share our JOY

JOY{filled}family

striving to radiate Him always

St. Francis de Sales

by Filed Under: 01 January Saints, St. Francis de Sales

“Lord, I am yours, and I must belong to no one but you. My soul is yours, and must live only by you. My will is yours, and must love only for you. I must love you as my first cause, since I am from you. I must love you as my end and rest, since I am for you. I must love you more than my own being, since my being subsists by you. I must love you more than myself, since I am all yours and all in you. Amen”. ~ St. Francis de Sales, Treatise on the Love of God

SAINT FRANCIS DE SALES

Bishop and Doctor of the Church

Traditional Calendar January 29 ~ New Calendar January 24

Born on the border of Switzerland, into an old aristocratic family of Savoy, Francis of Sales became one of the foremost missioners of the Catholic Restoration. He drew Calvinists to the Church by his Christlike kindness; but after the winning of the heretics, the saint was very exacting in the direction of his converts. His writings are Christian classics in which he emphasizes the importance of a staunch Catholic laity, holding that it is an error to believe that piety is incompatible with any state of life. Francis of Sales was appointed bishop of Geneva in 1603. Seven years later, together with St. Jane de Chantal, he founded the Order of the Visitation. This holy and gentle apostle died in 1622.

He joyfully undertook this mission, and amid many dangers and struggles, is said to have recalled seventy-two thousand of these heretics to the Catholic Faith.

"Do you seek the higher things, such as prayer and meditation, the Sacraments leading souls to God and kindling good thoughts in them? Do all these good works according to your vocation; but meanwhile do not neglect your spindle and distaff. I mean, cultivate those little virtues which spring like flowers round the foot of the Cross, such as ministering to the poor and sick, family cares, and the duties arising therefrom, and practical diligence and activity; and amid all these things cultivate such spiritual thoughts. . . . Great occasions for serving God come seldom, but little ones surround us daily; and our Lord Himself has told us that ‘he that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much.’ If you do all in God’s Name, all you do will be well done." ~St. Francis de Sales

Francis%20de%20Sales

Patron: Authors; Diocese of Baker, Oregon; Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Ohio; Catholic press; Diocese of Columbus, Ohio; confessors; deaf people; deafness; Diocese of Wilmington, Delaware; educators; journalists; teachers; writers.

Symbols: Bald man with a long beard wearing a bishop’s robes holding a book; heart pierced with thorns or picture of the Virgin.

RESOURCES

litany27

“O love eternal, my soul needs and chooses you eternally! Ah, come Holy Spirit, and inflame our hearts with your love! To love — or to die! To die — and to love! To die to all other love in order to live in Jesus’ love, so that we may not die eternally. But that we may live in your eternal love, O Savior of our souls, we eternally sing, "Live, Jesus! Jesus, I love! Live, Jesus, whom I love! Jesus, I love, Jesus who lives and reigns forever and ever." Amen. ~ Treatise on the Love of God by Saint Francis de Sales

“Holy detachment is one of the virtues which Our Lord Jesus Christ spread abroad with a delightful scent. It was a lovely flower in His most holy passion. It is the most excellent of virtues because it shares in the firmness of charity, in the perfume of humiliy, in the merit of patience and in the fruit of perseverance. Great is this virtue, worthy of being practiced by all the children of God.” (Sermons 29; O. IX, p. 283)

"As soon as worldly people see that you wish to follow a devout life they aim a thousand darts of mockery and even detraction at you. The most malicious of them will slander your conversion as hypocrisy, bigotry, and trickery. . . .” ~St. Francis de Sales

“Do not look forward to what may happen tomorrow.  The same Everlasting Father, who takes care of you today, will take care of you tomorrow.  He will either shield you from suffering, or give you unfailing strength to bear it.  Be at peace then, and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations.”     ~St. Francis de Sales

 

originall posted – 1/29/2011 02:07:00 AM

The Holy Innocents

by Filed Under: Christmas, Holy Innocents

innocentsDuccio

HOLY INNOCENTS
Martyrs

Within the Octave of Christmas

DOUBLE, SECOND CLASS / PURPLE
There is mixed joy and sorrow in the feast of the innocent victims of the first persecution. The Church rejoices at the spiritual victory of the young witnesses to Christ. The purple vestments of the Mass denote the Church’s common grief with the mothers of Bethlehem, who saw their babies massacred by the jealousy of Herod.

 

Triumph of the Innocents, by William Holman Hunt, 1883-4

While it is easy to get lost in the nightmare of what happened to the Innocents, it’s to be remembered that they ultimately triumphed! They are Saints of God, as this painting by William Holman Hunt shows. The Innocents are seen with the Holy Family, in spirit, during the Family’s Flight to Egypt. ~ Fisheaters

RESOURCES:

  • A new tradition has been born in our home.  The youngest child will “rule for the day.”  I read about this custom here and here.  I thought it would be a nice plan for the day.  Papi (my 3 year old) had the same idea.  He woke up early and went downstairs to help himself to some left over candy pretxels and a movie.  He is always one step ahead of us.

Let us pray. O Lord Jesus Christ, once You embraced and placed Your hands upon the little children who came to You, and said: "Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven, and their angels always see the face of my Father!" Look now with fatherly eyes on the innocence of these children and their parents’ devotion, and bless them this day through our ministry. (The father signs the forehead of each child with the sign of the cross.) In Your grace and goodness let them advance continually, longing for You, loving You, fearing You, keeping Your commandments. Then they will surely come to their destined home, through You, Savior of the world. Who lives and reigns forever and ever. ~ Blessing of Children on Holy Innocents

May God bless you, and may He be the Guardian of your heart and mind —  In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.

Faithfilled Gifts

by Filed Under: Christmas, Crafts, FREE, Gifts, Prayer, Saint Cards

I am praying for you during this Holy season and throughout the New Year.  I also wanted to share my latest FREE online find.

I love creating things and always try to make my crafts faithfilled.  I usually  make my gifts and my gift tags.  However, this year I’ve spent more time giving the gift of myself, being present for my family and less time focusing on presents.   Needless to say, there has not been much time for handmade gifts this year.  I did keep it simple but the gifts lacked the faithfilled touch that (I believe) should always be present.  That led me on a search for Holy gift tags.

I found the most charming faithfilled CATHOLIC gift tags.  They are free and printable.  Did I mention that they are FREE!!! 

HRBanner2

The site is Holy Reflections.  It is a creation of Mildred Lee Bozeman. 

I received my love of God from my Mother, my love of collecting from my Father, and my love for antiques from his two sisters, so it seems only natural that one day I would begin a collection of antique holy cards. These old holy card images enhance your meditation during prayers and they assist you in expressing the deepest feelings of your heart and soul to God. My holy card collection has enriched my faith, renewed my spirit, and increased my joy. That is why it is so important to me to be able to share it with you. I add prayers to the back of the scanned images, laminate them and give them away to people as gifts. I have given them to strangers, the homeless, family, and friends. It is my small way of giving back what God has given to me. Remaining always grateful to my Lord Jesus Christ whom without I can do nothing. ~ Mildred

The collection at Holy Reflections is endless!

Here are some items that I used for Christmas gift giving and wrapping…..

FREE Printable Religious Gift Tags      Prayer For Peace Card     Advent Stationary     Prayer to the Most Loving Infant Jesus     The Joys of a Divine Advent    

Here are a few more items that I have used or will be using in the very near future.

First Communion Prayer Card     The Hearts of Jesus and Mary Consecration Prayer Cards     Ava Maria Prayer Cards  Our Lady of Perpetual Help      Adoration   Holy Souls Reflections and Prayer Cards      Images from a 1870 French Catholic Prayer Book  FREE Printable Stationary  Antique Holy Card Slide Show    

ENJOY AND SHARE IN THE BLESSINGS!

HRBanner1

Check out Holy Reflections FaceBook Page for site updates.

Mildred also provided a link to her friend’s site.  Julie Brown offers an additional array of antique holy cards for a fee at Holy Cards.

Chocolate Peppermint Crinkle Cookies

by Filed Under: Advent, Christmas, Cookies, Recipe 4 Comments

cookie exchangeA friend hosted a Cookie Exchange during the first week of December for moms and daughters.  It was a great outing and jump start for Christmas baking.

Rose and I decided to try a new recipe.  We were in a chocolatey mood and liked the look of Chocolate Crinkles.  We used Bakers Royal recipe for Chocolate Peppermint Crinkle Cookies.

Rose found this to be a simple and fun recipe.  She noted that she would use less powdered sugar.   Also, we tried the Crinkles with and without peppermint.  Peppermint is the way to go!

I printed the recipe on the JOY cards for all to take home.

A tall glass of milk is definitely needed.  This is one rich cookie, just the way my kids like them!

sweetie cookie exchange

check out more cookie ideas at Catholic Cuisine’s Christmas Cookie Recipe Exchange and our last year’s Christmas cookie post.

Subscribe to our Newsletter