

Since 2016, the abortion rate in Russia has been reduced by 39%; Alleged News. In 2000, Russia had as many as 2,139,000 abortions: which reduced to 622,000 abortions in 2019, according to Statista; Alleged News. [1] 

PROMOTION OF CULTURE OF LIFE

The conference included further measures such as the expansion of promotion of a culture of life, together with a ban on information that offends family values, motherhood, large families and childhood: Alleged News. [1] 

EUTHANASIA BAN PROPOSED

The conference moreover proposed a ban on euthanasia; Alleged News. [1] 

[1] Allen Baldanza. Population Research Institute.  April 5, 2021. "Russia determined to raise the birth rate: proposed laws would ban Pro-abortion, Anti-family propaganda; Alleged News

https://www.pop.org/russia-determined-to-raise-the-birth-rate/

[2] Putin orders Government to improve abortion prevention efforts; Alleged News

https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2020/10/27/putin-orders-government-to-improve-abortion-prevention-efforts-a71865

With thanks to pop.org and themoscowtimes.com

 

A CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT BY LUMIERE IN REMEMBRANCE OF KING GOODWILL ZWELITHINI R.I.P.

A LIT CANDLE HAS BEEN BURNING 

IN REMEMBRANCE OF 

KING GOODWILL ZWELITHINI R.I.P. 

OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE 

WITH THE ROYAL MONARCH'S 

FAMILY AND FRIENDS. 

MAY STRENGTH AND BLESSINGS 

BE THEIRS AT THIS TIME 

OF GRIEF AND MOURNING. 

BAYEDE

SALUTE IN RESPECT TO THE KING

ONS GROET DIE KONING

South Africa; Zulu King opposes comprehensive sexuality (CSE)  programme; Alleged News

https://lumierecharity.blogspot.com/2020/03/south-africa-zulu-king-opposes.html

'King Zwelithini was a philanthropist, and advocate of peace, social justice and cultural diversity' - Buthelezi, Alleged News

https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2021-03-18-king-zwelithini-was-a-unifier-conservationist-philanthropist-and-a-leader-of-all-seasons-buthelezi/

With thanks to timeslive.co.za

137 COUNTRIES ARE FOLLOWING LUMIERE CHARITY BLOGS

 

137 countries are following Lumiere Charity blogs at present

Blessings on you all

A SILENCE FULL OF BELLS - MARIAN PRAISE POETRY BY LUKY WHITTLE PhD

 

LUKY WHITTLE PhD

Dr Luky Whittle hails from Amsterdam, the land of windmills and tulips. Since her early teens she has lived in the vibrant culture of South Africa. Dr Whittle's fascination with the Christ Child and His holy Mother Mary stems from her earliest memories. Interest in Marian theology led her to the United States where she researched the almost forgotten nun-poets genre. It is the belief of this professor of English that nun-poet contributions to Marian praise poetry should not be lost to future generations. The work of this group of highly creative and greatly talented women-poets contains profound spirituality. "A Silence full of bells" ensures that their contributions will never be forgotten. 

This anthology presents a body of poetry hitherto practically unknown and uncommented upon in literary histories – in the main, that of North American nun-poets of the 1920’s to the 1950s. Many of these nun-poets, far from being sequestered from the world in remote cloisters, were active in the world; many were members of the Catholic Poetry Society of America, founded in 1931. Their literary work, however, if disseminated at all, generally saw the light of day only in very ephemeral publications, and had thus within two decades became all but inaccessible to readers until Dr Luky Whittle returned it to its rightful place among the writing of the modernist period in her doctoral dissertation “Images of Mary”. The poems anthologized represent a selection from the work of the nun-poets investigated in that study, with the addition of several nun-poets working in later decades and in other countries, including South Africa. The poems have been chosen on the basis of the religious faith and devotion which they reveal, and the immediacy with which they engage the reader. Hence, the focus in this introduction is on the spiritual significance of the works, rather than on literary-theoretical critique.

In the twentieth century, despite two world wars and related atrocities, as well as the continuing influence of aspects of nihilism, existentialism and (post-) modernism, and the apparent decline in Marian devotion in the years after the conclusion of the Second Ecumenical Vatican Council in 1965, there have been periods of great interest in Out Lady, both in the decades when the poems selected for this anthology were written and in the present day, when the approach of a new millennium (the bi-millennium of Christianity) brought with it a renewed reverence for the Mother of God, evidenced inter alia in the phenomenon of Medjugorje (which is still under consideration by the Church). Hailed as the Theotokos (God-bearer) by the Council of Ephesus as early as 431 AD, Mary was in 1950 proclaimed by Pope Pius XII to have been assumed body and soul into heaven – the long-awaited dogmatic confirmation of another age-old belief. So, too, even a secular publication such as Life Magazine thought it accurate to announce in its Christmas edition of 1996 that “Two thousand years after the Nativity, the mother of Jesus is more beloved [and] powerful than ever”.

Clearly, the Catholic’s recognition of this love and power is as strong today as in the decades when the nun-poets whose poetry is anthologised here were active. In the words of Fr Frederick M Jelly OP (1997:133):

 
            As mysterious as the eschatological doctrines might be, we who are still living in
            the Pilgrim Church are bonded with our brothers and sisters in the heavenly
            Church from throughout space and time, and are helped on our pilgrimage of
            faith by our liturgical and private devotions in relation to the intercession and
            mediation of Mary and all the saints, as well as by the inspiration of their holy
            lives in Christ, the Crown of all the saints.

In order to download your free copy of "A Silence full of bells' 

click in the link below

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bvit415MR3JldOXpbO-nm6gAQC_wPMHu/view?usp=sharing

LENT: HAVE YOUR HEART READY TO MEET GOD AT ALL TIMES

 

LENT

HAVE YOUR HEART READY TO MEET 

GOD AT ALL TIMES

We are a fearful people. And we engender fear.

There is not one of us who has not experienced trauma at the hands of another. The effects of the original Fall from grace have been far-flung and devastating. Each often knows the sting of an insult such as "idiot", "stupid", "why can't you be like (anyone else but your God-given self)"?

Have you ever been told by another, "I hate you"? Such a declaration can be most destructive. Years ago I asked someone who appeared to dislike me, "What annoys you about me so much?" With hostility the individual replied, "You're still breathing."

Many of us experience fear such as fear of the dark or of the unknown. We fear rejection by others. Some lie in bed at night with hearts racing. Sleeplessness is invaded by questions such as "Will I lose my job?" "How will I ever manage to pay everything this month?" "Will this illness end in cancer?" "Will my loved one die?"

LENT IS THE ANSWER TO FEAR

Left to ourselves, we may go around in mental circles. We may feel doomed to lack of courage, fear of who we are and what can happen. Many of us have experienced abuse, physical, verbal and spiritual. Financial abuse is another form of hurt many of us experience. Jesus Christ faced all our fears, and magnificently overcame them. Not by being above fear, but by refusing to allow His steadfast love to be overcome by fear and its oft-accompanying spirit, hatred. 

The Savior sweated blood in the garden as He faced torture and death. That night He was at the mercy of soldiers, tortured before death. Human sadism driven on by the influence of demonic loathing visited cruelty upon Him. Prior to His execution, Jesus was hammered with whips. His nose was possibly broken by the mailed glove of a guard. Thorns were forced into His Head. For His execution, Jesus' clothing was removed so that He hung naked upon the cross.  

Every pain the human race can suffer was forced upon Him as He sweated blood to save all of us from our sins. The saddest of all Christ's sufferings was that those whom He loves laughed at His pain. Why do we enjoy the suffering of another when we hurt so desperately ourselves?

Spring-clean our inner selves

Jesus went out to the desert for forty days and nights in order to wrestle with the temptations of the world, the flesh and the devil. His example ushered in the Lenten season where we take a long, sober look at ourselves and clean out the inner house of our soul. Things lurk there: a spirit of pride, or a spirit of rejection. A jealousy which is engaged in destroying the happiness of another innocent soul who cannot understand why he or she is the target of our rage when all they do is work and love and pray.

Covetousness of another who has a bigger car, and stronger house, has better health or a larger bank balance. All of these things do not bring peace. We need to clear out our soul, and Lent is the perfect time to do it.

Personal judgement

Remember, dear one, that we are going to meet God in our personal judgement. When we die (yes, let us not run away from the reality by trying to stay ever-youthful and pretend to ourselves by our thoughts of everything except the inevitable truth) we will stand before Almighty God to answer for our deeds and misdeeds.

No-one will hold our hand. No-one who was complicit with us in sinning in mob violence, jeering at another, watching online matter the making of which entailed trafficking of innocents will stand with us at our last judgement when we face the Almighty. No, we will stand alone.

Let us make this reckoning of how we have spent our lives a joyous one, knowing that despite our many mistakes (and all of us make mistakes!) we have really tried our best. Our merciful Lord does not ask much more than that. However, He really does not like it when we deliberately turn our face away from all that is good.

Ask forgiveness

Lent is the time to ask God for forgiveness. Lent is the time to take a long look at our inner selves and change what is bad there. Yes, bad. I have said it. We all have the ability for bad within ourselves. 

However, habit is a wonderful thing. If we practise something often enough, it becomes part of us. So, if I get up each morning and practice meditation, my inner self will become calmer and my mind automatically will turn to God as soon as I wake up. I become that which I practise. 

Model yourself on Christ

Let us take the model of Our Lord Jesus Christ and practise His virtues; humility, kindness, patience, peace, goodness, trust in God, lack of revenge and inclusive love for all. Practice these things all the time in your own individual way. Eventually you will become these wonderful things.

That is not to say that you don't already have these virtues within yourselves; each of us have been given spiritual gifts by God. However, not all of us develop them to the fullest of their potential. Throw away your fear, leave behind your trauma and develop inner serenity and calm by asking Christ to change your soul and spirit.

Hurt

We hurt others as they hurt others. Often we hurt others through our fear: you will get the position at work I want, so I must destroy your professional reputation by lies. No. This is not from God.

I am afraid that you will hurt me, so I will hurt you first. No: again, this is not from God. Throw away fear, cleanse your heart of anxiety. Build your spiritual house upon the solid rock of God and not upon the shifting sands of the mores of the world, the flesh and the devil. 

Then, when temptation strikes, when the winds and the floods of difficulties arise around us, we will be able to stand firm and strong, true heirs to the Kingdom of God. Within ourselves the root of anger and hostility against others will fade, and the flower of love and care will flourish.

Chalice of Life

Each of us must drink from the chalice of life, whether we want to or not. Each of us must carry our own individual cross as disciple of God; whether we want to or not. However, if we courageously take up our cross and carry it, instead of waiting for daily life in this imperfect world to force it upon our shoulders, we have already thrown away a little fear and built a little courage.

Follow Jesus, Pattern of all that is good and holy

God testified to His Son at Christ's transfiguration with the words, "This is My Son, Whom I have chosen. Listen to Him!" (Luke 9:35)  It behoves us to be obedient to the Almighty. Jesus is the pattern of all that is good and holy. The four gospels explain the wonders of His human character allied to His divine dignity. Read them and immerse yourself in Who Jesus Christ really is - the One Who could forgive those who had just hammered nails into His wrists and feet.

Follow Jesus. Be strong. When your heart beats faster, and your palms sweat, and you feel inadequate, realize that the entire treasury of the Grace of God has been put at your disposal.

You are an heir of God, you will win heaven. But faint heart never won great victory. The greatest victory each of us can win is over ourselves. So be strong this Lent, turn to Jesus, go to confession to a reputable priest who is a person of authentic spirituality and change your life forever.

Mercy

Each of us will stand before Almighty God and answer for our deeds, misdeeds, and our no deeds when we should have acted. Mindful of this, let us show mercy for others, compassion for their weakness, understanding for their pain. Be strong in following Christ. Don't eat too much, don't fast too much. Balance is all. Don't use the beautiful sounds God made to fill our mouths in order to spew out invective. 

Be careful what you watch and read

Don't watch or read things that are not godly. Don't walk past the suffering of the innocent. Be strong. You are a beloved of Christ.

Lent: a wonderful time

Lent is a wonderful time. It is a second chance once again - every year! A second change to re-set our compass towards the due north of our heavenly destination. Yet again we are given a chance to decide to become the greatest saint that we can be. Once more we can turn to the sacraments to wash away our sin and become a new person in Christ.

One day will be your last

Throw away fear. Do not cause fear in others. Embrace each day.  One day will be your last before your eyes open to the wonderful vision of God in heaven. Make sure you have prepared for your eternal home by a good life. This is done by repenting your falls, receiving communion if possible and loving all in a godly manner.

Blessings as your fast, pray and give alms this Lent

May God's blessings be with you during this time of purification, turn towards holiness. The three ways you can celebrate the wonder of Lent are by means of fasting (prudently!), prayer (turn your hearts towards God and talk to Him - He gets lonely for your company) and almsgiving (give of your blessings to others who have none).

Become a saint!

WHAT IS THE MESSAGE OF LENT?

LOOK TOWARDS JESUS

The true message of Lent is simple: look towards Jesus, and follow His example.

  Jesus trained His Spirit to ultimate strength. In order to do this, He listened to God.

  He went to a quiet place to talk with God and seek guidance about His Life. [1] 

  Jesus trained His Body to be subordinate to His Spirit. This He did by fasting. [2]

He read and meditated upon the Scriptures. [3] Jesus humbly accepted trials. [4]

  Jesus resisted the temptation to be impressed by money, buildings and fame. [5]

  He chose instead to live as witness to God, instead of pursuing the passing glory of this earth.

  Jesus helped the poor, the sick, those in need. He advocated almsgiving, praising those who give - even very little. [6]

HOW DO WE BECOME LIKE JESUS?

We train ourselves to respond to situations in the same way that Jesus would have.

  This way of life does not come overnight. Each of us has a journey to travel to become our holy self.

  Each of us has personal decisions to make about how we treat our body, the people around us, the world in which we live.

  

Let us develop holy habits

Do we treat our body as the temple of God? Or do we subject our body to the dangers of promiscuity, addictive substances which harm?

   Do we treat others with respect and human decency, or do we use them for our own advancement in life without thought of the damage we may be causing in their lives?

  Do we treat the world and the animals within with respect and decency, or do we misuse resources and ill-treat the vulnerable?

  Do we train our spirits so we are the master of ourselves? Do we make use of the disciplines of prayer, fasting and almsgiving to strengthen our inner selves?

There are many ways in which we, as humans, can act in a Christ-like compassionate way.

  There are also many ways in which we, as humans, can fail to live up to the noble dignity of the humanity within us.

Lent is a golden time, an opportunity for us to do - as it were - a quality check on our spiritual life.

  Remember, we will leave this world with our soul. Our soul is our eternal wealth. 

  If we do not care for our inner spirit but spend all our efforts on our human body, on housing, estates and paper and metal money, we will not have looked forward to our eternal future.

During Lent we can make fresh decisions - a spiritual New Year's resolution - to leave behind the mistakes of the past, beg God's forgiveness for where we have failed, and steadfastly begin again on our path to authentic discipleship.

One year our Lent will be our last. Let it be our best.

POINTS TO PONDER

1. Make Lent a time of renewed prayer

2. Realise personal points of failure - sin - and repent of them

3. Change your life 

4. Practise prayer - even ten minutes a day is a good start. Ten minutes is better than nothing. Once you develop a life of prayer, it become like water for your soul - indispensable and infinitely comforting

5. Practice almsgiving - give a sensible tithe to those in need. If your family is the most in need, and there is very little - or no - income, well then, charity begins at home. Almsgiving can also include a kind word, a gentle smile, a helpful deed, neighbourly support

6. Practise fasting - fasting means to be disciplined in eating and drinking habits. It does not mean going without to the point of anorexia. It also does not mean fasting from food alone. It is helpful to be moderate in eating habits, as well as fasting from a spiteful word, harmful gossip, a false accusation, an action which leads to the breakup of a marriage

4. Make resolutions to become more like Jesus

5. Read the life of Jesus and imitate His wonder and beauty

6. If you have never before followed Jesus, why not accept Jesus into your life?

HOW TO RECEIVE JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR PERSONAL SAVIOUR

Close your eyes, calm your breathing, and recite the following prayer dedicating yourself to the Son of God Who gave His Life for you.

"Jesus, I believe You are the Son of God, that You died on the cross to rescue me from sin and death and to restore me to the Father.

I choose now to turn from my sins, my self-centeredness, and every part of my life that does not please You.

I choose You.

I give myself to you.

I receive Your forgiveness and ask You to take Your rightful place in my life as my Saviour and Lord.

Come and reign as King in my heart.

Fill me with Your Love and Your Life.

Help me to become a person like You - a person who is truly loving, respectful of life and obedient to the Commandments of God the Father.

Restore me, Jesus.

Live in me.

Love through me.

Thank You, God.

In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen."

Now pray Christ's own prayer;

Pray the following words as Jesus taught us:

"Our Father,

Who art in Heaven,

Hallowed be Thy Name.

Thy Kingdom come,

Thy Will be done,

One earth as it is in Heavne.

Give us this day

Our daily bread,

And forgive us our trespasses,

As we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,

But deliver us from evil,

For Thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory,

For ever and ever. Amen.

Take time to pray

Prayer is easy; just talk silently within yourself to Jesus. Tell Him your fears. Tell Him your tears.

Tell Him your worries, your sins, your hopes, your joys.

  He wants to be your Friend. The One Who always supports you, whether anyone else does or not.

  The One Who always love you, whether those who should love you do or not.

  The One Who wipes away every tear, calms every fear, and unerringly leads us to Heaven.

Now seek Baptism

Now find a good and trustworthy priest, seek baptism, and be baptised in the Name of the Lord Jesus.

[1] But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed [Luke Chapter 5: verse 16]

[2] Matthew Chapter 4: verse 2

[3] Luke Chapter 4: verses 17 to 21

[4] Luke Chapter 22: verse 42

[5] Matthew Chapter 4: verses 8 to 10

[6] Luke Chapter 21: verses 1 to 4