Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

“Again Jesus left the district of Tyre and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, into the district of the Decapolis. And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment and begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him off by himself away from the crowd. He put his finger into the man’s ears and, spitting, touched his tongue; then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him, “Ephphatha!”— that is, “Be opened!” —And immediately the man’s ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed, and he spoke plainly. He ordered them not to tell anyone. But the more he ordered them not to, the more they proclaimed it. They were exceedingly astonished and they said, “He has done all things well. He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.” -Mark 7:31-37
 
Like this man, I, too, suffered severe speech impediments. One day during Mass, the Lord said to me, “You can speak like them,” and from that moment, I was healed. I went decades without telling anyone, but now I cannot help but shout out the words He gives me.
 
Before each speech I give or word I write, I ask for Ephphatha. I offer this prayer for myself and anyone who will ever hear or read those words. Incorporate this call for Ephphatha into your own lives.
 
Heavenly Father, send down your Holy Spirit to open our ears that we may hear, and give us the words that we may speak your Truth. Let them see what I have seen and feel what I have felt; in Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen
 
 Saint Adrian of Nicomedia, pray for us.
 
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Jesus, I trust in you.