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”

  2. Praying for a release of many souls from purgatory to intercede for you:

    Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the masses said throughout the world today, for all the holy souls in purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen.

    Liked by 9 people

  4. Charlie, Candle lit and prayers rising for your healing and fast recovery. I was concerned for you since we had not heard from you for a wee bit. Yes, I sense it, too. Something big is coming. Holding tight to Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

    Liked by 7 people

  6. Dear Charlie, Have never commented before but have followed you for years. Keeping you in my prayers. Thanking God for the beacon of light and guidance you have have shown for so long now. Your writing has been one of God’s precious gifts to me and my circle of friends. May God bless and keep you safe through this illness. May Our Lady ask her divine Son to heal you, as we thank Our Lord for His bringing us together here at ASOH. A candle burns in all our hearts for you., taking our prayers to the Most High

    Liked by 10 people

  7. Hi Charlie it’s Laurie and Bob Harris , from Florida, Denise and John Bailey’s friends, and I am going to light a candle for you right now next to our Blessed Mother outside, and this one is holy for it was blessed on Candlemas day 2/2/21- we haven’t corresponded for awhile but I always keep you in my prayers – I want you to know that when I went to Daily Mass today in the st. Mark Chapel I saw that none of our candles were lit so I went and lit one and plan to do so for the next 10 days- I believe that candle this morning was for you. God bless you Charlie – and thank you for teaching us through the Holy Spirit to always take the next right step, towards Jesus 😊❤️🙏📿🇺🇸Matthew 6:25-34 Matthew 22:34-40

    Liked by 10 people

  9. Will light our St. Benedict candle that has an exorcism blessing with it and put it in front of our Lady of Guadalupe image. Godspeed, Charlie, Godspeed.

    Liked by 9 people

  10. Charlie mike n I have a blessed candle for you lit at our shrine ! Will light 39 more tomorrow at church!!!!🥰🥰🥰🙏🙏🙏😇😇😇😇🕯🕯🕯🕯

    Liked by 9 people

  13. Hi Charlie – this is Laurie and Bob Harris feim Davie Fl friends of Denise and John and although we haven’t corresponded for awhile we wanted you to know that you are in our prayers and just now I lit a blessed candle from Candlemas Day for you next to our Blessed Mother Mary shrine outside – We hope you will feel better soon and just know you have been in our prayers always – I will always cherish being taught by you through the Holy Spirit on how to always take the next right step – always towards Jesus – you know Charlie this morning when I went to Mass at St. Mark Chapel not one of our candles were lit, and I was moved to light one for the holy souls in Purgatory- but I think that nudge from Jesus was to light that candle for you – I will be lighting another one for you at the National Shrine of Divine Mercy too! We love you and continue to pray for you and our country -May God bless you and may his will alone be done in all of our lives – love you Charlie 😊❤️🙏📿🇺🇸John3:30 Matthew 6:25-34 Matthew 22:34-40

    Liked by 7 people

  14. Charlie, I am so sorry you are ill but this writing of yours touched my heart and soul more deeply than any other. I felt every word. Experienced every word. There has been a shift. I feel it. Thank you, dear Charlie, for being willing.

    Liked by 10 people

  16. I have sent the following prayer petition to Medjugorje:
    Dear Blessed Mother, bless Charlie Johnston as he is very ill. May a candle burn at your site for him and may all of us be spiritually prepared for whatever may come in our world as a result of our sins. Please ask Our Lord for healing for those ill in our family and let us be open to His graces and will in our lives. I thank you for listening and for all your support.

    Liked by 9 people

  18. PMT going up for me that I may suffer with just half the faith and fortitude our beloved Charlie does.

    Thank you, Charlie, for being such a great model for me and so many others. We love you!

    Liked by 8 people

  20. Get better soon Charlie, best wishes for a return to health.

    Life is like a roller coaster, it has it’s high & low moments. I suppose these experiences are supposed to teach us something about ourselves, Lord knows I had my fair share of these moments. Even moments of suffering have value, when freely offered to the Lord as a sacrifice.

    Sincerely,
    Al

    Liked by 8 people

  22. God bless you Charlie and we need your insightful perception of reality so stay strong in the current weakness. Looking at the life of Pope John Paul 2, at his weakest physical condition he perhaps was giving the strongest spiritual witness, to the glory of God.

    Liked by 8 people

  23. Dear, dear Charlie; I lite a small birthday candle for you this night and sat there with the baby infant of Prague. How tender, how lovely this time was lifting you up to God the Father through this little babe..a birthday candle for the rebirth of your health and our faith throughout our land. Get well, Charlie, get well..<3Mary

    Liked by 10 people

  24. Charlie, is it possible that you could offer your sufferings for the conversion/reversion of Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden? It would be a grand thing if they returned to the faith of their youth. It would rank right up there with Saul’s conversion on the road to Damascus or Augustine’s conversion after a libertine life.

    Even before Archbishop Cordileone’s request for Rosaries for Nancy, I’ve prayed that these lost sheep would return to Christ’s flock.

    Liked by 12 people

  25. Will light TWO candles for you Charlie, one at the foot of Mama Mary, and the other at St. Joseph feet…and we ARE still in the year of St. Joseph!!!

    Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPad

    Liked by 10 people

  26. I JUST loved this article( as most are always worth reading), but this one is almost confirming my thoughts and prayers!!!!I imagine Mama Mary getting ready to clean house for the Lord…and not shy of using the broom on more than just the floor…if you know what I mean…like a paddle on the okole!!!!Sweet dreams Charlie!And May the smoke of the Holy Family prayers be molding you back into the ENERGIZER!Aloha and God bless you, and all here!

    Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPad

    Liked by 8 people

  27. Dear Charlie, I am so very sorry for your illness.
    I will light a candle for you in my parish today after Mass.
    Please, do not be discouraged, you have gone through so many hardships and also adventures during your pilgrimages.
    I will pray for you and offering for you the pain of this period, which is difficult for me and my family.
    I thank you for everything you have done for me through your blog.
    Ave Maria Stella Maris, ora pro nobis.
    Sub tuum presidium confugimus, Sancta Dei Genetrix.
    Nostras deprecationes ne despicias in necessitatibus, sed a periculis cunctis libera nos semper, Virgo Gloriosa et Benedicta!

    Sancte Michael Archangel,
    Defende nos in proelio,
    Contra malitia et insidias diaboli esto praesidio.
    Imperet illi Deus, supplices deprecamur.
    Tuque, princeps militiae coelestis, satanam alios spiritus malignos, qui, ad perditionem animarum, pervagantur in mundo, divina virtute, in inferno detrude, amen.

    Liked by 10 people

  28. I lit a candle for you, Charlie, and God bless. I have felt, from what others are saying too, that The Feast of the Immaculate Conception will be very significant this year. Your words have given me the extra encouragement I needed.

    Liked by 9 people

  29. Praying for you, Charlie! I’ll light a candle and place it in front of St Joseph and the Holy family asking for intercession for your healing.

    Yes Louise, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception is very significant this year. Our Mother will, in a greater way, accompany the Church in her bitter passion, just as She did with Her Son.

    Maranatha!

    Liked by 8 people

  30. I love you, Charlie. You will get well.

    I will light a candle for you today.

    I named one of my pumpkin varieties after you, the “Charlie J. ” As soon as I get the chance, I will send Mick the seeds to grow them.

    Liked by 9 people

  32. Charlie, just reading this now at 11.00 a.m. our time. I am so sorry to hear this, and your fortitude and cheerfulness are very inspiring! There’s a lunch-time Mass near to where I work so I will attend and pray for you, and light a candle. I’ll especially ask the Holy Souls to intercede for you. God bless, J.

    Liked by 11 people

  33. I am so sorry you are so ill! You will be in my prayers and I will light a candle for you in front of my icon of Our Lady, Help of Christians.

    Liked by 8 people

  34. Prayers up, beloved CharlIe.

    Funny how you forget where you put the candles when they are truly needed. I found one. It us one of those wax in a cup candles and it has two wicks!

    Both wicks are burning brightly at your request.

    God bless you

    Liked by 11 people

  36. Oh Charlie, God bless you and keep you, as we all know He will. Candle lit. Wish I had known yesterday. I visited the relics of Padre Pio yesterday at a little church in my neighborhood.
    I will also pray that God has pity on us, and restores you to good health for you are so needed.

    Liked by 7 people

  37. Lighting a candle here at home for you Charlie. You are a rock for this family and you inspire me to have complete trust in God, especially when I’m struggling with my day to day activities and want to be in charge of everything. I will keep you in my prayers! May God bless you!

    Liked by 7 people

  38. Lit a candle for you in the Oratory this morning, in front of the picture of Adele Brise, asking for her intercession, someone who knew a thing or two about acknowledging God, taking the next right step and being a sign of hope for others!

    Liked by 7 people

  39. Charlie – I am so sorry you are feeling so badly – but so inspired by how you are offering it all up. A great reminder of how to make pain a blessing to others. Thank you for the example. I am lighting a candle in my home for you. May God bring you much comfort at this time.
    – Mary

    Liked by 6 people

  40. Thank you Charlie for this wonderful post! You have been in my prayers! A candle is burning for you for the next year at The National Shrine of The Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Massachusetts.

    Liked by 9 people

  42. Thank you Charlie for all that you do for us and I am very sorry that you are ill. I received your prayer and candle request this morning. I was pleased to light my special relic candle of St. Theresa of the Child Jesus and The Holy Face for you this morning and prayed the Chaplet of Divine Mercy immediately. I also asked for prayers from St. Charles Borromeo whose Feast Day it is today. The Saints will pray for you Charlie and we are truly blessed with their intercessions. God bless you Charlie and all of us here!

    Sincerely,
    catherine from Canada

    Liked by 11 people

  45. Charlie, you have my rheumy solace.
    Your faith and love are so strong as evidenced by your thoughtful words here. I think the Lord is now expanding your hope.
    This morning I lit a candle.

    God bless.

    LukeMichael

    PS I love the squirrel!

    Liked by 8 people

  47. I lit a blessed candle for you and your intentions, Charlie! It will stay lit as long as I stay in the same room, and then I will relight it again. Praying for your return to good health.

    Liked by 9 people

  48. I have been very sick and weak on and off for about a year. Several times expecting death. As I muse through it all and am comming up with similar annalise . When the army is courageous enough and loving enough God will move

    Liked by 10 people

  49. JESUS = GOOD NEWS! … 😉

    Well! Some Good News!
    Charlie “taking a hit” has brought the Ol’ TNRS Gang outta of de woodwork 😉
    So, Gang! Let’s Press-On!!

    https://catholicvote.org/lessons-from-virginia/

    https://www.catholicleague.org/pew-religion-survey-is-skewed/

    The Left Agenda Marches-On … Let the Lawsuits begin …. Nationwide!
    https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2021/11/04/joe-biden-administration-warns-of-planned-inspections-and-136532-fines-to-enforce-coronavirus-vaccine-mandate/

    https://thefederalist.com/2021/11/04/how-covid-vaccine-coercion-drove-me-out-of-west-point/

    https://angelusnews.com/local/la-catholics/students-raise-alarm-over-planned-parenthood-fundraiser-at-lmu/

    https://www.foxnews.com/media/mollie-hemingway-mark-zuckerberg-election-facebook-tucker-carlson


    VA’s New LtGuv looks like my kinda Gal … & dressed for St Pat’s Day too 😉

    https://joannenova.com.au/2021/11/swedish-study-of-840000-shows-vaccine-efficacy-at-7-months-at-wow-zero/
    https://theexpose.uk/2021/11/04/88-percent-covid-19-deaths-among-fully-vaccinated/

    Demand Recount & Investigation. NJ is infamous for it’s Urban Area Corruption!
    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10163073/Democrat-Governor-Phil-Murphy-wins-reelection-New-Jersey-gubernatorial-race.html
    https://townhall.com/

    ….. Corrupt DOJ/FBI demands EXPOSURE!
    https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2021/11/did_provocateurs_spark_the_january_6_protest_at_the_capitol.html

    …. Light of Day Exposure needed here…………
    https://healthimpactnews.com/2021/doctors-and-covid-19-vaccine-injured-testify-in-washington-d-c-to-crimes-against-humanity-cdc-fda-hin-fauci-are-no-shows/

    https://www.zerohedge.com/

    GOD SAVE THE REPUBLIC & ALL HERE!

    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.