The Divine Mercy Chaplet

One of my favorite devotions other than the Rosary and talking to God in my own words is the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. The prayer itself is miraculous. Of course it is - it was given to Saint Faustina from Jesus himself.   

One day, I was listening to EWTN Catholic Radio and the Divine Mercy Chaplet in song came on. It was and is the most beautiful song I've ever heard. It is produced by Trish Short and a sample of the song and a video can be found on www.divinemercyinsong.com . 

The images in the video were wonderful. Some brought me to tears, others brought great comfort. Viewing the short part of the video reminded me of what Jesus did for us. Who else would love us that much? If we, His people, really reflect on what Jesus did to save us from ourselves, we would detest all sin. From the most minor ones to the most serious.  

This Lenten season. let us reflect on what Jesus did for us. Let us remember it most when we are about to sin so that we can avoid that temptation. And while we're at it, we could always offer a chaplet. The greatest distraction from sin is prayer.

                                                    JESUS, I TRUST IN YOU! 

My Latest Poem About God

Our Sinking World
By: Jennifer Gladen

The world is melting before our eyes,
The heat of sin is scorching our lives.

Headed down a slippery slope,
Society cheers the diminishment of hope.

Abortion, divorce, and values waning,
Points for the Enemy, is what we’re gaining.

Stop! And Listen! Change your ways,
Unless you desire more perilous days.

God wants us with Him-beyond the skies,
We must see the world through only His eyes.

We’re taught to value such precious things,
As gold, jewels and fancy rings.

But they all fade away – what good will they do,
When your time is come and God judges you?

Turn your hearts, now, toward Him,
Avoid eternity laced with grim.

Live as Christ lived while He was here,
To bypass eternal pain and fear.


©2010 Jennifer Gladen

O Child of God

O Child of God
By: Jennifer Gladen

My soul is weeping for what was to be.
My ears are piercing from laughter silenced.

My eyes are burning from tears of the lost.
My mouth is praying for the unborn tossed.

My heart is hoping an angel is guiding
The little ones to our Holy Mother true.

Mother Mary present those tiny souls to your Son.
Let them live in Peace and join the body of One.

Their short time of suffering causes great pain
And robs from the world what it could’ve gained.

Fly up to Heaven you child of God
And pray for all those who caused you such woes.

“Father forgive them, they know not what they do.”
For Jesus will say those words with you.

Dedicated to the millions children we’ll never see here.


© 2010 Jennifer Gladen

A Spiritual Bouquet to March for Life

A Spiritual Bouquet to March for Life

Today, hundreds of thousands of people gathered to march on Washington DC for the annual March for Life. It occurs every year on the anniversary of the Roe V Wade decision legalizing abortions. March for life not only acts as a voice for the unborn, but also the elderly and all those facing end-of-life care and decisions.

As Editor-in-Chief of a Catholic Magazine, I was disappointed I couldn’t make the march this year. I still wanted to do something to show my full support for this cause as I watched on TV speakers, children, adults and others stand up for life.
In that moment I decided that prayers for these supporters and their cause will go a long way. They need the strength of the Holy Spirit to persevere for they are fighting for God and His children. Therefore, My Light Magazine decided we will present a spiritual bouquet to the March for Life Organization.

Please pledge your prayers in support of all the marchers in the March for Life. Send My Light your designated prayer and any short words of encouragement. Some great prayers are the Rosary, Chaplet of Divine Mercy, Mass, etc.

We will collect all the prayer intentions and present them to the March for Life organization. Each pledge will be represented by an illustrated flower as part of the bouquet. We will list your name and your prayer pledge. If we have too many contributors, we will provide a list of all the prayer pledges along with a beautiful illustrated bouquet. Illustrator and My Light’s paper doll designer, Candace J Hardy will design the illustration for the bouquet.

The goal is if we can support the marchers with our prayers we are helping the cause. We are helping not only get their voices heard, but we are helping to save lives, including unborn children. Press release to soon follow.

To begin e-mailing your prayer pledges, send them to bouquet@mylightmagazine.com

God the Consoler

A few nights ago I came across a video on You Tube for the song "Mary Did You Know?" It is a wonderful Christmas song contemplating what is in store for the Holy Family over the next 33 years. It consisted of scenes from a few movies, including Mel Gibson's "Passion of the Christ." I still have not seen the movie because I don't think I can handle it.

One short clip, taken from the "Passion of the Christ", was of the guards dragging away a battered Jesus after the Scourging at the Pillar. I admit, I am not strong enough to view these scenes. When I do, they often bother me for days. But, I am often consoled by God - usually in a dream.

This time it was last night. I had a dream I was among the crowds just before the crucifixion. I remember feeling distressed and I wanted to stop it. Then the events took a different turn from what we hear in the Bible. Everyone disappeared for a moment - or at least it seemed so. Then, as Jesus carried the cross, He turned to me and told me that this is God's plan for our salvation. He then led me to the exact spot where His cross would be placed.

Once again as in the dream I had over a year ago, I don't remember the words. It was like watching a silent movie and yet I understood everything He told me. I came away from the dream with the understanding that this is the way God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit wanted it.

I remember feeling better, but still concerned. Then He showed me what it might have been like even if everyone felt like I did. He showed me Him teaching the crowd that he must be crucified to fulfill God's plan. I think it was a dramatic display of God confirming that this is all part of His plan. Logically, I know that and always have. It's seeing Him in such a state that gets to me sometimes. He is our King and our God and that was what we did to Him.

But once again, God consoled my soul and brought peace to it. Just like the last time, I can't remember His words, but I'll never forget the peace He left me with. And when I let the peace fill my heart I remembered that the Crucifixion was NOT the end of the story. Jesus rising and opening the gates of Heaven for us was the final outcome of the Crucifixion. Now He lives in Glory forever - as our God and King should be.

Manhattan Declarationn of Christian Conscience

A group of people from different denominations of Christianity banned together on Nov 20,2009 in objection to laws that attack such Christian values as: right to life, traditional family, faith and liberty.

They formed and signed a document titled the "Manhattan Declaration of Christian Conscience." These people remind us through their actions that even in a world with so much negativity, Christ's light is still there. His light of hope.

Please visit the webpage and read all about this important declaration. If you are as inspired as I was, consider adding your name to the list of signatures. Here's your chance to add your Christian voice: Do not force us to pay for vital issues against our beliefs. When we leave this world and face judgement, we will have to answer for all our actions.

Thank you to the brave people who created this declaration!

Never Underestimate the Rosary

I try to make a habbit of saying the Rosary every night. I used to attempt it at the very end of the night and most of the time I would fall asleep. I'm pretty sure the reason is every time I say the Rosary, I'm filled with peace. A calm, worry free, relaxing peace. But because I have a hard time making it through the entire Rosary that late at night, I've been saying it a little earlier.

Tonight, my 4-year old son was having a hard time going to sleep. I chose to stay in the room with him until he settled down. I tried reading 4 of his favorite books to him. It worked for a second, but he was determined to stay up. His older sisters were awake. Why couldn't he stay up too? After attempting to read to him, I turned down the lights and sat very quiet. However, he took that time to try to convince me to let him stay awake.

Then I decided to say my Rosary. I started to say it quietly in my head, but it was hard with my son's fussiness. So, I said it aloud. I was up to the first decade when I decided to say my prayers out loud in front of my son. By the time I got to the second decade, he was silent and calmed down. He was amazingly peaceful for the entire Rosary. He listened intently, and became relaxed.

It's hard to tell when he actually fell asleep, but to be sure, I started a second set of mysteries. After the second decade I stopped, for he was surely asleep.

I pray the Rosary as often as I can and it never ceases to amaze me. This is the most powerful prayer in the world. It has calmed me after severe hurtful situations, it always brings peace to my heart, and now I've wittnessed it bring peace to my son's heart.

If you've neglected your Rosary ( as I have until about 1 1/2 years ago), consider picking it up. You'll be glad you did.