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Feast of the Most Holy Rosary

by Filed Under: 10 October Saints, Fr. Leonard Goffine, Our Lady of the Rosary, Rosary Leave a Comment

We did not grow up praying the daily rosary. We didn’t even adopt the devotion of the daily rosary as a family until we became right-ordered and I handed over the reins so my husband could take his proper place as the head of our family. It was a fruit of our Total Consecration (led by my husband). Since then, we have not turned back.

➕Is the Rosary a profitable method of prayer?

Yes; for by bringing before the eyes of the spirit the fundamental mysteries of Christianity it supplies us with the strongest motives to love God, to hate sin, to subdue the passions, to contemn the world and its vanity, and to strive after Christian perfection, in order that we may gain those happy mansions which Jesus prepares for us.

The Rosary, besides, brings before us living examples – Jesus and Mary – whom we must follow; and encourages us to good works by pointing to the all-powerful grace procured for us by Jesus, and the all-prevailing intercession of the gracious Mother of God.

Let us not be ashamed to carry the beads with us, for otherwise we might be ashamed of being Catholics; let us say the Rosary often – every evening – as was the custom with Catholics in former times, and we shall find that, as in St. Dominic’s day it was a wholesome check to error, so too In our times it will be, if said aright, a powerful weapon against heresy and unbelief, and will increase faith, piety, and virtue.

➕How should we say the Rosary?

1. Properly; as has been above described, and slowly, with a distinct pronunciation of the prayers and mysteries.

2. Devoutly, not only with the lips, but also with the heart.

More particularly we ought to meditate upon the mysteries that come before us;

at the joyful mysteries we should think of the infinite love of God to men and on His humiliation for us, thanking Him, and promising our love to Him in return;

at the sorrowful mysteries we should have compassion on the Saviour suffering for us, should from the heart detest the sins which were the cause of His sufferings, and make the most earnest resolutions for the future;

at the glorious mysteries we should remember the glory which awaits us also if we follow Jesus and Mary.➕

#frleonardgoffine

A Special Nameday

by Filed Under: 10 October Saints, Nameday, Priests of Tradition, St. Evaristus Leave a Comment

We offer thanksgiving and pray for our priests, daily. And we gladly celebrate their nameday.

2021 Our Lady of Bethlehem Pilgrimage #olbpilgrimage#catholicpilgrimage

In your charity, please offer a prayer for Fr. Evaristus Eshiowu on this feast of his patron.

He is a fierce priest of tradition who instructs the faithful with great charity. He is a lover of souls and does all he can to admonish us sinners, help us prepare for what is to come, and raise us up so we can vigorously pursue our true home.

Pope Saint Evaristus, ora pro nobis.

“Thou art the first Pontiff to whom the Church was entrusted after the departure of all those who had seen the Lord. The world could then say in all strictness: ‘If we have known Christ according to the flesh, now we know Him so no longer.’

The Church was now more truly an exile; at that period, which was not without perils and anxieties, her Spouse gave to thee the charge of teaching her to pursue alone her path of faith and hope and love. And thou didst not betray the confidence of our Lord.

Earth owes thee, on this account, a special gratitude, O Evaristus; and a special reward is doubtless thine.

Watch still over Rome and the Church.

Teach us that we must be ready not only to fast here on earth, but to be resigned to the absence of the Bridegroom when He hides Himself; and not the less to serve Him and love Him with our whole heart and mind and soul and strength, as long as the world endures, and He is pleased to leave us therein.”

#domprospergueranger#theliturgicalyear

The Feast Of All Saints

by Filed Under: 10 October Saints, 11 November Saints, All Hallow's Eve, All Saints Day Leave a Comment

Let us all rejoice in the Lord, celebrating a festival day in honor of all the saints; at whose solemnity the angels rejoice, and give praise to the Son of God. Rejoice in the Lord, ye just: praise becometh the upright.  ~Introit from 

I’m thankful that I can share with so many via Instagram in a way that is most conducive to my season in life but there are certain things I’d prefer them to have a permanent home here.  Please excuse me while I share a few blasts from the past.  

Why has the Church instiuted this festival?

We are all looking for ways to grow closer to the Saints.  Celebrating All Hallows Eve with an All Saints’ Day party is a wonderful opportunity for us to keep our eyes on Heaven, living out the Liturgical Year.

I can’t say them I’m a pro or there’s not a part of me that dreads having to make my children’s saintly dreams come to reality (make the costumes) but it’s all worth it!

Generally, we try to use what we have around the house.  This year we upcycled several

Paint stir sticks that were left over from a painting project.

Inexpensive brown fabric from Wal-Mart with pumpkins as fabric weights.

Felt left-over from Jesse Tree ornaments, stick from the front yard, and Dollar Tree floral tape.

Our Parish holds festivities that the parishioners coordinate so we do not have to partake in the secular “celebrations.”  The evening starts in Church with the Litany of Saints and procession if the weather permits.

Dragonfly’s costume of St. Martin de Porres was made from inexpensive black material for his cassock which was held together with fusing tape.  The white piece was simply a piece of cut fabric.  His friendly mouse/rat was a stuffed pet from IKEA.   The broom belonged to Rose, a souvenir from a field trip at a local broom factory (before they moved their manufacturing out of the country).  St. Martin de Porres is sometimes referred to as the Saint of the Broom for his devotion to his work, no matter how menial.  

Martin is probably best remembered for the Legend of the Rats. It is told that the prior, who objected to rats, ordered Martin to set out poison for them. Martin did as he was told, but he was very sorry for the rats. He went out into the garden and called softly and out came the rats. He reprimanded them for their bad habits, telling them about the poison. He further assured them that he would feed them every day in the garden, if they would refrain from annoying the prior. This agreed upon, he dismissed the rats and forever after, so the stories go, there was no more trouble with rats at Holy Rosary Convent.

Papi desired to go as Bl. Junipero Serra (who has since gone on to be a saint) as his devotion has grown to him over the years through our pilgrimages which culminate with Mass offered over his tombstone.  His cross was made from the painted paint sticks tied to braided scraps of brown fabric.  His simple brown robe was made with this technique using inexpensive brown fabric and fusing tape.  Papi is wearing a Han Solo robe that Nana purchased for $2 after last year’s Halloween.  (She stocks up on Christmas gifts, dress-up clothes, after seasons.)  His walking stick was something found at Papa’s house.  I had great plans to give him a faux tonsure using nylons but he backed out at the last-minute.  

Lil’ Man is also Junipero Serra since he loves to follow his big brother.  They’re both wearing twine rope from the Dollar Store and plastic rosaries.


Sparkles chose St. Zita, an easy one for us to put together.  She wore her own clothes and we made this apron out of a thrift-store sheet.

Born to a very poor but pious family. At age twelve she became a domestic servant for the wealthy Fainelli family in Lucca, Italy, a position she kept all her life; she looked at it as a way to serve God. She often gave her own food, and sometimes that of her master, to those poorer than herself, which caused her to get in frequent trouble with her employers and the other servants in the house who resented her. However, she did such a fine job she was eventually placed in charge of the house, and entrusted with its keys. Attended daily Mass before beginning her duties, and would go to a nearby monastery to pray in private.

Sparkles chose a saint that shes has admired, St. Maria Gorretti.  She wore her own clothes with a scarf from the thrift-store.  The lily was homemade with the pictured (above) stick, white and yellow felt, and green floral tape.  She borrowed a “knife” from her brother’s collection.

Beautiful, pious farm girl, one of six children of Luigi Goretti and Assunta Carlini. In 1896 the family moved to Ferriere di Conca. Soon after, Maria’s father died of malaria, and the family was forced to move onto the Serenelli farm to survive.

In 1902 at age twelve, Maria was attacked by 19-year-old farm-hand Alessandro Serenelli. He tried to attack the girl who fought, yelled that it was a sin, and that he would go to hell. He tried to choke her into submission, then stabbed her fourteen times. She survived in hospital for two days, forgave her attacker, asked God‘s forgiveness of him, and died holding a crucifix and medal of Our Lady. Counted as a martyr.

While in prison for his crime, Allessandro had a vision of Maria. He saw a garden where a young girl, dressed in white, gathered lilies. She smiled, came near him, and encouraged him to accept an armful of the lilies. As he took them, each lily transformed into a still white flame. Maria then disappeared. This vision of Maria led to Alessandro’s conversion, and he later testified at her cause for beatification.

The children are invited to go on the stage to share something about their saint.

The children enjoy parading around and sharing with all.

This was a favorite saint costume of mine from the evening.

I love the creativity in games offered for the children.

Let us strive so to live, that we may one day be among these chosen ones!

All Saints’ Day Parties from the Past:

Miracle of the Sun

by Filed Under: 10 October, 10 October Saints, Miracle of the Sun, Our Lady of Fatima Leave a Comment

“O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of Hell and lead all souls to Heaven, especially those most in need of Thy Mercy.”

 

“From the road, where the carriages were crowded together and where hundreds of persons had stayed for want of sufficient courage to advance across the muddy ground, we saw the huge crowd turn towards the sun which appeared at its zenith, clear of the clouds. It resembled a disc of silver, and it was possible to stare at it without the least discomfort. It did not burn the eyes. It did not blind….Then a tremendous cry rang out and the crowd nearest us were heard to shout: Miracle! Miracle!…Marvel!…Marvel! Before the dazzled eyes of the people, whose attitude transported us to biblical times, and who, dumbfounded, heads uncovered, contemplating the blue of the sky, the sun trembled, it made strange and abrupt movements, outside of all cosmic laws – ‘the sun danced,’ according to the typical expression of the peasants.”

Avelino de Almeida, reporter for O Seculo, a socialist and anti-clerical newspaper, who was present at Fatima on October 13, 1917

 

 

During the night of 12-13 October it had rained throughout, soaking the ground and the pilgrims who make their way to Fátima from all directions by the thousands. By foot, by cart and even by car they came, entering the bowl of the Cova from the Fátima-Leiria road, which today still passes in front of the large square of the Basilica. From there they made their way down the gently slope to the place where a trestle had been erected over the little holm oak of the apparitions. Today on the site is the modern glass and steel Capelhina (little chapel), enclosing the first chapel built there and the statue of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fátima where the holm oak had stood.

As for the children, they made their way to the Cova amid the adulation and skepticism which had followed them since May. When they arrived they found critics who questioned their veracity and the punctuality of the Lady, who had promised to arrive at noon. It was well passed noon by the official time of the country. However, when the sun arrived at its zenith the Lady appeared as she had said she would.

“What do you want of me?”

I want a chapel built here in my honor. I want you to continue saying the Rosary every day. The war will end soon, and the soldiers will return to their homes.

“Yes. Yes.”

“Will you tell me your name?”

I am the Lady of the Rosary.

“I have many petitions from many people. Will you grant them?”

Some I shall grant, and others I must deny. People must amend their lives and ask pardon for their sins. They must not offend our Lord any more, for He is already too much offended!

“And is that all you have to ask?”

There is nothing more.

As the Lady of the Rosary rises toward the east she turns the palms of her hands toward the dark sky. While the rain had stopped, dark clouds continued to obscure the sun, which suddenly bursts through them and is seen to be a soft spinning disk of silver.

“Look at the sun!”

From this point two distinct apparitions were seen, that of the phenomenon of the sun seen by the 70,000 or so spectators and that beheld by the children alone. Lucia describes the latter in her memoirs.

After our Lady had disappeared into the immense distance of the firmament, we beheld St. Joseph with the Child Jesus and Our Lady robed in white with a blue mantle, beside the sun. St. Joseph and the Child Jesus seemed to bless the world, for they traced the Sign of the Cross with their hands. When, a little later, this apparition disappeared, I saw Our Lord and Our lady; it seemed to me to that it was Our Lady of Sorrows (Dolors). Our Lord appeared to bless the world in the same manner as St. Joseph had done. This apparition also vanished, and I saw Our Lady once more, this time resembling Our Lady of Carmel. [Only Lucia would see the later, presaging her entrance into Carmel some years later.]

This would be the last of the apparitions of Fátima for Jacinta and Francisco. However, for Lucia Our Lady would return a seventh time, in 1920, as she had promised the previous May. At that time Lucia would be praying in the Cova before leaving Fátima for a girls boarding school. The Lady would come to urge her to dedicate herself wholly to God.

As the children viewed the various apparitions of Jesus, Mary and Joseph the crowd witnessed a different prodigy, the now famous miracle of the sun.

 

 

RESOURCES:

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October 2017 Feastday Calendar

by Filed Under: 10 October, 10 October Saints, Catholic Feast Days, Liturgical Calendar, Liturgucal Rhythm Leave a Comment

 

Catholic Feastdays are days set aside to remember important people and events through the course of the Faith from the time of Mary’s birth all the way through today honoring the saints. The calendar of saints has been changed throughout Church history to remove some saints in order that others may be celebrated too.  One of these changes occurred in 1969, which greatly altered the calendar.

Today, some Traditional Catholics like to follow the pre-1955 Calendar, some prefer the 1955 Calendar, and some prefer the 1962 Calendar.  These three calendars are very similar.

 

Liturgical Year according to the General Roman Catholic Calendar of 1954

October 2017 – Month of The Holy Rosary

1              17TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST  |  ST. REMIGIUS (REMI) (530)
2              THE HOLY GUARDIAN ANGELS
3              ST. THERESE OF LISIEUX (1897)
4              ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI (1226)
5              ST. PLACID & COMPANIONS (541)
6              FIRST FRIDAY  |  ST. BRUNO (1101)

7              FIRST SATURDAY  |  OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY (1571)  |  ST. MARK (336)
8              18 SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST  |  ST. BRIDGET OF SWEEDEN (1373)  |  STS. SERGIUS & BACCHUS, MARCELLUS & APULEIUS
9              ST. DENIS  |  ST. JOHN LEONARDI (1609)
10           ST. FRANCIS BORGIA (1572)
11           THE DIVINE MATERNITY OF OUR LADY
13           ST. EDWARD THE CONFESSOR  (1066)
14           ST. CALLISTUS I (222)
15           19 SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST  |   ST. TERESA OF JESUS (AVILA) (1582)
16           ST. HEDWIG (1243)
17           ST. MARGARET MARY ALACOQUE (1690)
18           ST. LUKE (84)
19           ST. PETER OF ALCANTARA (1562)

 

20           ST. JOHN CANTIUS (1473)
21           ST, HILARION (371)  |  ST. URSALA & HER 11,000 COMPANIONS (4TH C)
22           20TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
23           ST. ANTHONY MARY CLARET (1870)
24           ST. RAPHEL THE ARCHANGEL
25           STS. CHRYSANTHUS & DARIA (4TH C)
26           ST. EVARISTUS (107)
28           STS. SIMON & JUDE (1ST C)
29           FEAST OF CHRIST THE KING

 

Feastday Calendars – Oct

Feastday Calendars – Oct SIMPLE

 

One of the most enjoyable ways to teach our children the richness of the Catholic Faith and to keep them close to the Holy Mother Church is to fill their lives with the sacred and the beautiful.  When they are immersed in the reverence and silence of the Traditional Latin Mass, when they grow accustomed to the rhythm and rituals of following and celebrating the feast days, both at Church and at home, these traditions become such an integral part of them that the thought of not being Catholic will seem empty and meaningless.

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