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Practices to Bring in the New Year

December 29, 2023 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: 01 January, New Year, Patron Saint, Rule of Life, Word of the Year Leave a Comment

Embracing the New Year with Faith and Purpose

As we step into the New Calendar Year, I’m reflecting on the beautiful traditions our Catholic faith offers to counter the secular pull and guide our spiritual journey.

The Church’s New Year began with Advent, setting the tone for a season of anticipation and reflection. In addition to this, my family and I have adopted special practices to infuse our lives with purpose throughout the year.

One cherished tradition includes allowing a saint to choose us for the year, becoming a new patron for our personal & family litanies. It’s a unique journey as we learn about the saint, call upon their intercession, and joyously celebrate their feast day.

Choosing a word of the year is another heartfelt process. I delve into spiritual reading and prayer, reflecting on the past year to discern a word that will guide my spiritual growth. I seek the counsel of my husband. This intentional word becomes a source of inspiration throughout the year. Often, I pair it with a related scripture verse — my verse of the year.

But the journey doesn’t end there. We make a commitment to a spiritual plan, a Rule of Life or beyond, designed to combat specific faults and tend to spiritual duties. This commitment is a continuation of what was initiated in Advent and almost always involves obtaining spiritual direction.

As we usher in the New Year, we find solace and inspiration in the Feast of the Circumcision of our Lord on Jan. 1, a Holy Day of obligation.

Assisting at Holy Mass is the perfect way to start anything new, offer our gratitude, and make a heartfelt offering to God, seeking His grace for the journey ahead.

May this year be filled with faith, purpose, and an unwavering commitment to our spiritual growth. 🌟

Share your New Year traditions or commitments in the comments. If you tag me in your post/story, I’ll share in my stories.

#catholicnewyearamdg#catholicnewyear#jffsaints#domesticprudence#joyffnewyear#jffruleoflife#ruleoflife

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A post shared by Lena | Traditional Catholic (@joyfilledfamily)

A Young Man’s Patron

December 8, 2021 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: 12 December Saints, Advent, Patron Saint, St. Ambrose Leave a Comment

Today we celebrate a patronal feast of our oldest son — one which he chose for himself.

Our son at his Confirmation with the announcement of his new patron, Ambrosi. 3.16.19

Powerful would be an understatement. I can’t begin to articulate the weight of knowing that your child was specifically called to a saint after great discernment.

What is God calling him to?

That’s the question that I no longer ask. I merely entrust my children to Our Blessed Mother & their patrons, pray for their protection, and ask that they cooperate with all God’s grace.

St. Ambrose, ora pro nobis!

➕
Remove our prejudices, O you great lover of truth! and crush within us those time-serving and unwise theories, which tend to make us Christians forget that Jesus is the King of this world, and look on the law, which equally protects error and truth, as the perfection of modern systems.

May we understand that the rights of the Son of God and his Church do not cease to exist, because the world ceases to acknowledge them; that to give the same protection to the true religion and to those false doctrines, which men have set up in opposition to the teaching of the Church, is to deny that all power has been given to Jesus in heaven and on earth; that those scourges which periodically come upon the world are the lessons which Jesus gives to those who trample on the Rights of his Church, Rights which he so justly acquired by dying on the Cross for all mankind; that, finally, though it be out of our power to restore those Rights to people that have had the misfortune to resign them, yet it is our duty, under pain of being accomplices with those who would not have Jesus reign over them, to acknowledge that they are the Rights of the Church.

And lastly, dear Saint, in the midst of the dark clouds which lower over the world, console our holy Mother the Church, who is now but a stranger and pilgrim amid those nations which were her children, but have now denied her. ➕

A car selfie of with my son after his braces were removed on 11.21.

Practical Considerations from Father Francis Xavier Weninger, 1871

• Remember the words of Saint Ambrose: “In too much eating many have found their death; but none in fasting.” Heed this sentence well; especially if you belong to those poor and deluded beings who imagine that the fasts, ordained by the Church, are injurious to health. Even the word of God assures us, that many have shortened their lives by intemperance in eating and drinking, and the experience of almost every day is another overwhelming evidence of this fact. But where can you point out to me any one who shortened his life, by observing the fasts ordained by the Church? The word of God assures us that those who are temperate in eating and drinking, prolong their lives. Whom do you believe, the word of God, or the evil Spirit, who, through the mouth of the free-thinkers, the heretics, or of those wicked persons, whose life makes them despicable, says, that fasting and abstaining is hurtful to man, that it is the cause of many infirmities and that it shortens life. The true Church, by whose mouth God speaks, prays: “O Lord, who, by holy fasting and abstinence, dost help both soul and body:” which means: curest soul and body as by a remedy. I believe in this prayer, and with me all those who are true Catholic Christians.

• “I fear not to die, because we have a merciful Lord,” says Saint Ambrose. So it is; we have a merciful, a most kind Lord. All who endeavor to serve Him faithfully during their life, can and may comfort themselves with the thought of the divine mercy in their last hour. Satan sometimes tries to frighten and drive to despondency even pious souls, but recollecting that they have served the Lord rightly, and confessed their sins, they ought not to listen to the Evil One; but, contemplating the infinite mercy of God, comfort themselves and say: “We have a merciful Lord.” In Him will I trust; He will not forsake me. But those who during their life, have abused the divine goodness in order to be more wicked; who sinned because God, so infinitely good and merciful, would forgive them; these, I say, have reason to fear the temptations of Satan in their last hour; for, he generally comes then to throw us into gloom and despair by representing the severity , of the divine Justice. Take care not to be of the number of these unhappy people. Serve God faithfully during your life; do not offend Him: and if you have done wrong, do penance and seek to regain the grace of the Almighty. In this manner, you will be able to comfort yourself on your death-bed with the thought of His goodness, and say: “I have a merciful God; in Him will I trust.” Exercise yourself today in this hope, and say with King David: “The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the protector of my life, of whom shall I be afraid? If armies in camp should stand together against me, my heart shall not fear. Turn not away thy face from me. Be you my helper, forsake me not, do not you despise me, O God, my Saviour!” (Psalm 26) And again: “I cried to thee, O Lord, I said: you art my hope, my portion in the land of the living.” (Psalm 141)

A Family Patron

November 24, 2021 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: 11 November Saints, Patron Saint, St. John of the Cross Leave a Comment

We celebrate a beloved family patron saint today and seek his intercession always.

May Our Lady help us make the maxims of St. John of the Cross firm principles for the good of our souls.

➕

The Litany of St. John of the Cross

Lord, have mercy on us.

Christ, have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us.

Christ, graciously hear us.

God, the Father of Heaven,

Have mercy on us.

God the Son, Redeemer of the world,

Have mercy on us.

God the Holy Ghost,

Have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, One God,

Have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

Queen and Beauty of Carmel,

pray for us.

Saint John of the Cross,

pray for us.

St. John, our glorious father, etc.

Beloved child of Mary, the Queen of Carmel,

Fragrant flower of the garden of Carmel,

Admirable possessor of the spirit of Elias,

Foundation stone of the Carmelite reform,

Spiritual son, and beloved father of St. Teresa,

Most vigilant in the practice of virtue,

Treasure of charity,

Abyss of humility,

Most perfect in obedience,

Invincible in patience,

Constant lover of poverty,

Dove of simplicity,

Thirsting for mortification,

Prodigy of holiness,

Mystical Doctor ,

Model of contemplation,

Zealous preacher of the Word of God,

Worker of miracles,

Bringing joy and peace to souls,

Terror of devils,

Model of penance,

Faithful guardian of Christ’s vineyard,

Ornament and glory of Carmel,

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,

Spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,

Graciously hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,

Have mercy on us.

V. Holy father Saint John of the Cross, pray for us,

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let Us Pray.

O God, Who didst instill into the heart of Saint John of the Cross, Thy confessor and our father, a perfect spirit of self-abnegation and a

surpassing love of Thy Cross, grant that assiduously following in his footsteps, we may attain to eternal glory. Through Christ Our Lord.

R. Amen.

Family Retreat 2021

Fr. Weninger offers the following practical consideration.

“Saint John asked of God, in his first Mass, the grace of remaining free from all mortal sin; and at another time, he begged to suffer, to labor, and to be despised for Christ’s sake.

Oh! how different from this is the object of your prayers!

What do you seek and ask of God?

To what end do you promise masses, fasts, pilgrimages, and prayers?

Is not almost everything you ask temporal?

When you, your child, your husband or wife is sick, then you promise in your prayers to do all that is possible in order that God may ward off the disease.

When you have a cross to bear, you pray to God to release you from it. Although it is praiseworthy to fly to God for refuge in such circumstances, tell me, why do you not ask His assistance in much more weighty matters, in such as concern your soul?

Why do you not ask as often or oftener and more earnestly for spiritual gifts, and beg the Almighty to avert spiritual evils? Is not this an incontestable proof that you are far more solicitous for your body and your temporal welfare, than for your soul and your salvation?

And is not this not only unreasonable, but even wicked?

Correct this fault in future, and pray to God frequently and fervently to bestow spiritual gifts and graces upon you, and to avert from you spiritual and eternal evils.

Pray to Him for the grace to avoid sin; to be freed from temptations, or to be upheld in battling against them, for strength to correct evil habits, to overcome sinful inclinations or to practice virtues; to die a happy death, and to escape eternal destruction.

“Pray,” says Cardinal Hugo, “for all that you need for your salvation.” Such graces are more necessary than all others, and you may be sure that they are useful to you, while you do not know that temporal blessings are for your good.” #frweninger #saintoftheday #jffsaints

Saints of the Year

December 31, 2020 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: New Year, Patron Saint Leave a Comment

Domine, fac de me sicut vis | Lord, do with me what you will

Years ago we adopted a New Year’s tradition of selecting a patron saint for the new year. This practice was inspired by what St. Faustina did in her order.

On the occasion of the New Year 1935 Saint Maria Faustina made this entry in her spiritual Diary:  “Jesus likes to intervene in the smallest details of our life. And He often fulfills secret wishes of mine that I sometimes hide from Him, although I know that from Him nothing can be hidden. There is a custom among us of drawing by lot on New Year’s Day, special patrons for ourselves for the whole year…”  ~ Saint Maria Faustina

We’ve used various techniques over the years to select our Saint.  But our favorite remains our Missal or traditional book of the saints as we follow the Traditional Calendar and like to pool from the historical calendar as well. 


Each family member who has received their First Holy Communion receives a patron saint for the new year. Younger children focus on growing devotion to their name sake.

Selecting a Saint of the Year

Materials:

  • Missal
  • Saint Book
  • Random number generator (phone or computer)


We make our selections after our family devotions and specific prayers for the New Year.

Steps:

  • Set Random Number Generator to number of pages in your missal or saint book that covers the saints
  • Allow each family member to take at a turn at securing their “number” on the generator
  • Look up the number generator in your Missal/Saint Book to find out which Saint you will have for the New Year
  • Record Your Saint and feastday
  • learn about your new patron saint and grow in devotion to him throughout the year

In regards to the word of the year, it is closely tied to the Saint of the Year — for spiritual growth. The saint selection is random but choosing my word of the year has always been a process — an examination of the past year. I take time for spiritual reading for this purpose and pray over it with my husband. I encourage you to choose a word for the year to remind you of what God is asking of you during this season in your life. 

A Patron Saint Assigned by God

November 19, 2020 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: 11 November Saints, Nameday, Patron Saint, St. Elizabeth of Hungary Leave a Comment

Happy nameday to our beautiful #1, Rose.

My husband and I believe that the Good Lord ordained this beloved patron saint for our daughter.

We had her when were very young and not fully practicing the faith. We chose her name, never considering the saints or our Faith.

As we returned to the Faith, we held a great sadness that she didn’t have a patron saint from birth. She did adopt many patron saints over her young life. But it wasn’t the same to her.

She began to prepare for her Confirmation around the age of 10. She continued to study the lives of the saints and prayed for her decision to select a special patron saint as an intercessor.

One day we heard a squeal from upstairs. It was followed by feet quickly running towards us. In a tear-filled voice we heard, “I do have one, mama! I do have a name saint!”

In sheer joy, she continued to inform us that this specific saint was hers!

One of the saint’s nicknames was my daughter’s name — an uncommon name for the saint’s time and an unusual spelling of the name in general.

We all cheered and gave thanks to God for His tender care of our beloved girl from the very start. It was, indeed, a consolation for us all!!

It brings me to tears every time I retell the story. Not only did he provide her with a name saint, He also infused the saint’s great virtues in our daughter from her earliest days. GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME!!!

St. Elizabeth of Hungary, ora pro nobis.

…Thou, illuminated by supernatural light and faith immovable, didst show thyself to be a true daughter of the Holy Gospel, by seeing in the person of thy neighbour the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ, sole object of thy affections; and therefore didst thou place all thy delight in holding converse with the poor, in serving them, in drying their tears and comforting their spirits, in assisting them with every pious good office, in the midst of pestilence and the miseries to which our human nature is subject.

Thou didst make thyself poor in order to succour thy neighbour in his poverty–poor in the good things of earth, to enrich thyself with the goods of heaven.

…vouchsafe to be the heavenly friend of our souls,… AMEN

The life of Saint Elizabeth may serve as a model to persons of every age and station. Children may learn to fear God from their earliest years, and to increase their devotion with their age; single persons, how to live chastely in their state; married people, how husband and wife ought to live together; and the widowed how to sanctify their solitude. Masters and mistresses may learn how to take care of their domestics, and pay their wages regularly. Those of a higher station may learn to set a good example to others, and not to be ashamed to appear at public worship. All Christians can find instruction in it, for employing their time well, helping the needy, and bearing crosses and trials sent by heaven. God permitted a Landgravine, a royal princess, to be banished unjustly from court, to beg her bread, and, besides other ignominies, to be refused a shelter among her own subjects. Still she complained not; but, submissive to the decrees ot Providence, gave humble thanks to the Almighty for all that He, in His wisdom, had sent her. Even at the death of her husband, what fortitude, what submission to the divine will she manifested! Oh! that all would endeavor, in trials of much less severity, to unite their will with that of God, and patiently bear the cross that He has laid upon them.

Father Francis Xavier Weninger, DD, SJ. “Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, Landgravine of Hesse and Thuringia” Lives of the Saints, 1876.
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Hi! I'm Lena, mama of JOYfilledfamily.
We are a traditional Catholic family striving to live for Jesus Christ in everything we do. We pray to completely surrender our will to His and to become His servants. Our mission of this blog is to share our JOY.

This blog serves as a journal of us making good memories, living the liturgical year, and our spiritual journey.

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