share our JOY

JOY{filled}family

striving to radiate Him always

Mission Santa Clara

by Filed Under: 04 April Saints, California Missions Leave a Comment

We had a glorious Friday outing on the feast of St. Anselm.

We visited one of the California missions with our beloved Sisters and friends — all to venerate the miraculous Catalá Crucifix.

➕

O God, let me know you and love you so that I may find joy in you; and if I cannot do so fully in this life, let me at least make some progress every day, until at last that knowledge, love and joy come to me in all their plenitude.

While I am here on earth let me know you fully; let my love for you grow deeper here, so that there I may love you fully. On earth then I shall have great joy in hope, and in heaven complete joy in the fulfillment of my hope.

O, Lord, through your Son you command us, no, you counsel us to ask, and you promise that you will hear us so that our joy may be complete. Give me then what you promise to give through your Truth. You, O God, are faithful; grant that I may receive my request, so that my joy may be complete. #stanselm

St. Vincent Ferrer ~ Angel of the Apocalypse

by Filed Under: 04 April, 04 April Saints, St. Vincent Ferrer Leave a Comment

If you truly want to help the soul of your neighbor, you should approach God first with all your heart. Ask God simply to fill you with charity . . . with it you can accomplish what you desire. ~St. Vincent Ferrer

 

 

SAINT VINCENT FERRER
Confessor

April 5

Vincent Ferrer (1350-1419) was a great Spanish Dominican missionary and master of souls. One biographer claims that Vincent’s labors in Spain brought 25,000 Jews into the Church; he also won numerous Moorish converts for the Faith. In addition to carrying on an inspired apostolate in Spain, he preached to thousands of persons in France, Switzerland, and Italy [By his preaching and miracles, he converted thousands of sinners and heretics.]. He pleaded so eloquently for penance that he was known as the “Angel of the Judgment.”

O God, who didst vouchsafe to glorify Thy Church by the merits and preaching of blessed Vincent, Thy Confessor: grant to us Thy servants that we may be taught by his example, and delivered by his patronage from all adversities. Through our Lord . . .

Patron: Brick makers, builders construction workers, pavement workers, plumbers, tile makers.

Symbols: Dominican holding an open book while preaching; Dominican with a cardinal’s hat; Dominican with wings; cardinal’s hat; pulpit; trumpet; Dominican with a crucifix; Dominican preacher with a flame on his head; flame; Dominican preacher with a flame on his hand.

 

Resources:

 

 

“For whosoever will proudly dispute or contradict, will always stand without the door. Christ, the master of humility, manifests his truth only to the humble, and hides himself from the proud.”

 

We have a particular devotion to this powerful saint, for a number of reasons, so it was an absolute delight to be able to have a first-class relic of St. Vincent for the past three months.  A Novena would not suffice, our family devotions have been centered around our beloved patron.  

 

 

“What is meritorious is not that a man should be poor, but that, being poor, he should love poverty.” “A vain question deserves nothing but silence. So learn to be silent for a time; you will edify your brethren and silence will teach you to speak when the hour is come.” “Regard yourself as more vile and miserable in the sight of God because of your faults than any sinner whatever, no matter what his sins…  and consider closely that any grace or inclination to good or desire of virtue you may have, is not of yourself but of the sole mercy of Christ.” “Try to convince yourself that there is no crime-laden sinner but would have served God better than you…  if he had received the same graces.”  “Once humility is acquired, charity will come to life – a burning flame devouring the corruption of vice and filling the heart so full that there is no place for vanity.”

St. Julie Billiart ~ Fortitude ~ Hyacinth

by Filed Under: 04 April Saints, Little Flowers, St. Julie Billiart, Wreath III

“Oh, how good God is!” ~St. Julie Billiart
Ah, qu’il est bon, le bon Dieu
IMG_1059
Saturday was the seventh Little Flowers meeting for 2011-2012.  There are only two more meetings to go for Wreath III, not including our participation in the Marian Procession.
~~~
“By union with God we shall gain hearts…. Without this union we will but make a little noise.” ~ Saint Julie Billiart

4_8_julie

SAINT JULIE BILLIART
Religious
Old ~ Feast Day – April 8
Sixth of seven children of peasant farmers Jean-François Billiart and Marie-Louise-Antoinette Debraine. She was poorly educated, but knew her catechism by heart at age 7, and used to explain it to other children. At age 14 she took a private vow of chastity, and gave her life to serving and teaching the poor. At age 22, she was sitting next to her father when some one shot at him; the shock left her partially crippled for 22 years. During the French Revolution, a group of her friends helped organize the work she’d started. Julia was miraculously healed of her paralysis on 1 June 1804, and resumed her work. Her organization became the Congregation of the Sisters of Notre Dame (Institute of Notre Dame; Sisters of Notre Dame), dedicated to the Christian education of girls, formerly established in Amiens in, the first vows being made by Saint Julia and two others on 15 October 1804. The Congregation By the time of her death the Institute had 15 convents. ~SQPN
~~~

I discussed the life of St. Julie Billiart with the girls.  They were immediately drawn into her pious life as a young girl.  The girls also were excited to hear that she was part of a large family with seven children.  Many of the girls come from such a family.  C’s family has 12 children with one in heaven.

The girls could not believe that during St. Julie’s life one could not receive First Holy Communion until the early teen years.

We discussed the specific times in St. Julies life when her fortitude was most noticeable.  Then the girls thought of ways to work on fortitude in their home.  Mrs. D offered an example for the girls to work on fortitude.

“Doing school work to it’s completion, in a timely manner, with a cheerful smile, and to mom’s satisfaction.”
“Fortitude is the moral virtue that ensures firmness in difficulties and constancy in the pursuit of the good. It strengthens the resolve to resist temptations and to overcome obstacles in the moral life. The virtue of fortitude enables one to conquer fear, even fear of death, and to face trials and persecutions. It disposes one even to renounce and sacrifice his life in defense of a just cause. “The Lord is my strength and my song. In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” -CCC: 1808

Our discussion on fortitude led us to the craft of the month – Mini Empty Tomb Garden.  I thought this was a perfect craft for the Lenten Season and the virtue of fortitude. (I hope to create and link to a tutorial within the week.)

Jesus’ fortitude that culminated in His death and resurrection.IMG_1107
The girls were instructed to say an ejaculation to the Good Lord every time they water/care for their garden.
We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
“How good is the good God.” ~St. Julie Billiart
IMG_1065-1
IMG_1081
IMG_1111
The girls created beautiful Mini Empty Tomb Gardens with the help of several moms.  A special thanks goes out to all the moms and siblings who offer a hand at the meetings and to those who work behind the scenes.  This is truly a group ministry.  Praise God!
IMG_1100
We returned to the room for our closing.  Father L gave us a visit.  He spoke about the Lenten Season and took time for questions.  The girls received their blessing and gave Father a farewell.  The older girls of the group presented Father with His own Mini Empty Tomb Garden.
S and her mom passed out the second snack, cupcakes in honor of S’s birthday on Monday.  There are three other LF who will be celebrating their birthday in March, including myself.  Birthday Blessings to all the March birthdays.
St. Julie Billiart ~ ora pro nobis
~~~
Handouts:

Resources:

~~~
“I ought to die of shame to think I have not already died of gratitude to my good God.” ~St. Julie Billiart
“Let us pray more and more that the Kingdom of God may spread everywhere in the hearts of all. The harvest is great but there are no labourers. Let us work at becoming good labourers!” ~St. Julie Billiart
“The good God will give you grace and light to know what is right at the time.” ~St. Julie Billiart
“Days of darkness are perhaps our best and happiest days for glorifying the good of God.” ~Julie Billiart

Happy Birthday Papa

by Filed Under: 04 April, 04 April Saints, Pope

April 16th

Happy 84th Birthday

Pope Benedict XVI 

V. Let us pray for Benedict, our Pope.
R. May the Lord preserve him, and give him life, and make him blessed upon the earth, and deliver him not up to the will of his enemies. [Ps 40:3]

Our Father, Hail Mary.

O God, Shepherd and Ruler of all Thy faithful people, look mercifully upon Thy servant Benedict, whom Thou hast chosen as shepherd to preside over Thy Church. Grant him, we beseech Thee, that by his word and example, he may edify those over whom he hath charge, so that together with the flock committed to him, may he attain everlasting life. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

~ Excerpted from the Roman Missal. A partial indulgence is attached to the versicle and response. (Catholic Culture)

(today is also the traditional feast day of St. Bernadette, Sparkles’ patron saint)

St. Bernadette

by Filed Under: 02 February Saints, 04 April Saints, Our Lady of Lourdes, Patron Saint, St. Bernadette

“I shall do everything for Heaven, my true home. There I shall find my Mother in all the splendor of her glory. I shall delight with her in the joy of Jesus himself in perfect safety.” ~ St. Bernadette Soubirous

bernportraitSAINT BERNADETTE SOUBIROUS 
February 18

Traditional Calendar – St. Simeon, bishop and martyr; St. Bernadette Soubirous, virgin; St. Flavian, bishop and martyr (Hist)

New Calendar – April 16 (Pope Benedict XVI  Birthday)

~~~

[saint-bernadette-of-lourdes-06[2].jpg]

Patron: Bodily ills; illness; Lourdes, France; people ridiculed for their piety; poverty; shepherdesses; shepherds; sick people; sickness.

Symbols: Young girl kneeling in front of a grotto, before the Blessed Virgin ("The Immaculate Conception") who wears a white dress, blue belt, and a rose on each foot. Bernadette is sometimes pictured after she received the habit.

~~~

“I must die to myself continually and accept trials without complaining. I work, I suffer and I love with no other witness than his heart. Anyone who is not prepared to suffer all for the Beloved and to do his will in all things is not worthy of the sweet name of Friend, for here below, Love without suffering does not exist.” ~St. Bernadette Soubirous

~~~

'je_suis_l'immaculee_conception'

RESOURCES:

O dear little St. Bernadette, humble little shepherdess, who wonderingly beheld the Lovely Lady of the Grotto, pray for us to our Lady of Lourdes that she may heal us of our ills. St. Bernadette, pray for the sick and the afflicted.

Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us!

~ Novena to St. Bernadette

Subscribe to our Newsletter