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Baptismal Gown & Other Custom Creations

by Filed Under: Baptism, Sacraments Leave a Comment

I was recently asked where to purchase a Baptismal gown.  I’ve purchased my children’s gowns from all sources and even borrowed from godparents.  

I even opted for a “short” style Baptismal outfit for my first boy. But went back to gowns for the following 4 boys since “shorts” in various seasons didn’t work and sizing the outfit was more of a challenge.

I desired to have one beautiful keepsake gown but could never find one — not even my local high-end children’s boutique carried such a gown worthy of being an heirloom. 


Now, I finally have a great source to share for pretty much any custom creation.  My daughter’s mother-in-law is an exceptional seamstress & artesian.  

She offers an eclectic mix of hand made and embellished goods — from purses to vestments. Her shop is Santa Chiara Textiles.


I would have loved to have one of her baptismal gowns for my children & family heirloom that could have been passed through the generations. I would have even purchased it for my last baby, #8.  

Contact Alice of Santa Chiara Textiles if you would like to have such a gown for your beloved baby, entire family, and future generations.

Marching Orders for the Present Day

by Filed Under: Libertas Leave a Comment


We continue to ask ourselves and discern what we ought to be doing during this time of “censorship and signs of outright communism.”

We all know to frequent the sacraments, pray, fast, and offer reparation.  But is there more?

A holy shepherd has given the following marching orders and encouragement for the current times.  

“We need to redeem the time that is left to us.  But we need to this as well — to practice being faithful even in small things because there will be enormous pressures exerted on you in the days to come, to remain silent or even to cooperate in the horrors that are to come.  

And, if you don’t train yourself by fighting now… 

If you don’t train yourself by embracing personal responsibility now…

If you don’t train yourself by adamantly refusing to cede the realm of truth and goodness in the face of suffering now, even in small ways…

…then you will be blown away like the wind, when the real suffering comes.  You will be building on sand.  You will have nothing to support you.  

We have to be faithful in the small things.  Our Lord is very very clear about that.  Be faithful in the small things and you will also be faithful in the great! And if that is the case, what a time to be alive! What a time to be alive!  When all things are falling apart around us and we are permitted this great honor to be this faithful remnant, to stand up and to say to a society that is falling apart into anarchy and rebellion against God — NO, I WILL NOT FOLLOW! 

And even if we should die bloody deaths at the end of that journey, coming into heaven, how many of the saints will look at you and say, “Wow!  The 21st century!  You made it through the 21st century!”  

Just as we look at the great moments and trials of the Church, and we look at those that were faithful through them with awe and wonder, now we have that opportunity. But we have to train ourselves in the small things!” 


Below is Father’s complete sermon which covers true obedience. It is worth taking the time to listen to and ought to be shared.

Sancta Familia, ora pro nobis!

“Obedience had become totally unhinged from prudence and right reason.”


Cited Works:

Tyranny and sexual abuse in the Catholic Church: A Jesuit tragedy – Rorate Caeli

FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY {Holy Family}

by Filed Under: 01 January Saints, Holy Family Leave a Comment

In the Introit of the Mass of this day the Church exhorts us to a joyous adoration of Christ by the following words:

INTROIT Upon a high throne I saw a man sitting, whom a multitude of angels adore singing together: behold Him the name of whose empire is to eternity (Is. 6). Sing joyfully to God, all the earth: serve the Lord with gladness (Ps. 99:2). Glory be to the Father.

COLLECT Attend, O Lord, we beseech Thee, of Thy heavenly mercy, to the desires of Thy suppliant people; and grant that they may both perceive what they ought to do, and may have strength to fulfill the same. Through our Lord.

EPISTLE (Rom. 12:1-5). Brethren, I beseech you by the mercy of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing unto God, your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world, but be reformed in the newness of your mind: that you may prove what is the good, and the acceptable, and the perfect will of God. For I say, by the grace that is given me, to all that are among you, not to be more wise than it behooveth to be wise, but to be wise unto sobriety: and according as God hath divided to every one the measure of faith. For as in one body we have many members, but all the members have not the same office: so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another in Christ Jesus our Lord.

EXPLANATION The apostle entreats, even conjures us by all the mercies we have received to bring to God a living sacrifice; namely, the mortification of our carnal desires, and the practice of every virtue, a holy, pure and immaculate sacrifice agreeable to God, intended for His glory alone; not a dead sacrifice as the Jews offered by killing animals, nor an unholy one as the Gentiles offered by polluting their bodies.

This living, holy, God-pleasing sacrifice should be the offering of our body; but this does not exclude the sacrifice of our spirit, because all our actions, the corporal as well as spiritual, should be directed to God, the end for which we were created. The sacrifice of the spirit is made when we overcome pride, anger, impatience, etc., and by avoiding willful distractions during prayer and divine worship. Like David we should have a contrite and humble heart to present to the Lord; this is a most pleasing sacrifice in His eyes, one which He will never despise.

Thus we render a reasonable service, and are, as St. Peter says (I Pet 2:9), a kingly priesthood, because we govern, like kings, our evil inclinations, and offer with body and soul a continual sacrifice to God. The apostle further exhorts us not to become like the world, that is, not to follow the corrupt manners and principles of the children of the world; not to desire those things at which the world aims; not to love that which the world loves; not to act as the world acts; but rather seek constantly to change our evil disposition, by combating our corrupt and evil inclinations and by practicing virtue instead.

We must cease to be the old worldly man, and become a new heavenly man; to be such, we must carefully seek to know in all things what is pleasing to God, and therefore perfect and good. This is the necessary science to which St. Paul alludes, when he says that we should not wish to know more than is proper. All worldly arts and sciences will not help us to gain heaven, if we do not endeavor to learn thoroughly that which faith teaches, and what God demands.

Even if we have made great progress in this holy science we should not presume to think more of ourselves than what we really are, nor violate charity by contempt of others less instructed, for God gives to every one, in some measure, the gift of faith. This gift of faith we should use in order to continually glorify the body of Christ, His Church, Whose members we are, and enable us to lead such a life that others, being edified, may be brought into the true fold.

ASPIRATION Grant, O Jesus, that by mortification, humility, and contrition, I may offer my body and my soul as a living, holy, and pleasing sacrifice to Thee, and that I may never defile them by impurities.

GOSPEL (Lk. 2:42-52). And when Jesus was twelve years old, they going up into Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast, and having fulfilled the days, when they returned, the child Jesus remained in Jerusalem; and his parents knew it not. And thinking that he was in the company, they came a day’s journey, and sought him among their kinsfolks and acquaintance. And not finding him, they returned into Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple sitting in the midst of the doctors, hearing them and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his wisdom and his answers. And seeing him, they wondered. And his mother said to him: Son, why hast thou done so to us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said to them: How is it that you sought me? did ye not know that I must be about my Father’s business? And they understood not the word that he spoke unto them. And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth; and was subject to them. And his mother kept all these words in her heart. And Jesus advanced in wis­dom, and age, and grace with God and men.


Why did our Savior go with His parents to Jerusalem to the temple?

Because God commanded (Deut. 16:16) that all the male Israelites should appear, three times a year on certain festivals, and offer sacrifice to Him in the temple; Jesus fulfilled this commandment to set us an example that we, according to the will of the holy Catholic Church, should willingly and devoutly be present at the services of the Church on Sundays and holydays of obligation. Neither the distance from the church nor the difficulties of the way should prevent our attendance, since Jesus did not shun a three days’ journey to the temple.

Why does the gospel say according to the custom of the feast?

That we may understand, that like Mary and Joseph, we should be punctual in observing the ecclesiastical festivals and holy usages, and like true Catholics, should observe them. Parents should require their children at an early age to take part in prayer, attend church and school, and see that they conduct themselves quietly and reverently while there. Mary and Joseph took the holy Child Jesus with them to the temple.

Why did the child Jesus remain in Jerusalem?

Because of His love of prayer and communion with His Heavenly Father, and to show, even then, some rays of His divinity, by which to make known that He had come for the glory of His Father, and to procure our salvation. The glory of God and the salvation of our souls should be our chief object in life.

Why did Mary and Joseph search so diligently for Jesus?

Because they were fearful lest they should lose Him Whom they loved so exceedingly. We should learn from this, how careful we should be not to lose Jesus by sin, or having lost Him, how anxiously we should seek by penance to find Him. The parents of Jesus, by their diligent search and inquiries for the divine Infant, teach and rebuke those parents who care less for the Christian education of their children than for their temporal advantages, who pay no attention to the persons with whom their children associate, nor to the places which they frequent, whether they learn things that are useful to them, and who for the sake of some temporal advantage permit their children sinful intimacy with evil-minded persons. From these parents God will one day demand the souls of their children with severest justice.

Why was our Savior found in the temple in the midst of the doctors, hearing them, and asking them questions?

To teach us that we ought to seek the knowledge necessary for our salvation, and attend carefully to the sermons and instructions on Christian doctrine; we should by no means be ashamed to ask questions of our pastors when we are in doubt, and should listen to their answers. Was Christ, the Eternal Wisdom, ashamed to ask questions and to answer? Why should we ignorant people hesitate? It is much to be regretted that persons who have many important things concerning their spiritual welfare on their minds, through pride and false shame, would rather go to perdition than ask advice, solely for fear of showing their ignorance.

Why did Mary say: Son, why hast thou done so to us?

These words were forced from her by pain at the absence of her Son, Whom she loved above all things, and not by indignation, for He was blameless. Mary’s conduct should teach parents to remember their duty of caring for their children, and punish them when they do wrong.

INSTRUCTION ON THE VIRTUE OF OBEDIENCE

He was subject to them (Lk. 2:51).

From this all Christians should learn to be obedient to the commandments of God and of the Church. God has united life or death, blessing or malediction with obedience or disobedience to His commandments, and the Bible (I Kings 15:22) shows that obedience pleases God more than sacrifices or the fat of rams, and that He despises disobedience as He does witchcraft and idolatry. We must be obedient to the Church, because Christ Himself with His holy Spirit lives in her, and governs her, and has said: Who hears not the Church, let him be to thee a heathen and a publican, therefore, shut out from eternal life. We must be obedient to our parents, because they are placed over us by God, and we are indebted to them, under Him, for life and many benefits. Those children who do not assist their parents when they are old, poor, and helpless, or are ashamed of them, have reason to be afraid, since even Christ Jesus, the God-Man, was obedient and subject in all things to His poor mother, and to a humble mechanic who was only His foster-father. Cursed be he that honoreth not his father and mother (Deut. 27:16); how much more cursed those who despise, deride and abandon their parents? Their eyes will one day be picked out by ravens (Prov. 30:17). If God commanded obstinate and disobedient children to be stoned (Dent. 21:20), what do those not deserve who even strike or abuse their parents?

How did Jesus advance in age, wisdom and grace?

He showed new effects of the wisdom and grace with which He was filled, as He advanced in years, and thus teaches us to progress the more in virtue, and fulfill the duties of our state in life that we may attain perfection hereafter.

ASPIRATION Most amiable Jesus! Who in the twelfth year of Thy age, didst permit Thyself to be found in the temple by Thy parents, and, as an example for us, wast humbly obedient to them, grant that we may diligently attend to the important affair of our salvation, willingly carry the yoke of Thy law from our youth, and be always obedient to the laws of Thy Church, to our parents, and superiors. Prevent uneducated youth from growing reckless, and preserve them from a scandalous life. Give parents wisdom and grace to educate their children according to Thy will in all virtue. Grant to us all, that we may never lose Thee by sin, or if we have lost Thee, anxiously to seek Thee, happily find Thee, and with Thy grace more and more increase in wisdom and in virtue. Amen.

TRUE PIETY

They found Him in the temple (Lk. 2:46).

Many people deceive themselves in regard to true piety, because their imagination represents it to them according to the effect produced by their passions or disposition of mind. He who fasts often and willingly believes that he is pious, though in his heart he nourishes a secret hatred, and while he fears to wet the tip of his tongue with wine, even with water, lest he should not live temperately enough, finds pleasure in detraction and slander, that unquenchable thirst for the blood of his neighbor. Another, because he is accustomed daily to recite a long string of prayers, esteems himself pious, though he gives vent afterwards to haughty, bitter, offensive language, hurting people at home and abroad. Another keeps his purse open for the poor, but keeps his heart ever closed to the love of his enemy, whom he will not forgive; another forgives his enemy with all his heart, but will not pay his creditors, until forced by law. All these think themselves pious, and are perhaps so regarded by the world, but in truth they are far from being pious. In what then does true piety consist? In the perfect love of God. This love is called the beautiful love, because it is the ornament of the soul, and attracts to itself with complacency the eyes of the Divine Majesty. When it strengthens us to do good, it is called the strong love; when it causes us to do that good quickly, carefully, and repeatedly, it is called piety. The ostrich has wings, it is true, but never uses them to fly; the chickens fly heavily and not high; but the eagles, the doves, and the swallows, fly high and swiftly, and do not easily tire. The sinners are but earthly people, they creep upon the ground; the just, who are still imperfect, rise, it is true, towards heaven but seldom, and then but slowly and heavily. But there are some, true, pious souls, who like the doves and the eagles soar high on strong, swift wings to God. In a word, piety is nothing else than a certain active, swift energy of the spirit, with which the strong love in us, or we with it, performs, as far as it is possible to us, all good. As the strong love urges us to keep God’s commandments, the perfect love, that is, piety, urges us to keep them carefully and with all possible zeal.

No one is just or pious who does not keep all God’s commandments without exception; for, to be just we must possess the strong love, and to be pious we must possess besides, a certain eagerness to profit by all the occasions of doing good, that present themselves. Thus St. Francis de Sales writes in his Philothea, from which it is seen that true piety consists not in special devotions, or the practice of special good works, but in the zealous, earnest, continuous obedi­ence to the commandments and performance of duty for the love of God.

Epiphany Holy Water & Epiphany Home Blessing

by Filed Under: Epiphany, Epiphany Of Our Lord, Exorcism, Sacramentals 2 Comments

Epiphany water is blessed on the eve of epiphany. The ceremony takes about 40 min. and includes the regular traditional exorcisms & blessings over holy water, plus the litany of the Saints and an additional special exorcism, the Te Deum along with numerous psalms and the Magnificat.

This particular form of Holy Water is a powerful sacramental for souls and a great weapon in thwarting the power of Satan and the fallen angels.

Traditional Latin Mass parishes have been known to bless upwards of 300 gallons of water.


Exorcism against Satan and the Apostate Angels

We cast thee out, every unclean spirit, every devilish power, every assault of the infernal adversary, every legion, every diabolical group and sect, by the Name and power of our Lord Jesus + Christ, and command thee to fly far from the Church of God and from all who are made to the image of God and redeemed by the Precious Blood of the Divine Lamb +. 

Presume never again, thou cunning serpent, to deceive the human race, to persecute the Church of God, nor to strike the chosen of God and sift them as wheat +. 

For the Most High commands thee, + He to Whom thou didst hitherto in thy great pride presume thyself equal; He Who desireth that all men might be saved, and come to the knowledge of truth. 

God the Father + commandeth thee! 

God the Son + commandeth thee! 

God the Holy + Ghost commandeth thee! 

The majesty of Christ commands thee, the Eternal Word of God made flesh, + Who for the salvation of our race, lost through thy envy, humbled Himself and was made obedient even unto death; Who built His Church upon a solid rock, and proclaimed that the gates of hell should never prevail against her, and that He would remain with her all days, even to the end of the world! 

The Sacred Mystery of the Cross + commands thee, as well as the power of all Mysteries of Christian faith! + The most excellent Virgin Mary, Mother of God + commands thee, who in her lowliness crushed thy proud head from the first moment of her Immaculate Conception! 

The faith of the holy Apostles Peter and Paul and the other apostles + commands thee! 

The blood of the martyrs commands thee, as well as the pious intercession + of holy men and women!

Therefore, accursed dragon and every diabolical legion, we adjure thee by the living + God, by the true + God, by the holy + God, by the God Who so loved the world that He gave His Sole-Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but shall have life everlasting—cease thy deception of men and thy giving them to drink of the poison of eternal damnation; desist from harming the Church and fettering her freedom! 

Get thee gone, Satan, founder and master of all falsity, enemy of mankind! Give place to Christ in Whom thou didst find none of thy works; give place to the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church which Christ Himself bought with His Blood! 

Be thou brought low under God’s mighty hand; tremble and flee as we call upon the holy and awesome name of Jesus, before Whom hell trembles, and to Whom the Virtues, Powers, and Dominations are subject; Whom the Cherubim and Seraphim praise with unfailing voices, saying: Holy, Holy, Holy, the Lord God of Hosts!

The cantors sing the following Antiphon and Canticle:

Antiphon: Today the Church is espoused to the heavenly Bridegroom, for in the Jordan Christ washes her sins: the Magi hasten with gifts to the regal nuptials, and the guests are gladdened with water become wine, alleluia.

Canticle of Zachary (Luke 1.68-79)
Blessed + be the Lord God of Israel, * for He hath visited and redeemed His people,
And hath raised up the Abundance of salvation for us * in the lineage of David His servant.
Thus He foretold by the mouth of His holy prophets * who have been from times ancient;
That we might be saved from our enemies * from the hand of all that hate us.
Now is granted the mercy promised to our fathers, * remembering His holy covenant;
And the oath which He swore to Abraham our father * that He would extend to us;
That we, delivered from the hand of our enemies, * might serve Him without fear,
Living in holiness and righteousness * before Him all our days.
And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest, * for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways;
To give knowledge of salvation to His people * the remission of their sins,
Through the bounteous mercy of our God * in which the Orient from on high hath visited us,
To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, * to direct our feet into the way of peace.
Glory be to the Father. * As it was in the beginning.

Or instead of the above, the Magníficat may be recited. At the end of either, the antiphon given above is repeated. Then the celebrant sings:

V. The Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit.

Let us pray. O God, Who by the guidance of a star didst this day reveal thy Sole-Begotten Son to the Gentiles, grant that we who now know Thee by faith may be brought to the contemplation of Thy heavenly majesty. Through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, eternally. R. Amen.

The Blessing of the Water

V. Our help is in the name of the Lord. R. Who made heaven and earth.

From here the blessing of the water continues per the form for the usual holy water. The celebrant then sprinkles the people with the blessed water. Lastly, the Te Deum is sung.
The blessed water is then given to the faithful who will use it to bless the sick and their homes.

Vigil of the Epiphany: the Blessing of Epiphany Chalk

V. Our help is in the name of the Lord. R. Who made heaven and earth.
V. The Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit.

Bless, + O Lord God, this creature chalk, to render it helpful to men. Grant that they who use it with faith in Thy most holy Name, and with it inscribe upon the entrance of their homes the names of Thy Saints, Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar, may through their merits and intercession enjoy health of body and protection of soul. Through Christ our Lord. R. Amen.

The chalk is sprinkled with holy water and then distributed to the faithful to use to inscribe the lintels of their houses.

Epiphany Day: the Blessing of the Lintel and Home

Lintel Inscription: 20 + C + M + B + 21

The letters have two meanings. They are the initials of the traditional names of the Three Magi: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar. They also abbreviate the Latin words “Christus mansionem benedicat.” “May Christ bless the house.” The letters recall the day on which the inscription is made, as well as the purpose of blessing.

The crosses represent the protection of the Precious Blood of Christ, whom we invoke, and the holiness of the Three Magi sanctified by their adoration of the Infant Christ. The inscription is made above the front door, so that all who enter and depart this year may enjoy God’s blessing.

To bless your home this Epiphany, read the Prologue of St. John’s Gospel (i.e., the Last Gospel used at Mass), followed by the Our Father, and the Collect of the Epiphany; then write the inscription for this year above your front door with blessed chalk.

The lintel of the main door of the house (and other doors if desired) is marked by a senior member of the household (usually the father) in the following way: 20 + C + M + B + 21

Whilst saying the following prayer:

The Three Wise Men, Caspar C (write the letter), Melchior M and Balthazar B followed the star of God’s Son Who became man, Two Thousand 20 and Twenty One years ago 21. May Christ bless our home ++ (inscribe the first two crosses), and remain with us through the new year ++ (then the last two crosses). 

If others are present, you may continue:

Almighty God, incline your ear. Bless us and all who are gathered here. Send your holy angel who will defend us and fill with grace all who dwell here. R. Amen. 

The senior member may then proceed to sprinkle the interior of the home with the blessed Epiphany Water.

How to Bring Down The Deep State & The Deep Church

by Filed Under: Archbishop Vigano, Libertas Leave a Comment

“The Truth can be denied by the majority for a certain amount of time, or by some people forever, but it can never be hidden from everyone forever. This is the lesson of History, which has inexorably revealed the great crimes of the past and those who perpetrated them.” -Abp. Viganò

“In order to bring down the deep state and the deep church, three things are essential:

•first of all, becoming aware of what globalism’s plan is, and to what extent it is instrumental to the establishment of the kingdom of the Antichrist, since it shares its principles, means, and ends;

•secondly, firmly denouncing this infernal plan and asking the Shepherds of the Church – and also the laity – to defend her, breaking their complicit silence: God will demand of them an account for their desertion;

•finally, it is necessary to pray, asking the Lord to grant each one of us the strength to resist – resistite fortes in fide, Saint Peter warns us – against the ideological tyranny that is daily imposed on us not only by the media but also by the cardinals and bishops who are under Bergoglio’s thumb.

If we can prove ourselves strong in facing this trial; if we know how to hold ourselves anchored to the rock of the Church without allowing ourselves to be seduced by false christs and false prophets, the Lord will permit us to see – at least for now – the defeat of the assault of the children of darkness against God and men.

If out of fear or complicity we follow the prince of this world, denying our Baptismal promises, we will be condemned with him to inexorable defeat and eternal damnation.

I tremble for those who do not realize the responsibility that they have before God for the souls that He has entrusted to them.

But to those who fight courageously to defend the rights of God, the Nation, and the Family, the Lord assures his protection.

He has placed His Most Holy Mother at our side, the Queen of Victories and the Help of Christians. We invoke Her faithfully during these difficult days, confidently certain of Her intervention.”

Carlo Maria Viganò, Archbishop, 1.24.2021

Read the full transcript of Steve Brannon‘s interview with Archbishop Vigano’s on the War Room.

https://youtu.be/qwcMlQ62qpU
Start at 1:02:35 – 1:31:00 for intro and discussions on the interview

2021 Word of the Year

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Selecting a Word of the year is a practice that I adopted years ago along with the Saint of the Year. 

I select a word of the year for assistance with my spiritual growth. The saint selection is random but choosing my word of the year has always been a process — an examination of the past year. I take time for spiritual re ading for this purpose and pray over it with my husband. 

I encourage you to choose a word for the year to remind you of what God is asking of you during this season in your life. 

Unbeknownst to me, my word of the year was placed on my heart upon entering my annual spiritual retreat this Advent. I entered into retreat with a complete assessment of my life —  no attachments but only the desire to see myself with His eyes.  As the week unfolded, I was led down a path to address one of my root sins.  It all seemed so evident to me as it has often been included in the confessional.   I even wrote it down as my number one point to address after my first visit before Our Lord while on retreat.  

Through daily spiritual direction following pertinent meditations, the good Lord revealed that what was perceived to be at the root of my faults was not the case.  Instead, it was the less obvious issue. So, as the retreat came to a close, I firmed up my resolution and plan, all with the guidance of my spiritual directors.  

Now that I have returned to regular daily life for a month, the evil one has wasted no time and has begun to set his traps to have me doubt what it is that God is asking of me.  “It’s not enough?   You should be doing more? It’s not really the root of your sin! Focus on something else.  It’s too much, you should just focus on one small thing…”

It’s that crazy and pathetic — all efforts to thwart what God has moved me to are exhausted.  I made no movement from what had already been properly discerned and carried on us planned, very imperfectly.  

As I read one of my first reflections on New Year’s Day, I received a small consolation.  It was from one of my previous Saints of the Year, no less.  

Thou givest me already Thy blood, O Word,  whereas Thy holy humanity is only eight days old. What does Thy blood teach me?… Obedience.

St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi

The small resolution that I took into my retreat  turned out to be my primary resolution (not the type that one makes at the start of the New Year, but the type that one makes upon reflecting on the last four things while in a complete state of grace and removed completely from the distractions of the world),  the ultimate root of my sins as He revealed to me (not acedia which I had thought was the case for many for years) — my word for 2021. 

I trust that God’s grace will be sufficient for me to move forward.  I am completely nothing without Him and I desire to be nothing else but that which He has ordained me to be.  I want only to love Him as He deserves.  

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

I am not moving in fear.  My resolutions (made after a spiritual retreat and direction) are made out of LOVE for the One who so dearly loves me despite all my failings. 

I’m not abandoning any of my previous words.  In fact, through this practice, they have been imprinted on my heart.  Perfection is not sought.  My goal is only to move closer to Him and do His will.

Sts. Teresa of Avila,  St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi, Ignatius of Loyola, and Aloysius — orate pro nobis.   

Sermons & Other Resources on Obedience:*


*this list will be added to throughout the year

2020 in Review

by Filed Under: New Year, Picture Recap Leave a Comment


We count it ALL joy! We offer prayers on this New Year’s Eve in the secular calendar — prayers of thanksgiving, prayers to seek His Holy will, and prayers for spiritual protection.


Always rejoice.  Pray without ceasing. In all things give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you all.

11.3.20

Almighty and Eternal God, King of Kings and Lord of Lords: graciously turn your gaze to us who invoke You with confidence.

Bless us, citizens of the United States of America; grant peace and prosperity to our Nation; illuminate those who govern us so that they may commit themselves to the common good, in respect for Your holy Law.

Protect those who, defending the inviolable principles of the Natural Law and Your Commandments, must face the repeated assaults of the Enemy of the human race.

Keep in the hearts of Your children courage for the truth, love for virtue and perseverance in the midst of trials.

Make our families grow in the example that Our Lord has given us, together with His Most Holy Mother and Saint Joseph in the home of Nazareth; give to our fathers and mothers the gift of Strength, to educate wisely the children with which you have blessed them.

Give courage to those who, in spiritual combat, fight the good fight as soldiers of Christ against the furious forces of the children of darkness.Keep each one of us, O Lord, in your Most Sacred Heart, and above all him whom Your Providence has placed at the head of our Nation.

Bless the President of the United States of America, so that aware of his responsibility and his duties, he may be a knight of justice, a defender of the oppressed, a firm bulwark against Your enemies, and a proud supporter of the children of light.

Place the United States of America and the whole world under the mantle of the Queen of Victories, our Unconquered Leader in battle, the Immaculate Conception. It is thanks to her, and through your Mercy, that the hymn of praise rises to you, O Lord, from the children whom you have redeemed in the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

July 2020 #archbishopvigano

5.1.2020 The #1 message! #americaneedsfatima .

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“Our Lady is the Queen of Heaven and Earth and, at the same time, our mother. We enter the month of May with this conviction, and it becomes more deeply rooted in us when we leave it, strengthening our faith and increasing our fortitude. May teaches us to love Mary Most Holy for the glory she rightly possesses and for all that she represents in the plans of Divine Providence. It also teaches us to be more constant in our filial union with Mary.

Children are never more sure of the loving vigilance of their mothers than when they suffer. All of mankind suffers today; all peoples suffer. They suffer in every conceivable way… .

Let us desire many great things for the glory of God. Let us always ask Our Lady for everything. And let us, above all, ask her for that which the Sacred Liturgy beseeches of God: “Emitte Spiritum tuum et creabuntur, et renovabis faciem terrae” (Send forth Thy Spirit, and they shall be created; and Thou shalt renew the face of the earth). We should ask, through the mediation of Our Lady, that God once again send us the Holy Ghost with the plenitude of His gifts so that His kingdom may be created anew and be purified by a renewal of the face of the earth…

Let us then confide to Our Lady this heartfelt yearning and desire. The hands of Mary will be for our prayer a pair of pure wings that will carry it with certainty to the throne of God.” #tfp .


5.13.2020

We were blessed with a Holy Mass and confession on this glorious feast of Our Lady of Fatima. It is also the last day of our 54 day Rosary Novena. .
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Each time the Blessed Virgin appeared to the three children at Fatima, She repeated Her requests that we pray the Rosary each day. In the final vision, on October 13, 1917, Our Lady silently held out the Brown Scapular of Mount Carmel as a sign of Her desire that we undertake this great devotion. In fact, Sister Lucy has stated that “the Scapular and the Rosary are inseparable.” Emerging from faith, prayer becomes the unshakable foundation for peace in Heaven’s plan for our salvation.

O Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, we beg Thy intercession for the Consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary by the Pope and all the Catholic bishops of the world, in the manner requested by Our Lady of Fatima, which will end the chastisement of this coronavirus, prevent greater chastisements, and result in the conversion of Russia to the Catholic Faith and a period of world peace. We unite this Rosary with all the Rosaries offered for the same intention.

7.19.2020

Two have become one!

We give praise and thanksgiving to the Good Lord for the gift of marriage and this new season of life that He has brought us into.

Please prayer for our daughter and newest son.

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May God most pure grant His servants Andrew and Elissa a peaceful and long life, matrimonial chastity, mutual love in the bond of peace, a long-lived posterity, happiness in their children, and the unfading crown of glory.

May God keep their married life above reproach, and grant them to see their children’s’ children; give them dew from heaven and the fruitfulness of the earth; provide them with an abundance of temporal good things, that they in turn may share their abundance with those in need; and grant them all that is necessary for salvation. Amen.

7.5.2020

He always insists on making a visit to his “Mother Mary” in the courtyard before Holy Mass.

9.18.2020

This is us in our glory after our eldest daughter’s nuptials. Deo gratias!

Often we see pictures or catch glimpses of another and think that they have it all together.

If anyone has ever thought of us in such light, I ensure you that anything we have done or do that is of value is only due to God’s grace.

My beloved and I share openly with those who seek our advice or need encouragement. We share to help others along and to give glory to God for the work that He has done in our lives.

There is always hope!

We were a very young couple who conceived a beautiful healthy girl out of wedlock, had our marriage shaken to the core requiring weekly spiritual direction for a year, loss all material possessions and was without a job for long enough to have us below poverty lines on multiple occasions, faced near death pregnancies and births, had a spouse miraculously healed in the ICU from life changing health emergencies on two separate occasions, and faced all the other challenges that fourteen pregnancies and the raising of eight children bring.

If we “made it” to this place to want nothing else than to walk the narrow path after all of our failings, corrective suffering, and trials, you can make it with His grace!

Seek only His will! Fight to conform your will to His. Do the difficult things. Keep your marriage and family intact at all costs. Frequent the sacraments. Remain in the state of grace. Let prayer be infused into every minute of your day. Consecrate yourself to Jesus through Mary as St. Louis de Montfort prescribes. Pray for spiritual protection. Cling to the traditions of the Church. Live the Gospel radically, no matter the cost.

St. Joseph of Cupertino, whose feast is today (9.18), instructs us on what God desires from us.

“Clearly, what God wants above all is our will which we received as a free gift from God in creation and possess as though our own. When a man trains himself to acts of virtue, it is with the help of grace from God from whom all good things come that he does this. The will is what man has as his unique possession.

St. Joseph of Cupertino, ora pro nobis.

5.17.2020

Let the birthday party begin! My two birthday buddies received their birthday blessing after our Dry Mass #missasicca. Deo gratias!
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Today is my Gio’s 10th birthday and tomorrow will be Ella’s 17th birthday. So much celebrating and thanksgiving!

7.19.2020

We took a car selfie on the way to the church and I’m not sorry. It’s the only pic I have of us pre-wedding.

Even a 4 am rise didn’t guarantee that we would be ready on time. We were fashionably late. 😉

11.7.2020

A Sermon to Catholic Families

“In this time in which we live, when the spirit of the world rules over everyone and tries to rule over all our families, penetrating into the midst…of our Catholic schools and the whole Catholic world, destroying Catholicism little by little…and all that the Church had done: all this is subject to…the devil—in this our time we must rediscover the principles of Catholicism.

We must revive these principles—they are simple and not difficult:
➕prayer,
➕penance,
➕and the accomplishment of the will of God.

The devil has invented ambiguous principles. And he, too, knows that he does not need to complicate the principles of deceit. He does not need to complicate the business of deceiving the world, of deceiving souls.

So he uses simple formulas:
Liberty – Equality – Fraternity.

Simple formulas that deceive the world. These principles replace the Ten Commandments with the Rights of Man.

Simple these formulas are, but deceitful, false, made to thwart the Ten Commandments and destroy them by destroying the authority of God, by destroying families.

Over and above this, the devil has invented, in these recent times, and added to the Rights of Man that which goes by the name of human dignity.

In the name of human dignity, one leaves responsibility to the conscience alone.

Each does what he wants under the pretext of human dignity; under the pretext that people are adults. Nowadays, it’s said, the whole world is adult, and formerly it was still in a state of infancy.

Now we must always remind ourselves of these principles: there is no such thing as the Rights of Man, there is the Decalogue–the Commandments of God.

There is no human dignity, this does not exist.

➕There is only Christian dignity.

➕Only in the measure that we have a part in Our Lord Jesus Christ, we are worthy, we have dignity.

➕In the measure that we do not have part in Our Lord Jesus Christ, we have no dignity.”

-excerpts from a sermon by #archbishoplefebvre given on Pentecost 5.30.82

Saints of the Year

by Filed Under: New Year, Patron Saint Leave a Comment

Domine, fac de me sicut vis | Lord, do with me what you will

Years ago we adopted a New Year’s tradition of selecting a patron saint for the new year. This practice was inspired by what St. Faustina did in her order.

On the occasion of the New Year 1935 Saint Maria Faustina made this entry in her spiritual Diary:  “Jesus likes to intervene in the smallest details of our life. And He often fulfills secret wishes of mine that I sometimes hide from Him, although I know that from Him nothing can be hidden. There is a custom among us of drawing by lot on New Year’s Day, special patrons for ourselves for the whole year…”  ~ Saint Maria Faustina

We’ve used various techniques over the years to select our Saint.  But our favorite remains our Missal or traditional book of the saints as we follow the Traditional Calendar and like to pool from the historical calendar as well. 


Each family member who has received their First Holy Communion receives a patron saint for the new year. Younger children focus on growing devotion to their name sake.

Selecting a Saint of the Year

Materials:

  • Missal
  • Saint Book
  • Random number generator (phone or computer)


We make our selections after our family devotions and specific prayers for the New Year.

Steps:

  • Set Random Number Generator to number of pages in your missal or saint book that covers the saints
  • Allow each family member to take at a turn at securing their “number” on the generator
  • Look up the number generator in your Missal/Saint Book to find out which Saint you will have for the New Year
  • Record Your Saint and feastday
  • learn about your new patron saint and grow in devotion to him throughout the year

In regards to the word of the year, it is closely tied to the Saint of the Year — for spiritual growth. The saint selection is random but choosing my word of the year has always been a process — an examination of the past year. I take time for spiritual reading for this purpose and pray over it with my husband. I encourage you to choose a word for the year to remind you of what God is asking of you during this season in your life. 

New Year’s Day

by Filed Under: 01 January, 01 January Saints, Circumcision of Our Lord, Fr. Leonard Goffine, New Year, Octave of the Nativity of Our Lord, The Church’s Year Leave a Comment

Fr. Goffine instructs us on how Catholics should observe the secular New Year (different the New Year in the Liturgical Year) as it coincides with an important feast of Our Lord.

On the first the year, we celebrate a great feast in the Church. It is known as the Circumcision of Our Lord or the Octave Day of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

New Year’s Day

Why is this day so called?

Because the secular year begins with this day, as the Church year begins with the First Sunday in Advent.

What should we do on this day?

An offering of the new year should be made to God, asking His grace that we may spend the year in a holy manner, for the welfare of the soul.

Why do we wish each other a “happy new year“?

Because to do so is an act of Christian love; but this wish should come from the heart, and not merely from worldly politeness, otherwise we would be like the heathens (Mt. 5:47), and receive no other reward than they.

What feast of the Church is celebrated today?

The Feast of the Circumcision of our Lord, Who, for love of us, voluntarily subjected Himself to the painful law of the Old Covenant, that we might be freed from the same.

What was the Circumcision?

It was an external sign of the Old Law, by which the people of that day were numbered among the chosen people of God, as now they become, by baptism, members of the Church of Christ.

What is the signification of Circumcision in the moral or spiritual sense?

It signifies the mortification of the senses, of evil desires, and inclinations. This must be practiced by Christians now, since they have promised it in baptism which would be useless to them without the practice of mortification; just as little as the Jew by exterior Circumcision is a true Jew, just so little is the baptized a true Christian without a virtuous life. Beg of Christ, therefore, today, to give you the grace of the true Circumcision of heart.

PRAYER I thank Thee, O Lord Jesus, because Thou hast shed Thy blood for me in Circumcision, and beg Thee that by Thy precious blood I may receive the grace to circumcise my heart and all my senses, so that I may lead a life of mortification in this world, and attain eternal joys in the next. Amen.

[The INTROIT of the Mass is the same as is said in the Third Mass on Christmas.]

COLLECT O God, Who, by the fruitful virginity of blessed Mary, hast bestowed upon mankind the rewards of eternal salvation; grant, we beseech Thee, that we may feel the benefit of her intercession for us, through whom we have deserved to receive the author of life, our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who livest and reignest, etc.

[The EPISTLE is the same as is said in the First Mass on Christmas.]

GOSPEL (Lk. 2:21). At that time, after eight days were accomplished that the child should be circumcised, his name was called Jesus, which was called by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Why did Jesus submit to Circumcision?

That He might show His great love for us, which caused Him even at the very beginning of His life, to shed His blood to cleanse us thereby from all our sins. Furthermore to teach us obedience to the commandments of God and His Church, since He voluntarily subjected Himself to the Jewish law, although He was not in the least bound by it, which ordered that every male child should be circumcised on the eighth day after its birth (Lev. 12:3).

Why was He named Jesus?

Because Jesus means Redeemer and Savior, and He had come to redeem and save the world (Mt. 1:21). This is the holiest, most venerable, and most powerful name by which we can be saved.

What power has this name?

The greatest power, for it repels all attacks of the evil Spirit, as Jesus Himself says (Mk. 16:17). And so great is the efficacy of this most holy name that even those who are not righteous, can by it expel devils (Mt. 7:22). It has power to cure physical pains and evils, as when used by the apostles (Acts. 3:3-7), and Christ promised that the faithful by using it could do the same (Mk. 16:17).

St. Bernard calls the name of Jesus a “Medicine“; and St. Chrysostom says, “This name cures all ills; it gives succor in all the ailments of the soul, in temptations, in faintheartedness, in sorrow, and in all evil desires, etc.” “Let him who cannot excite contrition in his heart for the sins he has committed, think of the loving, meek, and suffering Jesus, invoke His holy name with fervor and confidence, and he will feel his heart touched and made better,” says St. Lawrence Justinian.

It overcomes and dispels the temptations of the enemy: “When we fight against Satan in the name of Jesus,” says the martyr St. Justin, “Jesus fights for us, in us, and with us, and the enemies must flee as soon as they hear the name of Jesus.”

It secures us help and blessings in all corporal and spiritual necessities, because nothing is impossible to him who asks in the name of Jesus, whatever tends to his salvation will be given him (Jn. 14:13).

Therefore it is useful above all things, to invoke this holy name in all dangers of body and soul, in doubts, in temptations, especially in temptations against holy chastity, and still more so when one has fallen into sin, from which he desires to be delivered; for this name is like oil (Cant. 1:2) which cures, nourishes, and illumines.

How must this name be pronounced to experience its power?

With lively faith, with steadfast, unshaken confidence, with deep­est reverence and devotion, for in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth (Phil. 2:10). What wickedness, then, is theirs who habitually pronounce this name carelessly and irreverently, upon every occasion! Such a habit is certainly diabolical; for the damned and the devils constantly abuse God and His holy name.

Why does this name so seldom manifest its power in our days?

Because Christian faith is daily becoming weaker, and confidence less, while perfect submission to the will of God is wanting. When faith grows stronger among people, and confidence greater, then will the power of this most sacred name manifest itself in more wonderful and consoling aspects.

Prayer to Jesus in difficulties

O Jesus! Consolation of the afflicted! Thy name is indeed poured out like oil; for Thou dost illumine those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death; Thou dost disperse the blindness of the soul and dost cure its ills; Thou givest food and drink to those who hunger and thirst after justice. Be also, O Jesus! my Savior, the phy­sician of my soul, the healer of its wounds. O Jesus! Succor of those who are in need, be my protector in temptations! O Jesus! Father of the poor, do Thou nourish me! O Jesus! joy of the angels, do Thou comfort me! O Jesus! my only hope and refuge, be my helper in the hour of death, for there is given us no other name beneath the sun by which we may be saved, but Thy most blessed name Jesus!

EXHORTATION St. Paul says: All whatsoever you do in word or in work, all things do ye in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (Col. 3:17). We should, therefore, follow the example of the saints, and continually say, at least in our hearts: “For love of Thee, O Jesus, I rise; for love of Thee I lie down; for love of Thee I eat, drink, and enjoy myself; for love of Thee I work, speak, or am silent.” Thus we will accustom ourselves to do all in the name of Jesus, by which everything is easily or at least meritoriously accomplished.

Prayer to be said on New Year’s Day

O God, Heavenly Father of Mercy, God of all Consolation! we thank Thee that from our birth to this day, Thou hast so well pre­served us, and hast protected us in so many dangers; we beseech Thee, through the merits of Thy beloved Son, and by His sacred blood which He shed for us on this day in His circumcision, to for­give all the sins which, during the past year, we have committed against Thy commandments, by which we have aroused Thy indig­nation and wrath against ourselves. Preserve us in the coming year from all sins, and misfortunes of body and soul. Grant that from this day to the end of our lives, all our senses, thoughts, words, and works, which we here dedicate to Thee for all time, may be directed in accordance with Thy will, and that we may finally die in the true Catholic Faith, and enjoy with Thee in Thy kingdom a joyful new year, that shall know no end. Amen.

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