Happy Feast of St. Nicholas

Today is the Feast of St. Nicholas. He was Bishop of Myra and was known to be generous to the poor, often leaving them unexpected surprises when they were most needed.

It is tradition that on the eve of his Feast Day (December 5) for children to leave their shoes out to filled with goodies. Our children look forward to this every year. Today they awoke to find there shoes filled with suckers, chocolate coins, and a new Christmas shirt. To top it off this year, a family gift was was received...their all-time favorite Christmas movie The Polar Express. There was lots of excitement in our house this morning!

Christ the King

Today we celebrate The Feast of Christ the King! Let us remember today that Christ is our King! Everything we are and everything we have is because of Him. Everything we do is for His glory. We are His sons and daughters, first, and should lift our hands in praise and thanksgiving of the gifts He lavishes upon us! May we all continue to pray for the strength and grace to make Christ the king of our hearts and all that we do.

This Feast reminds me of one of my favorite praise and worship songs. The first time I heard this song was during a praise and worship session during a mission trip to Jamaica. It was the night before we divided into our teams and began our ministry work. I still remember how when the worship leader started this song, it was impossible for me not to fall to me knees, with arms lifted to Christ, and proclaim Him as King and Savior!

I Lift My Hands

I lift my Hands

Ash Wednesday

May your Lenten fast and sacrifice be fruitful and draw you nearer to the heart of Christ.

" 'Yet even now,' declares the LORD,Return to Me with all your heart,And with fasting, weeping and mourning;And rend your heart and not your garments 'Now return to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and compassionate,Slow to anger, abounding in loving kindness and relenting of evil. " ~Joel 2: 12-13

Saints Perpetua and Felicity, Pray for Us!

Today we celebrate the feast of Saints Perpetua and Felicity. Saint Perperua was a noble who converted to to the faith, and Felicity was her slave who also converted. They were arrested for their beliefs, and at the time Felicity was with child. After the baby was born, Felicity and Perpetua were thrown into an arena with wild beasts, and then slain by the sword.

Ideas for Celebrating This Feast as a Family

• Pray for the grace of fortitude
• Pray for people separated from their families and for those persecuted for their beliefs.
• Pray for Christ-centered friendships for yourself and family members.
  

"The day of the martyrs‘ victory dawned. They marched from their cells into the amphitheater, as if into heaven, with cheerful looks and graceful bearing. If they trembled it was for joy and not for fear. Perpetua was the first to be thrown down, and she fell prostrate. She got up and, seeing that Felicity was prostrate, went over and reached out her hand to her and lifted her up. Both stood up together. Rousing herself as if from sleep (so deeply had she been in spiritual ecstasy), she began to look around. To everyone’s amazement she said, “When are we going to be led to the beasts?” When she heard that it had already happened she did not at first believe it until she saw the marks of violence on her body and her clothing. The people, however, had demanded that the martyrs be led to the middle of the amphitheater. They wanted to see the sword thrust into the bodies of the victims, so that their eyes might share in the slaughter. Without being asked they went where the people wanted them to go; but first they kissed one another, to complete their witness with the customary kiss of peace. Bravest and happiest martyrs! You were called and chosen for the glory and our Lord Jesus Christ."

-from a story of the death of the martyrs at Catrthage.

St. David, Pray for Us!

Today we celebrate the feast of Saint David of Wales. Saint David was a priest who engaged in missionary work and founded many monasteries. He is also the patron saint of Wales.

There is a legend that says that once while he was preaching a dove descended on his shoulder and the earth rose to lift him high above the people so that he could be heard.
Ideas for Celebrating this Feast Day

• Pray for the people of Wales.
• Pray for Missionaries
• Feast on Welsh food-tea cakes are a favorite!
  

Kissing the Wounds of Christ

Rather than a stuffed animal, our kids have decided that they would like to sleep with crucifixes. I am not going complain about that choice. The other night Clare had some wisdom that I thought we could all benefit from hearing.

Clare: Daddy, are these Jesus' Boo-boos? (Pointing to the nails holding Jesus to the Cross.)

Dad: Yes, those are Jesus' wounds.

Clare: Oh. I will give him kisses, and kiss his boo-boos.

What a beautiful piece of wisdom to carry with us as we are about to embark on the liturgical season of Lent!

St. Valentine, Pray for us!

On this day that the world celebrates love, we celebrate a man in love with our LORD.

Unfortunately, the secular nature of Valentine's Day often overshadows the religious origin of the feast. Below is the history of St. Valentine for you to enjoy! I encourage you today not only to show others how much they mean to you, but to take some time to reflect on how much God loves you!

Under the rule of Emperor Claudius II, Rome was involved in many bloody and unpopular wars. Claudius was having a difficult time getting soldiers to join his military leagues. He believed the reason was that Roman men did not want to leave their loves or families. As a result, Claudius cancelled all marriages and engagements in Rome.

Valentine was a priest at Rome at this time. He and St. Marius began performing marriage ceremonies in secret. For this work St. Valentine was arrested and dragged before the Prefect of Rome. Valentine was condemned to be beaten to death with clubs and to have his head cut off.

While in prison his work continued. Many of the men and women he had helped came to his cell and threw flowers and notes through his cell window. Valentine converted his guard to Christianity and even miraculously restored the sight of the jailer’s daughter who was blind. The day before his death Valentine left a farewell note for the jailer’s daughter, who had become his friend, and signed it “From Your Valentine.” He suffered martyrdom on February 14^th, about the year 270.

In ancient Rome that day was a holiday to honor Juno, the Roman goddess of women and marriage. The following day began the Feast of Lupercalia.

At this time boys and girls were kept separate and seldom had any interaction. On February 14^th, the eve of Lupercalia, the names of Roman girls were written on slips of paper and placed into jars. Each young man would draw a girl’s name from the jar and would then be partners with her for the duration of the festival. Sometimes the pairing of the children lasted an entire year, and often they would fall in love and would later marry.

The pastors of the early Christian Church in Rome wanted to do away with the pagan element in these feasts. The fact that Lupercalia fell on Valentine’s feast and that he was so strongly connected to love and marriage, made him the perfect choice to Christianize the festival. Through the years, this celebration of Lupercalia and the story of St. Valentine have evolved into the holiday the entire world celebrates today.

St. Valentine – Pray for us!

Today let us focus and be grateful for what should be our primary relationship: our relationship with God! It is only through His love that we are able to express our love to those closest to us...our spouses, children, family members. God, thank you for loving me unconditionally. Lord, help me today to accept and live in the gift of your love, and help all of my relationships to be rooted in you and to be a mirror of your love. I love you, Lord!

"God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him.
We love because He first loved us." - 1 Jn 4:16,19

Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes

Today commemorates the first apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary to fourteen-year-old Bernadette Soubirous in 1858. The Blessed Virgin appeared eighteen times to Bernadette at Lourdes calling the people of the world to personal conversion, prayer and charity.

Today Lourdes has become one of the most famous shrines of Our Lady, where pilgrims flock to seek the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary to intercede for them in their bodily, spiritual and emotional ills.

Ideas for Celebrating this Feast

• Make blueberry muffins, pancakes, crepes, or cake to celebrate Mary.
• Pray a Rosary seeking intercession for all those who suffer any illness.
• Place flowers before a statue of Mary.
• I have seen several bloggers suggest making a Marian Grotto out of Rice Krispie Treats.

Litany of our Lady of Lourdes

Lord have mercy; Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy; Christ have mercy.
Lord have mercy; Lord have mercy.
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 Spirit; Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God; Have mercy on us.
Holy Mary; Pray for us.
Holy Mother of God; Pray for us.
Mother of Christ; Pray for us.
Mother of our Savior; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, help of Christians; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, source of love; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, mother of the poor; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, mother of the handicapped; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, mother of orphans; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, mother of all children; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, mother of all nations; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, mother of the Church; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, friend of the lonely; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, comforter of those who mourn; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, shelter of the homeless; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, guide of travelers; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, strength of the weak; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, refuge of sinners; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, comforter of the suffering; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, help of the dying; Pray for us.
Queen of heaven; Pray for us.
Queen of peace; Pray for us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world; Spare us O Lord.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world; Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world; Have mercy on us.
Christ hear us; Christ graciously hear us.

Let us pray: Grant us, your servants, we pray you, Lord God, to enjoy perpetual health of mind and body. By the glorious intercession of Blessed Mary ever Virgin, may we be delivered from present sorrows, and enjoy everlasting happiness. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Saint Josephine Bakhita, Pray for Us!

If I were to meet the slave-traders who kidnapped me and even those who tortured me, I would kneel and kiss their hands, for if that did not happen, I would not be a Christian and Religious today… St. Josephine Bakhita

St. Josephine lived from 1868 until 1947. She was taken from her parents as a young child in Sudan, and she never knew about God. She was a slave to many different men, until the Italian government intervened and sent her to live with nuns. Although as a child she did not know about God, she felt a presence close to her that comforted her. Once she learned of God, she spoke with love and zeal about him.

During his homily at her canonization Mass in St. Peter's Square, Pope John Paul II said that in St. Josephine Bakhita, "We find a shining advocate of genuine emancipation. The history of her life inspires not passive acceptance but the firm resolve to work effectively to free girls and women from oppression and violence, and to return them to their dignity in the full exercise of their rights."

Celebrating this Feast Day as a Family

• Pray for all those who do not love or know God.
• Eat a Sudanese Meal.
• Pray for all people who are oppressed and abused.
  

Saint Agatha, Pray for Us!

Today we celebrate the Feast of St. Agatha an early Christian martyr. She was willing to endure suffering and death to protect her purity and remained faithful to God throughout all trials and tribulations. She is the the patron saint for ailments of the breast and breast cancer patients.

Legend states that after St. Agatha was arrested, she prayed: “Jesus Christ, Lord of all things! You see my heart, you know my desires. Possess all that I am—you alone. I am your sheep; make me worthy to overcome the devil.” And in prison: “Lord, my creator, you have protected me since I was in the cradle. You have taken me from the love of the world and given me patience to suffer. Now receive my spirit.” What a beautiful example of trust and abandonment to Our Lord!

Celebrating this Feast as a Family

• Pray specifically for those suffering and for those who have survived breast cancer or any breast disease.
• Pray for victims of sexual assault and their assailants.
• Pray for all people to develop the virtues of purity and chastity in their lives.
• In some areas it is tradition to bless bread on this day, so you may consider making some homemade bread or rolls together as a family. You could pray for one of the intentions above while preparing and baking the bread.
• I have a cookbook that suggests preparing a carrot cake on this day, where the white icing is a symbol of Agatha's purity, and the nuts remind us of the hot coals she endured.

St. Blaise, Pray for Us!

Today we celebrate the the Feast of St. Blaise. St. Blaise is the Patron Saint against throat diseases, since legend states that a boy was brought to him who had a fishbone stuck in his throat. The boy was about to die when Saint Blaise healed him. Traditionally today is a day when you can have your throat blessed at Mass. Feast days like today always make me grateful for the beautiful traditions and prayers of our Church!

O glorious Saint Blase, who by thy martyrdom didst leave to the Church a precious witness to the faith, obtain for us the grace to preserve within ourselves this divine gift, and to defend, without human respect, both by word and example, the truth of that same faith, which is so wickedly attacked and slandered in these our times. Thou who didst miraculously restore a little child when it was at the point of death by reason of an affliction of the throat, grant us thy mighty protection in like misfortunes; and, above all, obtain for us the grace of Christian mortification together with a faithful observance of the precepts of the Church, which may keep us from offending Almighty God. Amen.

Ideas for Celebrating this Feast Day

• Go to Mass and have your throat blessed.
• Eat a fish dinner
• Pray for those suffering from throat diseases.
  

Presentation of the Lord

Lord, now you let your servant go in peace,
your word has been fulfilled:
My own eyes have seen the salvation,
which you have prepared in the sight of every people:
a light to reveal you to the nations
and the glory of your people Israel.

Today is the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. This feast day can also be known as Candlemas, and marks the purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Presentation of Jesus in the temple. Traditionally this is a day when candles are blessed. Here is an excellent commentary about this feast that is worth a read, and explains it much better than I ever could. Today I am also reminded that as a mother I should constantly strive to have the same fiat that our Blessed Mother had, even in the face of great sorrow. How hard it must have been for Mary to hear Simeon's words:

"And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother: Behold this child is set for the fall, and for the resurrection of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be contradicted; And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that, out of many hearts, thoughts may be revealed."

No mother wants to hear that her child will suffer greatly,.and no mother can watch her child suffer without feeling a pain in her own heart and soul.

Lord, please help me to guide my children throughout life and to be open to your will, even if that means watching my child suffer for a greater good. Help me to always keep the Light of Christ in my soul, and let that light shine in all my thoughts, actions and words. Help me to nurture your light in the lives of my children. Blessed Mother, intercede for me and for my loved ones. Guide us to the heart of your son, Jesus.

Ideas for Celebrating this Feast Day

• The tradition in Europe is to eat pancakes or crepes. Sounds like a perfect excuse to make some cream and fruit filled crepes for dessert! :)
• Make cookies that look like candles.
• Light holy candles in your home.
• Read the account of the Presentation in Luke as a family.