Light a Candle For Me

Posted on by charliej373

By Charlie Johnston

I am very sick. I do not believe it is to death, but I am very sick.

Everything is off. Perception is skewed, expectation is uncertain, analysis is almost impossible because almost nothing makes any sense at all anymore.

I am not sure what will heal me. I am better than I was two days ago, but it is a marginal thing. To go to the washroom, I have to make a plan, gather up my strength, do it, disengage, get back to bed, then hyperventilate for 10 or fifteen minutes to recover. To those who don’t know this kind of sick, it sounds like some ridiculous exaggeration. To those who understand the understatement behind it, you have both my rheumy solace and my respect for your painfully earned wisdom.

I talk to friends who call – or I don’t, depending on how I feel in the moment. It’s nice. It’s nice that if I have to tell them I have to quit talking, they know I literally mean it and let me go.

It’s nice to know with what genuine fondness many you hold dear hold you. The thousands of prayers going up for me daily constitute a great treasury I gladly ask the Lord to direct as needed and as He will. I haven’t felt this much the spiritual philanthropist since my pilgrimage days.

Now we know that a simple nod from God is sufficient to blow any disease completely away. He has chosen to let this one play its course through me – and draw forth a large bank of prayers through it. My theory is that something huge is brewing, something unanticipated by me or anyone else. That is consonant with God: Among other things He is the consummate showman – the original Drama King, you might say. And He loves to surprise and delight even His favorites with things they never could have even imagined, much less have the wit to want.

My prayers feel absolutely impotent these last few days. Yeah, I know we say that – and it is good – for a prayer should be offered out of love and then left to the Lord to deploy in strength and effect. Yet truth, I can sometimes, even often hear the mountain shift before my prayer is finished. This week, no mustard seed has nothing to worry from me. So, this is entirely God’s project, and He busies Himself about it with the glee of a proud father about to don the Santa suit to top everything off.

So I ask you, today and tomorrow, do what I have come to believe is the most powerful form of invocatory prayer on my behalf. Light a candle for me. You can do it from home. You can do it at your local Church. You can do it from your favorite shrine. You go before a bank of candles, say your prayer, light the candle, spiritually and mentally attach the prayer to it, put it in the hole before the angel or saint who will carry it, then pray that so long as the candle is lit, it continuously carries the prayer before it to the seat of God. It is time for God to make all things new and to renew the faith of the world. The face of the world is ugly and mutilated, celebrating what is false and artificial, what offends God and defenestrates man, what brings bareness and cold rather than life and light.

Now begins the renewal. Light a candle for me. I accept what is needed and delight in giving Christ the rest for this great project. It is just, not arrogant for me to benefit from the prayers that build this bank of renewal. My feet have borne the burden all my life, even as no one else knew there was a burden to be borne. Our Lord has sometimes affectionately called me the little boy who is willing, for that is what I have been – when it has been against every temporal interest I have, I am willing. When I have been believed to be a delusional fool (including privately, by myself), I am willing. When it hurts so hard my feet bleed and I can’t catch any breath, I am willing. I may be a fool, but I am the archetype of the true believer: I love the Lord with all my heart, will, and soul – and I love His people and want us all to banquet joyfully together in heaven. The joy of this vision is worth a world of suffering…and I have willingly done much of that in the Lord’s service. Truthfully, I haven’t suffered much these last few decades. The meetings and visits are more like a foreshadowing of the joy of the fellowship of the family of God. So now I get an invitation to a little late-in-the game votive suffering. Don’t want to miss that honor, for whenever God wraps a package that gruesomely, He’s got a doozy of a present inside.

So join me. Go forth and light a candle for me. What we are doing, I believe, is boldly proclaiming the Kingdom of Christ here on earth – that they may keep peddling their cheap kingdom of lives, but it has no power over us anymore and we are sent to proclaim it need have no power over anyone anymore. The Lord is sending us out to proclaim His great day: Good news for the poor, to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives, release from darkness for the prisoners and the restoration of sight for all those who have been spiritually blinded, lo, these 30 years.

I am told to be cautious because in my infirmity, I am given to going in and out of delirious states. But this is what I believe; that the hour of darkness is now in decline for them – their hour of power is over. They will decrease as Christ increases. That this year with the Feast to the Immaculate Conception will begin the year of Our Lord’s favor over all who call to Him through our Lady and a time of vengeance of the Lord on all who oppress these little ones in faith, including any who oppress from the pulpit or mitre.

I could be jumping the gun on a fantasy of faith. If so, it wouldn’t be the first or probably the last time I’ll ever do it – and when will I have a better excuse than organically going into and out of fugue states of delirium? I can live with that. But what if I’m getting in on the ground floor of one of the greatest miracles of salvation history, the renewal of the faith and the face of the world; the driving out of the smoke of satan from the Church by the renewal already beginning in the hierarchy; the anti-Gospel being driven to heel by the fresh power of the Gospel truly proclaimed, truly believed, truly lived? After a glorious year of this, war breaks out briefly and the satan and his minions, and all who continue to count on his and man’s guidance will perish and be whisked away like so much dross.

Ah, I’m going to make like St. Padre Pio and pray, hope and don’t worry.

Light a candle for me – and watch the world take off.

Expect the miracle. live the miracle, pass it on, be the miracle, pray, hope, don’t worry.

427 thoughts on “Light a Candle For Me”

    1. Charlie, my heart ached for your suffering but was also heartened by your faith and yes, trust. A candle or more will be blazing for you tomorrow at Holy Angels after Mass! Rest now in the palm of His hand

      Liked by 9 people

    2. You most certainly will remain in my daily prayers. You have no idea how much I understand this! More than anything else you’ve written it strikes my heart with profound familiarity. We are definitely a part of a most historic skirmish and the majority of folks don’t even know they’re a part of it. We were born for this time. Thank you for helping too keep folks strong and focused.

      Liked by 10 people

      1. You’re so right, Marywel! So many people still think that going back to “normal” is possible without seeing the big picture! It’s rather shocking/sad to have others tell you, “Just take the d*#* shot!” Like that’s all it would take.

        I also have to say, I feel very, very small when I hear that we were “born for this time.” What do I have to offer? (And God answers, “My Gospel of love and mercy.” So be it, Lord. “I give you my will, please give me Your will in return.”)

        Liked by 8 people

          1. Mary, click on the MENU bar and scroll down to the link: ANSWERS TO TECHIE QUESTIONS. You’ll find assistance there on how to access your ability to control your chosen options.

            Liked by 1 person

      2. Oh, Jack. I gratefully receive your kindness and prayers. So many wee, wonderful and demanding stories within the big story of Charlie’s formidable misery in these days of suffering. Through it all, God’s Mercy abounds.

        “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23)

        Liked by 5 people

  4. Hi Charlie,
    Be encouraged! God has this! 🙏♥️🕊
    Have you heard of MMS? Better known as chlorine Dioxide. It is truly a miracle solution which applies itself to infections, bacteria and viruses, and works very quickly…which may be something you could truly benefit from. Your loved ones can order it online, even on Amazon. God’s Speed, and God Bless. I will certainly light that candle for you. 🙏♥️🕊

    Liked by 10 people

  5. Lord Jesus, thank you for Charlie! Have Mercy on him as he trusts You, does the next right step, and gives us your Hope! Mama Mary, pray for us, and the whole world! Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on all!

    Liked by 8 people

  8. I’m glad you are at not traveling now because I suspected you would be stranded when the financial system ceases to function (before Christmas sometime from what I read). So, maybe this sickness is just “grounding your flight” in a better place then where you would have been?

    Lastly, for any CORAC member or anyone at all that will listen; high doses (several thousand IU) of vitamin D3 and K2 regularly is required for our bodies to function properly. High doses of Vitamin D is what the doctors take at hospitals, it is what Dr. F at the NIH takes, it is what I take and give to my family.

    Liked by 11 people

  9. May the Lord bless you and strengthen you, Charlie! You are a guiding beacon in the midst of this onrushing turmoil. We love you and pray for your speedy recovery.

    Liked by 9 people

  11. I love a coincidence. We celebrate the Immaculate Conception on Dec 8th because we celebrate Mary’s birthday on Sept 8th. Mary said her birthday was on Aug 5th which means the actual date of the Immaculate Conception was on Nov 5th. On November 5th Paradisus Dei (That Man Is You) will say a zoom rosary for the Holy Souls in Purgatory. They will use St. Gertrude’s prayer for the Holy Souls as the intention prayer for each mystery. Last week they had 415 men on the rosary. They are shooting for 450 on Nov 5th. Remember St. Louis De Monfort said in his book on the Secrets of the Rosary that when the rosary is said in a group each member receives the spiritual benefits of every member in the group. He used the example of 30 people each getting the benefit of saying 30 rosaries. so in his example if 30 people were praying for the same thing (like the Holy souls in Purgatory) it is the same as 30 times 30 or 900 rosaries. The St. Gertrude prayer releases 1000 souls from purgatory each time it is prayed. It will be said 5 times by the group. St. Theresa the little Flower said she could do far more for the souls she loves from heaven than she can from here on earth. Jesus said on 8th day of the Divine Mercy Novena that we should “Draw all the indulgences from the treasury of My church and offer them on behalf of the souls in purgatory” I’ll let you do the math to see how many souls will be released into heaven on Nov 5th. It is in Charlies time frame and it is significant.

    Liked by 9 people

  13. My dear Charlie,

    I am lighting a candle for you. Sounds like a dark night of the soul for you. How terrifying it sounds to me.

    As I said when commenting after your last post, I am sick. I have been ill since October 18th, and I just got news today that I have a nodule on my pancreas. I must go for a CT scan to see what it is.

    I feel so much anxiety, and I feel like I am not trusting in God’s providence. Why do I fear for my children? Does God not have a perfect plan for them (with me or even without me)? My 6 kids all have great challenges in life. They will suffer so much if it is my time to leave this Valley of Tears. Why do I fear?

    Please Jesus, strengthen me on this journey, and please bring comfort to Charlie on his journey.

    The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures;
    He leads me beside still waters;
    He restores my soul. He leads me in right paths For His Name’s sake.
    Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil;
    For you are with me;
    Your rod and Your staff – they comfort me.
    You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies, You anoint my head with oil;
    My cup overflows.
    Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life. And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord My whole life long.
    [Psalm 23:1-6; NRSV]

    Love to you all! 🙏❤️

    Liked by 18 people

    2. The patroness of New Orleans is Our Lady of Prompt Succor, which means Our Lady of Quick Help. So I’m asking her to help you.

      Liked by 8 people

  14. I will light a candle for you tomorrow night, Charlie! We will be in adoration, reconciliation and have an opportunity to venerate a relic of the True Cross. This post gives me great angst for your condition as well as great hope for what the Lord our God has in store for us. I will pray for you, deeply and sincerely. I will pray, hope and not worry. May God’s Will in all things be done, and may we all have the strength and courage to be at the ready. Blessings be upon you, Charlie.

    Liked by 9 people

  16. Charlie, I know you’re very sick right now. I believe that. But the amazing thing, the source of wonder is that you can think and write so cogently at the present moment. I love you and want for you what God wants. Will light candles tomorrow morning before Mass.

    Liked by 11 people

    1. A Pascal Candle is what I am saving, also. Plus I cut it into 4″ sections and gave one to each family at church. (Wasn’t it lucky, i dropped and brokethe candle a few years ago!)

      Liked by 9 people

  19. Gee, Charlie, you have been “A Sign of Hope” for me and for many others. I’m sorry you’re sick. I plan to attend the First Friday and the First Saturday Masses this coming weekend. I will indeed light a candle for you. I, too, feel something big is about to happen in our country and around the world. Everyone I speak with knows that our world and our church are in deep trouble. Many are blinded by the devil, fear has taken over every aspect of our lives. We have become puppets to the rich and famous who govern our lives and steal our freedoms. But I believe that our daily rosaries will bring us to the era of peace promised by Our Lady of Fatima. Jesus I trust in you. I have a coffee cup in my kitchen that says “Pray, Hope and Don’t Worry.” Keep trusting and watch miracles happen! St. Padre Pio,pray for us. God bless you, Charlie. We love you.

    Liked by 12 people

  24. Dearest Charlie-you have been in our prayers all along. Will light a candle as soon as we can.
    (Papa, Help Charlie, Help, Help, HELP!) Holy Mother, wrap him in your dear Holy arms. Comfort him and rush these prayers to your Son for his rapid healing.

    Liked by 9 people

  26. Dear Charlie,
    We are praying for you! We will light one of our holy candles for you and for your healing.
    Have been praying for you every day so now, I will pray and the candle will keep vigil.🙏🏽
    God bless you and heal you, Charlie, according to His purpose.
    God bless you and God bless us all!
    Love & prayers for you from us in Oregon🙏🏽✝️💕🕯

    Liked by 8 people

  27. I’ve been talking to St Pio as of late. I too have been sick but on I must go as my work has no one to do it if I don’t so the Lord keeps me just alive enough to trudge along. So I’ve been talking to the Saint that carried Jesus’ cross for 50 years in his own flesh and discussing that which few can even fathom is possible much less be true.
    So very interesting what one ponders when sick. Life seems more grey but Heaven so much closer because of it. I ponder purgatory and those things I hope to shed now to help lighten the days I’m there and I pray for the grace to erase my past sins as far as how they may have effected others so there is no stain left on them because of me. And I hope for the day to be with my sleeping family and friends who’s numbers grow seemingly day by day as my years on earth lengthen.
    I have been lighting a lot of candles as of late so I will add one more for you, old friend. I’ll be holding your hand
    as our beating is taking place with a little smile on my heart (if not on my face) pondering what mysteries our God has in store for us this time.
    As my friend John always says when life changing events happen.
    ” Another adventure!”
    St Pio, Pray for Us.

    Liked by 13 people

  28. God Bless you Charlie, I thought you had been kind of quiet lately and I was worried that you might be ill. Troubling times for all. I have an older brother in late stages of pancreatic cancer and have been so busy looking after him. I will be praying and lighting candles for you, him and the rest rest of our rag tag army of God. Blessings everyone…Jim Cheevers

    Liked by 10 people

  30. Thank you for the update, we gathered together and said a rosary for your healing tonight in Region 4!!!! We love you Charlie and many candles will be lit don’t you worry ❤

    Liked by 10 people

  32. I lit a candle for you before a statue of the Blessed Mother praying that she will carry my prayers for you to her son and our Lord. You are so inspiring even when you are not feeling well. God bless you!

    Liked by 9 people

  33. JESUS = GOOD NEWS! 😉 PM

    Dear Lord!
    I Pray for Charlie, My Comrades in Faith, My Comrades at Arms, Family, Friends and ALL who have passed through my life … Living and Dead … especially those who need Your help this day. AMEN!! …. Hang in There, Charlie!! 😉

    https://www.crisismagazine.com/2021/reviving-catholic-family-traditions

    https://www.countdowntothekingdom.com/scripture-counting-the-cost/

    Ah … Ya Know….. ;-(
    https://www.breitbart.com/environment/2021/11/03/pope-francis-compares-effects-climate-change-world-war-ii/

    https://www.wnd.com/2021/11/google-de-monetizes-pioneering-christian-news-site-wnd/

    https://www.floppingaces.net/2021/11/03/the-one-lesson-that-democrats-must-learn-from-the-2021-election-but-wont/

    https://www.glennbeck.com/radio/rand-paul-on-the-true-dangers-of-faucis-gain-of-function-research

    Tucker Parts 1-3 … Patriot Purge/6 Jan DC Political Prisoners
    https://www.bitchute.com/playlist/FcyBE8diDMYa/

    https://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/2021/11/investigate-white-coat-supremacist-gang-four-lloyd-billingsley/

    https://theconservativetreehouse.com/
    https://pjmedia.com/

    GOD SAVE THE REPUBLIC & ALL HERE!

    Liked by 11 people

  34. Getting a rosary from me. Been a while since I commented last but there’s too much wisdom and wit (and humility) for me to stay away.

    Liked by 10 people

  35. Thank you Charlie, for offering this up. Our family candle is lit, next to relics of Sts. Luis, Zelli, and Therese Martin, and Maria Goretti. You are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, and a great crowd of friends!

    Liked by 9 people

  40. How nice to hear from you Charlie. I had a candle lit behind me in our online meeting this evening in your absence.
    After reading your words I have again lit a candle for you and your intentions. It is a Bethlehem Candle https://www.cukierski.net/collections/all/products/bethlehem-candle, from Wendy C’s collection that I have on hand and use for special occasions. I have offered a prayer for your improved health and for the desires you hold dear for our renewal. Blessings and graces to you and all who love and are caring for you as you recuperate. ❤

    Liked by 8 people

  41. Charlie,

    The candle is lit in my living room. When I first read the post, I felt so scared (maybe due to my own health crisis), but after I slowly re-read the post, I now feel so much comfort. Your words are filled with total faith, hope and surrender. Beautiful! Thank you.

    I am not brave enough to say, “Bring it on, Lord!”, but I can say, “Lord, I surrender to your Holy Will.” I am so tired of all the disorder in the world. I am especially tired of how the disorder has affected my own dear family. I am ready for the rescue. I want salvation for my loved ones! I am praying for a total renewal of the world.

    Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth. Amen.

    Liked by 11 people

    1. I too felt better when I read it the second time around.
      What a gift (many other gifts too) God has given you Charlie to write so beautifully (a gift many others at this site seem to have also).
      I hope we continue to be the recipients of your “spiritual philanthropy” for many years to come.
      (Meanwhile, it seems you need a dose or two of ivermectim).
      I see CREWDOG already has a candle burning for you right here on this page.
      If I see on the news that global temperatures are suddenly on the rise, or that candles now are on backorder…
      God Bless You Grandpa Charlie!
      God Bless all who are suffering, and increase in all of us faith, hope and love.

      O Holy Spirit, beloved of my soul, I adore You.
      Enlighten me, guide me, strengthen me, console me.
      Tell me what I should do; give me Your orders.
      I promise to submit myself to all that You desire of me
      and to accept all that You permit to happen to me.
      Let me only know Your Will.

      Liked by 7 people

      2. I just cried hysterically (I’m French lol) until mick let me talk to her and she calmed me right down!!! She’s a wonderful mother to so many!!! And friend 🥰

        Liked by 1 person

        1. You’re sweet, Linda. I have just one word: Beer! I don’t know how we ended up talking about that last night, but I want to see that picture of Mike looking like the Tin Man with a beer in his hand! 🙂

          Liked by 1 person

          1. Dear Holy Spirit flow over and through cdnsotrmwatcher. Calm her spirit, help her to keep her eyes focused on Jesus who is our peace. Help her rest in you. Thank you Lord. All praise and glory be Yours Almighty God.

            Liked by 3 people

          2. Awwwww. It’s ok cdnstormwatcher God will deliver you! I’ll say a nice prayer for you too! Mick does have this way about her though to calm people down🥰

            Liked by 1 person

  43. Dear Charlie, I knew there was a reason I hadn’t lit my Virgen de Guadalupe/Our Lady of Tepeyac candle yet. It was meant for you and I light it tonight, joining in prayer with all you touch and have touched. St. Padre Pio is one of my patron saints. May he intercede for you. God bless you. xo

    Liked by 8 people

  44. Sorry I missed this until sooner Charlie. I will be praying and lighting a candle for you. My wife and I took 5 days last week in some Hobbit hole like hermitages near Pevely Mo to get away and to pray. Will be praying and hoping deeply for God’s action in our world. Now time for wife and I to pray our Rosary.

    Liked by 8 people

  45. We love you, Charlie and are praying, and candles are and will be lit. It is four years to the day when we lost our beloved LiamXOXO. Ah, so much grief, sadness and suffering. We have tasted it. We believe in the Hope that is Our Lord. +TYG for Charlie, for the courage and help he gave us in our darkest hour and beyone, please help him. St. Raphael, please intercede+

    Liked by 8 people

  47. Praying for you Charlie and will light a candle tomorrow. Thank you for being “the little boy who is willing” and for the sign of hope you write about in this blog.

    Liked by 9 people

  48. Holy Father,
    We trust you, we worship you & praise your holy name, Jesus. We know you have great plans for your faithful son, Charlie. We beseech you to hear all our prayers for Charlie and his caregivers. May all be done to bring full healing of his body, mind and soul. In your precious name, we pray. Amen

    Liked by 7 people

  50. I haven’t commented here in some time. Here in Libertyville in the Serbian Orthodox Church St. Sava, are the incorrupt relics of St. Mardarije. Charlie, I will go there and pray and light a candle for you tomorrow and ask the Monks to pray for you at St. Sava and the Monastery in Third Lake (*The Orthodox Monks are the Spiritual equivalent to the US Special forces; the Black Nights. Nobody really knows about them but they are the ones praying for the world without ceasing; in this world not of this world).
    May I also add an Orthodox prayer for everyone here and for you Charlie? (The Monks and nuns pray this noetic prayer without ceasing )
    *Lord Jesus Christ Son of God have mercy on me a sinner.
    ~Lord Jesus Christ Son of God have mercy on Your servant Charlie,
    Lord have mercy
    Lord have mercy
    Lord have mercy
    Holy Theotokos, the Milk Giver, pray to your Son Jesus to have mercy on Charlie and if it is God’s Will, Holy Spirit heal Charlie☦️☦️☦️
    God Bless you Charlie and thank you for being part of my journey Home and falling in love with Christ Jesus.
    ~Anne F.

    Liked by 7 people

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Published by charliej373

Charlie Johnston is a former newspaper editor, radio talk show host and political consultant. From Feb. 11, 2011 to Aug. 21, 2012, he walked 3,200 miles across the country, sleeping in the woods, meeting people and praying as he went. He writes on cultural, global and political issues from an orthodox Catholic perspective. He emphasizes that we find God most surely through the ordinary, doing the little things we should with faith and fidelity. His constant refrain is that, to live real joy, we must acknowledge God, take the next right step, and be a sign of hope to those around us. He lives in the Archdiocese of Denver in the United States.