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Viva San Giuseppe

by Filed Under: 03 March, 03 March Saints, Dad, Patron Saint, St. Joseph

On March 19th, the Festa San Giuseppe takes place. Although traditionally it began in Sicily, the Feast of San Giuseppe (St. Joseph) is now celebrated throughout most of Italy. According to legend, during the Middle Ages a terrible drought and famine plagued the people of Sicily. It virtually destroyed most of their crops and many people in the western part of Sicily died of starvation. The people began praying to St. Joseph and begged for his intercession to their plight. In return they promised to celebrate his feast day by having special altars abundant in food that would be shared with all people rich and poor as their thanksgiving to him.image

This is dad’s family crest from his maternal grandfather.

~~~

We had a simple celebration for the feast of St. Joseph, Spouse of the Virgin Mary.  We honored our earthly father (husband) and St. Joseph.

dad with his treat

Sparkles coordinated a surprise for dad.  She led her siblings in a St. Joseph procession around the house.  Then she presented dad with his treat, a yummy peanut butter, and chocolate, caramel ice-cream sundae.

dad's treatWe had not planned to create a St. Joseph’s Altar but we decided to improvise while dad went out for an errand.  Our St. Joseph Altar was simple and non-traditional.

We placed some of dad’s favorites on the altar.  It was our first official break in our Lenten fast.  Dad was elated to see what we worked on for him in honor of St. Joseph.  All, including Papa & Nana, enjoyed it.

dad's st joseph's altar

Sparkles invented a sweet game for the feast of St. Joseph.  She hid St. Joseph’s heart (chocolate heart candies) in the sawdust (breadcrumbs).  Everyone took turns finding his heart in the sawdust.  Papi (3) loved this game and insisted he needed more hearts.

May St. Joseph Always Smile Upon Us.

 

~~~San Giuseppe

 “Day after day, at home in the carpenter’s shop, his eyes rested on Jesus: he  protected Him against the dangers of childhood; he guided His advancing years, and by hard work and with religious devotedness he provided for the increasing needs of the Mother and the Son… And there was Joseph, modest, self effacing, yet exercising authority over the family.  How holy he must have been!  Under his fatherly protection and ceaseless tireless care the young Boy grew into manhood…Don’t you think that now in heaven he is the same loving father and guardian of the whole Church, of all its members, as he was of its Head on earth?  We hear your answer; Yes.  And does he not know that oh so many of its children are terribly in need of help?  They need help for their souls – grace of repentance, the grace of humble, unstinted surrender to the holy will of God; and Joseph turns to Jesus, of old his Boy of Nazareth and at once graces flow abundantly for the souls of men.”  ~ Fr.  Gilsdorf, Go to Joseph

 

 

~~~

2011blogfest

St. Matthias

by Filed Under: 02 February, 02 February Saints, 05 May, 05 May Saints, Apostles, Nameday, Patron Saint, St. Matthias 1 Comment

Matthias, one of the seventy-two disciples of Jesus, was chosen in the place of Judas. St. Matthias preached the Gospel more then thirty years in Judea, Cappadocia, Egypt, and Ethiopia. He was stoned by the Jews in 80.

212_Trier Statue at St. Matthias Abbey in Trier, where relics of the Apostle are kept

SAINT MATTHIAS

Apostle

Traditional Calendar – February 24 ~ New Calendar – May 14

DOUBLE, SECOND CLASS / RED

After the Ascension of Jesus, St. Peter proposed to the assembled faithful that they choose a disciple of Christ to fill the place of the traitor Judas in the first missionary band. Lots were drawn, with the result in favor of Matthias. According to one ancient tradition, this missioner labored in Ethiopia and was martyred there. Thus did St. Matthias receive "the crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him" (James 1:12).

~~~

bw matthiasSymbols: Halbert; lance; carpenter’s square; sword held by its point; axe; saw; scroll; scimitar and book; stone; battle axe; two stones; long cross; hatchet.

Patron: Alcoholism; carpenters; reformed alcoholics; smallpox; tailors; diocese of Gary; Indiana; diocese of Great Falls-Billings, Montana.

~~~

matthias588Preface of the Apostles

It it truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, to entreat Thee humbly, O Lord, that Thou wouldst not desert Thy flock, O everlasting Shepherd, but, through Thy blessed Apostles, wouldst keep it under Thy constant protection; that it may be governed by those same rulers, whom as vicars of Thy work, Thou didst set over it to be its pastors. And therefore with Angels and Archangels, with Thrones and Dominations, and with all the hosts of the heavenly army, we sing the hymn of Thy glory, evermore saying:

~~~

212_matthias_castlots 

The Apostles cast lots to choose a replacement for Judas

RESOURCES:

 

O Saint Matthias, glorious apostle and martyr of Jesus Christ, who, by the special providence of God, wast added to the eleven apostles in the room of the traitor, I humbly beseech thee to obtain for us the grace of Him Who chose thee from all eternity, that, assisted thereby, we may, after thy example, keep the commandments of God, practice good works, and thus merit to be numbered with the elect. Through Jesus Christ our Lord,… Amen.

~~~

turn off music (in the bottom left menu) before playing

homily is 11.08 min.  it starts at 7:50. 

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

St. John Chrysostom

by Filed Under: 01 January Saints, 09 September Saints, Patron Saint, St. John Chrysostom

"He became what we are, that we might become what He is." ~ St. John Chrysostom 

St. John Chrysostom Holy Card

SAINT JOHN CHRYSOSTOM

Bishop and Doctor of the Church

Traditional Calendar January 27 ~ New Calendar September 13

Archbishop of Constantinople in the fourth century, John was surnamed Chrysostom, "the golden-mouthed," because of his moving eloquence. His gifted pen, as well as his sermons drew many to Christ. The saint’s courageous condemnation of sinfulness brought him exile and all manner of ill-usage from his persecutors. Solicitous for the poor of Constantinople, St. John also looked beyond the boundaries of his episcopal see, and sent out missioners among the Scythians, Persians, and Goths. With the praise of God on his lips, this great Doctor of the Eastern Church died in exile on September 14, 407.

~~~

crisosto

“Prayer is the light of the soul, giving us true knowledge of God. It is a link mediating between God and man. By prayer the soul is borne up to heaven and in a marvellous way embraces the Lord. This meeting is like that of an infant crying on its mother, and seeking the best of milk. The soul longs for its own needs and what it receives is better than anything to be seen in the world.” ~ St John Chrysostom (Hom 6 on Prayer)

~~~chrysostom16

“True Peace comes from God” ~ St. John Chrysostom, PG 61:14

RESOURCES

 

 

"When Mass is being celebrated, the sanctuary is filled with countless angels who adore the divine victim immolated on the altar." ~ Saint John Chrysostom

chrysostom28

Memorial of St. John Chrysostom

by Filed Under: Devotions, Patron Saint, St. John Chrysostom

chrysostom28 DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH

Feast: September 13

“Golden Mouth”

We will be silently reflecting on the life and works of St. John Chrysostom.

His intercession has been faithfully sought since the moment that he was given to us as our family’s patron saint for the year 2010.

He is also a patron saint of education.  God knew I would be in need of this particular intercession this year as I have faced many struggles.  I trust St. John Chrysostom has been with my family through it all.

St. John Chrysostom, Ora pro nobis.

+++

john_chrysostom_russian

"…Everything is carried out joyfully and one can educate their children to virtue. When the first child is born, this is “like a bridge; the three become one flesh, so that the child links the two parts (Homily 12:5 “On the Letter to the Colossians”), and the three make up “one family, a little Church” ~ Chrysostom (Homily 20:6 “On the Letter to the Ephesians”).

"From the tenderest age, arm children with spiritual weapons and teach them to make the Sign of the Cross on their forehead with their hand" ~ Chrysostom (Homily, 12, 7 on First Corinthians).

"This is the principle of our social life… not to be solely concerned with ourselves!" ~ Chrysostom (Homily 9, 2 on Genesis).

“Do you fast? Prove it by doing good works. If you see someone in need, take pity on them. If you see a friend being honored, don’t get jealous of him. For a true fast, you cannot fast only with your mouth. You must fast with your eye, your ear, your feet, your hands, and all parts of your body.” ~ St. John Chrysostom

“You can call happy those who saw Him. But, come to the altar and you will see Him, you will touch Him, you will give to Him holy kisses, you will wash Him with your tears, you will carry Him within you like Mary Most Holy.”  ~ St. John Chrysostom

Saint John Chrysostom instructed women of all times about dress (modesty) when in the fourth century he declared:  "You carry your snare everywhere and spread your nets in all places. You allege that you never invited others to sin. You did not, indeed, by your words, but you have done so by your dress and your deportment. … When you have made another sin in his heart, how can you be innocent? Tell me, whom does this world condemn? Whom do judges punish? Those who drink poison or those who prepare it and administer the fatal potion? You have prepared the abominable cup, you have given the death dealing drink, and you are more criminal than are those who poison the body; you murder not the body but the soul. And it is not to enemies you do this, nor are you urged on by any imaginary necessity, nor provoked by injury, but out of foolish vanity and pride."  ~ St. John Chrysostom

“What the soul is in the body, let Christians be in the world.”  – St. John Chrysostom

chrysostom6

RESOURCES:

Office of Readings for the Memorial of John Chrysostom, Bishop and Doctor

EWTN Bio

Life of St. John Chrysostom

Audio – St. Anthony’s Saint of the Day 

Coloring page (insert into a word document and resize for coloring)

(turn off music at the bottom of screen before playing)

 

 Glory to God for all things. 

~ St. John Chrysostom

NTW-0368 

 Prayer of St. John Chrysostom According to the Hours of the Day and Night

1. O Lord, deprive me not of Thy heavenly blessings;

2. O Lord, deliver me from eternal torment;

3. O Lord, if I have sinned in my mind or thought, in word deed, forgive me.

4. O Lord, deliver me from every ignorance and heedlessness, from pettiness of the soul and stony hardness of heart;

5. O Lord, deliver me from every temptation;

6. O Lord, enlighten my heart darkened by evil desires;

7. O Lord, I, being a human being, have sinned; do Thou, being God, forgive me in Thy lovingkindness, for Thou knowest the weakness of my soul.

8. O Lord, send down Thy grace to help me, that I may glorify Thy holy Name;

9. O Lord Jesus Christ, inscribe me, Thy servant, in the Book of Life, and grant me a blessed end;

10. O Lord my God, even if I have done nothing good in Thy sight, yet grant me, according to Thy grace, that I may make a start in doing good.

11. O Lord, sprinkle on my heart the dew of Thy grace;

12. O Lord of heaven and earth, remember me, Thy sinful servant, cold of heart and impure, in Thy Kingdom.

13. O Lord, receive me in repentance;

14. O Lord, leave me not;

15. O Lord, save me from temptation;

16. O Lord, grant me pure thoughts;

17. O Lord, grant me tears of repentance, remembrance of death, and the sense of peace;

18. O Lord, grant me mindfulness to confess my sins;

19. O Lord, grant me humility, charity, and obedience;

20. O Lord, grant me tolerance, magnanimity, and gentleness;

21. O Lord, implant in me the root of all blessings: the fear of Thee in my heart;

22. O Lord, vouchsafe that I may love Thee with all my heart and soul, and that I may obey in all things Thy will;

23. O Lord, shield me from evil persons and devils and passions and all other lawless matters;

24. O Lord, Who knowest Thy creation and that which Thou hast willed for it; may Thy will also be fulfilled in me, a sinner, for Thou art blessed forevermore. Amen.

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