My family’s ever growing devotion to Mother Teresa has taken us on a challenging and fruitful journey. Through Blessed Teresa, Christ has offered us many consolations. The most recent is the winning of a contest for Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle’s new book, Mother Teresa and Me: Ten Years of Friendship.
It was a much needed consolation. We look forward to reading the book as a family.
Be sure to check out Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle’s blog, View From The Domestic Church.
Finding of the Relics of St. Stephen the First Martyr
This post is a tad late but I had to share. On Sunday, Aug 2 our parish celebrated the Finding of the Relics of St. Stephen the First Martyr – for the Parish’s patron. We celebrated with an annual pig roast and square dance. Yee haa!
St. Stephen the First Martyr – Pray for Us!
Litany of St. Stephen, Protomartyr
St. Stephen, the first Deacon and the Church’s first martyr for Christ, whom St. Luke calls “a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost,” was stoned to death by order of the Jewish Sanhedrin at Jerusalem, and among those taking part was Saul of Tarsus, the future St. Paul. As first of the witnesses of Christ, it is only right that St. Stephen should appear first in the procession of Saints who surround the cradle of the Saviour: his Feast is December 26. The finding of his relics at Kafr Gamala c. 415 is commemorated August 3 throughout the Western Church. His name is in the Canon of the Roman Mass. The above litany is in Sadlier’s Golden Manual of 1851; the Antiphon (from Acts 7: 54-60) and Versicle and Response (from same, sung after the Gradual in the Mass of Dec. 26) have been added and also the Collect for his Feast has been substituted in place of a prayer formerly attached to the litany.
St. Stephen, the first Deacon and the Church’s first martyr for Christ, whom St. Luke calls “a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost,” was stoned to death by order of the Jewish Sanhedrin at Jerusalem, and among those taking part was Saul of Tarsus, the future St. Paul. As first of the witnesses of Christ, it is only right that St. Stephen should appear first in the procession of Saints who surround the cradle of the Saviour: his Feast is December 26. The finding of his relics at Kafr Gamala c. 415 is commemorated August 3 throughout the Western Church. His name is in the Canon of the Roman Mass. The above litany is in Sadlier’s Golden Manual of 1851; the Antiphon (from Acts 7: 54-60) and Versicle and Response (from same, sung after the Gradual in the Mass of Dec. 26) have been added and also the Collect for his Feast has been substituted in place of a prayer formerly attached to the litany.
Antiphon: And they stoned Stephen, invoking and saying: Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And falling on his knees he cried with a loud voice, saying: Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep in the Lord.
V. I see the heavens opened,
R. And Jesus standing on the right hand of the power of God.
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us.
Saint Stephen, First Martyr, Pray for us. St. Stephen, who suffered for preaching the Name of Jesus Christ, Pray for us. St. Stephen, who so closely imitated Jesus in that great virtue of charity for thine enemies, Pray for us. St. Stephen, who when stoned by thine enemies, didst cast forth sparks, Pray for us. not of anger, but of love, to set on fire their hearts, harder than the stones which they threw, Pray for us. St. Stephen, having recommended thy soul to God, cried for mercy on the souls of thine enemies, Pray for us. St. Stephen, most zealous for the glory of God, b St. Stephen, most patient and constant, Pray for us. St. Stephen, pattern of chastity and purity, Pray for us. St. Stephen, whose heavenly fortitude caused admiration in all, St. Stephen, by whom so many miracles were wrought, Pray for us. St. Stephen, who, in the love of God, was not inferior to the Apostles themselves, Pray for us. St. Stephen, who didst convert many to the faith of Christ, Pray for us. St. Stephen, by whom the Church has received and continues to receive such singular benefits, Pray for us. St. Stephen, of whom it is said, that the Holy Ghost, Who inhabited thy soul, shone and darted forth His rays into thy body, Pray for us. St. Stephen, whose face shone like that of an angel, Pray for us. St. Stephen, filled with the faith and the Holy Ghost, Pray for us. St. Stephen, dear to the Heart of Jesus, Pray for us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us.
Saint Stephen, First Martyr, Pray for us. St. Stephen, who suffered for preaching the Name of Jesus Christ, Pray for us. St. Stephen, who so closely imitated Jesus in that great virtue of charity for thine enemies, Pray for us. St. Stephen, who when stoned by thine enemies, didst cast forth sparks, Pray for us. not of anger, but of love, to set on fire their hearts, harder than the stones which they threw, Pray for us. St. Stephen, having recommended thy soul to God, cried for mercy on the souls of thine enemies, Pray for us. St. Stephen, most zealous for the glory of God, b St. Stephen, most patient and constant, Pray for us. St. Stephen, pattern of chastity and purity, Pray for us. St. Stephen, whose heavenly fortitude caused admiration in all, St. Stephen, by whom so many miracles were wrought, Pray for us. St. Stephen, who, in the love of God, was not inferior to the Apostles themselves, Pray for us. St. Stephen, who didst convert many to the faith of Christ, Pray for us. St. Stephen, by whom the Church has received and continues to receive such singular benefits, Pray for us. St. Stephen, of whom it is said, that the Holy Ghost, Who inhabited thy soul, shone and darted forth His rays into thy body, Pray for us. St. Stephen, whose face shone like that of an angel, Pray for us. St. Stephen, filled with the faith and the Holy Ghost, Pray for us. St. Stephen, dear to the Heart of Jesus, Pray for us.
V. Obtain for us, O blessed Stephen, the virtue of holy charity:
R. For which thou wast so eminent and we are so needy
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us.
Let us pray. Grant to us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, so to imitate what we revere that we may learn to love even our enemies: for we celebrate him who could even plead on behalf of his persecutors with Thy Son Our Lord Jesus Christ. Who with Thee and the Holy Spirit livest and reignest God, world without end.
R. Amen.
Prayer Source: Kyrie Eleison — Two Hundred Litanies by Benjamin Francis Musser O.F.M., The Magnificat Press, 1944
Getting to Know Eachother
National Night Out is a night designated for neighbors to come together to form a community in hopes to making their area a safer place. My family organized our 4th NNO (2nd in this neighborhood). We pray that our neighborhood will remain safe and that we form a community that is pleasing to Our Lord. Novena to Discern God’s Holy Will
St. Ignatius of Loyola’s feast day is in 9 days, July 31. A mother from my parish’s homeschooling community has initiated the start of a Novena to St. Ignatius.
I thought it only fitting to accept the invite. I’ve just returned from a Silent Ignatius Retreat and can give testimony to St. Ignatius’ powerful intercession.
Please join me in prayer for the discernment of God’s Holy Will in all areas our lives, including homeschooling.
The Novena starts today (7.23). Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam
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NOVENA
Take, O Lord, and receive my entire liberty, my memory, my understanding and my whole will. All that I am and all that I possess You have given me: I surrender it all to You to be disposed of according to Your will. Give me only Your love and Your grace; with these I will be rich enough, and will desire nothing more.Grant, O Lord, that my heart may neither desire nor seek anything but what is necessary for the fulfillment of Thy holy Will. May health or sickness, riches or poverty, honors or contempt, humiliations, leave my soul in that state of perfect detachment to which I desire to attain for Thy greater honor and Thy greater glory.
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
O my God, teach me to be generous:to serve you as you deserve to be served;to give without counting the cost;to fight without fear of being wounded;to work without seeking rest;and to spend myself without expecting any reward,but the knowledge that I am doing your holy will.
Amen.
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
O my God, teach me to be generous:to serve you as you deserve to be served;to give without counting the cost;to fight without fear of being wounded;to work without seeking rest;and to spend myself without expecting any reward,but the knowledge that I am doing your holy will.
Amen.
Garage/PLAYROOM
My DH had a week to play as I was gone for retreat. He did play but he mostly worked….for me. I came home to a sparkling clean house (far better than I left it) and many surprises. One of which was Rose had surgery. Others included; our backyard was prepared for future landscaping; the school room was cleared out for a makeover; my bathroom and laundry room were deep cleaned; and our above ground pool was removed. The best surprise was my garage.
My garage has been completely filled from our move about 2 years ago. I was unable to help at that time because I was on bed rest with Papi. My DH and family packed and moved for me. This relieved me but meant that many things that I would of purged were sent to our new home. It has been somewhat overwhelming. In addition, I wanted to move our indoor play gym out of the house but not outdoors. The garage was the solution. It is rather large and would be a great playroom. All of our previous plans to turn the garage into the playroom were foiled. Until…..most recently when my husband decided to plot behind my back.
He rallied his newly retired mom. She is a super organizer/cleaner and now has plenty of free time on her hands. His dad also joined the crew. Together they all pulled off the best surprise ever!
Below are the pictures of our garage. It is not complete but I’m thrilled that the kiddos have a place to play other than under the stairs (the old playroom).
BEFORE
AFTER
HAPPY CUSTOMERS
Is there a Doctor in the House?
Two of our GFG have undergone dental surgery within the past 6 days. Rose had a check up (last Wed.) for her wisdom teeth. It was decided that they needed to be removed ASAP since the roots were growing into her sinuses. She had her surgery on Friday. I was away at a silent retreat and had no idea what was going on. It was one of many surprises awaiting me when I got home.
The most recent surgery was today, for Sweetie. She needed major dental work and complete anesthesia. The surgery was a success and she is now home recovering. PBTG!
My Time in the Desert
I’ve been on a Silent Ignatius Retreat for the past week. Our Lord is doing a work in me! I don’t even now where to begin. I’ll probably have to share a little at a time. For now, I’ll leave you with these thoughts:
“…the Spiritual Exercises are a most wise and universal code of laws for the direction of souls in the way of salvation and perfection”. – Pope Pius XI
Christ died for me. What have I ever done for Christ? What am I doing for Christ? What will I do for Christ? – Saint Ignatius
“There are few persons who realize what God would make of them if they abandoned themselves entirely to His hands, and let themselves be formed by His grace.” – St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus.
Life, Imagine the Potential
In the Arms of God
Why We Experience Our Misery
“The experience of your own misery is given to you precisely so that, without hesitation, you will throw yourself into the arms of your Blessed Mother. You should not doubt that She would receive you with great joy. Only then, when you are embraced and quieted as a child in the arms of God, can you and should you think about your misery.”
(Behold I Stand at the Door and Knock, pg. 93)
“The experience of your own misery is given to you precisely so that, without hesitation, you will throw yourself into the arms of your Blessed Mother. You should not doubt that She would receive you with great joy. Only then, when you are embraced and quieted as a child in the arms of God, can you and should you think about your misery.”
(Behold I Stand at the Door and Knock, pg. 93)
Family Night at the Pool
Last night was the girl’s last swim meet. Sparkles had two heats and Rose had three heats. Her last heat was the Medley which was the very last heat of the night. It was a very loooong evening. We had a JOYous time and I think both the girls set their PR.
