Last December I posted about Hozana.
“It is an online gathering space for Catholics and other Christians to come together in prayer and mutual encouragement. It isn’t a social network on the order of a Facebook, MeWe or whatever else is out there, but you can follow others and communicate with them. Activity is centered around prayer communities which are ordered towards novenas and other liturgical seasons, as well as ongoing prayer necessities. There is also a “prayer intentions” feed where members can post prayer requests which remain available for 48 hours (you can always repost, if needed). Members click on a prayer intention which opens up in a little window. A virtual candle lights up underneath the intention and it changes color slowly from bottom to “flame.” Then you click “Amen” and if you wish, continue on to another intention that interests you. The person is notified that you prayed for them. The same for when you post an intention; you’ll get notified when people pray for you! It’s way cool.
It lacks the noise and obnoxiousness of other social media sites.”
In recent months my activity over there has slackened, but I am making a renewed effort to dedicate more time to it, especially as I had been invited to join expressly for the purpose of running a prayer group for alcoholics and addicts. And so I had created the Matt Talbot Prayer Group, and it has gotten much interest from people. There was a need! The fact that tomorrow, June 7th is the 94th anniversary of his death is what caused me to think about Hozana, and how much I liked it.
I am saddened that I drifted away as I really enjoyed reading the numerous prayer requests and praying for others, and exploring other prayer communities. As I had mentioned in an email to the wonderful lady who invited me, I think that Hozana is kind of like a preview of our intercessory work once we get to Heaven. One of the things we may be doing is receiving intercessory prayers as members of the Church Triumphant, the “great Cloud of Witnesses.” We won’t be just floating around up there, worshipping the Lord and interacting with one another; we will be interceding for those still in Time.
But really, I do find it useful. In reading all of the prayer requests I find that I am thinking about myself less, and worrying about others more. There are other people hurting; in pain over this or that, worrying over many things. You have the opportunity to “get outside” yourself and consider other people and their situations.
Getting involved with Hozana is a Work of Mercy.
“So, here is YOUR personal invitation to join Hozana and become a part of the Matt Talbot Prayer Group! Here’s the link for Hozana (in English, the site also has Spanish, French and Portuguese versions): Hozana. And here is the link for the prayer group: Matt Talbot Prayer Group. My profile: Me
From the description I wrote: “Welcome to the Matt Talbot Prayer Group! Join us in prayer and fellowship as we encourage one another in our sobriety and recovery from addictions!
Hebrews 3:13 “…exhort one another every day, while it is still called ‘today’…”
Romans 12:2 “And do not choose to be conformed to this age, but instead choose to be reformed in the newness of your mind, so that you may demonstrate what is the will of God: what is good, and what is well-pleasing, and what is perfect.” (Both from the Douay-Rheims Bible)
Prayers, linked articles, images, quotes from Scripture, the Catechism and the writings of Saints and others that can be useful in your recovery journey will be occasionally posted here. PLEASE make use of the comments section of the posts to reach out to one another!
Our patron is the Venerable Matt Talbot, an Irishman who lived from 1856-1925. A drunkard, he “took the pledge” to quit drinking after his friends one day refused to loan him money to buy liquor. This worked for a while, but it wasn’t until he decided to transfer his love for the drink onto Jesus Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary that his sobriety took hold. He was a daily Mass goer and had a profound prayer life. Matt exemplified the recovery values of acknowledging your weakness over addiction and the need for God to come in and restore your life and help you to amend and rebuild it, years before any modern recovery movements were founded.”
I do hope to see you there.
Are you a creative Catholic? "The Catholicpunk Manifesto" is my new book exhorting Catholics to apply their faith to change the culture for the better!
Know someone, perhaps yourself, who might like Catholic devotionals for alcoholics? Please take a look at my books! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)