Lena {JOYfilledfamily}

She’s 7!

June 10, 2010 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Sparkles

Sparkles turned 7 on May 18, the day after her new brother was born. She is now part of the club. Each child shares a birth month with another family member, in fact they are each 1 day apart from their “birthday buddy.”

Rose – March 29

Mom – March 30

Baby G – May 17

Sparkles – Ma7 18

Papi – August 24

Sweetie – August 25

Dad – Nov. 18

no “birthday buddy”

Don’t ask me how this happened. It’s beyond us but the kids sure do enjoy sharing a month with one another.

Sparkles prayed that her baby brother would be born on her birthday. She saw the special surprise that Sweetie received from my parents when Papi was born, an impromptu birthday at Chuck E Cheese. We do not go to Chuck E Cheese so this has been a real treat.

Sparkles started planning her celebration early on and was a little bummed when I went to the hospital on Sunday, May 16. Nonetheless, she continued to pray and her faithfulness was my cross. Baby G was born 1 day later on May 17.

Sparkles celebrated as planned when we arrived home from the hospital on May 18. Baby G and I stayed home.

Mediatrix of All Graces

June 8, 2010 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: First Communion JOY, Marian

My First Communion JOY Party was scheduled to end today (June 8, 2010) but the deadline has been extended for another year, God willing!

The Litany of The Blessed Virgin Mary Mediatrix of All Grace

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven, Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Ghost, Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, Have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, pray for us!
Mother of God, and our Mother, pray for us!
True Mother of the living, pray for us!
Mother regenerating men in Christ unto God, pray for us!
Mother of piety and of grace, pray for us!
Mother of pardon and remission, pray for us!
Partner in human redemption, pray for us!
Recoverer of a lost world, pray for us!
Recoverer of the ages, pray for us!
Petitioner of all graces, pray for us!
Suppliant all-powerful, pray for us!
Advocate with thy Son for thy sons, pray for us!
Obtainer of the divine mercy, pray for us!
Dispenser of heavenly treasures, pray for us!
Handmaid of divine blessings, pray for us!
Fullness of grace to overflow upon all, pray for us!
Succor of the Church Militant, pray for us!
Ready helper of those in peril, pray for us!
Devoted consoler of the sorrowful, pray for us!
Conqueress of all error, pray for us!
Protectress of the world, pray for us!
Impregnable protection, pray for us!
Propitiation of the divine wrath, pray for us!
Refuge of all the unhappy, pray for us!
Shelter of orphans, pray for us!
Assured safety of the faithful, pray for us!
Hope of all who despair, pray for us!
Stay of the falling, pray for us!
Uplifter of the fallen, pray for us!
Cheer and comfort of the dying, pray for us!
Peace and joy of mankind, pray for us!
Our life, our sweetness and our hope, pray for us!
Gate of Paradise, pray for us!
Mystical stair of Jacob, pray for us!
Key of the heavenly kingdom, pray for us!
Channel of divine graces, pray for us!
Throne of divine clemency, pray for us!
Fountain of living waters, pray for us!
Fountain sealed by the Holy Spirit, pray for us!
Unfailing stream of mercy, pray for us!
Asylum of the erring, pray for us!
Haven of the shipwrecked, pray for us!
Shining star of the sea, pray for us!
Light of those who sit in darkness, pray for us!
Chamber of spiritual nuptials, pray for us!
Mediatrix of men with God, pray for us!
Mediatrix after the Mediator, pray for us!
Mediatrix reconciling us to the Son, pray for us!
Mediatrix of sinners, staunch and true, pray for us!
Mediatrix of all beneath the sky, pray for us!
Mediatrix ever pleading for us, pray for us!
Mediatrix set between Christ and His Church, pray for us!
Mediatrix who hast found favor with God, pray for us!
Mediatrix to win salvation for the world, pray for us!
Mediatrix of the mysteries of God, pray for us!
Mediatrix of all graces, pray for us!
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us.

V. Pray for us, our powerful Mediatrix,
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ!
Let us Pray.
O Lord Jesus Christ, our Mediator with the Father, Who hast deigned to appoint the Blessed Virgin, Thy Mother, to be our Mother also and our Mediatrix with Thee, graciously grant that whosoever goes to Thee in quest of blessings may be gladdened by obtaining them all through her, Thou Who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. R. Amen.

Prayer of Petition

O Ever-Virgin Mother of God and Mediatrix of Grace who art the House of Gold within which dwells thy Son, our Mediator, Jesus Christ, we humbly beseech thee to grant our requests for our salvation and the salvation of the entire world. (Here pause and make your requests) Keep us close to the Vicar of thy Son in the unity of the One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic and Roman Church. Hear our prayer and grant the requests we make to thee.

St. Joseph, Intercede for us.
St. Jude Thaddeus, Pray for us.
St. Mary of Cleophas, Pray for us.
St. Philip Neri, Pray for us.
St. Louis Grignion de Montfort, Pray for us.
St. Maximillian Kolbe, Pray for us.

Prayer Source: Prayers from Various Websites

QUOTES:

“It is accepted as certain and irrefutable in the Catholic Church, although it is not yet declared as a dogma, that the Mother of God is the Mediatrix of All Graces." ~ St. Maximillian Mary Kolbe-Franciscan Martyr of Auschwitz

… in suffering with Him as He died on the cross, she cooperated in the work of the Savior, in an altogether singular way, by obedience, faith, hope, and burning love, to restore supernatural life to souls. As a result she is our Mother in the order of grace. ~ The Second Vatican Council (Lumen gentium ## 61-62)

"To Mary, His faithful spouse, God the Holy Ghost has communicated His unspeakable gifts; and He has chosen her to be the dispensatrix of all He possesses, in such sort that she distributes to whom she wills, as much as she wills, as she wills and when she wills, all His gifts and graces. The Holy Ghost gives no heavenly gift to men which does not pass through her virginal hands." ~St. Louis De Montfort

"All the saints have a great devotion to Our Lady: no grace comes from Heaven without passing through her hands. We cannot go into a house without speaking to the doorkeeper. Well, the Holy Virgin is the doorkeeper of Heaven.” ~St. John Vianney

Letter from Mother Teresa

Corpus Christi

June 8, 2010 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Corpus Christi, Parish

Sunday, June 6, 2010

2nd Sunday after Pentecost

Corpus Christi Procession

AUDIO SANCTO – Corpus Christi: Reverence for the Real Presence

Communion Prayers

May 31, 2010 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: First Communion, First Communion JOY, Prayers

A collection of prayers for First Holy Communicants

He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has life everlasting and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. (John 6:55-56)

A Prayer for those who are preparing Children for their First Holy Communion

O Jesus, who hast loved us with such exceeding great love
as to give us the ineffable gift of the Holy Eucharist,
inflame us with a burning zeal to promote Thy glory
by preparing worthily the little children
who are to approach Thy holy table for the first time.
Protect, O Sacred Heart of Jesus,
these young souls from the assaults of evil,
strengthen their faith,
increase their love and endow them
with all the virtues that will make them worthy to receive
Thee.
Amen.

Saint John the Baptist, forerunner of the Messias, prepare the way for Jesus in the hearts of these children.
Saint Tarcisius, keep safe the children who are making their first Communion.

My First Holy Communion
The first time I received Jesus was a wondrous day for me! To be united with Christ my Savior Who dies for us on Calvary. This card reminds me to thank Him for the special gift He gave. The sacrament of Holy Eucharist through which we are all saved. It helps me think of the first time Jesus came into my heart and if I follow His message He and I will never part. As Jesus said on that holy night so many years ago if we take and eat this bread Eternal Life we will know. Each time I receive communion I’ll think of His love for me and I’ll thank Him for giving to us the greatest miracle in history.

Prayer at a Child’s First Communion

Lord Jesus Christ, in the Sacrament of
the Eucharist You left us the outstanding manifestation of your limitless love for us.
Thank You for giving our child the
opportunity to experience this love
in receiving the Sacrament for the first time.
May your Eucharist presence keep him/her ever free from sin, fortified in faith, pervaded by love for God and neighbor, and fruitful in virtue, that he/she may continue to receive You throughout life and attain final union with You at death. Amen.

To My Godchild on your First Holy Communion

My prayer for you is one of love. May you know our Father above Will always be your guide. As you travel life’s path seek His ways, May the peace and joy of His love Be with you all of your days.

Additional Resources:

CATECHETICAL MEETING OF THE HOLY FATHER WITH CHILDREN WHO HAD RECEIVED THEIR FIRST COMMUNION DURING THE YEAR

The Holy Father speaks to Children: Your First Holy Communion

Pope comments on 1st Communion, Fatima intercession

Preparing for First Holy Communion – Catholic Culture

Saint Thérèse’s First Communion, 8 May 1884

St Gemma Galgani -A Patron Saint for children and First Communion

Preparing for First Holy Communion – Shower of Roses

He’s Here…Our Newest Gift From God (GFG)

May 28, 2010 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Baby, GFG

It’s been about two weeks since we welcomed our newest blessing. Our blessing was born on Monday, May 17. He weighed in at 9.14 pounds of yuminess. Yes, he was a big boy.

I’ve been too busy loving on him, resting and sharing my JOY with my family to be able to post on the blog. However, I have been able to find time here-and-there to write in my journal.

I completed my birth story and began to log pictures. I want to do my best to record all life’s precious moments that have been gifted to us by our most loving Father. Not to mention, the journaling helps when your memory becomes shady and begins to mix up events of the children. Yes, I’m speaking from experience.

Time for me to go, baby beckons and this nursing and typing with one hand is not working for me. I hope to be back soon with more pictures.