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2021 Who am I?

by Filed Under: 10 October, All Hallow's Eve, All Saints Day, Bl. Charles the Good, Fr. Emil Kapaun, St. Isaac Jogues Leave a Comment

*posted 2023, only a few years behind

This is one of the feastdays that we fully live out and spend a good amount of time preparing for — Hallowtide brings the way for two major feastdays.

We typically celebrate All Saints Day with festivities among family & friends on All Hallow’s Eve and assist at Holy Mass on the actual feast which is a Holy Day of Obligation. We try to start the Octave of All Souls with a visit to the cemetery for prayers of the deceased on Nov. 2.

One of the highlights is the Who Am I? presentations. The children present a bio of their saint. Many spend a great deal of time in researching the saints and getting to know their newfound patron.

We now have only 4 left to dress up. Below are the bios of our 2021 saint lineup. Orate pro nobis!

I was small and mighty.  I beat the beast by slinging a stone at his head.  

WHO AM I? 

I was an Earl who became a knight in the Second Crusade to recover the Holy Land from the Moors.   Upon my  return, I received the County of Flanders

I had a great love for justice.  I even forbade any of my subjects to blaspheme or take the name of God in vain. The punishment for blaspheming was to lose a hand or foot. My love for justice made me hated by many evildoers.

I declined to take over the throne because I wanted to focus on serving those in need.  I gave all I could and would even sell the clothes off my back if needed.  One day, I gave away 7,800 loaves.

I walked every morning barefoot to the church for my prayers and devotions.  I was warned that some were plotting against me.  I  answered:  “We are always surrounded by dangers, but we belong to God.  If it be his will, can we die in a better cause…. than that of justice and truth?” 

While I was reciting the penitential psalms before the altar, a mob rushed in and split open my head, in 1124.  

WHO AM I?

I was beatified in 1884.  

Patron of Crusaders

I became a priest in France in 1624.  I went to the new lands to work and share the Faith.  

I was kidnapped and held captive for over 1 year.   The natives tortured me be by fire, removed fingernails, gnawed away my fingers, and much more.  I even had to throw my finger in the woods so I wouldn’t be forced to eat it. 

I was rescued from martyrdom a number of times. And eventually, I returned home.  No one recognized me because my condition was so poor.  

The Pope gave me special permission to offer Holy Mass since my critical fingers were missing. 

I eagerly wanted to go back to the new lands in 1644. I told my friend, “I will go, but I will not return.”

Just two years later, on Oct. 18 1646, I was captured and tomahawked to death.  My head was placed on a stake as a trophy of sorts and thrown into the river.

WHO AM I?

I was torn between the priestly duties at home and the need to serve the brave men in the military fighting in World War II. My bishop recommended me for the U.S Army Chaplain Corps (KORZ). I joined the post-world war peacekeeping force and experienced firsthand the horrors of the Korean War. 

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I was compelled to fight in the front lines with my troops. Due to the circumstances I offered Holy Mass on the hoods of our jeeps and prayed with my men in foxholes. I never carried a gun or fired a weapon.  One day we were ambushed by the communists, rather than retreating with the others I and a doctor stood behind to care for the dying and wounded. We became Prisoners of War.

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I risked my life every day by sneaking out to find food for the other prisoners.  When the Chinese guards discovered that I had a blood clot in my leg, they moved me to the death house. There, I died, alone on May 23, 1951.

I forgave my captors and told the prisoners of the camp “Don’t worry about me, I am going to where I always wanted to go and I will pray for you!”WHO AM I?

2021 Saint Line up in order: David (fought Goliath), Bl. Charles the Good, St. Issac Jogues, and Fr. Emil Kapaun

All Saints Day 2020 – Patron Saints of Police Officers

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

All Saints’ Day is one of those feastdays that we spend much time preparing for — costume making, studying the saints, memorizing saint bios, practicing presentations, and the sheer joy of anticipating the festivities.

I’m now down to having only 4 children who dress up, soon it will be 3. So, I relish in seeing this feastday through the eyes of my children and reminiscing on all our fond memories.

Pictured in this video is the year that the three littles opted to be patron saints of police officers – 2020. They wanted the costumes at Costco so badly and I didn’t want to spend double the money.

So, they were…

St. Ambrose with the added homemade pipe cleaner bees on his cap along with a bottle of honey. He was called the Honey Tongued Doctor as he converted many and he is also a patron of bee keepers. 🐝

St. Sebastian with arrows in hand and one piercing his body. He was shot with arrows and left to die but survived and went on to preach until he was beaten to death. 🎯

St. Michael with wings made from glitter foam and additional battle gear because he’s a boy and requests to be St. Michael every year! ⚔️

I hope to share more looks into our past All Saints’ Day costumes & festivities. #jffallsaintsday

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#allsaints #allsaintsday #catholicmom #catholiccostumes #saintcostumes #liturgicalliving #liturgicallivingtlm #catholicfamily #traditionalcatholicfamily #lexorandilexcredendilexvivendi

All Saints’ Day — WHO AM I?

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

Happy feast of All Saints!

This one could tell you every detail of his beloved saintly friend and namesake. He wouldn’t even cut his saint story short to appease the time guidelines and numerous requests from the crowd.

I pray that he never losses that zeal and love for Christ.

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I received the degree of civil & canon laws. I then became a pirest in Rome and was given a high position by Pope Julius II.

I spent all my fortunes to build hospiatlas, care for the sick, and even start a bank to help protect the poor from loan sharks.

Many said that I looked like a seraph when standing before the altar, and like an Apostle when in the pulpit.

After some time, I went back to Rome, where I founded an Order (Theatines) — we sought to correct heretics, assist the sick & dying, and promote the welfare of men.

My order took a special vow of poverty—We left our whole care to God, and waited patiently for what Providence would send us.

I was also the first to introduce the Forty Hours’ Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

Later, my vigilance, under God, helped preserve the city from heresy; Luther’s poisonous teachings were being spread under the name of “Evangelical Liberty.” I was called the “Hunter of Souls.”

I also took on constant penances. I scourged myself, daily and I maintained a continual fast through my temperance with food. I spent most of my nights in devout exercises, taking only a short rest on straw. I never spoke except to honor God or benefit man.

One Christmas Eve, when I was passing the night in the Church of Saint Mary Major, the Holy Child appeared to me, and the Blessed Virgin, who carried Him, laid Him. into the my arms, filling my soul with heavenly consolation.

I had many other visions during my life, and was often seen in a state of ecstacy during my prayers. I also possessed the gift of prophecy, and miraculously cured a many sick people.

Even in my last hours, I did not allow my body any comfort, I laid in my pentiential cloths upon ashes on the ground saying: “There is no road to Heaven but that of Innocence or Penance.”

I died in the year of our Lord 1547.

I am the patron of job seekers and unemployed people.

WHO AM I?

This is a repeat for him but how can you go wrong with an early martyr who is also your namesake.

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I am a bishopp who suffered martyrdom in 305, during the persecution of Diocletian.

My body and some of blood was brought to Naples.

My feast is September 19. Often a miracle of my blood occurs on my feast — it flows like that of a living man.

WHO AM I?

I don’t know if we should be worried or proud that he is drawn to some of the most fierce saints — the ones that most people could never imagine following.

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I witnessed a pious dead man raised from the dead on three occasions, explaining that he was condemned to hell by God.

I was so affected by this judgment of God, that I resolved, at that moment, to retire from the world and work most earnestly at the salvation of my soul.

My companions and I sold all we had, gave it to the poor, and left our homes. We went, dressed in the poor garb of pilgrims.

We told the bishop of our resolution. He brought us to the desert area barley fit for animals.

It was the perfect place for my purpose.

I built a small church there in honor of Saint John the Baptist, and several poor cells, all separated from each other.

This was the beginning of my Order.

My companions and I led a very austere life. The principal points that we observed were:

  • To live separated from all communication with men
  • To observe a continual silence, except when assembled at church to sing the praises of God
  • Always to wear hair-cloth
  • To abstain from meat and to fast daily
  • To occupy our time in prayer, singing the praises of God, reading devout books and manual labor

The Almighty released my soul in the year 1101, clothed in penitential garments and kissing my Crucifix

My order which I founded in 1084, (Carthusian Monks) remains one of the most edifying and rigorous Orders that has ever existed.

My feastday is October 6.

WHO AM I?

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

All Saints’ Day Parties from the Past:

Vigil of All Saints

by Filed Under: 10 October Saints, All Hallow's Eve, All Saints Day, The Liturgical Year Leave a Comment

October 31st is the Vigil of All Saints Day. Traditionally, it is a day of fasting and partial abstinence.

One of my sons dressed as his namesake, a beloved saint who was a fierce priest, with his hero, another beloved priest.

➕

In the first ages, during the night before every feast, a vigil was kept. In the evening the faithful assembled in the place or church where the feast was to be celebrated and prepared themselves by prayers, readings from Holy Writ (now the Offices of Vespers and Matins), and sometimes also by hearing a sermon. On such occasions, as on fast days in general, Mass also was celebrated in the evening, before the Vespers of the following day. Towards morning the people dispersed to the streets and houses near the church, to wait for the solemn services of the forenoon. This vigil was a regular institution of Christian life and was defended and highly recommended by St. Augustine and St. Jerome. – The Catholic Encyclopedia 1909

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Collect of the Vigil All Saints

O Lord, our God, multiply Thy graces upon us, and grant that joy may follow in the holy praise of those whose glorious festival we anticipate. Through our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

➕
Canticum Magnificat (from Vespers on the Vigil of All Saints)
{Antiphon from the Proper of Saints}
Ant. O ye Angels, * ye Archangels, ye Thrones and Dominions, ye Principalities and Powers, ye mighty ones of the heavens, ye Cherubim and Seraphim, O ye Patriarchs and Prophets, ye holy Teachers of the Law, O ye Apostles, O all ye Martyrs of Christ, ye holy Confessors, ye Virgins of the Lord, ye Hermits, O all ye holy children of God, make intercession for us.

Let us prepare our souls for the graces heaven is about to shower upon the earth in return for its homage.

Tomorrow the Church will be so overflowing with joy, that she will seem to be already in possession of eternal happiness; but today she appears in the garb of penance, confessing that she is still an exile.

Let us fast and pray with her; for are not we too pilgrims and strangers in this world, where all things are fleeting and hurry on to death?

Year by year, as the great solemnity comes round, it has gathered from among our former companions new saints, who bless our tears and smile upon our songs of hope.

Year by year the appointed time draws nearer, when we ourselves, seated at the heavenly banquet, shall receive the homage of those who succeed us, and hold out a helping hand to draw them after us to the home of everlasting happiness.

Let us learn, from this very hour, to emancipate our souls; let us keep our hearts free, in the midst of the vain solicitudes and false pleasures of a strange land: the exile has no care but his banishment, no joy but that which gives him a foretaste of his fatherland.

With these thoughts in mind, let us say with the Church the Collect of the vigil.

➕

Domine Deus noster, multiplica super nos gratiam tuam: et, quorum prævenimus gloriosa solemnia, tribue subsequi in sancta professione lætitiam. Per Dominum.

O Lord our God, multiply thy grace upon us; and grant us in our holy profession to follow the joy of those, whose glorious solemnity we anticipate. Through our Lord.

domprospergueranger #theliturgicalyear #vigilofallsaints

Procession & litany if saints

The councils of Spain and Gaul, as early as the sixth century, (Concil. Gerund, an. 517, can. 3; Lugdun. II. an. 567, can. 1.) mention a custom then existing, of sanctifying the commencement of November by three days of penance and litanies, like the Rogation days which precede the feast of our Lord’s Ascension.

The fast on the Vigil of All Saints is the only remaining vestige of this custom of our forefathers, who, after the institution of the feast, advanced the triduum of penance, so as to make it a preparation for the solemnity itself. “Let our devotion be complete,” is the recommendation of a contemporaneous author; “let us prepare ourselves for this most holy solemnity by three days of fasting, prayer and almsdeeds.” (Inter Opera ALUINI, Epist. xci. ad calcem.)

When extended to the entire world, the feast became complete; it was made equal to the greatest solemnities, and widened its horizon till it reached the infinite, embracing uncreated as well as created sanctity. Its object was now, not only Mary and the martyrs; not only all the just children of Adam, but moreover the nine choirs of Angels, and above all the Holy Trinity Itself, God who is all in all, the King of kings, that is, of the Saints, the God of gods in Sion. Hear now the Church awakes her children on this day: Come let us adore the Lord, the King of kings, for he is the crown of all the Saints.” (Invitatory of the Feast.) Such was the invitation addressed by our Lord himself to St. Mechtilde, the chantress of Helfta, the privileged one of his divine Heart: “Praise me, for that I am the crown of all the Saints.” The virgin then beheld all the beauty of the elect and their glory drawing increase from the Blood of Christ, and resplendent with the virtues practiced by him; and responding to our Lord’s appeal, she praised with all her might the blissful and ever adorable Trinity, for deigning to be to the Saints their diadem and their admirable dignity. (Liber specialis gratiae, P . I. cap . xxxi.) – Dom Prosper Gueranger

Vigil of All Saints

by Filed Under: 10 October Saints, All Hallow's Eve, All Saints Day, The Liturgical Year Leave a Comment

October 31st is the Vigil of All Saints Day. Traditionally, it is a day of fasting and partial abstinence.

One of my sons dressed as his namesake, a beloved saint who was a fierce priest, with his hero, another beloved priest.

➕

In the first ages, during the night before every feast, a vigil was kept. In the evening the faithful assembled in the place or church where the feast was to be celebrated and prepared themselves by prayers, readings from Holy Writ (now the Offices of Vespers and Matins), and sometimes also by hearing a sermon. On such occasions, as on fast days in general, Mass also was celebrated in the evening, before the Vespers of the following day. Towards morning the people dispersed to the streets and houses near the church, to wait for the solemn services of the forenoon. This vigil was a regular institution of Christian life and was defended and highly recommended by St. Augustine and St. Jerome. – The Catholic Encyclopedia 1909

➕
Collect of the Vigil All Saints

O Lord, our God, multiply Thy graces upon us, and grant that joy may follow in the holy praise of those whose glorious festival we anticipate. Through our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

➕
Canticum Magnificat (from Vespers on the Vigil of All Saints)
{Antiphon from the Proper of Saints}
Ant. O ye Angels, * ye Archangels, ye Thrones and Dominions, ye Principalities and Powers, ye mighty ones of the heavens, ye Cherubim and Seraphim, O ye Patriarchs and Prophets, ye holy Teachers of the Law, O ye Apostles, O all ye Martyrs of Christ, ye holy Confessors, ye Virgins of the Lord, ye Hermits, O all ye holy children of God, make intercession for us.

Let us prepare our souls for the graces heaven is about to shower upon the earth in return for its homage.

Tomorrow the Church will be so overflowing with joy, that she will seem to be already in possession of eternal happiness; but today she appears in the garb of penance, confessing that she is still an exile.

Let us fast and pray with her; for are not we too pilgrims and strangers in this world, where all things are fleeting and hurry on to death?

Year by year, as the great solemnity comes round, it has gathered from among our former companions new saints, who bless our tears and smile upon our songs of hope.

Year by year the appointed time draws nearer, when we ourselves, seated at the heavenly banquet, shall receive the homage of those who succeed us, and hold out a helping hand to draw them after us to the home of everlasting happiness.

Let us learn, from this very hour, to emancipate our souls; let us keep our hearts free, in the midst of the vain solicitudes and false pleasures of a strange land: the exile has no care but his banishment, no joy but that which gives him a foretaste of his fatherland.

With these thoughts in mind, let us say with the Church the Collect of the vigil.

➕

Domine Deus noster, multiplica super nos gratiam tuam: et, quorum prævenimus gloriosa solemnia, tribue subsequi in sancta professione lætitiam. Per Dominum.

O Lord our God, multiply thy grace upon us; and grant us in our holy profession to follow the joy of those, whose glorious solemnity we anticipate. Through our Lord.

domprospergueranger #theliturgicalyear #vigilofallsaints

Procession & litany if saints

The councils of Spain and Gaul, as early as the sixth century, (Concil. Gerund, an. 517, can. 3; Lugdun. II. an. 567, can. 1.) mention a custom then existing, of sanctifying the commencement of November by three days of penance and litanies, like the Rogation days which precede the feast of our Lord’s Ascension.

The fast on the Vigil of All Saints is the only remaining vestige of this custom of our forefathers, who, after the institution of the feast, advanced the triduum of penance, so as to make it a preparation for the solemnity itself. “Let our devotion be complete,” is the recommendation of a contemporaneous author; “let us prepare ourselves for this most holy solemnity by three days of fasting, prayer and almsdeeds.” (Inter Opera ALUINI, Epist. xci. ad calcem.)

When extended to the entire world, the feast became complete; it was made equal to the greatest solemnities, and widened its horizon till it reached the infinite, embracing uncreated as well as created sanctity. Its object was now, not only Mary and the martyrs; not only all the just children of Adam, but moreover the nine choirs of Angels, and above all the Holy Trinity Itself, God who is all in all, the King of kings, that is, of the Saints, the God of gods in Sion. Hear now the Church awakes her children on this day: Come let us adore the Lord, the King of kings, for he is the crown of all the Saints.” (Invitatory of the Feast.) Such was the invitation addressed by our Lord himself to St. Mechtilde, the chantress of Helfta, the privileged one of his divine Heart: “Praise me, for that I am the crown of all the Saints.” The virgin then beheld all the beauty of the elect and their glory drawing increase from the Blood of Christ, and resplendent with the virtues practiced by him; and responding to our Lord’s appeal, she praised with all her might the blissful and ever adorable Trinity, for deigning to be to the Saints their diadem and their admirable dignity. (Liber specialis gratiae, P . I. cap . xxxi.) – Dom Prosper Gueranger

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