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Let Us Remember

by Filed Under: 05 May Leave a Comment

May you have a blessed and reflective Memorial Day. 🇺🇸❤️🙏🏼

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While today is an opportunity to take a break from work and spend time with our friends and family, perhaps attend a barbecue or play some baseball with buddies, the real purpose of this day is to remember all those who have died in service to our country and who cannot be present with us today.

The“Missing Man” table (pictured) stands as a memorial to fallen, missing or imprisoned servicemembers and is often seen at military ceremonies or events. The table may include a place for four of the five branches of the military (Air Force, Army, Marines and Navy).

As Catholics, we appreciate the great value of material things in illustrating spiritual realities, and we certainly see many familiar symbols…, albeit with their own particular meanings: the upturned glasses signify the toasts that the fallen cannot raise with us; the lemon, the bitterness of their fate; the red rose, the blood they shed; the lit candle the hope that lives on in the hearts of their loved ones.

Though death is always accompanied by sorrow, we also hold to the hope of eternal life and resurrection, and to that end we pray continually for the souls of our deceased veterans and of all the faithful departed.

Many parishes today will offer Masses for the souls of the fallen, an annual Requiem Mass on this day.

We ought to assist at Holy Mass today for our deceased service members, offer a spiritual communion or particular prayers for the repose of their souls, and to pray for the safe return of all our deployed military personnel. + #fsspmissive

Réquiem ætérnam dona eis, Dómine: et lux perpétua lúceat eis. Requiéscant in pace. Amen.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord: and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.

#traditionalcatholic #catholicliving #memorialday #catholichome

We decorate & pray on this Memorial Day — in honor of heroic sacrifice of those which nobly gave of themselves, even unto death in military service to their country. 🇺🇸 🙏🏼

May God bless the fallen soldiers in their labors on behalf of patriotism and its highest and most noble work, the preservation of our nation and its God-given freedoms.

💛
COMMEMORATION OF THE DEAD

Remember, O Lord, Thy servants, (name them), who have gone before us with the sign of faith and rest in the sleep of peace.

To these, O Lord, and to all who rest in Christ, grant, we pray Thee, a place of refreshment, of light, and of peace. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

💛
PRAYER FOR THE WAR

Our Father, Who art in Heaven: give us, we pray Thee, the courage and the strength to stamp out the threat of paganism and slavery that hangs over the world today.

Be merciful to all those who have died in the service of our country.

Console those who have lost their loved ones in the struggle.

Help our fighting men to be always clean of heart and therefore unafraid.

Soothe the wounded in battle.

Sustain the courage of those who suffer persecution for conscience’ sake.

Have pity on all who have been insulted, robbed, tortured, defiled, enslaved by their conquerors.

Grant wisdom to our leaders, civil and military, that they may most effectively direct our efforts, at home and abroad.

Teach us all to walk humbly with Thee, so that we may be worthy to conquer, and having conquered may build a peace with justice, under the Fatherhood of God.
Amen.

💛
FOR OUR ARMED FORCES

O God, I beg Thee, watch over those exposed to the dangers of a soldier’s, sailor’s, or airman’s life. Give them such strong faith that no human respect may ever lead them to deny it or fear to practice it. Strengthen them by Thy grace against the influence of bad examples so that, being preserved from vice and by serving Thee faithfully, they may be ready to meet death, if it should come to them on land, at sea, or in the air.

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, inspire them with sorrow for sin and grant them pardon. Mary, Immaculate Mother of God, protect them. Amen.

#jffmarygarden #catholicporchdecor

Mary Garden

by Filed Under: 05 May, Mary Garden Leave a Comment

Here’s some inspiration for all those desiring to fix up their Mary Gardens or create one for the first this May, the month of Our Blessed Mother.

AD JESUM PER MARIAM

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The Mary Garden is an old idea which dates back to the Middle Ages when many flowers referred to the Virgin’s life and virtues.

Every monastery and convent had a special Mary garden to provide flowers to adorn the altar. It was because of the abundance of flowers in May that it became Mary’s month, and the people delighted in decorating her statue and altar with flowers.

The little people found their Mary gardens in the field and forests, where so many flowers spoke to them of some aspect of Our Lady and her Divine Son.

It is said that then, in those happy days of Faith, the flowers honored Mary, the choicest Flower of All, the Mystical Rose; everyone knew that it was she of whom Solomon sang: I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys.

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It is not difficult to make your own Mary garden…it is a grouping of flowers, ivy or herbs dedicated to Our Lady. Strictly speaking, all the plants in it should be associated with her in some way.

If you already have a flower garden, you can dedicate a part of it to the project. Start with flowers already commonly grown in home gardens in your area – no special gardening knowledge is needed. This small garden may expand and develop with time (on Our Lady’s feast days) Indoor or patio gardeners can plant different varieties of Marian flowers, herbs or ivy in a single pot, or make a grouping of plants around a statue of the Blessed Virgin

An indoor Mary garden planting in a decorative pot makes a wonderful gift for a friend or elderly person devoted to Our Lady.

The Mary garden is also a wonderful group project for the home-schooling family. All the family members can learn the charming old religious names of flowers and herbs and begin again to see the things of Heaven in the world around us. – Tradition In Action

#jffmarygarden#marygarden#mariangarden#marysgarden#marygardenchallenge#catholicgarden

We planted our first Mary Garden 17 years ago at the prompting of our young daughter.

It was our grandest garden which we did not get to watch take full bloom because we were gifted some major crosses shortly after. We were forever changed physically and spiritually.

Since then, we never replanted a full Mary Garden on that same scale. But we have celebrated many of her feast days with the purchase of a Marian Flower which we placed in a patio/porch garden.

We found our resources online during those early years, no children’s book to bring it all to life.

I was delighted to learn about a new release from @tan_books , A GARDEN FOR MARY by @neenagaynor illustrated by @bernadette_gockowski_art

All the boys and I took a trip to the local nursery (and invited Nana) to gather some Marian flowers and one son led the crew with his book in hand, referencing the flowers listed in the back.

This is a book I wish I had when my three girls were little! But my three little boys are loving it and my other two boys take delight in reading/listening to it.

This book is a real gem that is perfect for any month or occasion and is sure to be loved by a child of any age.

🌺
Do you have a Mary Garden or purchase Marian plants? I’d love to hear!

#jffmarygarden#marygardenchallenge#ourladysflower


A Mary Garden Prayer

Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Ghost,

As our hearts are raised to you in love and thanksgiving through the light, grace, fragrance and symbolism of these pure, blest, transfigured flowers of Our Lady – your direct creations, showing forth and sharing with us your divine goodness, beauty and truth – we commune with you in awe and rapture and pray that we and all our brothers and sisters may be opened to the fullness of the divine love of God and Neighbor, through which we are to transform the fallen world into the culminating earthly Peaceable Kingdom and Paradise, that all may be lifted up resplendent in the eternal New Heaven and New Earth of our Crucified and Risen Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Amen

Mary Garden Resources:

Memorial Day

by Filed Under: 05 May Leave a Comment

We decorate & pray on this Memorial Day — in honor of heroic sacrifice of those which nobly gave of themselves, even unto death in military service to their country. 🇺🇸 🙏🏼

May God bless the fallen soldiers in their labors on behalf of patriotism and its highest and most noble work, the preservation of our nation and its God-given freedoms.

💛
COMMEMORATION OF THE DEAD

Remember, O Lord, Thy servants, (name them), who have gone before us with the sign of faith and rest in the sleep of peace.

To these, O Lord, and to all who rest in Christ, grant, we pray Thee, a place of refreshment, of light, and of peace. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Tomb of maternal Great/grandfather

💛
PRAYER FOR THE WAR

Our Father, Who art in Heaven: give us, we pray Thee, the courage and the strength to stamp out the threat of paganism and slavery that hangs over the world today.

Be merciful to all those who have died in the service of our country.

Console those who have lost their loved ones in the struggle.

Help our fighting men to be always clean of heart and therefore unafraid.

Soothe the wounded in battle.

Sustain the courage of those who suffer persecution for conscience’ sake.

Have pity on all who have been insulted, robbed, tortured, defiled, enslaved by their conquerors.

Grant wisdom to our leaders, civil and military, that they may most effectively direct our efforts, at home and abroad.

Teach us all to walk humbly with Thee, so that we may be worthy to conquer, and having conquered may build a peace with justice, under the Fatherhood of God.
Amen.

💛
FOR OUR ARMED FORCES

O God, I beg Thee, watch over those exposed to the dangers of a soldier’s, sailor’s, or airman’s life. Give them such strong faith that no human respect may ever lead them to deny it or fear to practice it. Strengthen them by Thy grace against the influence of bad examples so that, being preserved from vice and by serving Thee faithfully, they may be ready to meet death, if it should come to them on land, at sea, or in the air.

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, inspire them with sorrow for sin and grant them pardon. Mary, Immaculate Mother of God, protect them. Amen.

Prayers from Catholic Tradition

The Tradition of Rogation Days

by Filed Under: 05 May, Rogation Day Leave a Comment

Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of this week are Rogation Days in anticipation of Ascension Thursday.

Below are directions from Fr. Sullivan, OSB, 1952 and a few blessings from the traditional Roman Ritual.

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If our Holy Mother the Church seems to multiply her blessings over the farm home, and have few left for the city apartment, it is not because she is partial to her children in the country and forgetful of city children, but because she is a realist—like every woman. She knows that from the farm homes comes the world’s food supply.

That is why she has composed so many sacramental blessings for the farmer. That is why she has instituted the rogation days, the three days before the Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord.

But these rogation prayers and the sacramental blessings for the farmer are not for the exclusive welfare of the country people; such blessings are for the welfare of all the members of Christ’s Body on earth—for those who live in little towns and big towns—for the rosy cheeked country urchin who has the wide open fields for a playground, and for the pale little girls whose backyard is closed in by smokestacks and ugly unpainted buildings—for the farmer plowing in his field in the bright sun, and for the subway guard who seldom sees the light of day. For all members of Our Lord’s Body are dependent on one another.

If the farmer is blessed with a good harvest, the city dweller has plenty of good food; if the city dweller makes a living wage, he can buy the farmer’s food. It is this universal dependence of the members of Christ’s Body on one another that makes the blessing of the farmer a blessing also for the dwellers in the city apartments.

It is faith that traces the origin of good food beyond the corner grocery store to the wholesale dealer to the shipper—beyond the shipper to the farmers whose job it is to produce food, and beyond the farmer to God the Creator Who gives the increase to the harvest.

So it is fitting for the man or woman in the city cathedral as well as the farmer in the little rural church to pray together on rogation days: “That Thou wouldst please to give and preserve the fruits of the earth…we beseech Thee hear us.”

The litany of the Saints and the psalms sung during procession on rogation days are supplications—hence the word, rogation (from the word rogare which means to ask). During this season the faithful ask God to protect them from danger and disaster, and to bless especially the harvest so that the whole of Christ’s Body may be fed.

The rogation days are also called the days of the minor litanies, because according to the rubric of the ritual, it is customary for the pastor and his flock to go in procession through the fields of the parish changing the litany of the Saints and other prayers. There is another solemn procession through the fields on the 25th of April which is called the major litanies. This also happens to be St. Mark’s day, but there is no connection between the Evangelist’s feast and the procession.

Because most of our modern parishes are in the city and small town, and have no fields through which to march, the rogation day procession usually takes place on the parish property, or even inside the parish church itself; here at St. Meinrad’s the student-body together with the people of the parish march in solemn procession to the chapel of Our Lady of Monte Cassino a mile through the village and across the valley, chanting the litany of the Saints. There the Mass of rogation is offered by the priest in charge of the abbey farm.

The celebration of the minor and major litanies are only four days during the year when the Church solemnly asks blessings upon the harvest, but besides the rogation day blessings there are numerous sacramentals in the Roman ritual which may be used with spiritual profit by the faithful especially by the folks who live on the farm. Here are some the principal blessings which the Christian farmer may use.

My First Mother’s Day…

by Filed Under: 05 May, Mother's Day, Motherhood 1 Comment

I’ve actually celebrated 22 Mother’s Days of my own but this is the first one for me with 8 children!

22 years, 1 month, 15 days — 8082 days to be exact, of motherhood.  BLESSED! 

My heart overflows with gratitude for all these loves that have been entrusted to me.
I pray for His grace to…
💐serve my family as though they’re Christ – Mt 25:40
💐be faithful always – Rm 4:16
💐glorify Him with all that I have been given, no matter what – Jn 15:8
💐remain humble – 2 Chronicles 7:14
💐radiate His love and share His JOY – Gal 5:22

PRAYER FOR FIDELITY IN A MOTHER’S VOCATION

Dear God, give me the grace to appreciate the dignity of motherhood, which Thou hast been pleased to bestow upon me, and to fulfill its duties according to Thy Will. By my prayers and good example, may I lead my husband and my children closer to Thy Sacred Heart. Make me a devoted wife to my husband and a good mother to my children after the example of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Almighty God, I thank Thee for the blessed care and protection with which Thou hast embraced my family. I humbly submit to Thy decrees and resign myself to Thy Divine Providence. I grasp Thy guiding hand, and I shall never follow my own ways lest they lead me astray. Thy good pleasure shall be my happiness; Thy commandments shall be my only rule of conduct. Thy Will shall be my will, and Thy service shall be the object of all my desires.

Lord, grant me peace of mind because of my trust in Thy Providence, an unwavering and cheerful courage founded on my faith in Thy tremendous love, faithfulness to duty resulting from a constant awareness of Thy presence, and a firm hope of eternal reward.

Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, I implore Thy blessing upon my family that we all may serve Thee faithfully in this life and deserve to be reunited in the eternal happiness of Thy heavenly Kingdom. Amen.

 

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