# Ninth anniversary show
*2016-11-26*

> Bill Young celebrates nine years of the Prayer & Lunch podcast, shares recent news, and leads a prayer of petition to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal.

## Celebrating nine years

Good afternoon, this is Bill Young. Today marks the ninth anniversary of the Prayer & Lunch podcast. Since we began, we’ve had over 247,000 views, more than 120,000 media plays, and about 11,000 individual listeners. I’m grateful for the many referrals and comments that have helped spread the show.

## Recent news and the need for prayer

I’ve just returned from a weekend in Orlando visiting my son, and I’ve been busy working games for the Florida Panthers and the Miami‑Dade County Foundation. Both teams won, which was a nice blessing.

In the world, the death of Fidel Castro last weekend has raised urgent concerns for the people of Cuba and for families in South Florida with loved ones there. Many hope for greater religious freedom, press freedom, and the ability to speak out without fear. A member of a Cuban sisterhood who was jailed for speaking out was mentioned by my wife, underscoring the need for prayer.

## Prayer of petition to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal

Today is the first day of Advent, and I would like to lead the traditional prayer of petition to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, which is customarily recited at 5:30 p.m. on November 27. Though I’m a few minutes late, the prayer can be said at any time in urgent need.

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen.

Immaculate Virgin, we know that you are always ready to hear the prayers of your children in this valley of tears. Yet there are special hours when you pour forth an abundance of grace. Therefore, O Mary, we turn to you and prostrate ourselves before you at the blessed hour you chose for the Miraculous Medal. We come with gratitude and boundless trust, thanking you for the great gifts you have bestowed on us through your image, a sign of your love and protection.

We promise to keep the medal close, that it may be a source of guidance and love. May the precious heart represented on the medal ever rest in our hearts, inflaming us with love for Jesus and strengthening us to bear our cross each day.

Grant, O Mother, that this hour may bring forth a torrent of graces, the prodigies that flood the earth through the medal. May it be an hour of true conversion, where those who ask in faith receive your great graces. We do not merit these gifts, but we turn to you, Mother of all, for mercy.

Through your Immaculate Conception, obtain for us comfort of the afflicted, healing for the sick, peace for families, and protection from danger. May the medal bring consolation to those who weep and strength to all.

We also pray for the conversion of sinners, especially those dear to us, that they may come to know Christ through your intercession.

We conclude with the Hail Holy Queen:

Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To you we cry, the banished children of Eve. Turn to us, gracious advocate, and show us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus. O loving Virgin Mary, pray for us that we may be made worthy of Christ’s promises.

We repeat three times:

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us.

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

## Closing prayer and thanks

May God bless you all. Thank you, Mary, and all the saints and angels in heaven for allowing this podcast to exist. With God’s will, may we reach our tenth anniversary next year, blessed and fruitful. Amen.

Thank you for listening. Please feel free to comment, share, and pray with us.

*May we continue to grow in faith together, trusting in Mary’s intercession.*