What traditional Catholics will do.
What every person in authority should remember.
What good fathers must do.
What we fight for….
It is more than “just” the Mass of the ages — it is for our traditions, the Faith of our fathers. 🙏🏼
striving to radiate Him always
by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: 10 October, Christ the King, Pilgrimage, Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Bethlehem Leave a Comment
What traditional Catholics will do.
What every person in authority should remember.
What good fathers must do.
What we fight for….
It is more than “just” the Mass of the ages — it is for our traditions, the Faith of our fathers. 🙏🏼
by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: 10 October, Pumpkin Patch Leave a Comment
Our little ones finally got their first trip to a pumpkin patch!
1.5 hours on the Pumpkin Maze
Corn Pit
Super Slide
Trike derby
Air Trampoline
Hay bale tag
Paintball range
Hayride
Friends
Family
Sisters
Deo gratias!
by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: 10 October Saints, Our Lady of the Rosary, Rosary Leave a Comment
Happy feast of THE MOST HOLY ROSARY!
May we pray the daily rosary and may Our Lady of the Rosary give us the grace to persevere.
Holy Mother Church has also granted many indulgences for praying the Holy Rosary — may we not squander the opportunity of gaining any one of these indulgences.
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St. Dominic, the founder of the order of Friar Preachers, having recourse to the Blessed Virgin in order to stem the flood of the Albigensian heresy, which was spreading itself like a plague over many countries, but especially over France, instituted, by special revelation from her, in the year 1206, and afterwards very effectually promulgated, the devotion of the holy Rosary, which ever since has produced now for many ages the most marvellous results in the Christian world.
In order to animate all the faithful often to have recourse to the Blessed Virgin by using this devotion, Pope Benedict XIII. granted, by his Brief, Sanctissimus, of April 13, 1726, to all who say with contrition the whole Rosary of fifteen decades, or the third part of it of five decades –
i. An indulgence of 100 days for every Pater noster and every Ave Maria.
ii. A plenary indulgence to all who shall say the third part of it once every day for a year; on any one day in the year, after Confession and Communion.
The present Sovereign Pontiff Pius IX., by a decree of the S. Congr. of Indulgences of May 12, 1851, confirmed these Indulgences, and granted besides –
iii. An indulgence of seven years and seven quarantines to every one who with contrition shall say a third part of the Rosary in company with others, either in public or private.
iv. A plenary Indulgence, on the last Sunday in every month, to all who are in the habit of saying with others, at least three times a week, the said third part of the Rosary; provided that on that Sunday they shall, after Confession and Communion, visit a church or public oratory, and pray there for a time according to the mind of his Holiness.
To gain these Indulgences it is requisite that the Rosaries should be blessed by religious of the order of Friar-Preachers, and that, during the recital of the Rosary, meditation be made on the mysteries of the Birth, Passion, Death, Resurrection, and of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to the decree of the S. Congr. of Indulgences of August 12, 1726, approved by the above-named Pope Benedict XIII.
Note, moreover, that our holy Father declared, in his Constitution Pretiosus, of May 16, 1727, § 4, that simple people who could not meditate might obtain the Indulgence by merely saying the Rosary devoutly.
Observe also that all persons enrolled in the Confraternity of the Rosary, wherever It has been canonically erected, gain many other Indulgences when they say the Rosary, or do any other pious work.
See the Brief of the venerable Pontiff Innocent XI., Nuper pro parte, of July 31, 1679; also another Brief of Pius VII., Ad augendam, of February 16, 1808, and the above-named decree of Pope Pius IX., of May 12, 1851.
#raccolta
by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: 10 October Saints, Fr. Francis Xavier Weninger, St. Bruno Leave a Comment
Yes, we have a skull on display in our home all year round. No, it’s not a Halloween decoration.
It is to remind us of the reality of our death and to prompt us to meditate on the Four Last Things, often.
It is our desire to prepare well for our true home. This requires that we keep it ever before our eyes!
“Remember thy last end, and thou shalt never sin.”
Many saints such as Mary Magdalene, Jerome, Francis of Assisi, and Ignatius of Loyola are pictured with a skull.
Todays saint (10.6) is also one pictured with the skull. Below is practical consideration given by #frweninger
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Practical Considerations
A great and celebrated Doctor, who, to all appearance, had lived piously, died after receiving the holy Sacraments; but was condemned. Truly a terrible event! He had either received the holy Sacraments unworthily, or had afterwards committed a mortal sin and died in it.
Those who have received the sacraments do not always die happy. Not all who confess and partake of the blessed Eucharist before their end, save their souls. Many confess and receive holy Communion on their death-bed and yet are condemned. Among them are, first, those who, when in health have often received the holy Sacraments unworthily, either by willfully concealing a mortal sin in confession, or by not repenting of their misdeeds, or by not having the firm purpose, not only of avoiding all sin but also all occasion of sin; and who, in this state, dare to partake of holy Communion.
The shame which keeps them from rightly confessing their sins in health, is with many, much greater at the hour of death than it was before. The Evil One makes them believe that their sickness is not dangerous, and that they will be better able to confess this sin when they are well again; or that it is impossible to repeat all their former unworthy confessions. Hence it happens, that as, in health, they made bad confessions and unworthy communions, so in sickness, they do the same.
Secondly, those who have lived a long time in great hatred, not forgiving their enemies. Thirdly, those who were addicted to the vice of unchastity, and did not endeavor to reform while they had health.
These have every reason to fear that, although they receive the holy Sacraments worthily on their death-bed, they may afterwards fall again into the old sin, die in it, and thus go to eternal perdition; because the Evil One returns to the attack after they have received the Sacraments, and most vividly represents to them the wrong done them, and renews their hatred or the sensual delight in which they formerly indulged, and makes them sin by complacency and desire. As they have been accustomed to yield to the temptations of the devil, they will then very easily be again overcome; and should they die without another, confession, or if this is impossible, without perfect contrition, they will most surely be condemned.
Oh! that the three classes of men above mentioned would rightly consider the terrible danger of their situation. If you would avoid it, confess and receive holy Communion as you ought.
Do not harbor any hatred in your heart, and be not a slave to the sin of impurity, or, if unhappily it has taken hold of you, tear yourself away from it.
Accustom yourself always to fight bravely against the temptations of Satan.
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Saint Bruno was filled with a wholesome terror by the miserable end of the celebrated Doctor (who lived piously and went to hell despite receiving the Holy sacraments on his death bed), and resolved to live in great austerity, in order to be able to justify himself before the judgment-seat of the Almighty and to escape hell.
You hear and read so many awful examples of persons dying without time for repentance. Why then do you not determine to do penance and reform?
I fear you do not consider as earnestly as Saint Bruno did, what it is to appear before the judgment-seat of a just and omniscient Judge, or what it is to be eternally lost.
For your own salvation, I exhort and beseech you to think in future frequently on the judgment of God. Think often of hell.
“Think of the divine judgment,” says Saint Cyril of Jerusalem, “and neither impurity nor any other vice will gain power over you. As soon as you forget God and His judgment, you will think of sin and you will commit it.”
“I beseech you,” says Saint Chrysostom, “think of hell. The Evil One leaves nothing undone to make you forget hell. By thinking earnestly of hell, we prevent our falling into it.”
“For what should we ask St. Bruno on his feast day?
We also should ask St. Bruno to watch over the desolate situation of the Catholic Church, and help to restore her, and in her, the order that he founded, the Carthusians.”
#profpliniocorreadeoliveira
by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Marriage, Q&A Leave a Comment
The original question is as follows,
How to suffer through unequally yoked spouse (different levels of Catholicism)?
I opted not to address the specifics of suffering because of its dependence on various variables. One must consider the state in life, duties, spirituality, means, and much more when discerning what is permissible to offer as reparation or to handle suffering. It is really a question for a spiritual director, solid priest of tradition. The grace & state of duty matter, do not let anyone convince you that a priest is not needed as a spiritual director.
We’ve even had a traditional priest instruct us that the the spiritual director should have been a priest for a minimum of 6 years prior to offering direction.
But there are a couple of necessities, no matter the specifics. I touched upon those in the video below. I also covered what is required of the mother whose husband is not fulfilling his duty of leading the family.
In Christo Rege,
Lena
by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: 10 October Saints, 11 November Saints, All Hallow's Eve, All Saints Day Leave a Comment
If you’ve been around here long enough, you know where we stand. But we haven’t always opted to not partake in the “innocent” parts of Halloween. We used to dress up our young one in secular cute costumes and allow them to collect treats from loved ones. We shifted as we learned more, Enthroned our home to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and were convicted to live more radically for Christ.
Having been invited to an All Saints’ Party (18 years ago) at a traditional Latin Mass parish was a big help for us to follow His promptings and ditch the secular celebrations of Halloween.
Below are a few resources that I’ve shared previously on Instagram. I’m sharing here in efforts to make it easier for people to find as it is a question that I get every year.
May we work to reinstitute the Catholic customs and celebrate happy and holy feasts of All Saints & All Souls.
You’ll find many traditional Catholics in both camps. Without Church teaching, we are free to discern for ourselves/families.
We’ve found that current Halloween celebrations
are so far removed from anything of the Faith and
does not help to bring one closer to God. Also,
the holiday itself is so immersed in the occult at this point that we opted to have nothing to do with it.
For us, it is simple. We’ve asked, how does this serve us in growing closer to Christ?
We desire to raise holy & happy (not as the world
provides) children.
Instead, we prepare for All Saints Day and All
Souls Day with festivities on All Hallows’ Eve with like minded families. We observe the Vigil of All Saints with a fast and partial abstinence, as the Church has traditionally set.
We attend Holy Mass on All Saints Day as the Church requires.
To clarify from my recent stories/posts, there is not an official church teaching on the celebration of Halloween. If you haven’t already caught on, my family doesn’t celebrate Halloween — anymore. As my husband and I learned more and grew in our Faith, we sought to do things differently and correct our ways. I don’t place judgement on what another has discerned for their family. But I do share that which has helped us along and continues to challenge us to do more and do better for the glory of God.
by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: 10 October Saints, St. Therese Leave a Comment
I rejoice for all those who have received their “sweet rose,” consolation on today’s feast of the beloved Little Flower.
We celebrate by buying our own flowers and decorating for Fall as we invoke the intercession of this meek but fierce saint.
May we, like St. Therese of Lisieux not fear in these difficult days to ask Our Lady for everything: that she permit us to serve her in the defense of the Catholic Cause, that we might be saints, that the Church might be restored, that Her Reign might come, that Her Immaculate Heart be victorious.
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Below is a brief mediation from St. Therese.
Jesus set the book of nature before me and I saw that all the flowers he has created are lovely.
The splendor of the rose and the whiteness of the lily do not rob the little violet of its scent nor the daisy of its simple charm.
I realized that if every tiny flower wanted to be a rose, spring would lose its loveliness and there would be no wildflowers to make the meadows gay. It is just the same in the world of souls – which is the garden of Jesus.
He has created the great saints who are like the lilies and the roses, but he has also created much lesser saints and they must be content to be the daisies or the violets which rejoice his eyes whenever he glances down.
Perfection consists in doing his will, in being that which he wants us to be.
Jesus, help me to simplify my life by learning what you want me to be – and becoming that person.
– Saint Therese of Lisieux, from Story of a Soul
We have never received sweet roses or flowers from the beloved St. Therese and that’s ok. We trust that she has been a faithful intercessor to us.
We continue to pray to become “little birdies,” live a life of simplicity, and follow her footsteps to Our Lord.
We will continue to buy our Fall flowers on this glorious feast of the LITTLE FLOWER and give thanks for all of our blessings & the consolations that we have received.
I’d love to hear about your sweet flowers — gifts from St. Therese or purchased. 😉
Happy feastday of St. Therese. May you have a blessed month of The Holy Rosary & Holy Angels.
by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: 09 September Saints, Fr. Francis Xavier Weninger, St. Jerome Leave a Comment
Today’s saint, the last for the month of September, impresses upon us the necessity to keep our last judgment on the forefront of our minds and hearts.
Below are practical considerations for St. Jerome from Father Francis Xavier Weninger, DD, SJ., 1876.
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Saint Jerome, while in the wilderness, was often disturbed by the recollection of scenes which he had beheld at Rome in the theatre.
Behold what is the fruit of such amusements.
Many have perhaps no evil thoughts so long as they are at such places; the Evil One does not tempt us there in order to induce us to continue to frequent them. But the time will come when this false spirit will bring to our mind everything that we heard and saw in these unchaste plays, and thus, perhaps, lead us to commit great sin. If you desire to escape this danger, avoid all that may occasion it.
“At holy baptism,” says Saint Salvianus, “you renounced the devil and all his works. Frivolous plays and unchaste amusements are works of the devil.” Hence, if you frequent these, you show that you revoke your first renunciation and that you turn again to Satan.
Can you do this without rendering an account of it to God? Much more severe will be your account, if you bring others, perhaps even young children, to such places.
Quintilian writes that, at one time, it was not allowed at Rome, that the young should* visit the theatre, that they might not learn what it was better for them not to know. So solicitous were the heathens for their children. And how do some Christian parents act?
Oh! Parents! Christian parents only in name? How the heathens will bring shame upon you before the judgment-seat of God! How will you justify yourselves?
Saint Jerome prayed and did penance when he was tempted. He also endeavored to fill his mind with other thoughts. May you also act thus in your hours of temptation. Endeavor to think of something else, and avoid idleness.
Saint Jerome was scourged because he found great pleasure in reading a book, although he neither learned from it, nor sought in it anything that was impure or sinful.
Oh! how will those be scourged, how deep will be the wounds they will have to bear, who read all kinds of sensational, scandalous, superstitious and heretical books!
If you wish to escape such a chastisement, throw away books of that kind. “When you read a good book, God converses with you,” says Saint Jerome. Hence, when you read a bad book, Satan converses with you.
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Saint Jerome lived many years in great austerity. And why? Fear of the Judgment Day and of hell actuated him; as he unceasingly thought of these.
He believed that he would not be able to justify himself before the Divine Judge and not escape hell, without this severity: or it was at least his opinion that such severity was beneficial to man, in order that he might receive a favorable sentence at the divine judgment and escape hell.
You avoid fasting and every severity, lead a sensual, comfortable life; and yet expect to acquit yourself well at the day of judgment and to escape hell.
Is Jerome, or are you, wrong?
I fear you consider not as earnestly as Saint Jerome did, the awfulness of the last judgment and of hell. You do not think of it so frequently; hence, you do not endeavor more earnestly to find a gracious Judge, and not be banished into hell.
My advice is, that you think oftener and more earnestly of the last day and of hell.
I am sure that you will then not omit to do all that is necessary to justify yourself before the Judgment-seat of God. “Consider frequently and earnestly the approaching day of judgment, and the eternal fire of hell,” says Saint Ambrose. “Those who think, in all their actions, on the day of judgment, will easily be saved,” says Saint Hilary. Tertullian writes: “The contemplation of hell is the beginning of our salvation. It puts an end to sin and prepares the way for grace and pardon.”
by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: 09 September Saints, St. Michael Leave a Comment
Happy feast of the Dedication of St. Michael, Archangel (9.29).
Below is a reflection from #SaintsandSaintlyDominicans Hyacinthe-Marie Cormier, O.P., 1915.
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Who is like to God? This is Michael’s war-cry.
Hell by its revolt has begun the combat; but the great archangel defends the rights of God with such intelligence, love and energy, that Lucifer, the highest of the angels, is conquered. Henceforth he is but the old serpent, the impure spirit, the father of lies, the universal seducer, and Michael enjoys his supreme rank.
After having been the Patron of the Synagogue Saint Michael is now invoked as Patron of the Church; he is also the special protector of France, whose vocation is to uphold the interests of God amongst the nations.
May all the ministers of Jesus Christ, may all believers in the midst of the present tendencies to the spirit of pride, presumption, independence and revolt, combat for the Church with as much energy as Michael, and as happily conquer.
This was the privilege of Michael Ghislieri, Pope under the name of Saint Pius V. It is said in his office: “This new Michael cast down the furious dragon in the fight; his strength and constancy subjugated heresy and the greatness of his soul resisted all the powers of hell.”
There exists a chaplet called the “angelic,” in honor of Saint Michael which has received the approbation of Pius IX.
➕Prayer
Saint Michael, impart to my soul the power of God.
➕Examen
What is your devotion to God’s cause?
What assistance do you give to its defenders?
Do you fear to compromise yourself or to draw upon yourself the censures of the world by appearing too good a Catholic, too great a friend of true doctrine and solid devotion?
📸Relic of Mount Gargano where St. Michael appeared along with traditional Catholic catechism and books – My Catholic Faith, Council of Trent Catechism, and Christian Warfare.
by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: 09 September Saints, Ember Days, The Liturgical Year Leave a Comment
The Ember Days of September are upon us!
“For the third time this year, Holy Church comes claiming from her children the tribute of Penance, which, from the earliest ages of Christianity, was looked upon as a solemn consecration of the Seasons.” #domprospergueranger #domgueranger
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Ember days (corruption from Latin Quatuor Tempora, four times) are the days at the beginning of the seasons ordered by the Church as days of fast and abstinence.
They were definitely arranged and prescribed for the entire Church by Pope Gregory VII (1073-1085) for the Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday after 13 December (S. Lucia), after Ash Wednesday, after Whitsunday, and after 14 September (Exaltation of the Cross).
The purpose of their introduction, besides the general one intended by all prayer and fasting, was to:
• thank God for the gifts of nature
• teach men to make use of them in moderation
• assist the needy
– 1917 Catholic Encyclopedia
Hi! I'm Lena, mama of JOYfilledfamily.
We are a traditional Catholic family striving to live for Jesus Christ in everything we do. We pray to completely surrender our will to His and to become His servants. Our mission of this blog is to share our JOY.
This blog serves as a journal of us making good memories, living the liturgical year, and our spiritual journey.