All posts by Vicki Scheenstra

Vicki Scheenstra is a former Catholic Bookstore owner and has been active in Catholic Education.
Faith, Martyr, patron saints

Prayers, Quips and Quotes; St Gabinus, Feast Day Feb. 19

 

St. Gabinus was born into a noble family in Rome.   His brother St. Caius became the 29th Bishop of Rome, serving as Pope for 12 years.

St. Gabinus was a priest and the father of St. Susanna whose original feast day was celebrated on August 11. Due to lack of information the feast day was removed.   Her story is considered a legend, however her death is recorded in Roman Martyrology.  She is believed to have been beheaded in her father’s house in the year 295 after refusing to marry  Maximilian, the son in law of the pagan Emperor Diocletian.  She was believed to have converted the court officers sent to convince her to marry, however, she had taken a vow of virginity.

One year later St. Gabinus was also beheaded, making him a martyr, in the year 296.    He is believed to have been a missionary priest. His feast day is celebrated on Feb. 19.   The Basilica San Gavino was built to honor him and local martyrs in Porte Torres, Italy.

 

” The tree of the cross bears fruit

in every season ad i every land.”

Quote of St. Teresa Corderc

 

Feast day September 26

 

FEBRUARY IS THE MONTH OF THE PASSION OF THE LORD

 

Calendar, Faith, Feast Days, patron saints, Saint of the Day

Feast Days and Saint of the Day: JANUARY CALENDAR

Virgin Mary, Mother of God; Feast Day Jan. 1

January 1     Mary, Mother of God     Feast of the Holy Family

January 2     St. Basil the Great…. Patron saint of hospital administrators…Doctor of the Church

January 3    Most Holy Name of Jesus

January 4    St. Elizabeth Ann Seton...U.S.A…patron saint of in-law troubles and loss of children.

January 5    St. John N Neumann…Bishop of Philadelphia…Patron saint of children, immigrants, and Catholic education

January 6    Epiphany of the Lord    St. Peter of Canterbury…Italian Monk

January 7     St. Raymond Penyafort...Spain…patron saint of lawyers

January 8    St. Apollinaris...Bishop

January 9    Bl. Eurosia Fabri...Italy…Third Order Franciscan

January 10   St. Peter Orseolo…France…Benedictine Monk

January 11   Bl. William Carter...England…Martyr

January 12   St. Margurite Bougeogs … Canadian Missionary

January 13   St. Hilary of Poiters….Doctor of the Church

January 14   Bl. Peter Donders...Holland

January 15   St. Macarius of Egypt...priest with gift of healing

January 16   St. Berard...Franciscan monk and martyr; Italy

January 17   St. Anthony of Egypt...Egyptian monk

January 18   St. Margaret of Hungary...Dominican Nun

January 19   St. Fabian…Bishop of Rome…Martyr

January 20   St. Sebastian….patron saint of athletes and plague sufferers…martyr in 268.

January 21   St. Agnes…Martyr 304…Rome

January 22   St. Vincent Palliotti...Italy…Incorrupt…Franciscan priest

January 23   St. Marriane Cope...U.S.A…Franciscan…Patron Saint of Outcasts

January 24   St. Francis de Sales…Bishop of the Diocese of Geneva….Patron of the Deaf

January 25   Conversion of St. Paul...Apostle… Martyr…Patron Saint of writers…publishers… musicians and evangelists

January 26   Bl. Michal Kozal...Poland…Priest…Martyr

January 27   St. Angela Merici... Patron Saint of the sick and disabled., Italy…Franciscan

January 28   St. Thomas Aquinas...Dominican Priest,,,patron saint of students and universities’, Doctor of the Church

January 29       Bl. Archangela Girlani ….Italy….Carmelite Nun

January 30     St. Hyacintha of Manincotti…Italy…Third Order Franciscan

January 31      St. John Bosco.…Italy….Salesian Priest..Patron saint of boys and young people.

Feast Days, patron saints, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes; St. Maurice, Feast Day September 22

St. Maurice; Patron Saint of Soldiers, Armies, and the Swiss Guard

The Feast day of St. Maurice is celebrated on September 22.  He is the patron saint of armies, soldiers and the Swiss Guard.

St. Maurice died as a Martyr of the Faith in the year 286 near Geneva.  He was a Christian soldier, who along with his comrades was executed for refusing to fight against his Christian brothers.   Their story was recorded in the Passio martyrum Acaunensium (“The Passion of the  Martyrs of Agaunum”), by the 5th-century French bishop St. Eucherius.  He believed the Theban Legion was a group of Egyptian Christians serving in the Roman army under the command of Maurice.

Maurice was an officer of the Theban Legion of Emperor Maximian Herculius’ army, which was composed of Christians from Upper Egypt. He and his fellow legionnaires refused to  sacrifice to the gods as ordered by the Emperor to insure victory over rebelling Bagaudae.

The Roman Emperor Maximian sent the soldiers to end a revolt of Christian peasants in Gaul   The  group met  with Maximian, but they refused to fight against their brethren and withdrew in protest.  To punish them, Maximian had ten of them executed and eventually  the entire contingent of solders were slaughtered on a spot about two miles from the village and their bodies buried by locals.

It is believed that as many as six thousand Legionnaires were put to death.Their story was told by St. Eucherius, who became Bishop of Lyons about 434,

The cult of St. Maurice is found in Switzerland, near the Rhine , and in northern Italy.  St. Maurice’s relics are preserved at the Abbey of St. Maurice at Brzeg, Pol, and at Turin, Italy.

“We are your soldiers, oh Emperor, but above all, we are God’s servants. We owe military obedience to you, but to him, we owe our innocence.”
Quote of St.  Maurice
September is the Month of Our Lady of Sorrows
 

Carmelite Saints, Feast Days, Martyr, patron saints, Spirituality

Twenty Five Popular Patron Saints Women May Select For Their Confirmation Name



St. Kateri

Confirmation season is here! During the Easter season Catholics and students preparing to come into the church will receive the sacrament of confirmation. They are searching for the patron saint who will be their role model and guide during their pilgrimage on earth.

When we receive the Rite of Confirmation, we are sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit. The symbols of the Holy Spirit are tongues of fire, a dove, and the wind.

The Catholic Church believes in the Communion of Saints. Each baptized person is a member of this communion, the living and the dead. The saints are considered the Church Triumphant. The pilgrims on earth are considered the Church Militant (still defending the faith). We ask our patron saint to pray with us and for us as we face the trials on earth. The more prayer to God on our behalf the better!

During the rite of Confirmation, the Bishop prays over the candidate calling them by the name they have chosen as their confirmation name.He also anoints them with the oil of chrism. When a person is confirmed they receive the grace of the Holy Spirit. Come Holy Spirit, Come!

Are you searching for a patron saint?

The following twenty five popular female patron saints should be considered as you search for your role model and patron saint.

St. Agatha Public Domain Image
St. Agatha

St. Agatha

St. Agatha was born in Sicily, She is the patron saint of breast cancer. She was imprisoned and then tortured for her faith. During the torture, her breasts were amputated. In an apparition of St. Peter, she was healed. St. Agatha was a martyr for the faith. The feast day of St. Agatha is celebrated on Feb. 5.

St. Anne Public Domain Image
St. Anne

St. Anne

The feast day of St. Anne is July 26. She is the grandmother of Jesus and the mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary. She is the patron saint of mothers and grandmothers. St. Anne was married to St. Joachim. Tradition tells us they were both wealthy and pious.

St. Bernadette Public Domain Image
St. Bernadette

St. Bernadette

The feast day of St. Bernadette is April 16. She is the patron saint of bodily ills and orphans. While young, Bernadette suffered from digestive problems and asthma. Because of ill health Bernadette received the sacrament of the sick at least three times. St. Bernadette had a vision of the Virgin Mary when very young. At Lourdes France, she was told to dig in the mud by Our Lady. A spring appeared which resulted in many healings.

St. Catherine Laboure Public Domain Image
St. Catherine Laboure

St. Catherine Laboure’

St. Catherine Laboure’ is a visionary and the patron saint of the Miraculous Medal. She was born on May 2, 1806 in France. The Virgin Mary appeared to her three times instructing her to have the medal made. The medal was eventually made and credited with many miracles. The medal became known as The Miraculous Medal. St. Catherine Leboure’s feast day is celebrated on Nov. 28.

St. Catherine of Siena Public Domain Image
St. Catherine of Siena

St. Catherine of Siena

St. Catherine of Siena is the patron of firefighters. She was born in Siena, Italy in 1347. At the age of six she began having mystical experiences. She often saw gaurdian angels. She became a Dominican tertiary at the age of 16 after having visions of Christ, Mary and the saints. She is considered a great writer. Some of her ecstasies included falling into fire unharmed. This is why she is the patron of firefighters. She received the stigmata (the wounds of Christ) and her body was found to be in-corrupt. St. Catherine’s feast day is celebrated on April 29.

St. Cecelia Public Domain Image
St. Cecelia

St. Cecelia

St. Cecelia is the patron saint of musicians. She was born in Rome. After seeing an angel praying at the side of his wife, Cecelia’s husband converted to the faith. St. Cecelia was arrested and martyred for her faith. An attempt to suffocate her failed after which she was beheaded. She is the patron of musicians because she heard music in her heart on her wedding day. St. Cecelia’s feast day is celebrated on Nov. 22.

St. Clare of Assisi Public Domain Image
St. Clare of Assisi

St. Clare of Assisi

St. Clare is the patron saint of eye disease and communications. She was born in Assisi, Italy in 1194. After hearing St. Francis of Assisi preach on Palm Sunday, she joined the Franciscans. The women following St. Francis became known as “The Poor Clares”. They lived an enclosed life of prayer, away from the world and serving the sick. St. Clare’s feast day is Aug. 11.

St. Edith Stein Public Domain Image
St. Edith Stein

St. Edith Stein

St. Edith Stein was also known as St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross. She is the patron saint of loss of parents and converts.. She was the youngest of a large Jewish family. In 1922 she was baptized into the Catholic Faith. When the Nazis conquered Holland she was arrested along with her sister and sent to Auschwitz. St. Edith Stein was sent to the gas chambers and died a martyr at the age of 51 in 1942. Her feast day is celebrated on Aug. 9.

St. Elizabeth Ann
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is the patron saint of in-law troubles and loss of children. She grew up in New York City and married William Seton. Within four years, she suffered the death of her father in-law which left William in charge. His business failed forcing bankruptcy. They moved to Italy to help his health. He died of tuberculosis in Italy. Elizabeth grew close to God. She became Catholic and had a devotion to the Virgin Mary. She established the first Catholic school in America. On March 25, 1809 she took a vow of poverty, chastity, and obedience. She became Mother Seton. Elizabeth. died in 1821 of tuberculosis at age 46. The feast day of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is celebrated on Jan. 4.

St. Elizabeth of Hungary Public Domain Image
St. Elizabeth of Hungary

St. Elizabeth of Hungary

St. Elizabeth of Hungary is the patron saint of widows , the homeless and young brides.
She was the daughter of the King of Hungary and married at age 14 to Louis of Thuring. Deeply in love, her husband died in the crusades after six years of marriage. Her in-laws disliked her generosity and threw her out of the palace. St. Elizabeth of Hungary served the poor and the sick. In 1218 she joined the Secular Franciscan Order and worked in a hospital she founded in honor of St. Francis. She died at the age of 23 in 123l. The feast day of St.Elizabeth of Hungary is celebrated on Nov. 17.

St. Faustina Public Domain Image
St. Faustina

St. Faustina

St. Faustina is the patron saint of Divine Mercy. She was born in Poland in 1905. She entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy whose mission is the poor and education. She took the name Sister Maria Faustina. She received a message from our Lord to spread the message of his mercy to the world. She wrote about the mercy of God in her Diary which is now published. Divine Mercy is now celebrated on the Sunday after Easter. Sister Faustina died in Oct. 1938. The feast day of St. Faustina is celebrated on Oct. 5.

St. Jane Frances de Chantal Public Domain Image
St. Jane Frances de Chantal

St. Jane Frances de Chantal

St. Jane Frances de Chantal is the patron saint of forgotten people and widows. She was born in Dijon, France in 1572. She married the Baron de Chantal (Christophe) at the age of 20. They had four children before he was killed in a hunting accident. With the aid of St. Frances de Sales, Jane founded the Visitation Order. She wrote many letters of spiritual direction. She died in 1641 at 69 years old. We celebrate the feast day of St. Jane Frances de Chantal on Aug. 12.

St. Joan of Arc Public Domain Image
St. Joan of Arc

St. Joan of Arc

St. Joan of Arc was born in 1412 in France. She is the patron saint of soldiers and France. While very young she heard messages from St. Michael, St. Catherine and St. Margaret. They told her to go to the King of France and help him reconquer his kingdom. The 17 year old girl was given a small army with which she achieved success. She was captured and sold to the English. Joan of Arc was burned at the stake on May 30, 1431. We celebrate her feast day on May 30.

St. Kateri
St. Kateri Takakwitha

St. Kateri Tekakwitha

St. Kateri Takakwitha is the patron saint of the environment. She is the first Native American saint. She was born in 1656 to the daughter of a Mohawk warrior and a Catholic Alqonquin. Father Jacques de Lambertville, a Jesuit missionary baptized her. She was devoted to prayer and penitenial practices. She also cared for the sick and aged. At the age of four her mother and brother died of smallpox. Kateri’s face was scarred by the disease and she became almost blind. St. Kateri died during Holy Week. Within 15 minutes of death her face was healed of its scars. She appeared to many people after her death, always carrying a cross. We celebrate St. Kateri’s feast day on July 14.

St. Margaret Mary Public Domain Image
St. Margaret Mary

St. Margaret Mary

St. Margaret Mary is the patron saint of polio victims. She was born in 1647 in Burgundy, France. She was bedridden for five years as a child with rheumatic fever. She had a devotion to the Eucharist. Refusing marriage, she entered the Visitation convent. St. Margaret Mary was a visionary. She had visions of Christ which instructed her to spread the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Eventually the devotion was officially approved. We celebrate the feast day of St. Margaret Mary on Oct. 17.

St. Maria Goretti Public Domain Image
St. Maria Goretti

St. Maria Goretti

St. Maria Goretti is the patron saint of rape victims, youth and purity. She was born in Italy on Oct. 16, 1890 to a farm worker. Her father died of malaria leaving her mother struggling to feed her children. At the age of 12 she was attacked by an 18 year old neighbor who tried to rape her. When she resisted he stabbed her. Before she died a martyr in the hospital, she forgave him. However, he was sentenced to 30 years. He was unrepentant until he had a dream. Maria appeared to him and gave him flowers. It changed him forever. When he left prison, he attended the canonization of St. Maria Goretti in St. Peter’s Square. St. Maria Goretti’s feast day is celebrated on July 6.

St. Martha Public Domain Image
St. Martha

St. Martha

St. Martha is the patron saint of housewives, domestic workers and cooks. She lived in Bethany at the time of Jesus. She was a devoted follower and had a sister named Mary. Martha is most known for the story in the gospel Luke 10:38-42 which tells us the story of Jesus being a guest in their home. She is busy in the kitchen while Mary is sitting listening to Jesus. When Martha goes to Jesus complaining “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.” Jesus responded by saying “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.” We celebrate the feast day of St. Martha on July 29.

St. Mary Magdalene Public Domain Image St. Mary Magdalene

St. Mary Magdalene

St. Mary Magdalene is the patron saint of penitent women. She was a devoted disciple of Jesus. Jesus cast out seven demons from her. Because of the sorrow she had for her sins she anointed Christ with her tears and dried His feet with her hair. Mary Magdalene was present at the crucifixion of Jesus. She is the one who discovered His body missing from the tomb. She is honored by being the first person to whom Christ appeared to after His Resurrection. She reported seeing Him by exclaiming to the other disciples. “I have seen the Lord!”

The feast day of St. Mary Magdalene is celebrated on July 22.

Mary, Mother of God Public Domain Image
Mary, Mother of God

Mary, Mother of God

Mary is the Mother of God. She is also considered the Queen of Saints because Jesus is our King.. She is the spiritual mother of all of us. Mary is the patron saint of all of humanity, mothers, the suffering and families.

The Archangel Gabriel appeared to Mary telling her she would have a child. He said, “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you.” He continued saying, “Fear not, Mary for you have found grace with God. Behold you shall conceive in your womb and shall bring forth a son and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever and of his kingdom there will be no end. Mary responded, “How can this be?” The angel answered “The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child will be holy. He will be called Son of God and now your relative Elizabeth in her old age has conceived a son and is in her sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing is impossible. with God.” Mary responded, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done to me according to thy word.” Then the angel departed.

We celebrate many feast days to honor Mary. The feast day of Mary, the Mother of God is celebrated on January 1st.

St. Monica Public Domain Image
St. Monica

St. Monica

St. Monica is the patron saint of mothers, alcoholism and troubled marriages. She was born in Africa in 331. Married to an abusive alcoholic pagan, they had three children. St. Augustine was her son. He left the church when young to live a wild life. Monica prayed constantly for his return to the faith. Eventually, he returned to the faith becoming a priest, then a Bishop. St. Monica’s husband converted to the faith before he died. St. Monica’s feast day is celebrated on Aug 27,celebrated on Aug 27,

St. Rita Public Domain Image

St. Rita

St. Rita

St. Rita is the patron saint of impossible cases. When she was young she desired to enter the convent. However a marriage was arranged. Her husband was violent and abusive. After twenty years of marriage her husband was stabbed to death. Her two sons also died leaving Rita alone in the world. She joined an Augustinian convent at Cacia Umbria. After praying, “Please let me suffer like you Divine Savior.” Rita was wounded by a thorn on her forehead. It would not heal and caused her to suffer until her death on May 22, 1457.

The feast day of St. Rita is May 22.

St. Teresa of Avila Public Domain Image
St. Teresa of Avila

St. Teresa of Avila

St. Teresa of Avila is the patron saint of headache sufferers. She was born in Spain in 1515. Her mother died when she was 14. Her father placed her in a convent to protect her from the world. She struggled to balance her love of God with her need for friends and fun. She eventually joined the Carmelite Order. She was a mystic and a poet and an author. She is considered a Doctor of the Church Her feast day is celebrated on Oct. 15.

Bl. Teresa of Calcutta Public Domain Image
Bl. Teresa of Calcutta
Public Domain Image

St. Teresa of Calcutta

St. Teresa of Calcutta is the patron saint of World Youth Day, the poorest of the poor, and the dying. She joined the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, known as the Sisters of Loreto. Born in Skopje, her birth name was Agnes Ganxha Bojaxhiu. She became Sister Mary Teresa after St. Therese of Lisieux. In 1946, she had a “call within a call”. She heard Jesus say “Come be My light”. She formed the Missionaries of Charity and served the sick and dying in Calcutta, India. Mother Teresa became known to the world as a living saint. She died on Sept. 5, which is the day we celebrate her feast day.

St. Therese of Lisieux Public Domain Image
St. Therese of Lisieux

St. Thérèse of Lisiuex

St. ThĂ©rèse of Lisiuex is the patron saint of missions. She is also a Doctor of the Church. She was born in 1873 in France. St. ThĂ©rèse became known as the “Little Flower” because of her statement, “The only way I can prove my love is by scattering flowers and these flowers are every little sacrifice, every glance and word and the doing of the least action for love.” Her spirituality is known as “The little way”. She believed in trusting Jesus to make her holy and relying on small sacrifices instead of great deeds to find holiness. She is the author of “The Story of a Soul”. The feast day of St. ThĂ©rèse is celebrated on Oct. 1.

St. Veronica Public Domain Image
St. Veronica

St. Veronica

St. Veronica is the patron saint of photographers. Little is known about Veronica. She was a follower of Jesus and present during his crucifixion. While Jesus carried the cross, she was moved with compassion. She knelt in front of Jesus and used her veil to wipe his face clean. Her kindness is commemorated on the sixth station of the cross prayed by the church. The soldiers pushed Veronica away and she later discovered the imprint of Christ’s face on her veil. It is believed that Veronica left her veil in the care of Pope Clement I, the successor to St. Peter. St. Veronica’s feast day is celebrated on July 12


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Faith, Martyr

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Oscar Romero, Feast Day March 24




The feast day of St. Oscar Romero is celebrated on March 24.

St. Oscar Romero was born on August 15, 1917 in Ciudad, Barrios. He had six brothers and sisters. At the age of 13 he entered a seminary run by Claretians. He studied under the Jesuits in the national seminary and finished his studies in Rome in the Gregorian University. He was ordained on April 4, 1931 remaining in Rome to further his studies.

His first parish when he returned home was in Anamoras. He then worked for twenty years in San Miguel. In 1970 he was appointed auxiliary bishop; becoming archbishop in 1977. Because of his conservative beliefs his appointment was opposed by some. On March 12 a progressive Jesuit priest and friend to Oscar Romero was assassinated. Romero urged an investigation but was ignored.

Bishop Romero spoke out against poverty, social injustice, assassinations and torture which was taking place in his country. In 1979 the government was taken over by a radical group which resulted in civil war. Over 75,000 El Salvadorians were murdered. Bishop Romero was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979. Bishop Romero said it was a problem to support the government in El Salvador because it legitimized the terror and assassinations. Bishop Romero warned U.S. President Jimmy Carter in Feb. 1978 that increased military aid would “sharpen the injustice and the repression inflicted on the organized people, whose struggle has often been for their most basic human rights.” President Carter ignored Bishop Romero’s warning.

Archbishop Romero denounced the persecution of the Church. There had been over six priests martyred in three years while he was bishop.

On March 13, 1980, Archbishop Romero was shot to death while celebrating mass in the chapel near his cathedral. The day before the assassination, he had called for soldiers to obey God and to stop carrying out government repression and violations of human rights. It is believed the assassination was carried out by members of Salvadorian death squads.

Over 250,000 mourners attended his funeral. During the funeral a bomb exploded resulting in mass panic. Between 30-50 people died during the following chaos.

Pope Francis has recognized the martyrdom of Archbishop Romero, paving the way for his beatification which was held on May 23, 2015.

Pope Francis canonized St. Oscar Romero on October 14, 2018.

 

“Beautiful is the moment in which we understand that we are no more than an instrument of God; we live only as long as God wants us to live; we can only do as much as God makes us able to do; we are only as intelligent as God would have us be.”

Quote of St. Oscar Romero

 

March is the Month of St. Joseph

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Doctor of the Church, Faith, patron saints, Saint of the Day, Spirituality

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Augustine, Feast Day August 28


 

St. Augustine of Hippo by Sandro Botticelli Public Domain Image
St. Augustine of Hippo
by Sandro Botticelli

The Feast day of St. Augustine is celebrated on August 28th. St. Augustine is the patron saint of brewers, theologians and printers.   St. Augustine was born in Africa.  His mother was St. Monica.

After the death of his father at the age of seventeen, St. Augustine left the church and led a loose life. He soon had both a mistress and a son. His mother St. Monica prayed for him for seventeen years before he returned to the faith.

Augustine began his search for faith by joining a group called the Manichees. Manichaeism teaches there are two gods at war with each other; good and evil. It also teaches that all matter is evil. He was hesitant to fully practice his faith due to physical desires. He is known for his statement.

“O God, give me chastity, but not yet.”

Eventually, Augustine heard the preaching of St. Ambrose, which greatly influenced him. He began to study the bible. One day, after experiencing great remorse for his sins, Augustine heard a child singing, “Take up and read!” He opened his bible to the letters of St. Paul where he read “put away all impurity and live in imitation of Jesus.” From then on Augustine practiced his faith with zeal. He was baptized by St. Ambrose, ordained a priest and eventually became a bishop. He was also a famous writer. His book “Confessions” is considered a classic. After his death in 430 he was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church.

The following poem was written by St. Augustine.

Late have I loved you, Beauty so ancient and so new, late have I loved you! Lo, you were within, but I outside, seeking there for you,
and upon the shapely things you have made I rushed headlong – I, misshapen.
You were with me, but I was not with you. They held me back far from you,
those things which would have no being, were they not in you.
You called, shouted, broke through my deafness;
you flared, blazed, banished my blindness;
you lavished your fragrance, I gasped; and now I pant for you;
I tasted you, and now I hunger and thirst;
you touched me, and I burned for your peace.

August is the Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Faith, Featured, Quotes of Saints, Sacred Heart

Quotes and Reflection on the Sacred Heart of Jesus

 

June is the month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It is celebrated on Friday, 19 days after Pentecost.

Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is very popular…it touches our hearts in many ways.

 

 

When I ponder on the mystery of the Sacred Heart, I see the image and marvel at the wounds of Jesus. He suffered and died for our many sins. The art shows Jesus’ heart on fire for His love of all of us. It shows His heart wounded by the crown of thorns and the lance that pierced His side. I see the rays of light coming forth from His heart, showing that He is the Light of the World! The suffering of the world (the cross) is supported by His heart…His love for us. The wounded heart of Jesus supports each of us if we turn to Him for mercy and love.

 

God so loved the world that He gave His only Son. (John 3:16)

 

The following quotes from the saints are inspirational and helpful for meditating on the Mystery of the Sacred Heart.

 

Love overcomes, Love delights,

those who love the Sacred heart rejoice!

St. Bernadette Sorbirous

 

Do not let the past disturb you,

just leave everything in the Sacred Heart

and begin again with joy.

St. Teresa of Calcutta

 

Let the soul who is desirous of advancing in perfection

hasten to my Sacred Heart.

St. Gertrude

 

Consider often that it is only the humble of Heart

that can enter into the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ

and converse with Him, Love Him and be Loved by Him.

St. Margaret Mary

 

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus,

teach me an entire forgetfulness of myself,

since that is the only way one can find entrance into You.

St. Claude La Columbiere

 

Behold the Heart which has so loved men

that it has spared nothing.

St. Margaret Mary

 

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, fountain of eternal life,

Your Heart is a glowing furnace of Love.

You are my refuge and my sanctuary.

St. Gertrude

 

No matter what my sufferings may be,

I will never complain and if I have to undergo any humiliation,

I will seek refuge in the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

St. Alphonsas

 

Oh, how good and pleasing a thing it is to dwell in the Heart of Jeus!

Who is there that does not love a heart so wounded?

Who can refuse a return of love to a heart so loving?

St. Bernard

 

Most merciful Heart, pitying heart, loving heart of my Father and Savior,

refuse not your help to my needy heart.

St. Margaret Mary

 

To suffer without complaining,

to bring comfort to others

and to drown in my own sufferings

in the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

St. Faustina

JESUS I TRUST IN YOU!!!

JUNE IS THE MONTH OF THE SACRED HEART

 

Easter, Feast Days, Spirituality

The Mystery of Easter Joy


Doubting Thomas by Caravaggio public domain image
Doubting Thomas Painting by Michaelango Merisi da Caravaggio (1571-1610)

What does Easter mean to You?

When I think of Easter, I think of the surprise those who loved Jesus expressed.  Mary Magdalene exclaimed, “I have seen the Lord!”  When Jesus appeared to the apostles while Thomas was absent, Thomas declared his disbelief saying he needed to “see with his own eyes the wounds of the Lord”

To me, Easter means Hope.  Easter means new life.  Easter means new beginnings.  Most of all, Easter means Joy!  Joy that Jesus is alive in our life.  Jesus takes away our fear and doubt.  Jesus leads us in a mysterious way to new beginnings and gives us joy at the same time.

When we are hurting and depressed it  is easy to lose hope, and we can lose our faith.  If everything Jesus tells us is true, than there is a heaven, and it is possible that in spite of my sins I will inherit everlasting life!  How we deal with suffering defines who we are as Christians.   The saints were all willing to suffer for their faith.  They seemed to understand the value of suffering more than those of us in the modern world.

Jesus died on the cross for MY sins.  He died on the cross for YOUR sins.  If we turn to him in faith for guidance, he will lead us home…to heaven.

Lead me Lord is one of my favorite prayers.  It tells the Lord that I do not know the future.  I need His guidance.  If I am quiet and listen,  He will lead me to know His will.  What a difference my life would be if all my prayers had been answered YES!  I heard once that God  has only two answers to our prayers…Yes or …I have a better plan!  I ask God to help me discover what His plan is for me.

Thank you, Jesus, for dying for my sins.

Help me to know your will and to follow it.

Help me to never be discouraged or to give up hope.

Help me to share my joy that I feel knowing that you love me.

May I joyfully serve you always.

Lead me Lord!

Candle
Christ Be My Light!

Faith

The Mystery of Easter Joy

Doubting Thomas by Caravaggio

What does Easter mean to You?

When I think of Easter, I think of the surprise those who loved Jesus expressed.  Mary Magdalene exclaimed, “I have seen the Lord!”  When Jesus appeared to the apostles while Thomas was absent, Thomas declared his disbelief saying he needed to “see with his own eyes the wounds of the Lord”

To me, Easter means Hope.  Easter means new life.  Easter means new beginnings.  Most of all, Easter means Joy!  Joy that Jesus is alive in our life.  Jesus takes away our fear and doubt.  Jesus leads us in a mysterious way to new beginnings and gives us joy at the same time.

When we are hurting and depressed it  is easy to lose hope, and we can lose our faith.  If everything Jesus tells us is true, than there is a heaven, and it is possible that in spite of my sins I will inherit everlasting life!  How we deal with suffering defines who we are as Christians.   The saints were all willing to suffer for their faith.  They seemed to understand the value of suffering more than those of us in the modern world.

Jesus died on the cross for MY sins.  He died on the cross for YOUR sins.  If we turn to him in faith for guidance, he will lead us home…to heaven.

Lead me Lord is one of my favorite prayers.  It tells the Lord that I do not know the future.  I need His guidance.  If I am quiet and listen,  He will lead me to know His will.  What a difference my life would be if all my prayers had been answered YES!  I heard once that God  has only two answers to our prayers…Yes or …I have a better plan!  I ask God to help me discover what His plan is for me.

Thank you, Jesus, for dying for my sins.

Help me to know your will and to follow it.

Help me to never be discouraged or to give up hope.

Help me to share my joy that I feel knowing that you love me.

May I joyfully serve you always.

Lead me Lord!

Candle
Christ Be My Light!

Faith, Feast Days, patron saints

Who were the 14 Holy Helpers?

icon 14 holy helpers

 

Intercessory prayer has always been an important form of prayer in the church.  The church believes that we can and should pray for each other.  This does not end when we die.  The saints are closer to God than we are.  We ask them to pray for us in our time of need.  This is called intercessory prayer.

During the black plague, which lasted from 1346-1349,  a number of saints gained great popularity for their ability to intercede and were given credit for many miraculous cures.  They became known as the Holy Helpers.  A  feast day was created to celebrate their sanctity and celebrated on August 8.  in 1969, this feast day of the Holy Helpers was dropped because of the reform of the liturgical calendar.  The 14 Holy Helpers are still popular today.

All of the Holy Helpers except St. Giles were martyrs.  Symptoms of the plague were  a black tongue, painful throat, severe headache, fever, and boils on the abdomen.  It came on suddenly and could result in death within hours.  The people who contracted the disease turned to the Holy Helpers to intercede for them during the frightening experience.

1. St. George…Feast Day April 23rd…Died 303

St. George was born in Cappadocia (modern Turkey) into a Christian family.  He became a high ranking soldier.  When Emperor Diocletian began persecuting Christians, he protested.  He was then jailed and tortured.  He died a martyr after being beheaded.  Legend tells us that St. George killed a dragon which was threatening the townspeople.  He made the sign of the cross and then killed it with a lance.  Many people were converted and baptized because of St. George.

St George is invoked for protection of domestic animal.
2.  St. Blaise… Feast Day Feb. 3

St. Blaise was born in Armenia.  He was a physician and a philosopher.   He became a Bishop of Armenia.  Due to persecution, he fled and lived as a hermit.  Legend tells us that hunters came upon him praying in a cave.  He was surrounded by lions, wolves and bears.  He was imprisoned.    He was known for his gift of healing.  The most famous healing happened while he was in prison.  A mother came with her young son who had a fish bone lodged in his throat. At Blaise’s command the child was able to cough up the bone.

St. Blaise died a martyr.  After being tortured, he was beheaded.

St. Blaise  is invoked for healing of the throat.
3.  St. Erasmus (or St. Elmo)…Feast Day June 2…Martyr

St. Elmo lived in Italy. He served as the Bishop of Formiae, Campagna, Italy and was martyred during the persecutions of Christians by Diocletan.

Trying to flee the persecutions, St. Elmo fled to Mt. Lebanon and lived in solitude for a time. When he was found, he was tortured and imprisoned. Because he refused to deny his faith he was scourged and cast into boiling oil, sulfur and pitch. He was miraculously saved from harm. According to legend an angel led him to freedom.  After escaping prison he converted many with his preaching and miracles. A second time he was captured, imprisoned and tortured. Again, an angel led him to freedom.  During his torture he had hot iron hooks struck into his intestines. He survived these wounds which is why he is invoked for intestinal problems.

St. Elmo is considered the patron saint of sailors. A blue light appears at mastheads before and after a storm; the seamen took it as a sign of St. Erasmus’s protection. This became known as St. Elmo’s Fire.  St. Elmo died as a martyr in 303. He was tortured and disemboweled.

St. Elmo  is the patron saint of sailors 
and against intestinal troubles.
4.  St. Pantaleon … Feast Day July 27th…D. 304

St. Pantaleon was born into a wealthy christian family.  He left the faith and became  a physician.  He returned to the faith before his father died leaving him a large inheritance.  During the persecution of Dicletian, he refused to denounce his faith.    After healing a man with palsy, he was tortured in many ways.  Tradition says he was burned by torches until Christ appeared and put out the flames.  Attempts at boiling him and drowning at sea also failed.  He was finally nailed to a tree and beheaded.  He prayed for forgiveness of his persecutors before his death.

St. Pantaleon is patron saint of physicians, midwives, 
tuberculosis and torture victims.
5.  St. Vitus  (also St. Guy)… Feast Day June 14

St. Vitus was born in 291 into a pagan family in Sicily.  He was cared for by a Christian family who had him baptized.  His furious father tried to have him renounce his faith.  When he would not, his father turned him over to the governor Valerian who had him tortured for refusing to deny his faith.  He was ordered scourged, however his executioners’ hands were paralyzed.  They were healed after St. Vitus made a sign of the cross over ther.  Escaping during a storm, St. Vitus  fled to Italy.  After converting many, Diocetian had him arrested and tortured again.  When he was thrown to the wild beasts, the animals cowered at his feet.  He wurvived boiling oil but was martyred on the rack in the year 303.

St. Vitus is the patron saint of dancers and actors. 
He is invoked during storms and against epilepsy
and those afflicted with St Vitus Dance.
6.  St. Christopher …  martyr …  Former Feast Day July 25

Because the existence of St. Christopher is not verified his feast day was dropped when the liturgical year was reformed.  However, his legend is powerful and many still ask for his intercession.  Legend says that he converted to the faith after following the devil.  He was very tall and considered a giant.  He devoted his life to carrying people across a river with no bridge.  One day, he was carrying a small child.  The child became heavier and heavier until St. Christopher staggered.  When they had crossed the river the child told St. Christopher that he was the Christ child and that he had been carrying the burdens of the world on his shoulders.  St. Christopher is believed to be martyred by Emperor Deius in approximately 250

St. Christopher is the patron saint of travelers,
transportation workers and soldiers.
7.  St. Denis  (also Dionysius)     Feast Day October 9     bishop and martyr

St. Denis is also known as St. Diomysius.  He was converted by St. Paul, becoming one of his followers.   He was known converting many people.  Pope St. Clement sent him to Gaul where he became the first bishop of France, At the age of 110, he was martyred by beheading.  Tradition tells us that after he was beheaded, he took his head in his own hands placing it 2000 paces away where a chapel was later built.

St. Denis is invoked against diabolical possession and headaches.
8.  St. Cyriacus  (also Cyriac)… Feast Day August 8 … deacon and martyr

St. Cyriacus was a pious Roman who became a deacon and tried to help people being persecuted for their faith.  He also ministered to people in prison.  Eventually, he was put in prison himself.  While in prison he converted many and restored the sight of several blind men.  When Emperor Diocletian’s daughter was found to be possessed by the devil it was St. Cyriacus who was able to free her of this possession.  After she was healed the Emperor left him to live in peace.  However, under the persecution of the co Emperor Maximum, he was again persecuted.  He was tortured and beheaded on March 16, 303.

St. Cyriacus is the patron against eye disease,
diabolical possession and temptation, especially at the time of death.

 

9.  St. Aciathius (also Acaciid) … Feast Day May 8th

St. Aciathius was a Roman soldier.  He joined the army during the reign of Emperor Hadrian, becoming a captain.  He converted to Christianity and was filled with zeal.  He converted many pagan soldiers.  The emperor had him thrown into prison and tortured on the rack  when he would not renounce his faith.  He was brought before the tribune Bibianus.  After declaring that his name was Christian, because he was a follower of Christ, Bibianus ordered him beaten with clubs and chained.  After suffering more torture, he was beheaded on May 8, 311.

St. Acathius is the invoked against headaches. 
10.  St. Eustace  (also Eustachius, Eustathius)…  Feast Day Sept. 20th

Before his conversion St. Eustace was none as Placedas.  He was a kind man who enjoyed hunting.  He was also a Roman general.  One day he followed a stag into the forest. While he was staring at the deers antlers they vegan to glow showing a cross between them.  He heard a voice asking him to convert to Christianity.  Pacedus and his family were soon baptized and he became known as Eustace.  St. Eustace was martyred in the year 118  by being burned inside a bronze bull.

St. Eustaca is the patron against fire, difficult situations,
family troubles and hunters and fire fighters.
11.  St. Giles the Abbot  (also Aegildius)…  Feast Day Sept. 1…  Hermit and abbot

St. Giles was born into a noble family in Athens, Greece in the seventh century.  After the death of his parents, he distributed his inheritance to the poor.    He also became known for the gift of miracles and healing he had received.  Giles longed to live a life of solitude, serving God as a recluse.  He left Greece, sailing for France.  Everywhere he lived he became known for his gift of miracles and healing.  He would have to flee once again to find a place to live in peace and solitude.    His final dwelling place was deep in the forest in a cavern in  a rock.  He occupied his time in prayer, praising God and meditating.   His only companion was a red deer, which provided him with milk to drink.  St. Giles is the only Holy Helper who was not a martyr.

After several years of living in complete solitude, the King of France instituted  a great hunt near where Giles lived.  The hunters chased the deer which led them to the cave where Giles lived.  They shot an arrow into the cave, wounding the holy hermit.  They found him covered with blood with the deer lying at his feet.  When the king was told what had happened, he ordered him taken care of.  He came to see him offering him gifts.  St. Giles refused the gifts requesting a monastery instead.  St. Giles became the Abbot of the monastery which was soon built.  Several disciples joined him.  His fame continued to spread because of his gift of miracles.  The conversion of the King was one of these miracles.

St. Giles is the patron saint of the mentally ill, the disabled,
epileptics,childhood fears, and depression.

12.  St. Margaret of Antioch … Feast Day July 2

St. Margaret was a virgin and martyr. St. Margaret was born in Antioch.  She was raised by a Catholic nurse.  When her pagan father learned of her faith, he was very displeased.  He wanted her to marry the city prefect.  When she refused, the prefect hd her tortured on the rack and pierced with iron hooks.  She was then left in prison to die.  Miraculously, all her wounds were healed.  She was then tortured again with flaming hooks which did her no harm.  Finally, she was beheaded.  She was one of the saints who talked to St. Joan of Arc.

St. Margaret is the patron of women in childbirth.
St. Margaret is invoked against backaches and kidney disease.

 

13.  St. Catherine of Alexandria … Feast Day Nov 25th

While there is no historical evidence regarding St. Catherine of Alexandria there is a strong tradition about her martyrdom. St. Catherine was born around 287 in Alexandria, Egypt. She was the daughter of a wealthy pagan couple. She had a love of learning and studied philosophy and religion. After studying Christianity, she converted.  She is known to have debated 50 philosophers, converting them.

Legend tells us that she was imprisoned and tortured by Emperero Maxentius after she refused to marry him. He forced her to debate the most learned pagan philosophers hoping she would commit apostasy, however the debates resulted in many conversions to the Christian faith.  St. Catherine was tortured by being placed on a wheel full of spikes in an attempt to kill her. The wheel broke into two pieces and fell apart. She was then beheaded.

St. Catherine is invoked as the patron saint of students, teachers, 
librarians and lawyers.

 

14.  St. Barbara… Feast Day December 4

St. Barbara was a virgin and martyr.    She is the patron of builders, artillery men and miners.  She was martyred in Asia Minor in the 3rd or 4th century.     Her father isolated her in a high tower where she was tutored by philosophers and poets.  She converted to Christianity, which infuriated her father.  He ordered her killed.  She was caught trying to escape and then beheaded by her father.  He was immediately struck dead by lightning.

St. Barbara is invoked against fever, lightning, fire and sudden death.

The saints are men and women who have joy in their hearts and spread it to others… never hating, but serving the others.

Quote by Pope Frances on Nov. 1, 2013  All Saints Day

 

The 14 Holy Helpers in Art

 

 

 

Faith, Featured, Prayer, Spirituality, Suffering

The Suffering Pilgrim; Short Reflections During Times of Grief

 

 

 

Look at the birds of the air, they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? (Mat. 6: 26)

Preface

The following reflections and prayers helped me to deal with the pain of grief. During times of grief, praying can be quite difficult. Not only do we find it hard to talk and pray to God, but we may find it difficult to have any relationship with God at all.

My prayer is that these reflections on my favorite prayers will help another suffering pilgrim.

Vicki Scheenstra

In loving memory:

of my husband                                                                    Perry Scheenstra     (1954-1997),

my son                                                                                x Alan Scheenstra      (1980-2008)

and my father                                                                        Leo Mahre Jr.           (1922-2001).

Jesus calms the waterJesus Stills the Storm
(Matthew 23-27)

And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. A windstorm arose on the sea, so great that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him up, saying,

“Lord, save us! We are perishing!” And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, you of little faith?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a dead calm. They were amazed saying, “What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?

Life seems to be made up of one storm after another. Turning to Jesus in a time of crisis takes faith and practice. Many of our emotions can be compared to the weather. When I think of grief, I think of a gray, rainy day. The following prayers have helped me to see the rainbow after the storm, and to appreciate that without a storm, we don’t appreciate the sunny weather nearly enough!

Many of us experience the “dark night of the soul” during grief. Only through turning to God in prayer can we begin to enjoy life completely again. Seeing God (the creator of everything) in nature can help during a stormy, stressful time.

A flower needs a rainy day to bloom.

We, as spiritual people, need prayer to deal with our emotions and to grow spiritually. The following prayers and reflections are how Jesus calmed the water during the storms in my life.

beatitudes

The Beatitudes

Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst
for righteousness
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted
for righteousness’ sake,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO MOURN.

This beatitude is one which hopefully we all experience. If we don’t, it probably means we have not learned how to love.

All of the beatitudes are lessons in how to love. If we are sad over losing a loved one then, this is a good thing. Let us rejoice and be glad! Loving someone means we have shared ourselves with someone, and have come to know them on a personal level. The love we have given and received is priceless.

Everyone experiences the death of some one they are close to at some point in their life. How we deal with the loss shows who we are. We may want to hide away and be by ourselves for awhile. This is perfectly normal. Hopefully, we talk to God in these moments when we are alone.

Turning to the beatitudes can be very helpful for times of grief.  The beatitudes guide our meditation and help us to redirect our emotions.

The beatitude of mourning is often the first time we passionately turn to God for answers to our questions and doubts.

The answers to these questions and doubts can be found in the remaining beatitudes.

BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT.

Humility is what we seek with this beatitude. It is the exact opposite of pride. When we completely lose our selfishness, we open ourselves up to God’s presence in our life.

BLESSED ARE THE MEEK.

What does it mean to be meek?  This beatitude is knowing that God is the creator and trusting in His plan for us. The arrogant person is not meek. Being meek, means accepting that we are nothing without God and trusting in Him, even during difficult and depressing times.

BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO HUNGER AND THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Passion is a wonderful emotion. Hopefully, we are passionate about more than just our own welfare. Wanting justice for not only ourselves but everyone around us means we must actually do something when we see injustice. Finding a cause or a purpose in life is a very good way to work our way through grief issues.

BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL.

The merciful person is a loving person.  This beatitude is all about love; not only having a forgiving attitude, but being kind to people around us. The merciful heart is always kind and helpful. Doing a good deed for others always lifts the spirit!

BLESSED ARE THE PURE OF HEART.

Having the right motive in everything we do can be very difficult. If we reflect before acting, sometimes we can avoid being manipulative or selfish. The easiest way to increase the presence of God in my life is to get rid of my selfish thoughts and desires. It’s not easy!

BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS.

Sometimes anger is justified. Peacemakers are not people who put up with behaviors that are unacceptable. To be peacemakers, we must first be at peace with ourselves. Peacemakers deal with conflict in the world by being decisive, turning to God for guidance, and having respect for other people. We must again get rid of selfishness and arrogance in order to be a peacemaker.

The Peace of Christ is the gift we receive when we treat everyone as if…THEY ARE CHRIST!
BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO ARE PERSECUTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS SAKE.

There is a huge difference between being righteous and being self-righteous! This is where I need to turn to God for guidance. Am I being persecuted for standing up for my faith or am I being judgmental? If I am judging other people, I am playing God. However, that doesn’t mean I must condone behavior that is wrong. It means I must also be kind and forgiving. Let God be the judge. At the same time, I should never lower my standards to make other people happy. That would make ME miserable!

Living the Beatitudes during times of grief can be very challenging. It is natural to focus on our own feelings. Praying the Beatitudes reminds me to be less selfish and try to love the people I come into contact with. They also remind me that God is in charge. If I can let go and trust in God’s plan, my grief will be less painful. Knowing that God loves me, I have to work at believing He wants me to be happy.

Trusting God can be hard after loss. After all, the miracle I prayed for probably didn’t happen! However, the Beatitudes tell me to be meek…to trust that God has a plan and then live every day trying to do God’s will.

May my attitude be Christlike always.

serenity prayer

Serenity Prayer

God, grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change
Courage to change the things I can,
And the wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time,
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace.
Taking, as He did, this world as it is,
Not as I would have it.

Trusting that He will make all things right
If I surrender to His will.
That I may be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with Him,
Forever in the next.

(Reinhold Neibuhr, 1926)

The Serenity Prayer is a powerful prayer to help reinforce trust in God.

Often, it helps me to get through the most difficult moments of my life. When life is out of control, this prayer reminds me that I am not supposed to be in control of everything, only God is! I am a very visual person. When I say a prayer, I often have pictures to meditate on in my mind. One day as I was praying the serenity prayer, I realized my definition of serenity was wrong!

My definition of the word serenity is similar to complete calm. While praying this prayer I was picturing a calm lake on a sunny day. It was so calm there were no whitecaps on the water. It was so calm if I was on a sailboat, I would not be able to sail due to lack of wind. I was stuck! This is not serenity! We need movement in our lives! Without progress we stagnate and then we seem to go backwards or become lost.

When I am the opposite of serene, I am frantic and in a panic.

This frame of mind makes it impossible to make rational decisions. I finally realized that serenity is being able to make decisions while we are in the eye of a storm! While I prefer a sunny day on the lake, I always want there to be a breeze so the sailboat I am in will actually go where I direct it. Serenity is being calm enough during the storm to know which ropes to pull to keep the boat from turning over!

Help me make good decisions Lord. Direct my life!

St. Francis

The Prayer of St. Francis

Make me an instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred let me sow love.
Where there is injury, Your pardon, Lord.
And where there’s doubt
True faith in You.

Make me an instrument of your peace.

Where there’s despair in life,
Let me bring hope.
Where there is darkness, only light.
And where there’s sadness, ever joy.

Oh, Master, grant that I may never seek,
So much to be consoled as to console
To be understood as to understand
To be loved as to love with all my soul.

Make me an instrument of your peace.

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned.
In giving of ourselves that we receive,
And in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Amen

How can I love my neighbor?

This prayer tells me how. Love is actually the opposite of selfishness. Being more concerned about the people in my life than myself takes a great deal of practice and prayer! God wants me to put the needs of others before my own needs and desires. It is also about letting God use me to do his will.

This prayer teaches me to live by example,
Loving and forgiving others will in the end bring me peace,
happiness, and eternal life.

The only way to live this prayer is to put myself in someone else’s place to enable me to be more understanding and loving.

Sometimes, I find it impossible to understand someone’s actions. When this happens, I need to give my negative feelings and reactions to my master, God. If I listen to him in prayer, He will lead me and make me an instrument of his peace. He will also help me forgive those I am angry with.

It is more important to love someone than to understand them.

When I actually live this prayer, I can be confident that I am doing God’s will.

Put me to work Lord!

Celtic CrossCeltic Cross

Breastplate of St. Patrick

Christ be behind me,
Christ be before me,
Christ be beside me,
King of my heart.

Christ be within me,
Christ be below me,
Christ be above me,
Never to part.

Christ on my right hand,
Christ on my left hand,
Christ all around me,
Shield in the strife.

Christ in my sitting,
Christ in my sleeping,
Christ in my rising,
Light of my life.

(may be sung to the melody of Morning is Broken)

Christ is everywhere: especially in the eye of the storm!

This prayer beautifully expresses the need to let Christ be the center of my life. If I try to follow Him always, people will recognize Christ when they see me! It’s almost impossible to imagine. From morning until night, even while I am asleep, turning to Christ, and letting him lead and guide, me, assures me, that Jesus will be with me always. What a comfort in times of grief!

Knowing what pain Christ suffered for me, helps me to give my suffering back to him and ask for his help. Life is not always easy, but when Christ is my shield, I feel as though he is giving me strength, protecting, and comforting me.

My past, present, and future are in God’s hands.

If I truly love Christ, I will always want his guidance and presence in my life and in my heart. The more often I turn to Christ and let Him into my life, the more I will come to love Christ.

Christ Everywhere!

prayer of quiet

Prayer of Quiet

The prayer of quiet is simply resting in the presence of God, emptying your mind of all thoughts and anxieties, offering them to God and experiencing the presence of God.

Often, it helps to have a sacred word to repeat slowly while you inhale and exhale slowly.
Following are some possibilities.

Lord…Mercy

Abba…Father

Jesus…Peace

Holy Spirit…Come

May the presence of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit guide me today.

Thy kingdom comeThy kingdom come…..

.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done.

On earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses

As we forgive those who

trespass against us.

Lead us not into temptation,

But deliver us from evil.

Amen

The Lord’s Prayer covers all the bases. We first acknowledge God as our father (creator). We honor his name and ask for his will to be done. This is perhaps the most difficult part. When we are suffering, is this his will?

Can you picture Jesus in the Garden before the crucifixion? He prays that this cup be taken from him, but the will of His Father be done.

To be like Christ is our goal, so we must accept that suffering is part of God’s plan. If even Jesus, the son of God, suffers…what makes me so special that I should be spared? Everyone someday will die. This fact alone causes suffering to the person who is left behind.

Anger at God is a natural stage of grief. However, if we look to the cross and see the suffering Jesus went through for us, it becomes obvious…

Jesus did not come to earth to eliminate suffering!

Suffering brings us closer to Jesus and the cross. Grief and sorrow over this loss is not something to be ashamed of.

Our love matters!

Living without them changes our life forever, but we can take comfort knowing that they are in the arms of God. Death is simply a doorway to heaven. While it is hard to imagine what heaven is like, we know it is filled with the love and mercy of God.

Asking for God’s will to be done means we must stop playing God and assuming our will is His. Let Him lead us!

Asking for our daily bread, is asking for the things we need not the things we want!

How hard it is to remember this!

Just because we pray for something does not mean we will receive it. When God says NO, it helps to ask God to show us HIS will. We need to remember that God knows what is best for us. How different my life would be if all my prayers were answered YES!

Forgiveness is a two-way street. We must forgive to be forgiven. How easy it is to hold a grudge! Sometimes, we don’t even realize we are doing it. We simply refuse to think about it and simmer away continually angry!

When we acknowledge our own sinfulness, it is easier to forgive the sins of others. Remind yourself of your weaknesses daily…it will help you to forgive and understand others. When you are having trouble forgiving someone…pray for them!

It is truly amazing how this almost always works.

Temptation is everywhere, especially in our mind! What are we to do about it? One thing we can do is pray often, asking God to lead us. When we recognize the things that tempt us, we need to avoid them if at all possible.

We need to recognize evil in our lives.

To ignore it encourages it to flourish. There is a difference between being judgmental and having high moral standards. Deal with the evil in your own life before you judge the evil in someone else’s. To Judge is the job of God. Our job is to make moral decisions. I try to remember always; I will be judged by how I love! Loving one’s enemies needs to be practiced when we see evil.

How is it even possible to love our enemy? Perhaps all I can do is begin by praying for my enemy instead of cursing him. At least this is a beginning, and when I pray for the person I am angry at I have refused to have hatred grow and consume me.

Let thy will, not my will be done.

Ave Maria

Hail Mary, Full of Grace

(Ave Maria)

Hail Mary, full of grace.
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God
Pray for us sinners,
now, and at the hour of our death.

Ave Maria, gratia plena
Dominus tecum
Benedicta tu in mulieribus
Et benedictus fructus ventris tui Jesus

Sancta Maria, Mater Dei
Ora pro no bis peccatoribus
Nunc et in hora mortis nostrae

Amen

Hail Mary, full of grace.

What does the word grace mean?
Grace, like faith, is a gift from God. We cannot receive it on our own,
but we can ask (pray) for it. A gift is something given to us;
which reminds me of Christmas when we receive
so many Christmas presents.

Grace is the gift (presen) of God’s presence.

Of all the people in the world who but Mary
was Jesus most present to?
Being pregnant with Jesus, the son of God,
is hard to imagine.

I pray daily that I may come closer to Jesus.
One way to do that is to imitate Mary,
who loved Jesus as none of us can
because she was His mother.

Her love was a special and unique love.

On the cross, Jesus told John the disciple…

“Here is your mother” (John: 19.27)

By doing this, she becomes the mother of all disciples of Jesus. Mary’s grief must have been so great!

I ask her now to help me know the will of Jesus in my life and to teach me how to love.

Pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of death. Amen

CalvaryCalvary

Jesus Remember Me, when you come into your kingdom.
Luke 23: 32-43

Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots to divide his clothing. And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him saying, “He saved others, let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him which said…

“This is the King of the Jews.”

One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

The Good Thief turned to Jesus at the very end of his life. He did not need to know all the answers regarding religion. He had not been baptized. He simply acknowledged his guilt and asked Jesus to remember him. Sometimes, we make faith way too complicated. All we really need to do is turn to God and ask him to lead us to the truth.

God is Love… God is truth.

Let’s keep it simple…. Seek Love…Seek Truth

Redemptive Suffering

Are you angry at God? This is a normal stage after a loss. Christianity teaches us that Jesus redeemed us by the cross…his suffering is what saves us! This is called redemptive suffering. When we suffer, we can participate by putting our suffering at the foot of the cross and giving it to Jesus. This is what is meant when we hear the phrase “Offer it up”. By giving our suffering to Jesus as a prayer for loved ones who have died, Jesus actually turns our suffering into a virtue.

Meditate on a crucifix.

Your anger at God will not last forever. Spending time with God has been very important in my healing process. I could not pretend my feelings did not exist or that I was ready to move on with my life when I was not.

Music has also been very helpful.

When you sing you pray twice. (St. Augustine)

Praying through my favorite hymns enables me to pray when I cannot put my feelings into words.

Suffering came first. The crucifixion came before the resurrection.
Jesus teaches us how to suffer!

Meditating on the crucifixion, and the Stations of the Cross we learn how to deal with the sufferings in our own life, small in comparison.

In order to know the meaning of joy, we must experience sorrow.
Be with me, Lord!

Seasons of Life

Seasons of Life

Ecclesiastes: 3: 1-8

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.
A time to be born and a time to die.
A time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted.
A time to kill and a time to heal.
A time to break down and a time to build up.
A time to weep, and a time to laugh.
A time to mourn and a time to dance.
A time to throw away stones and a time to gather stones together.
A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing.
A time to seek, and time to lose.
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
A time to tear, and a time to sew.
A time to keep silence and a time to speak.
A time to love, and a time to hate.
A time for war, and a time for peace.

To me, tears are spiritual rain.

A garden grows in all types of weather. Without rain to water it, it will die of drought. The flowers in a garden need both sun and rain to be healthy and beautiful.
When we grieve, we need to acknowledge our suffering and pain. Tears help to cleanse our soul and bring us closer to God. Denying our pain prevents us from having an honest relationship with God. We avoid our feelings and end up pretending we are just fine. This actually just prolongs our grief!

Even Jesus wept at the death of Lazarus. (John 11: 35)

Our soul is similar to a flower garden. When we acknowledge our pain and sorrow, we enable God to heal us and bring the sunshine back into our lives. In time, we will be able to remember both the good and the sad times without tears. We can come to embrace every day as a beautiful gift from God meant to be lived in joy.

The garden of our soul needs to be fed by honest feelings, both sorrow and joy, but especially love.

Let us turn to God (who is love) during all the seasons of our life. Spending time with nature and acknowledging both God as our creator and sharing with Him whatever feelings we are experiencing will help us through the hard times. To love is to take a risk. We share ourselves with someone not knowing what the future will bring.

The rainbow which comes after the rain is a symbol of God’s promise to us that he will not abandon us. After the rain comes peace. God is always with us, if only we will turn to him. He will take us down a garden path and show us the beauty we are blind to. When we cannot see the path beneath our feet, we must turn to God for guidance. Only He knows what the future will bring.

Bloom where you are planted!

Trinity crucifixTrinity Crucifix

Glory Be

Glory be

to The Father,

and to the Son,

and to the Holy Ghost,

as it was in the beginning,

is now, and ever shall be,

forever and ever,

Amen.

Many of of our formal prayers end with the Glory Be prayer. I asked my friends which person in the trinity they found it easier to turn to, and who they found it difficult to turn to in prayer. There is no wrong answer!

After reflecting, I realized that during my prayer journey (my pilgrimage) I have come to know each of the persons in the trinity in a more personal way.

During my childhood I was aware that I was a child of God, I am in awe of his majesty and the beauty of his creation and the people I know and love.  It was the Creator I turned to in prayer first…

God the Father.

As an adult, recognizing the movement of the Holy Spirit has become easier. The Holy Spirit is the director of the show. When the apostles were confused after the crucifixion, the Holy Spirit came and removed the confusion and fear. The Holy Spirit enlightened the apostles as to what the will of the Father was. Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, the Christian Church was born. When I am in confusion, I turn to the Holy Spirit to guide me. Sometimes, He actually pushes me in the direction I need to go…

Getting to know Jesus has been the most difficult. I know now that I was avoiding Jesus. I have always connected Jesus to the cross…suffering! When I began to experience the loss of loved ones in my life, however, I found it absolutely necessary to turn to Jesus…The Son of God.

I also turned to Mary and Joseph, the Holy Family.

The Holy Family knows in a very real and human way what our pain is like. I no longer felt alone. They always listen to me, and they understand me. Each of the Holy Family is very human… even Jesus. I share my troubles and my joys with them every day.

Each of us has a unique prayer journey.

We are pilgrims, trying to get to know God.

Daily reflection is an important part of the journey.

What a long way I have come! What a long way I have to go!


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Faith, Prayer, Spirituality

Jesus Remember Me

Calvary

Jesus Remember Me, when you come into your kingdom.
Luke 23: 32-43

Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left.

Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”  

And they cast lots to divide his clothing. And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him saying, “He saved others, let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!”   The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!”  There was also an inscription over him which said;

  “This is the King of the Jews.”

One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God,, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.”

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”  

Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

The Good Thief turned to Jesus at the very end of his life. He did not need to know all the answers regarding religion. He had not been baptized. He simply acknowledged his guilt and asked Jesus to remember him. Sometimes, we make faith way too complicated. All we really need to do is turn to God and ask him to lead us to the truth.

God is Love… God is truth.

Let’s keep it simple….Seek Love…Seek Truth