THE ABANDONED CHURCH

Upon a hill, a lonely hill an abandoned church house

stands, This proud old church in years gone by was

built by willing hands.

With timber strong and steeple tall, a wood stove

warmed the few that sang by oil lamps on the wall

to cast light on wooden pews.

As years went by a furnace new and electricity

replaced the stove and oil lamps. Much better

“ all agreed”

As time went by this simple church served the

faithful few, until a modern church was built

with softly padded pews.

As years go by and folks pass on to rest upon

the hill, our proud old church with steeple tall

will still stand abandoned on the hill

Rev. Marie Yvonne.

Yesterday, December 10, 2024, the Right Reverend Marie was sent to the hospital by her physician, Dr. Boulanger, due to severe health issues, including a thyroid infection, refusal to eat and take her medication, and a large bed wound.

Please join me in a prayer for her cure and safe return home. Your support is greatly needed at this time.

Facebook prayer group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/chaplainprayer/. Please feel free to share your own prayers and messages of support for the Right Reverend Marie.

Lets Pray

Dear Heavenly Father,

We humbly come to you, seeking your compassionate embrace for the Right Reverend Marie, who was hospitalized due to infections. We earnestly ask for your healing grace to envelop her, providing comfort and fortitude as she navigates this challenging time. We also pray for the medical professionals attending to her; grant them the wisdom and skill to deliver effective care.

May your peace and love surround her, reassuring her in moments of uncertainty. We trust in your unending mercy, confident that you are always near to those in need.

Heavenly Father, we come before you with heavy hearts, lifting the Right Reverend Marie. We ask for your healing touch to be upon her, bringing comfort and strength as she faces this challenge. Surround her with your love, and grant wisdom for the best possible treatment.

Please bring her peace and reassurance during this difficult time, and may she feel your presence with her. We trust your grace and mercy because you are always by our side.

In your holy name, In faith, we pray.

Amen.

EMMI Ministries, OFS

**Sermon Title: “Walking in Faith: Trusting God’s Plan”**

In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

**Introduction**

Good morning, beloved brothers and sisters. I am your chaplain, Franciscan Brother Eric Michel. Today, we gather to reflect on the fundamental aspect of our Christian faith, trusting in God’s plan for our lives. Often, we find ourselves in challenging situations that test our patience, resilience, and faith. In these moments, we must remember that our understanding is limited, but God’s wisdom is infinite.

**Scripture Reading:**

Let’s turn to Proverbs 3:5-6, which reminds us: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

**Body:**

1. **The Call to Trust:**

  – Trusting in God is a passive act and an active daily decision. It involves surrendering our worries and fears. Life can be unpredictable, and often, we try to control outcomes. But true liberation comes from letting go and trusting that God is at work in our lives.

2. **God’s Plan vs. Our Own:**

  – We often want immediate answers and solutions. However, God’s timeline is different from ours. Reflect on the story of Abraham, who was called to leave everything familiar behind, trusting God’s promise without knowing where he was headed. Abraham’s faith laid the foundation for generations, showcasing that obedience often precedes understanding.

3. **Being Anchored in Faith:**

  – In Matthew 14, we see Peter walking on water, a miracle until doubt crept in. When Peter looked away from Jesus, he began to sink. This verse is a powerful reminder for us. When we keep our eyes fixed on Christ, we can navigate the storms of life. But if we focus on our fears, we risk losing our footing.

4. **The Importance of Community:**

  – We are not called to walk this journey alone. Surround yourself with a community of faith. Encourage one another, share your struggles, and celebrate victories together. In Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, we are reminded that “two are better than one,” for they can help each other in times of need.

**Conclusion:**

As we leave here today, I challenge each of you to reflect on areas in your life where you struggle to trust God. Pray about it, surrender it to Him, and invite Him into those spaces—because He sees the bigger picture while we only see the brush strokes.

Remember, God’s plans might not always align with our desires, but He assures us of His love and presence. Let us walk in faith, trusting His guidance, even when the path seems uncertain.

**Closing Prayer:**

Gracious God, thank You for reminding us of Your sovereignty and love. Help us to trust in Your wisdom and not rely on our understanding. Guide our steps as we navigate life, and may our faith be a beacon of hope to others. In Jesus’ name, we pray. 

In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Peace and Good

**Titre du sermon : « Marcher dans la foi : faire confiance au plan de Dieu »**

Au nom du Père, du Fils et du Saint-Esprit. Amen.

**Introduction **

Bonjour, chers frères et sœurs. Je suis votre aumônier, le frère franciscain Éric Michel. Aujourd’hui, nous nous réunissons pour réfléchir à l’aspect fondamental de notre foi chrétienne, à savoir faire confiance au plan de Dieu pour nos vies. Nous nous trouvons souvent dans des situations difficiles qui mettent à l’épreuve notre patience, notre résilience et notre foi. Dans ces moments-là, nous devons nous rappeler que notre compréhension est limitée, mais que la sagesse de Dieu est infinie.

**Lecture des Écritures :**

Tournons-nous vers Proverbes 3 :5-6, qui nous rappelle : « Aie confiance en l’Éternel de tout ton cœur, et ne t’appuie pas sur ton intelligence ; soumets-toi à lui dans toutes tes voies, et il aplanira tes sentiers.»

**Corps:**

1. **L’appel à la confiance :**

– Faire confiance à Dieu est un acte passif et une décision quotidienne active. Cela implique de renoncer à nos soucis et à nos peurs. La vie peut être imprévisible et nous essayons souvent de contrôler les résultats. Mais la véritable libération vient du lâcher prise et de la confiance que Dieu est à l’œuvre dans nos vies.

2. **Le plan de Dieu contre le nôtre** :

– Nous voulons souvent des réponses et des solutions immédiates. Cependant, le calendrier de Dieu est différent du nôtre. Réfléchissons à l’histoire d’Abraham, qui a été appelé à laisser tout ce qui lui était familier derrière lui, faisant confiance à la promesse de Dieu sans savoir où il allait. La foi d’Abraham a posé les bases pour des générations, montrant que l’obéissance précède souvent la compréhension.

3. **Être ancré dans la foi** :

– Dans Matthieu 14, nous voyons Pierre marcher sur l’eau, miraculeusement jusqu’à ce que le doute s’installe. Lorsque Pierre a détourné le regard de Jésus, il a commencé à couler. Ce verset est un puissant rappel pour nous. Lorsque nous gardons les yeux fixés sur le Christ, nous pouvons traverser les tempêtes de la vie. Mais si nous nous concentrons sur nos peurs, nous risquons de perdre pied.

4. **L’importance de la communauté** :

– Nous ne sommes pas appelés à parcourir ce chemin seuls. Entourez-vous d’une communauté de foi. Encouragez-vous les uns les autres, partagez vos difficultés et célébrez les victoires ensemble. Dans Ecclésiaste 4 :9-12, on nous rappelle que « deux valent mieux qu’un », car ils peuvent s’entraider en cas de besoin.

**Conclusion** :

Alors que nous partons aujourd’hui, je vous mets au défi de réfléchir aux domaines de votre vie dans lesquels vous avez du mal à faire confiance à Dieu. Priez à ce sujet, abandonnez-le à Dieu et invitez-le dans ces espaces, car il voit la situation dans son ensemble alors que nous ne voyons que les coups de pinceau.

N’oubliez pas que les plans de Dieu ne correspondent pas toujours à nos désirs, mais il nous assure de son amour et de sa présence. Marchons dans la foi, en faisant confiance à ses conseils, même lorsque le chemin semble incertain.

**Prière de clôture** :

Dieu gracieux, merci de nous rappeler ta souveraineté et ton amour. Aide-nous à faire confiance à Ta sagesse et à ne pas nous appuyer sur notre intelligence. Guide nos pas dans la vie et que notre foi soit un phare d’espoir pour les autres. Au nom de Jésus, nous prions.

Au nom du Père, du Fils et du Saint-Esprit.

Paix et bien

In my teenage years, I stopped believing in Christianity with all the panoply of celestial entities, including the Guardian Angels.

Myth or Reality

God, Jesus, and even Mary, I accepted them later as a young adult. Still, for me, Guardian Angel is only a myth. I only paid attention once I became a senior, when long-term memory played a role in envisioning my past. Dumb I was, that’s not the word to be used; I was worse than dumb.

Stupidity… When I think about it, yeah, I was stupid back then; now I’m between six and seven years old.

We are in the sound of the years closing in on 1957; then, at home, we had a furnace in the kitchen that worked with oil. My father had two large drum barrels in the shed that he used to carry oil to the furnace.

On each tap, he attached an empty can of tomato juice to prevent the dripping of oil.

The memory:

As I grew older, I discovered that playing with matches at the taps of those drum barrels was a fun activity. When I lit a match and dropped it in the can, an entity seemed to blow on the match to extinguish it. Did that many times and always got the same result.

Also, I was protected a few times when taking curves at high speed on a motorcycle. I had to stop alongside the road to calm down. Mosley was alone, but I had my girlfriend on the bike twice.

Again, on the motorcycle returning from Toronto in the early morning, I fell asleep after driving all night from Ottawa.

In my blog, Holy Mary’s Miracle, I expect that my Guardian Angel was close to me also.

Hallelujah, Hallelujah!

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus

Let’s pray, Holy Spirit, we welcome You. Holy Spirit, we know You are the Counsellor of Truth, our help in need, and the One who fills us with the Spirit of God. Holy Spirit, we pray to come into greater communion with You this very day.

Hello friends,

My name is Eric Michel, and I’ve been a bivocational pastor for 36 years. That happened not too long ago, on  December 7.

I have a significant accent; I’m French from Quebec, Canada.

I’m a father and a grandfather. My spouse, Marie, and I now have six kids, all middle-aged adults and many grandchildren.

I have been a chaplain since 2010 and have been a member of the International Federation of Christian Chaplains, Inc. in Providence, Rhode Island, for over 12 years. I never had to preach or baptize, but I did celebrate weddings.

Chaplains are from different backgrounds; we are interdenominational. I have been in a Baptist worship,  a Catholic worship, a Methodist worship, a United worship, and a Pentecostal worship.

I come from a time when 90% of the population attended Sunday worship; today, it is hard to find 10%, and mainly, they have all gray heads. People didn’t stop believing; they just changed Jesus for the occult, Aliens,  mermade and the Saskash.

My topic for today is the “Devil and the Ouija Board.”

During these past holidays, I was a certified demonologist, yes, a big word, demonologists like Ed and Lorraine Warren.

Today, the Ouija board is the biggest seller in toy stores and on Amazon. 

It is a Yes Yes Board in English, translated from yes in French, oui and yes in German, Ja.

The Ouija board is not inherently bad; it is a communication tool like your cell phone, but the danger comes from what you do with it. If you notice that the Ouija board has no call display, you do not know who is at the other end.

Another thing from the spirit that answers your call is that the devil is a big liar, so he will tell you what you want to hear. Today, the devil managed to have a new board named the “Holy Spirit Board,” with pictures of God, Angels, a Holy Spirit Dove, and even a “Good Bye Jesus.” That is the biggest LIE ever; you want to talk with Jesus? It is done through your heart, in church and, of course, with us online. 

Don’t forget your readings in:

Deuteronomy 18

Deuteronomy 18:10-12 – “Let no one be found among you who… practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD.”

Leviticus 19:31 – “Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for they will defile you. I am the LORD your God.”

Isaiah 8:19 – “When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?”

Galatians 5:19 20 – “The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft. . . . As I did before, I warn you that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

If you play this game, you’ll be deceived; I’ll let you reflect on it and make an informed choice. Thanks for watching

 Satanism is a group of ideological and philosophical beliefs based on Satan, a figure of the devil in Christian belief who is also called Lucifer. Traditionally thought of as the worship or veneration of Satan and the subject of accusations by various Christian groups toward perceived ideological opponents through the centuries, self-identified Satanism is recent. The contemporary religious practice of Satanism began with the founding of the atheistic Church of Satan by Anton LaVey in the United States in 1966. Artists and entertainers have also used the concept of Satan for symbolic expression. Sharing “historical connections and family resemblances” and sometimes overlapping with Satanism is paganism, ceremonial magic, and “other dark entities such as Set, Lilith, Hecate, and Chaos,” from the occult and the ‘Left Hand Path’ milieu.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satanism

Definitions of Satanism are complicated by the fact that they include legends of figures and groups alleged to have committed horrible crimes, but who do not appear to have existed on the one hand, and figures such as Romantic Satanists, hellfire clubs and modern Satanists with very different views on who or what Satan was and represented. Some definitions offered by scholars include:

• The worship or veneration of the figure from Christian belief known as Satan, the Devil or Lucifer;
• the “intentional, religiously motivated veneration of Satan” (Religion scholar Ruben van Luijk);
• Ruben van Luijk has also called Satanism an invention of Christianity, relying on a character deriving from Christian mythology, i.e. Satan…

The object was purchased in a Value Village between 2007 and 2010. The goal was to teach about Satanism. Many other items were purchased then, like a set of Tarot cards that have nothing to do in principle with the devil.

Cleansing Ritual

Possessing humans, demons can also attach themselves to places, vehicles, and any other object. Attachment, sometimes called infestation, is often the early stage of possession. When I purchased this cross, no history came with it; who had it, what was it used for, and why was it found at Value Village?

Cleansing involves using sage to drive the demon away. I do this due to a lot of bad luck that has happened over the years, but I never link it to the devil, especially since the house is full of crosses, Catholic objects, and, of course, the Shrine. I use frankincense for the cleansing.

Note: The satanic cross is hidden in the house as the Right Revd. Marie will not be allowed to have it around us, nor an Ouija board.

Demonologists have nothing to do with the paranormal; according to Bishop James Long, the devils belong to theology.

We learn from Paralearning in Modern Demonology for Paranormal Investigators that the investigation process and communication with ghosts and devils are similar, like 

1. How to conduct a séance
2. How to call out to spirits
3. Knock once for no, twice for yes
4. etc.

The devil and the ghost are both spirit entities.

The difference lies in the surrounding elements; devils are uncomfortable with crucifixes unless they reveal their identity, at which point you’ll notice the difference.

And, of course, the devil lies, so hard to set them apart unless you know how to deal with the devil.

Michel de Notre-Dame

Why have I been trained as a demonologist after 36 years in ministry?

Good question, but no direct answer!

As I was born into a Catholic family, I heard about the devil at a very young age, but it was more about right and wrong. I learned about the devil in my primary classes, from third grade to sixth grade, in our Catechism class.

In the ministry training course, we learn about the devil in

• Demon​ Cultural Ontology A supernatural being: a spirit, a divine force, a semi-divine being, an evil spirit, or a malevolent force.
• Satan​ Devil, Systematic Theology
• ​Devil/Demon, a Supernatural Being, the adversary of God.
• Satan​ Devil, Cultural Ontology, An Evil Supernatural Being, Preaching Theme, Supernatural Being, The adversary of God.
• Concept
• Literature

Since my training was primarily focused on becoming a Chaplain, we didn’t cover much about the devil in Divinity courses.

WHY?

Following the Council of Vatican II and governments becoming increasingly secular, religion was removed from schools, hospitals, and other institutions. Most people of the generation after mine became atheists; also, we noticed an augmentation of people toward spiritism and occultism, with sentences like “spiritual but not religious? 

Roman Catholic parishes claim not to have enough exorcist priests; we are living in a funny world. 

1966

In 1966, 14-year-old Eric Michel was going to be fifteen at the end of that year. As mentioned, I entered the paranormal world with an essay on grade height requirements from our teacher, Mr. Cormier, on the topic of our choice. I choose UFO.

Taking notes from an organism bulletin, the Ufologist of Ottawa, who my father lay down on our buffet.

UFOs were one of many topics in my dad’s library…

In his collection of books, we could find:

• Sorciers d’aujourd’hui Editions de Crémille, Genève, 1970 height books
• All paranormal books collection J’ai lu, Belline, 1977
• Mystère de la mort Presses Universitaire, France, 1943 
• Cours pratique de graphologie, Henri Dangles, Paris, 1937
• Missals and other Catholic books
• And the most intriguing and want-to-know books for teenagers, The Grand Albert and the Petit Albert

Of course, I wasn’t allowed to read them, but when you’re a young, curious boy.

From those books, especially Petit Albert (Grimoire), I was more interested in because of its size, pocketbook and Petit Albert graphics.

• You learn how to make wands.
• Talismans
• A devil protection circle
• How to call the devils depends on your needs, as each devil has its unique power—a devil for love, another for money, etc.

The devil in my life and ministry was never a priority; I was dealing with more evil persons than the devil itself.

1. 2023 New Year’s Eve Demonology 101 with Bishop James Long
2. 2024 New Year’s Day Diploma in modern demonology for paranormal investigators

Those courses don’t make you a specialist, but they are enough to walk around if you are already a clergyman and, in my case, a paranormal ghost hunter since 2011.

Usage

Note in our class, Demonology 101, the teacher. The Right Reverend James Long,

mentioned that a Demonologist cannot perform exorcisms, but in the class of modern demonology for paranormal investigators, we learn how to perform an exorcism…

The ritual is two miles shorter than the Roman Catholic exorcism. Oh! By the way, the devil doesn’t belong to the Roman Catholic Church but to everybody, earth, human or animal event things. Demonology isn’t a subject that can be studied at university. It’s not a recognized profession, and the title has little or no credibility outside the church. By studying demonology, by the very nature of the title, we become a demonologist.

My goal, like Saint Francis of Assisi, is to help others, and as a chaplain, I have had the opportunity to do so in various ways. In all my years of ministry, I have crossed paths with only one person who asked me for an exorcism: John from Britania, Ottawa. Didn’t know what to do or what to say, and of course, I didn’t refer him to any other church because he had already been exorcist many times by other pastors or ministers.

Cannot say if I will or not cross another person like John, but it is better to be prepared than…

The Devil and Me

I have an ancient relationship with the devil, one that I’ve cultivated through books and cinema.

One of my interests is to see how Hollywood presents the devil.

“Fascinating,” will say Mr. Spock

The image of the devil is wrong, but they are more concentrated on scaring you and making money.

The devil in my book is an entity, a ghost, a spirit, an evil spirit but a spirit anyway. Everyone knows you cannot see a spirit, so you cannot have any image of the devil, ghosts, or angels, even if my sites are illustrated with those images.

Love the graphic of Angels and Demons in (Aquinas 101) on YouTube.

I noticed in the class on modern demonology for Paranormal Investigators that the terms used and descriptions can be found in many movies and documentaries, like The Conjuring by the Warrens.

When everyone uses the same language, it is more reassuring. 

God bless you!

Michel of Notre Dame