share our JOY

JOY{filled}family

striving to radiate Him always

Patronal Feast of the Altar Guild

by Filed Under: 12 December Saints, Altar Guild, St. Stephen the First Martyr Leave a Comment

We celebrate the feast of St. Stephen the First Martyr with a great devotion. He is the first martyr and patron of our parish & the patron of the Confraternity that my boys are honored to be enrolled in.

Currently, we have four of our five boys serving at the altar. The oldest of the five was promoted to the highest honors of MC having studied diligently with Father’s guidance to serve as MC for Solemn High Mass. The next in line received his medal for Thurifier.  The third has advanced to Torch Bearer. The fourth is eagerly following in their footsteps.  We all look forward to when our littlest one can join them to serve at Holy Mass. 

We assisted at a Solemn High Mass for the special feast and ceremony. 

In the past, Father emphasized the next step for altar servers, the priesthood for those who answer the call to give their entire life for Christ.  And he addressed the general call for all — to serve. 

To further impress the significance of the guild and its patron to the young men and all the faithful, Father reviewed the guild’s rich symbolism. Below is a snippet of what was shared.

➕

Guild’s logo and motto:

Cui Servire Regnare Est

Latin for “He who serves reigns” or “To serve is to reign”.

It is in imitation of Our Lord, Who did not come to be served, but to serve. Blessed is he who serves the Lord at His Holy Altar.

CROWN OF MARTYRDOM

One of the symbols attributed to the Martyrs. It is the crowning triumph of giving one’s life completely to Christ. Saint Stephen has the distinction of being the Protomartyr, or the first Martyr to shed his blood and die for Christ and His Kingdom.

TWIN-SET OF PALMS

The Palm of Martyrdom is another symbol attributed to the Martyrs. The palm symbolizes the triumph of the spirit over the flesh in the earthly battle for eternal salvation.

CHI-RHO

An ancient monogram for the name of Christ, which combines the Greek letters X and P. It was the symbol of victory that Christ revealed to Constantine: In hoc signo vinces!” “In this sign you shall conquer!”

Red cord

The medal is hung from a red cord worn which symbolizes the blood that St. Stephen the Protomartyr shed for Christ.

➕We pray that our boys always offer themselves to God almighty, to blessed Mary, our Mother and to their holy patron, St. Stephen.

🎥An overview of the Medal Ceremony for the Guild on their patronal feast — not all altar boys were in attendance. #jffaltarguild

Advent Joy

by Filed Under: Advent Leave a Comment

A sweet treat in late Advent for my children.

This last week of Advent has taken on a different outward look for us since having a birthday boy on Dec 20. But despite the external festivities we continue to go deeper into Advent, spiritually. We trust it’s how God desires it for our family and give thanks for it all.

#traditionalcatholicfamily #traditionalcatholic #joyfilledfamilyadvent #catholicadvent

New Traditions

by Filed Under: Advent Leave a Comment

Today, two of the boys woke up early with Dad to assist at Holy Mass and prepare the church for Christmas. They’ve yet to sleep in since we stopped lessons.

Last week they set up the Nativity at the State Capital. It is planned to stay up until Epiphany.

I’m loving the new traditions that we’ve taken on — all at the lead of my husband.

The little boys and I began to clean the house while the big girls took a well deserved outing.

Our oldest son picked out a tree from the free-lot and all were eager to get it up.

We continued to clean like all other times — mixed with bouts of rough housing.

The silence is almost never to my desire. Yet, I count it all a joy and trust that we are right where we ought to be.

We’re willing & ready to offer these last hours to go deeper into our Journey to Bethlehem, preparing for the Christ Child.

Tomorrow will bring more silence and the fast & abstinence is sure to be felt more than ever. 🙏🏼

➕
Remember Thy apostles and Thy martyrs; remember Thy saints who have founded Churches, and honoured them by their virtues and miracles; remember Thy bride the Church, and support her during her earthly pilgrimage, until the number of Thy elect is filled up.

She longs to possess Thee in the eternal light of the vision; but Thou hast given her a heart with such mother’s love, that she will not leave her children as long as there is one to save, nor cease to save until that day come when there shall no more be a militant Church, but the one sole triumphant Church, inebriated with the enjoyment of the sight and embraces of her God.

But that last day has not yet come, O Jesus! there is yet time for Thee to descend from heaven and visit Thy vineyard.

Restore to the branches of the tree the leaves which have fallen in the storm of iniquity.

Let this tree of Thy predilection bud forth new branches; and the old ones, which have separated from it, and have seemed to force Thy justice to cast them in the fire, let them be once more grafted on the parent trunk, so torn by their rupture from her.

Come, O Jesus, for the sake of Thy Church; she is dearer to Thee than was the Jerusalem of old. #domprospergueranger

Subscribe to our Newsletter