A Saint for ALL

March 19, 2011 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: 03 March, 03 March Saints, St. Joseph, St. Teresa Avila

Today, the feast of St. Joseph, is ‘father’s day” in our home. We honor St. Joseph and give thanks for our earthly father, husband, and papa.

We attended a High Mass in honor of the spouse of the Virgin Mary. Dad gets dictate the plans for the day.

We pray to grow in devotion to Saint Joseph, just as St. Teresa of Avila prescribes.

Jesus and Mary had a special devotion to St. Joseph – we can do no better than Mary & Jesus. ~ Fr. L, Sermon March 19, 2011

~~~

The Life of St. Teresa of Jesus

The Great Debt She Owed to Our Lord for His Mercy to Her. She Takes St. Joseph for Her Patron.

I took for my patron and lord the glorious St. Joseph, and recommended myself earnestly to him. I saw clearly that both out of this my present trouble, and out of others of greater importance, relating to my honour and the loss of my soul, this my father and lord delivered me, and rendered me greater services than I knew how to ask for. I cannot call to mind that I have ever asked him at any time for anything which he has not granted; and I am filled with amazement when I consider the great favours which God hath given me through this blessed Saint; the dangers from which he hath delivered me, both of body and of soul. To other Saints, our Lord seems to have given grace to succour men in some special necessity; but to this glorious Saint, I know by experience, to help us in all: and our Lord would have us understand that as He was Himself subject to him upon earth—for St. Joseph having the title of father, and being His guardian, could command Him—so now in heaven He performs all his petitions. I have asked others to recommend themselves to St. Joseph, and they too know this by experience; and 37 there are many who are now of late devout to him, having had experience of this truth. ~ Chapter 6 (9)

Would that I could persuade all men to be devout to this glorious Saint; for I know by long experience what blessings he can obtain for us from God. I have never known any one who was really devout to him, and who honoured him by particular services, who did not visibly grow more and more in virtue; for he helps in a special way those souls who commend themselves to him. It is now some years since I have always on his feast asked him for something, and I always have it. If the petition be in any way amiss, he directs it aright for my greater good. ~ Chapter 6 (11)

I ask, for the love of God, that he who does not believe me will make the trial for himself—when he will see by experience the great good that results from commending oneself to this glorious patriarch, and being devout to him. Those who give themselves to prayer should in a special manner have always a devotion to St. Joseph; for I know not how any man can think of the Queen of the angels, during the time that she suffered so much with the Infant Jesus, without giving thanks to St. Joseph for the services he rendered them then. He who cannot find any one to teach him how to pray, let him take this glorious Saint for his master, and he will not wander out of the way. ~ Chapter 6 (12)

~~~

PRAYER FOR ST. JOSEPH’S INTERCESSION
O God, who in your unspeakable providence chose blessed Joseph to be the spouse of your most holy Mother, grant, we beseech you, that we may deserve to have him as our intercessor in Heaven, whom we venerate on earth as our protector. Who lives and reigns world without end.
Amen.
(MP, p. 212; derived from the Collect of the Votive Mass of St. Joseph from the Roman Missal)

ORATIO AD SANCTUM IOSEPH
Deus, Qui ineffabile providentia
beatum Joseph sanctissimae Genitricis Filii tui sponsum
eligere dignatus es,
praesta, quaesumus,
ut quem protectorem veneramur in terris,
intercessorem habere mereamur in caelis.
Amen.

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini ~ Industry

March 18, 2011 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: 11 November, 11 November Saints, Industry, Little Flowers, St. Frances Xavier Cabrini 3 Comments

“O my God, I will do everything for the love of Thee.”

I held my last Little Flower’s meeting of the 2010-2011 session on March 5 – First Saturday . LF moms and I decided to opt out of rescheduling a meeting in April so that we could observe the Lenten season. I will, however, provide all members with their Saint/Virtue packet so that they can complete their study at home. The May meeting will be our participation in a May Procession. It will be a splendid way to officially close this year’s LF session.

Ad Jesum per Mariam

May Procession 2010

~~~

The girls attended Mass with help from two Sodality members. We had 25 girls in attendance. The First Communicants joined us after their lessons with Father L.

I had a limited time to introduce the Little Flowers lesson since we were expecting special visitors. As we waited, we briefly recapped last months saint and virtue – St. Jane Frances de Chantal & Love of Our Neighbor.

~ St. Frances Xavier Cabrini & Industry ~

Then I introduced St. Frances Xavier Cabrini and the virtue of industry. I used the following excerpt from Fr. Lasance, Catholic Girl’s Guide.

Christianity teaches us to regard work as something sacred, honorable, and exalted. Work is your duty.

You must not only value work very highly, you must also love it.

We are taught by daily experience that industrious, active girls who are fond of work are almost without exception virtuous and pure.

A girl ought to learn every kind of work which she will be expected to know later in life; she ought to help her mother as much as she possible can.

~ Fr. Lasance, Catholic Girl’s Guide

I was able to share fresh daffodils since they had just bloomed. Majority of the girls immediately recognized the industrious flower.

I mean the daffodil. I have chosen it from among its brethren and sisters, the fair children of spring and I have called it industry’s flower because of hastens to blossom as soon as possible. I wish to place it before your eyes, Christian maiden, as an emblem of industry, that virtue which should find a place in the garland which decks your youthful brow. ~ Fr. Lasance, Catholic Girl’s Guide

The girls brainstormed ways in which thy could be industrious (or work) at home. I also prepared them for this month’s activity in place of the usual craft. I planned for the girls to be industrious around the parish.

~ Special Visitors ~

Our lesson led into the introduction of our special visitors, two Missionaries of Charity sisters. Father L coordinated this visit for all the girl groups of the parish. Sr. Miram and Sr. Lourdes spoke to the Little Flowers and Sodality members.

The sisters shared their beautiful testimony and gave a brief on their daily lives. They encouraged the girls to find silence in their hearts among a world full of noise.

“God speaks in the silence of our heart.” Sr. Lourdes, MC

The sisters also emphasized the need to grow close to Jesus through Our Blessed Mother. They were a beautiful witness on finding “simple JOY” in all we do.

The sisters left and the girls immediately went to apply their direction, work for Jesus with great love.

~ Industrious Work ~

My local Lowe’s Build and Grow Workshop donated aprons and craft kits. Unfortunately, I requested the donation prior to this year’s registration and I only estimated 20 girls – I’m short by 10 aprons.

A few Sodality members generously offered to help the LF clean the parish. I had 4 groups:

trash pick-up
office
narthex
3 bathrooms

I tried to have the girls rotate through the different stations. My goal was to have the girls experience the work that they can do for their community, to serve and share their JOY with others.

“Little things with great love.” ~ St. Therese of Lisieux

~ Handouts ~

Divider Sheet
Industry Virtue Activities
St. Francis Xavier Cabrini Bio for Kids – Holy Spirit Interactive
Industry Memory Verse
St. Francis Xavier Cabrini Coloring Page – Waltzing Matilda
St. Xavier Cabrini Info Sheet

~~~

Keep your gaze constantly fixed upon that workshop [of the Holy Family] and thence learn to be faithful and assiduous in your work, and to regard it as honorable. Whether it be easy or difficult, servile or otherwise, consider it to be a precious remembrance, a priceless relic of the house at Nazareth. Within those walls was work also exalted and sanctified…~ St. Frances Xavier Cabrini

Lenten Family Joy Journal

March 16, 2011 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Crafts, Gifts, JOY Journal, Lent

Through the traditional practices of fasting, almsgiving and prayer, which are an expression of our commitment to conversion, Lent teaches us how to live the love of Christ in an ever more radical way. ~ Pope Benedict XVI, 2011 Lenten Message (3)

Finding JOY in my life has been a call of mine for sometime. I’ve been recording my JOY for several years now, in efforts to grow a JOYfilled heart. It has been a much needed spiritual practice for me.
I have recently been renewed by friends, Ann and other bloggers.
Jenny at A Moment Captured and Melody at Blossoming Joy inspired me to step it up for Lent.

In order to undertake more seriously our journey towards Easter and prepare ourselves to celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord – the most joyous and solemn feast of the entire liturgical year… ~ Pope Benedict XVI, 2011 Lenten Message (2)

Here is the JOY Journal that I made for my family. We’ve been entering our JOY each day after family prayer.

~~~

JOY Journal

Mini-Tutorial

supplies: note book, mod podge, foam brush, nail file, and holy images. (i prefer to upcycle items. i used an old religious catalog.)

hand tear or cut the images as desired.

glue the images to the cover. overlap images for complete coverage.
trim the edges with a nail file. be sure that there is not glue on top of the images for this step.

repeat the above steps for the back cover.
apply another coat of mod podge over the images.
let dry.

~~~

Equipping Catholic Families – Unique Handmade Gifts Linky

St. Patrick – Good News Popcorn

March 16, 2011 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: 03 March, Recipe, St. Patrick, St. Patrick's Day

My parents used to treat my sis and I to flavored popcorn. There was a small snack shop in the mall that had a variety of flavored popcorn. My favorite was bubblegum. It has been a long time since I’ve enjoyed that yummy treat.

I decided that this was the perfect opportunity to treat my GFG to a childhood novelty of mine.

I made green lemon-lime flavored popcorn, AKA Good News Popcorn, in honor of St. Patrick. We celebrated on Sunday despite the fact that it’s a 1st class feast in our diocese.

Patrick suffered much in Ireland and there was always the danger that he would be killed, yet the saint kept on preaching about Jesus.….How happy he was to bring the Good News of the true God to the people who once held him a slave. ~Holy Spirit Interactive

The children loved the Good News Popcorn.

I plan on sharing the extra popcorn with my nieces. The day-old popcorn is a bit chewy and reminds me of pink popcorn. My kids still think it’s yummy.

You can get the complete recipe at Catholic Cuisine.

~~~

Prayer About St. Patrick

God our Father,
you sent Saint Patrick to preach your glory to the people of Ireland.
By the help of his prayers,
may all Christians proclaim your love to all men.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

~~~

St. Patrick ~ ora pro nobis

My Biggest Sacrifice

March 16, 2011 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Lent, Prayer

In case you didn’t know, Lent is my favorite time of year. I joyfully embrace the cross and yearn to grow closer to Him. Dad and I prepare a personal Lenten program for ourselves and for our family. We help the children with their personal Lenten programs. We also create marital Lenten program. It sounds like a lot but, really, we keep it simple.

Dad and I serve as each other’s spiritual advisor – to become ONE in Christ. Our marital Lenten program varies every year with the exception of one element that remains the same on a yearly basis. We’ve agreed to select a sacrifice for one another. It is often my biggest sacrifice. Here are the parameters:

Take time away from home to finalize all Lenten programs and seek direction. This is usually done on a date walk.*
Start the discussion with a prayer.
Tell the other what item you would like to see him work on/sacrifice for Lent.
- only one sacrifice can be set
- be specific
- give an example
- there can be no refuting the sacrifice chosen
- arguing is NOT allowed
Close the discussion with a prayer.
Pray daily for one another.
Repeat steps 1-4 as a follow-up on a weekly basis or daily if needed.

*We invented date walks several years ago when getting away for a date night was not possible. The walks can last no longer than 45min and no kids are allowed. They are great for our physical, emotional and spiritual health.

~~~

Dad and I back in high school.

Married Couple’s Prayer to the Sacred Heart

O most Sacred Heart of Jesus, King and center of all hearts, dwell in our hearts and be our King; grant us by Your grace to love each other truly and chastely, even as You have loved Your spotless Bride, the Church, and have given Yourself up for her.

Bestow upon us that mutual love and Christian forbearance which are so highly acceptable in Your sight, and a mutual patience in bearing each other’s defects; for we are certain that no living creature is free from them. Do not permit even the slightest defect to mar that full and gentle harmony of spirit, the foundation of the mutual assistance in the many and varied hardships of life, that is the end for which woman was created and united inseparably to her husband.

O Lord God, grant that between us there may reign a perpetual holy rivalry toward a life perfectly Christian, by virtue of which there may shine forth more and more clearly the divine image of Your mystic union with Your Holy Church, as You have deigned to imprint it upon us on the auspicious day of our being made one.

Grant, we beseech You, that our good example of Christian living may serve as a powerful inspiration to our children to conform their own lives to Your holy law; and finally, after this exile may we ascend into heaven, where by the help of Your grace, for which we earnestly pray, we may merit to be joined with our children forever and praise and bless You through everlasting ages, Amen.

Prayer Source: Family for Families, The by Francis L. Filas, S.J., The Bruce Publishing Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1947

Counsels of Perfection for CHRISTIAN MOTHERS

March 16, 2011 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Book Review, Meditation, Motherhood

“My God, what will happen to me today, I do not know; but I do know that nothing will happen to me which Thou hast not foreseen and ordained for my greater good. I accept, then, Thy thrice holy will; I submit myself to it, and desire to delight in it despite all the revolts of my reason, and the repugnances of my nature.” ~ Monsignor P. Lejeun encourages all to recite this morning prayer of Mme. Elizabeth, daughter of a king, and sister of Louis XVI.

~~~

I found this gem last year at my parish’s used book sale. I spotted it from afar. I was beyond excited when I saw the price tag of $0.50. Yet, I will still a bit apprehensive. I only had $3 cash to spend and I questioned the book’s orthodoxy, given that it was in the used book sale. I mean, really, if the book was helpful, why was it up for sale. Just then Mary, a wonderful veteran homeschooling mom of 11 kids stopped me to say, “Lena, I have that book. It’s wonderful. I’m currently re-reading it and have it by my bedside.” That was it, Our Blessed Mother spoke to me through her chosen one, Mary.

Ad Jesum per Mariam ~ To Jesus through Mary

I haven’t put the book down since and I can’t stop sharing it with others. I recommend this book to all mothers. It is packed with precise direction and meditations that seem to be a personal prescription for all my needs.
Here are excerpts taken from Monsignor P. Lejeun’s Counsels of Perfection for CHRISTIAN MOTHERS.

Chapter II – A CATALOGUE OF SOULS.
What is the state of my soul? What place do I occupy, with regard to God, in the great family of Christian souls? These, my daughters, are questions to which you must not be indifferent. In order to furnish you with the elements of a response to these questions, I intend to draw up a catalogue of souls which will enable you to determine to what category you belong. My purpose, I must avow, is not solely to satisfy your curiosity. When you know just where your place is in this catalogue you should aspire to a higher degree of excellence in the hierarchy of souls. It is my purpose to guide you in your upward march, to point out the halting-places along the way, and to indicate the means by which you can arrive most quickly and most surely at the coveted goal.
Chapter V – THE NEED OF A RULE OF LIFE.
Let me call your attention to the advantages of a rule of life. First, it saves you from yourselves, so to speak; from the spirit of caprice which finds its way so easily into your actions, and robs you of the greater part of your merit. We all are tempted to do only what pleases us, and to avoid sacrifices as much as possible. An act needs but to take on the appearance of duty to become an object of aversion to us. The result is that unless you are bound by a rule, your lives will drift unceasingly; they will float along guided only by caprice, and the sense of duty will be almost entirely lost. In that case it is your own will that you have followed from morning until evening, and not the will of God…..Here is another article that ought to find its place in your rule: morning and evening prayers should be said kneeling. Moreover, there is hardly one among you who cannot spend a quarter of an hour each day in spiritual reading. You should have a special article binding you to that. Those of you who have the time, and who are unwilling to be satisfied with merely earthly piety, ought to take measures to make a meditation every morning, and also to attend Holy Mass each day, or at least several times during the week

I was sad to learn that this gem is out of print and copies are going for $90+ on Amazon. My sadness was short lived, I found a PDF copy of the book. Here is the link to the online book of Counsels of Perfection for CHRISTIAN MOTHERS.

I urge you to read this gem if you are on the journey of perfection.

**UPDATE**
Here is an updated the link to the online book version.

There is also a site that offers MP3 audio of the book, JMJsite.

COUNSELS OF PERFECTION FOR CHRISTIAN MOTHERS. Order No. 12. Father P. Lejuene explains in very practical ways what real Christian Perfection is. He goes through the various Spiritual Exercises, and explains how to derive the most benefit from them. He addresses his book to Christian Mothers, but it is very beneficial to all. Imprimatur 1913. Three Tapes read by MH.

~~~

Perfection is accomplishing the will of God in a constant and generous fashion.

~ Monsignor P. Lejeun, Counsels of Perfection for CHRISTIAN MOTHERS

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini

March 15, 2011 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: 11 November, 11 November Saints, 12 December, 12 December Saints, St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Leave a Comment

We must pray without tiring, for the salvation of mankind does not depend upon material success . . . but on Jesus alone. –St. Frances Xavier Cabrini

Traditional Calendar December 22

~~~

A PRAYER FOR PEACE OF MIND by Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini

FORTIFY me with the grace of Your Holy Spirit and give Your peace to my soul that I may be free from all needless anxiety, solicitude and worry. Help me to desire always that which is pleasing and acceptable to You so that Your will may be my will.

~~~

Patron: hospital administrators; immigrants; orphans.

Symbols: ship; heart; book.

~~~

RESOURCES:

Foot Steps of American Saints – St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Activities
St Francis Xavier Cabrini for Families – Domestic Church
St. Francis Xavier Cabrini Printable Saint Card – That Resource Site
Little Rosary Of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini
Mother Cabrini’s Life Story – Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart
St. Francis Xavier Cabrini Photo Album
Daffodil Coloring Page – the flower that coordinates with industry as prescribed by Father Lasance.

Shh! Don’t tell the kids…

March 15, 2011 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Lent, Mardi Gras, Pre-Lent, Shrove Tuesday

Dad and I have a secret from Shrove Tuesday. We had an after hours treat.

I bought these to make for Rose’s party.

We decided to try them since they were on clearance at Costco. They’re delicious.

I’m not a coffee drinker but I do enjoy an occasional caramel frappuccino. Dad loves anything with sugar and caffeine.

(I’m posting this pic as a Lenten exercise in humility.)

We made ourselves a farewell drink to bring in my favorite season of the year, the Lenten season. It was our carnival.

Carnival is from the Latin Carnevale or “farewell to meat”, and it is a time of joyful feasting and fun. The practice of celebrating carnival probably began in ancient times when the Sunday a week before the beginning of Lent was called Dominica Carnevala, or “farewell to meat Sunday” — referring to the Lenten fast from meat and animal products…~ Women for Faith & Family, The Observance of Lent – Part I

The cappuccino mixes now sit on the counter to tempt dad. As for me, I got my fix. I’ll see how long it lasts.

I said good-bye to all drinks that are not clear and tasteless – I’m only drinking water. I have to get creative with fasting since I’m nursing and have a dispensation from adhering to the laws of fasting.

ALL FOR!

SIMPLIFY

March 15, 2011 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Lent, Organization Leave a Comment

“Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.” ~ Luke 13:15

Simplifying is a constant theme in my family’s journey.

Simplify is another prompting from the Holy Ghost that has been placed on our hearts. We are a work in progress but definitely feel the call to SIMPLIFY in ALL areas of our lives – words, material possessions, food, extracurricular activities, spiritual practices……to better follow Him.

Simplify~Repair~Love

In the past years, I’ve followed the Archdiocese of Cincinnati – 40days 40bags. I was introduced to this great Lenten challenge by Jessica.

I wanted to step it up this Lent. A couple of friends and I are following the Simple Mom’s Project Simplify. I’ve been following Tsh throughout the year via her site and book, Organized Simplicity.

I’m also slowly digesting Addicted to Stuff! to help me in my efforts. I pray for perseverance and resolve to gain the order that God wills for my family.

We call races and generations Houses; and the Hebrews were wont to speak of the birth of children as “the building up of the house;” as it is written of the Jewish midwives in Egypt, that the Lord “made them houses;” Exod. i. 21. whereby we learn that a good house is not reared so much by the accumulation of worldly goods, as by the bringing up of children in the ways of holiness and of God; and to this end no labour or trouble must be spared, for children are the crown of their parents. ~ St. Francis de Sales, Introduction to the Devout Life (3.38)

I may post pictures of this journey if I’m up for the exercise in humility.

O most Blessed Virgin Mary, help me!

Ad Jesum per Mariam

~~~

Additional Resources:

Like Mother and Daughter – Organizing tips. Be sure to check out A Pep Talk for Organization.
Fasting From Our Clutter – Reflect on clearing clutter from your life this season of Lent. This update offers ways to fast from our personal habits, the clutter in our homes, our spiritual clutter and the confusion of our culture as we prepare for Easter.
Smart Martha – For mothers who want to learn how to work smarter and not harder; who want to take time to refocus and get their home life in order; and for mothers who may simply need some inspiration in this tiresome task of managing a home.
iHeart Organizing – Jen offers free organization printables, resources and printables.
The Idea Room – Organizing tips and inspiration (an organizer’s eye candy).

~~~

Prayer for the Home
Visit, we beseech Thee, O Lord, this dwelling, and drive far from it all snares of the enemy; let Thy holy Angels dwell herein, to preserve us in peace; and let Thy blessing be upon us forever. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Daily Meditations

March 14, 2011 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Lent, Meditation

Here is a wonderful FREE resource that can be used during Lent and all year long. I forgot to list this resource in my Lenten post.

You can read the meditations on Colleen Hammond’s site or subscribe to the email loop.

This meditation comes from a set of books written in the 1800s by Fr. M. Hamon. They have been out of print for over 100 years.

Today’s meditation is on the Three Temptations of Jesus in the Desert.

Summary of Today’s Meditation

We will meditate today upon the three temptations of Jesus in the desert, that is to say: first, an excessive care of the body and of health: second, the self-love which presumes upon itself and desires to attract notice; third, ambition and self-seeking. We will then make the resolution: first, to avoid excessive delicacy in the care of our body; second, to seek God only in all things. Our spiritual nosegay shall be the advice of the apostle St. James: “Resist the devil and he will fly from you.” (James 4:7)