St. Jude. Devotional candles. Petitionary prayer. These things work. Here is a practical guide for readers of all faiths to discover the lifesaving power of Catholic devotions. Unfulfilled at work? Confused in a relationship? Short on money? Trying to sell your home? Or are you suffering from an illness or from loneliness and have exhausted every human option? Well, there's one thing to do: Drop to your knees and pray. But don't do it alone. Ask Jesus, the saints, and the angels for help.
Life Everlasting is about Catholic devotions: prayers, meditations, and small actions you can take
right now to direct your life toward the greater good. Devotions are reminders that you are never, ever alone.
Before rolling your eyes, consider: Pope John Paul II had a longtime devotion to Our Lady of Fatima, and credited her intercession with saving his life during an assassination attempt in 1981 (coincidence that the attempt took place on the feast day of Our Lady of Fatima?). Actor Danny Thomas's devotion to St. Jude led to the founding of the prestigious St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, which provides free medical care to children with cancer. Martin Sheen prays the Rosary. Comedian Jim Gaffigan and entertainer and actor Harry Connick, Jr., both have a special devotion to the Divine Mercy of Jesus. And late-night TV host Stephen Colbert's favorite saint is Peter, Jesus's flawed friend who regardless of all his thick-headedness still became the first pope.
Lost causes can be won through prayers to St. Jude, healings can occur by using the Miraculous Medal, and the Novena to St. Matthew (a tax-collector and apostle of Jesus) can aid you during financial difficulties. These practices and others can help you experience miracles, those moments when heaven and earth intersect in unsuspected and meaningful ways. All it takes is your decision to do one simple thing: Embrace a devotion with enthusiasm and faith.
