Category Archives: Spirituality

Faith, Prayer, Saint of the Day, Spirituality

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Gertrude Caterina Comensoli, Feast Day Feb. 18

February 17, 2016 Vicki Scheenstra

The feast day of St. Gertrude Caterina Comensoli is celebrated on Feb. 18.

St. Gertrude was born in Biennio Brescia, Italy in 1837 into a large family. From early childhood she was always aware of the presence of God, especially in the Eucharist. She was drawn to prayer in the presence of the tabernacle. At the age of 15, Gertrude wanted to join the convent. Because of illness she was forced to wait. She worked as a domestic worker for a priest.

St. Gertrude was concerned about the transition of Italy’s rural society into an industrial one. She gained a private audience with Pope Leo XIII who encouraged her to do something which focused on the education of young women.

On Dec. 15, 1882 she founded the Congregation of the Sacramentine Sisters of Bergamo. It’s focus was on adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and education. The sisters committed their lives to prayer and helping those who were most in need.

St. Gertrude died of natural causes while praying in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in 1903.

Arm yourself with prayer rather than a sword,
wear humility rather than fine clothes.

Quote of St. Dominic; Feast day August 8

February is the Month of the Passion of the Lord

Save

Faith, Martyr, patron saints, Spirituality

Saints From the United States of America

Quote February 15, 2016 Vicki Scheenstra

Saints From the United States of America

During colonial times, Catholic immigrants coming to the U.S.from Europe settled primarily in the colonies of Maryland, Pennsylvania and New York. Laws protecting religious freedom had not yet been written. Intolerance between religious groups was a common occurrence.

After over fifty years without a bishop, Father John Carroll, a Jesuit, was consecrated bishop and served the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Catholics were a distinct minority at the time. Bishop Carroll estimated the Catholic population in the colonies to be 25,000, or less than one percent of the total population. The church grew rapidly under his guidance.

Today, according to Pew Research there are 75 million Catholics in the United States, approximately 24 percent of the total population.

The colonial Catholics were served by missionaries, both Jesuits and Franciscans.

The following men and women in the U.S. have been proclaimed saints by the Pope. They are considered role models in holiness for Catholics today to turn to for guidance.

There are four steps to becoming a saint in the Catholic Church.

Servant of God…….Formal investigation has begun…………………….82 investigations ongoing
Venerable……………Heroic virtue has been decreed by Pope……….16 from U.S.A.
Blessed……………….First miracle has been confirmed……………………7 from U.S.A.
Saint..………………….Second miracle has been confirmed……………..12 from U.S.A.

The following saints have lived in the United States. Most are immigrants, however two were born in the United States; Kateri Tekakwitha is the first Native American saint and Elizabeth Ann Seton is the first saint from the United States to be canonized.

The Catholic Church teaches that everyone in heaven is a saint. The Church declares certain people to be saints when their holiness is obvious, if they were martyred for the faith and after miracles attributed to them have been investigated.

While there are thousands of declared saints, only the following Americans have received the official title of Saint.

North America Jesuit Martyrs Public Domain Image — North America Jesuit Martyrs

North American Martyrs

In the 1600’s, eight French Jesuit missionaries lost their lives while trying to spread the news of the gospel to the Huron, Iroquois, and Mohawk Indians. Three of them died in what is now New York State, five of them died in what is now Canada.

Isaac Jogues, René Goupil and Jean La Laude died in New York.

John DeBrebeuf, Gabriel Lalemant, Charles Garnier, Anthony Daniel, and Noel Chabanel died in Canada.

St. René Goupit was a Jesuit Lay brother. He was the first to be martyred. He was killed by tomahawk at Osermenon, (Auriesville, NY)) in 1942.

Father Isaac Jogues, a Jesuit priest, was held captive by the Mohawks for thirteen months. He had several fingers cut off his hand. He escaped and returned to France. He later returned to the mission. He was killed by tomahawk by a Mohawk brave in 1946.

St. Jean de La Lande, a Jesuit donné (not a member of the Society, but at their service) tried to retrieve Father Isaac Jogues’ body, but was killed also.

These martyrs were the first saints of North America. The martyrs were canonized by Pope Pius XI on June 29, 1930.

The memorial in the U.S.A is celebrated on Oct. 19. The memorial in Canada is celebrated on September 26.

The martyrs are patron saints of America

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Public Domain Image — St. Frances Xavier Cabrini

St. Francis Xavier Cabrini

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini. Francesco Cabrini was born in Lombardi, Italy in 1850. She was one of 13 children, raised on a farm. She attended school in a convent. She wanted to become a nun but was hindered by poor health. She became a teacher, teaching at a girl’s school for six years.

Frances took religious vows in 1877, adding Xavier to her name to honor St. Francis Xavier.

At the request of her bishop she founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart to care for poor children.

At the urging of Pope Leo XIII, she immigrated to the Unites States with six nuns to work with Italian immigrants. She crossed the Atlantic ocean in spite of her great fear of water.

She founded many schools, hospitals, and orphanages in the United States, England, France, Spain and South America. In New York City, St. Frances Cabrini founded Columbus Hospital and Italian Hospital. In the 1980’s they merged into Cabrini Hospital.

In 1909 St. Frances Xavier Cabrini became a naturalized United States citizen. She died from malaria at the age of 67, on December 22, 1917, at Columbus Hospital in Chicago, IL.

In 1931, her body was exhumed, found partially incorrupt, and is now enshrined under glass in the altar at St. Frances Cabrini Shrine in Manhattan.

The National Shrine of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini was dedicated in 1955. It is located in Chicago at Lincoln Park. Chicago is the city where she primarily lived, worked and died.

The feast day of St. Frances Cabrini is celebrated on November 13th.

St. Frances Cabrini was beatified on Nov. 13, by Pope Pius XI. St. Frances Cabrini was canonized on July 7, 1946 by Pope Pius XII.

St. Frances Cabrini is the patron saint of immigrants. orphans and against malaria.

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is the first native born American to be canonized a saint.

Elizabeth was born on Aug. 28, 1774 in New York City. She was raised in the Episcopal Church. At the early age of 3 her mother died. At the age of 19 she married William Seton, a wealthy businessman.

Within four years, she suffered the death of her father in-law which left William in charge, not only of his father’s business but the seven half-brothers and sisters as well. The business failed, forcing bankruptcy.

William became ill with tuberculosis. In an attempt to find a cure they moved to Italy. He died while living in Italy. Elizabeth grew very close to God. She accepted and embraced the will of God. Elizabeth eventually was led into the Catholic church. She had a strong devotion to the Virgin Mary.

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton established the first free Catholic school in America. On March 25, 1809 she took a vow of poverty, chastity, and obedience. She became the founder of the Sisters of Charity, which followed the rules written by St. Vincent de Paul for the Daughters of Charity in France. She became Mother Seton.

Her final years were spent leading and developing the new congregation. The sisters opened free schools and orphanages along the East Coast.

Elizabeth. died in 1821 of tuberculosis at age 46.

Pope John XXIII canonized her as St. Elizabeth Ann Seton on Sept. 14, 1975. He stated, “In a house that was very small, but with ample space for charity, she sowed a seed in America.”

The feast day of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is celebrated on Jan. 4.

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is the patron saint of in-law troubles and loss of children.

St. John Newman Public Domain Image — St. John Newman
Public Domain Image

St. John Neumann

St. John Neumann was born in Bohemia in 1811. Due to the shortage of priests in the colonies, he traveled to New York to be ordained a priest and worked in an isolated parish.

Father John eventually joined the Redemptorists who were dedicated to helping the poor and abandoned. In 1852, he was appointed Bishop of Philadelphia. He increased the number of Catholic schools from two to a hundred.

His desire to hear confessions led him to learn at least six languages. He knew Spanish, English, French, Italian, Dutch and Gaelic.

Bishop Neumann died at the age of 48 on Jan. 5, 1860.

After his death the National Shrine of St. John Neumann was constructed at the Parish of St. Peter the Apostle in Philadelphia. Our Lady of the Angels College, founded by the Congregation of Franciscan Sisters he had founded renamed the College Neumann College. It was later given University status.

St. John Neumann was beatified on Oct. 13, 1963 by Pope Paul VI.

St. John Neumann was canonized on June 19, 1977 by Pope Paul VI.

The feast day of St. John Neumann is celebrated on Jan. 5, the day of his death.

St. John Neumann is the patron saint of Catholic education.

St. Rose Philippine Duchesne

St. Rose was born in Grenoble, France in 1769. She was drawn to the contemplative life. During the French revolution she spent her time nursing prisoners. She soon joined the Society of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

During Eucharistic Adoration she experienced a vision where she was serving God in the New World. Twelve years later , at the age of 49, she moved to the United States. She was sent to the Louisiana Territory.

In Louisiana, she opened the first free school west of the Missouri River. By 1828 she had founded six houses. She worked among the Potawatomie Indians who named her Quah-kak-ka-num-ad, “Woman-Who-Prays-Always”.

St. Rose died at the age of 83 at St. Charles, Missouri on November 18, 1852.

St. Rose was Beatified by Pope Pius XII in 1940.

St. Rose was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1988.

The feast day of St. Rose is celebrated on November 18.

St. Rose is the patron saint of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, Missouri

St. Theodore Guerin

St. Theodore Guérin’s birth name was Anne Thérése. She was born on Oct. 2, 1798 in Etables, France. Her father served in Napoleon’s navy. At the young age of 15 her father was murdered by bandits while traveling home for a visit.

Anne Thérése turned to God in the difficult years following his death. At the age of 25 she entered the Sisters of Providence to serve the poor, sick and dying. Anne Thérése became Sister Theodore. She was asked to lead a small missionary band of Sisters to the United States in Indiana.

Mother Théodore accepted the mission in spite of her fragile health. She could only consume soft, bland food and liquid. She traveled to the Unites States with five other sisters. After surviving a violent storm at sea in the trip Mother Théodore wrote the following:

“What strength the soul draws from prayer! In the midst of a storm, how sweet is the calm it finds in the heart of Jesus. But what comfort is there for those who do not pray?”

Mother Théodore established schools in Indiana and Illinois. She is described as saintly by people who knew her.

Sixteen years after coming to the United States she died. She is buried in the Church of the Immaculate Conception in St. Mary of the Woods, Indiana.

St. Théodore Guérin was beatified on Oct. 25, 1998 by Pope John Paul II.

St. Théodore Guérin was canonized on Oct. 15, 2006 by Pope Benedict XVI.

The feast day of Théodore Guérin is celebrated on October 3.

St. Théodore Guérin is the patron saint of the Diocese of Lafayette, Indiana.

St. Katharine Drexel Public Domain Image — St. Katharine Drexel
Public Domain Image

St. Katherine Drexel

St. Katerine Drexel was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Nov. 26, 1858. She was the child of wealthy parents who taught her to be generous.

Katherine became a Sister in 1889 at the age of 31. She founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament for Black and Native American people. She dedicated her life and great wealth to this work.

She helped to open the first mission school for Indians in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Other schools soon followed. She then founded Xavier University in New Orleans.

St. Katherine Drexel is the second recognized American born saint.

Katherine Drexel was beatified on Nov. 2, 1988 by Pope John Paul II.

St. Katherine Drexel was canonized on Oct. 1, 2000 by Pope John Paul II.

We celebrate the feast day of St. Katherine Drexel on March 3.

St. Katherine Drexel is the patron saint of philanthropists and racial justice.

St. Kateri Tekakwitha

St. Kateri is the first Native American saint. She was born in 1656 to the daughter of a Mohawk warrior and a Catholic Alqonquin.

When Kateri was four years old smallpox attacked her family. Her mother and little brother died from the disease. Kateri’s face was scarred by the disease and she became partially blind. Her two Aunts and an Uncle adopted her.

On Easter, 1676, Kateri was baptized by Jesuit missionary Father Jacques de Lambertville at the age of 20. She was devoted to prayer, penitential practices and the care of the sick and aged in Caughnawaga near Montreal. Her relics are now enshrined in Caughnawaga..

Because of her conversion, she incurred hostility from her tribe. She went to a new Christian colony in Indianan, Canada. She was devoted to the Eucharist and to “Christ crucified.” She spent much time praying before the Blessed Sacrament. Her motto was…

“Who can tell me what is most pleasing to God that I may do it?”

At the age of 23 Kateri died on Wednesday of Holy Week, at approximately 3 p.m. Within fifteen minutes after her death, her face, which was marked by smallpox, was healed and became beautiful. Father Cholone called others to see what had happened.

Miraculous cures at the Sault Mission were frequent that year (1682) and attributed to Kateri. She appeared to many people after her death, always carrying a cross.

She was beatified (declared Blessed) by Pope John Paul II in 1980 and canonized by Pope Benedict XVI at Saint Peter’s Basilica on October 21, 2012.

We celebrate St. Kateri‘s feast day on July 14. She was known as “the Lily of the Mohawks”.

St. Kateri Takakwitha is the patron saint of the environment.

St. Damien of Molokai Public Domain Image — St. Damien of Molokai
Public Domain Image

St. Damien de Veuster

St. Damien of Molokai was born Joseph de Veuster on Jan. 3, 1840 in Tremelo, Belgium. He was raised on a farm. He chose the name Damien when he joined the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary.

Damien was still in minor orders when he volunteered to go to Hawaii. Two months after his arrival in Hawaii, he was ordained a priest on May 24, 1864.

The Hawaiin King Kamehameha IV created an isolated settlement on the island of Molakai to deal with the public health crisis. Many people were dying of influenza, syphilis and leprosy. Father Damien wished to minister to the sick so he asked his Bishop to send him to Molokai knowing the risk of death.

When he arrived in Molokai, there were 600 lepers for him to minister to. He built the Parish Church of St. Philomena for the people to learn the Catholic faith. He restored personal pride and dignity to people who needed hope. He provided care and comfort for sixteen years. working as a priest, doctor and builder. He built houses, a school and an orphanage. Not only did he dress their ulcers, he also built over 600 coffins and dug graves.

Father Damien said ” My greatest pleasure is to go there (the cemetery) to say my beads, and meditate on that unending happiness which so may of them are already enjoying.”.

In 1885, Father Damien contracted leprosy. In his final years, he enlarged his orphanages and sought help. St. Marianne Cope came with her sisters to help him while he was ill. She reassured him she would carry on his work.

Father Damien died at the age of 49 on April 15, 1889.

The feast day of Father Damien is celebrated on May 10.

Father Damien was beatified by Pope John Paul II on June 4, 1195.

St. Damien was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on Oct. 11, 2009.

St. Damien is known as “The Apostle of the Lepers.”

St. Damien of Molokai is the patron saint of Hawaii, leprosy and the outcast.

St. Marianne Cope

St. Marianne Cope was the first Franciscan woman from North America to become a saint.

The birth name of St. Marianne Cope was Barbara Koob (now officially Cope) She was born on Jan 23, 1838 in SE Hessen, West Germany. She was one of ten children. Her father was a farmer. The family moved to the United States one year after her birth.

Her vocation to the religious life was delayed by the necessity to support her family when her father became ill. At the age of 25, Barbara entered the Sisters of St. Francis in Syracuse, New York. She received her religious habit and the name of Sister Marianne. She served as a teacher and principal in several elementary schools in New York. She also helped establish two of the first hospitals in central NY. In 1870, she became a nurse administrator at St. Joseph’s in Syracuse, NY.

In 1882, a priest requested help managing hospitals and schools in Hawaii; primarily working with leprosy patients. She responded to his letter with the following words.

“I am hungry for the work and I wish with all my heart to be one of the chosen ones, whose privilege it will be to sacrifice themselves for the salvation of the souls of the poor Islanders…I am not afraid of any disease, hence, It would be my greatest delight to minister to the abandoned lepers.”

Along with six other sisters of St. Francis, she arrived in Honolulu in Nov. 1833. Mother Marianne was the supervisor as they managed Kakóako Branch Hospital on Oahu which treated 200 leprosy patients. They began by thoroughly cleaning the hospital. They also opened a home for the healthy daughters of the patients who were ill.

Mother Marianne met Fr. Damien (now St. Damien…the Apostle to Lepers) in January 1884 while he was still healthy.

In 1887 the new government in charge of Hawaii closed the Hospital. In 1888, she went to Kalaupapa several months before the death of St. Damien. She reassured him she would provide care for the patients at the Boy’s Home at Kalawao on the Island of Molokai.

Three Sisters ran the Bishop Home for boys and girls.

Mother Marianne died in Hawaii of natural cause on August 9, 1918 and is buried on the grounds of Bishop Home.

The Saint Marianne Cope Shrine and Museum was built to honor her memory.

Mother Marianne was beatified on May 14, 2005 by Pope Benedict XVI.

St. Marianne Cope was canonized on Oct 21, 2012 by Pope Benedict XVI.

The feast day of St. Marianne Cope is celebrated on January 23.

St. Marianne Cope is the patron saint of outcasts.

Save

Faith, Prayer, Spirituality

How Much Do You Know About The Sacraments Of The Catholic Church?

February 14, 2016 Vicki Scheenstra

There are seven sacraments in the Catholic Church. A sacrament is described as “an outward sign instituted by Christ to give grace.”

Grace is a gift from God. We can ask for it, but it cannot be forced. God gives us his grace by his own free will. Imagine Christmas. The gifts under the tree are presents freely given. God’s grace is the present of God’s presence.

Each sacrament is an opportunity to receive God’s grace (His presence in our life). When we receive the grace of God through the sacraments, we become more open to the presence of God in our life.

The seven sacraments are Baptism, Reconciliation, Eucharist, Confirmation, Holy Matrimony, Holy Orders, and the Anointing of the Sick. Test your knowledge to find out if you understand the sacraments.

Which sacrament can be received as an infant?
A deacon can be the minister in which sacraments?
The Holy Spirit has three symbols. What are they?
Extreme Unction is another name for which sacrament.
Which sacrament makes us a member of the family of God?
Before receiving the Eucharist, one must be in a state of _________.
To have ones sins absolved, one should receive this sacrament.
Water is the symbol of which sacrament?
A priest or deacon must be a witness to this sacrament.
What is another name for the sacrament of Reconciliation.
In which sacrament do we receive the Holy Spirit?
Which three sacraments are called the sacraments of initiation?
Which two sacraments are vocational sacraments?
Which two sacraments are sacraments of healing?
Which sacrament removes the stain of original sin?:
Which sacrament requires an act of contrition?
The presence of Jesus in the Eucharist is also known as what?
There is only one sacrament we are encouraged to receive often, even daily. Which one is it?
In which sacrament do we choose a patron saint?
Which sacrament must be administered by a bishop not a priest?

Each of the sacraments has a biblical beginning Read the biblical text which refers to each sacrament. The last photo you will find the answers to the questions.

Sacrament of Baptism

Mathew 28:19-20

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Sacrament of Confirmation

Acts 8:14

Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, (for as yet the Spirit had not come upon any of them, for they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then Peter and John laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.

Sacrament of Holy Matrimony

Matthew 19:3-11

Some Pharisees approached him, and tested him, saying, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause whatever?” He said in reply, “Have you not read that from the beginning the creator made them male and female,” and said, “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, no human being must separate.”

They said to him, “Then why did Moses command that the man give the woman a bill of divorce and dismiss her?” He said to them, “Because of the hardness of your hearts Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, unless the marriage is unlawful, and marries commits adultery.”
His disciples said to him. “If that is the case of a man and his wife, it is better not to marry. He answered, “Not all can accept this word, but only those to whom it is granted.”

Sacrament of Holy Orders

Mark 3: 13

He went up the mountain and called to him those whom he wanted and they came to him. And he appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles to be with him and to be sent out and proclaim the message and to have authority to cast out demons. So he appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter) James, son of Zebadee and John the brother of James (Sons of thunder) and Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew and Mathew and Thomas and James, son of Alphaeses and Thadaeus and Simon the Cananaen and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

Reconciliation

John 20:19

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you”.

After he said this he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

Jesus said to them again “Peace be with you. As the Father sent me, so I send you.”

When he had said this he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them, if you retain the sins of any they are retained.”

Eucharist

Mathew 26:26

While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it, he broke it, gave it to the disciples and said “Take and eat, this is my body”.

Then he took a cup and after giving thanks he gave it to them saying “Drink from it all of you for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will never drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Fathers kingdom.”

Sacrament of Annointing of the Sick — Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick

Anointing the sick

Mark 6:7

He called the twelve and began to send them two by two and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff, no bread, no bag, no money in their belts, but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics.

He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house stay there until you leave the place. If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.”

So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. They cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

The Seven Sacraments of the Catholic Church

1. The Sacrament of Baptism is often received as an infant.

2. A deacon may baptize, anoint the sick and witness a marriage.

3. The symbols of the Holy Spirit are wind, fire and a dove.

4. Anointing of the sick is another name for the sacrament formerly known as Extreme Unction.

5. Baptism initiates a person into the family of God.

6. One must be in a state of grace (free from grave sin) to receive the Sacrament or the Eucharist.

7. In the Sacrament of Reconciliation the priest (in the name of Christ) absolves (forgives) the person of his or her sins.

8. Living water is the symbol of Baptism. It must be flowing water.

9. The sacrament of Holy Matrimony must be witnessed by a priest or deacon to be considered a sacramental marriage.

10. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is also call the Sacrament of Confession or Penance.

11. We receive the Holy Spirit in the Sacrament of Confirmation.

12. The sacraments of initiation are Baptism. Eucharist, and Confirmation.

13. The vocational sacraments are Holy Orders and Holy Matrimony.

14. The sacraments of healing are Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick.

15. Baptism removes the stain of original sin.

16. Reconciliation requires an Act of Contrition.

17. The belief that the bread and wine in the Eucharist become the body and blood of Jesus after being consecrated by the priest or bishop is known as “The Real Presence.”

18. We are encouraged to receive the Eucharist daily if possible.

19. When receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation we choose a patron saint.

20. Holy Orders must be received from a validly ordained Bishop. Every Catholic bishop can trace his ordination back to the original twelve Apostles.

Save

Faith, Pope Francis, Spirituality

Pope Francis Describes the Beauty of Marriage

February 13, 2016 Vicki Scheenstra

Pope Francis Facebook image

In a meeting with the bishops of Puerto Ricoon on Monday, Pope Francis described the beauty of Marriage, saying that the differences between man and woman are not for opposition or subordination, but for communion and generation. According to Zenit News Agency, the Pope was meeting with the bishops for their five year ad limina apostolorum visit.

The Holy Father emphasized the need to focus on family ministry, because of the serious social problems that afflict the family; the difficult economic situation, emigration, domestic violence, unemployment, drug trafficking and corruption.

“In this context,” Pope Francis said, “Allow me to call your attention to the value and beauty of marriage.”

He said: “The complementarity of man and woman, summit of divine creation, is being questioned by the so-called gender ideology, in the name of a more free and just society. The differences between man and woman are not for opposition or subordination, but for communion and generation, always in the ‘image and likeness’ of God. Without mutual self-giving, neither one can understand the other in depth>” (cf. General Audience, April 15, 2015).

The Sacrament of Marriage is a sign of the love of God for humanity and of Christ’s giving himself for his Bride, the Church. Look after this treasure, one of the ‘most important of the Latin American and Caribbean peoples’ (Aparecida, 433).”

Pope Francis also discussed the need for good confessors. He encouraged the bishops to be close to their priests. The Holy Father stressed that both bishops and priests must be faithful servants of God’s forgiveness. He said the upcoming Jubilee of Mercy, which will begin Dec. 8, will be a time to stress the sacrament of reconciliation, which enables one to experience in one’s own flesh the love of God and to offer each penitent the source of true interior peace.

He told them that because of the magnitude of the problems faced by pastors, a bishop needs to take recourse not only to prayer, but also to friendship and the fraternal help of his brothers in the episcopate. Pope Francis cautioned the bishops not to waste energies in divisions and confrontations, but to build and collaborate. He added that they must be able to distance themselves from particular political tendencies, saying,

“Because of her mission, the Church is not linked to any political system, in order to be able to be always the ‘sign and safeguard of the transcendent character of the human person.'”

A Synod on the Family was begun in October 2014 to discuss how to minister to broken families. It will conclude with a second meeting in October 2015.

This article was originally published on June 9, 2015.

Save

Faith, Spirituality

Who Does Jesus say that he is?

February 12, 2016 Vicki Scheenstra

There are many followers of Jesus. Who is he? Each church has their own beliefs about Jesus. Who does Jesus say that he is?

In the gospel of John, Jesus himself tells us who he is. There are seven “I am” sayings of Jesus. Each one gives us insight into the person Jesus himself claims to be.

The seven “I am” sayings are:

1. “I am the Good Shepherd. “Jn (10.11)

2. “I am the gate for the sheep.” Jn (10:7)“I

3. “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.” Jn (14.6)

4. “I am the vine, you are the branches.” Jn (15.5)

5. “I am the Bread of Life.” Jn. (6:35)

6. “I am the light of the world.” Jn (8:12)

7. “I am the resurrection and the life.” Jn (11.25)

Meditate on the PHOTOS as you read the gospel passages in Jesus own words.

Reflect on all the images Jesus gives us to help us know him better. How can we love Jesus unless we spend time with him and listen to his words?

Seven “I am” sayings; one saying for each day of the week. Spend a week reflecting on the sayings of Jesus.

I am the Good Shepherd

John 10:11

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away–and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the father. And I lay down my life for the sheep.

I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord, I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”

I am the Sheepgate

John 10:1

“Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.”

Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

So again Jesus said to them,

“Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and bandits, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

Sacred Heart of Jesus
Public Domain Image

I am the Way, the Truth and the Life

John:14

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again

will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.”

Thomas said to him,

“Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?

Jesus said to him,

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

I am the vine, you are the branches.

John 15:1

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine-grower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me.

I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.

As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.

Monstrance
Body and Blood of Jesus Christ

I am the Bread of Life

John 6:22

The next day the crowd that had stayed on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there. They also saw that Jesus had not got into the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. Then some boats from Teberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus.

When they found him on the other side of the sea they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” Jesus answered them.

“Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has st his seal”

Then they said to him,

“What must we do to perform the works of God?”

Jesus answered them,

“This is the work of God that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

So they said to him,

“What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'”

Then Jesus said to them;

“Very truly I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

They said to him,

“Sir give us this bread always.”

Jesus said to them,

“I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and anyone who comes to me I will never drive away; for I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. This is indeed the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life; and I will raise them up on the last day.”

I am the Light of the World

John 8:12

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying,

” I am the light of the world.Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”

Then the Pharisees said to him,

“You are testifying on your own behalf; your testimony is not valid.”

Jesus answered,

“Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid because I know where I have come from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. You judge by human standards, I judge no one. Yet even if I do judge my judgment is valid, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. In your law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is valid. I testify on my own behalf, and the Father who sent me testifies on my behalf.

Then they said to him,

“Where is your Father?”

Jesus answered,

“You know neither me nor my Father. If you know me, you would know my Father also.”

He spoke these words while he was teaching in the treasury of the temple, but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet com.

I am the Resurrection and the Life

John 11:25

When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two miles away, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and meet him, while Mary stayed at home. Martha said to Jesus,

“Lord, if you had been here my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.”

Jesus said to her,

“Your brother will rise again.”

Martha said to him,

“I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”

Jesus said to her,

“I am the resurrection and the life.Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

She said to him,

“Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.”

Save

Faith, Prayer, Spirituality

Benedictine Spirituality

February 10, 2016 Vicki Scheenstra

St. Benedict

St. Benedict was born in Nursia in 480 to upper class parents. He attended university in Rome. To escape the vice he was surrounded by he fled Rome and spent 3 years in seclusion. After these three years he founded the monasteries he is famous for.

St. Benedict is considered the founder of western monasticism. His monasteries were based on the principles in his book The Rule of Benedict. This book begins with this prologue: “Listen carefully, my son, to the masters’ instructions and attend to them with the ear of your heart. (R.B. Prologue)”

His rule begins with the word LISTEN! The monasteries have a very strict discipline. They focus on daily personal and liturgical prayer. Singing of the Psalms and reading the Divine Office is practiced daily. Listening to the word of God is the primary focus of their spirituality. Lectio Divino is slow reading and meditation on the scripture. Benedictine spirituality also demands obedience, hospitality, and service.

St. Benedict died while standing in prayer before God.

The feast day of St. Benedict is July 11th. In the Eastern Church it is celebrated on March 14th.
St. Benedict is the patron saint of students and Europe.

Save

Faith, Poetry, Prayer, Spirituality, Visionary

Praying with the Poetry of the Mystics

February 9, 2016 Vicki Scheenstra

St. Francis raphaelgallery.org Public Domain Image — St. Francis
raphaelgallery.org

Get to know the mystics! The mystics are saints in the Catholic Church who have had visions and personal experiences with the presence of God in their lives. Many of the Saints have written of their love of God. It can be contagious!

The following five poems are written by mystics of the Catholic Church. They are inspired by their own personal relationship and experience of God. Because their joy could not be kept to themselves, they became radiant lights to the world.

The different types of prayer are petition, intercession, thanksgiving, adoration, praise and glory. Their poetry uses all these types of prayer and can help lead us to a personal relationship with God.

St. Francis was born in Assisi, Italy in 1181. He is known for his love of animals and the suffering. He is the founder of the Franciscan Order. While praying in front of a crucifix, Jesus spoke to him saying, “Francis, rebuild my church!”

St. Teresa of Avila was born in Spain in 1515. She helped reform the Carmelite order. The poem in this collection shares one of her experiences during prayer.

St. Catherine of Siena was born in 1347. She began having visions as a young child pertaining to heaven and hell.

Bernard of Clairvaux was born in 1090 in Burgundy France. He wrote a treatise called Degrees of Humility and Pride which analyzed the human character. He also wrote many hymns.

St. Augustine was known for his conversion during the fourth century. He became a famous bishop. His poem Beauty ever ancient and so new is well known.

Learning about the spirituality of the saints can help us develop our own prayer life. Meditating on these prayers will change the course of your life.

St. Francis with Birds Public Domain Image — St. Francis with Birds

Canticle of the Creatures

All Praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars; in the heavens you have made them, bright, and precious, and fair.

All praise be yours, my Lord, through Brothers wind and air, and fair and stormy, all the weather’s moods, by which you cherish all that you have made.

All praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Water, so useful, humble, precious and pure.

All praise be yours, my Lord, through Brother Fire, through whom you brighten up the night. How beautiful is he, how cheerful! Full of power and strength.

All praise be yours, my Lord, through our Sister Mother Earth, who sustains us and governs us, and produces various fruits with colored flowers and herbs.

All praise be yours, my Lord, through those who grant pardon for love of you; through those who endure sickness and trial. Happy are those who endure in peace, by You, Most High, they will be crowned.

All praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Death, from whose embrace no mortal can escape. Woe to those who die in mortal sin! Happy those she finds doing your will! The second death can do them no harm.

Praise and bless my Lord, and give him thanks and serve him with great humility.

St. Francis of Assisi

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

Beauty so ancient and so new

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.

St. Augustine

St. Bernard of Clairvaux Public Domain Image — St. Bernard of Clairvaux

O Sacred Head Surrounded

O sacred head, surrounded by crown of piercing thorn!

O bleeding head, so wounded, reviled and put to scorn!

Death’s pallid hue comes over you the glow of life decays, yet angel hosts adore thee and tremble as they gaze.

I see thy strength and vigor all fading in the strife, and death with cruel rigor, bereaving thee of life;

O agony and dying!

O love to sinners free!

Jesus, all grace supplying, O turn thy face on me.

In this thy bitter passion, Good Shepherd, think of me, with thy most sweet compassion, unworthy though I be,

beneath thy cross abiding forever would I rest, in they dear love confiding and with they presence blest.

St. Bernard of Clairvaux

St. Catherine of Siena Public domain Image

Consumed by Grace

I first saw God when I was a child, six years of age.

the cheeks of the sun were pale before Him,

and the earth acted as a shy girl, like me.

Divine light entered my heart from His love
that did never fully wane,

though indeed, dear, I can understand how a person’s
faith can at time flicker,

for what is the mind to do
with something that becomes the mind’s ruin:

a God that consumes us
in His grace.

I have seen what you want;
it is there,

a Beloved of infinite
tenderness.

St. Catherine of Siena

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

Laughter came from every brick

Just these two words He spoke changed my life,

Enjoy Me!.

What a burden I thought I was to carry, a crucifix, as did He.

Love once said to me,

“I know a song, would you like to hear it?”

And laughter came from every brick in the street and from every pore in the sky.

After a night of prayer,

He changed my life when He sang,

“Enjoy Me!”

St. Teresa of Avila

Save

Faith, Our Lady, Prayer, Spirituality

The Suffering Pilgrim; Short Reflections During Times of Grief

Gallery February 1, 2016 Vicki Scheenstra

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 Alan Scheenstra 1980-2008)

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

Jesus 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.

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.

The beatitudes are an excellent prayer for these times.

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.

This beatitude tells us to be humble. 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.

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.

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

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)

I try to make the serenity prayer a daily prayer. 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!

I have always considered serenity as 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.

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 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

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 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 some day 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.

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 (present) 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

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

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

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 Crucifix

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.

I began my childhood by turning to my creator, The Father. Finding God in nature comes easily to me. As a child of God, I am in awe of his majesty and the beauty of his creation and the people I know and love.

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. He enlightened them 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.

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!

Save

Faith, Featured, Prayer, Quote, Spirituality

Quotes from the Saints on Discipleship

Image January 31, 2016 Vicki Scheenstra

What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus Christ? A disciple is someone who believes in and follows Jesus. Jesus calls each one of us in a different way. Each of us has a unique gift to offer him.

When we love someone, we want to spend time with them. The same is true if we love Jesus. Spending time with Him by studying scripture and in prayer will help our relationship with Him to grow.

The Saints of the Catholic Church are role models for us on our pilgrimage on earth. Each one of them loved Jesus with all there heart and soul.

The following quotes give us a glimpse of how they loved and followed Jesus. May we also get to know Jesus and seek to do His will always.

St. Teresa of Avila

If obedience sends you to the kitchen, remember that the Lord walks among the pots and pans and that He will keep you in inward tasks and in outward ones too.

St. Teresa of Avila

Untilled soil, however fertile it may be, will bear thistles and thorns and so it is with man’s mind.

St. Teresa of Avila

You pay God a compliment by asking great things of Him.

St. Teresa of Avila

St. Catherine of Siena

Enough of all this soft soap! All it does is cause the members of Christ’s Spouse to stink!

St. Catherine of Siena

Nothing unites us so intimately to the Sacred Heart of our Lord Jesus Christ as does the cross.

St. Catherine of Siena

To sin is human, but to persist in sin is devilish.

St. Catherine of Siena

Charity is the sweet holy bond that binds the soul with the Creator.

St. Catherine of Siena

St. Francis of Assisi

Preach the Gospel at all times, and when necessary, use words.

St. Francis of Assisi

Put away all worry and anxiety and receive the Holy Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ fervently…in memory of Him.

St. Francis of Assisi

You either belong wholly to the world or wholly to God

St. John Vianney

They who want to win the world for Christ must have the courage to come into conflict with it.

Bl. Titus Brandsma

God did not tell us to follow Him because He needed our help, but because He knew that loving Him would make us whole.

St. Irenaeus

Love Him totally who gave Himself totally for your love.

St. Clare of Assisi

St. Edith Stein

Learn to live at God’s hands.

St. Edith Stein Feast day Aug. 9

For the Christian there is no such thing as a “stranger”, there is only the neighbor…the person near us and needing us.

St. Edith Stein

If we place our hands into the hands of the divine Child, if we say “Yes” to the “Follow me”, then we are His, and the way is free for His divine life to flow into us.

St. Edith Stein

St. Thomas Aquinas

O Lord my God, make me submissive without protest, poor without discouragement, chaste without regret, patient without complaint, humble without posturing, cheerful without frivolity, mature without gloom, and quick witted without flippancy.

St. Thomas Aquinas

Save

Faith, Featured, Prayer, Spirituality

What is the ‘Peace of Christ’?

January 31, 2016 Vicki Scheenstra

Peace I Leave With You Public Domain Image — Peace I Leave With You

Every time we attend Mass we offer each other The Peace of Christ. Just what is the peace of Christ? Peace is many things. Primarily, it is the absence of worry and fear. The apostles were very much confused and frightened after the crucifixion. When Jesus appeared to the apostles and Doubting Thomas, Jesus offers them peace. Not once, but twice, he says “Peace be with you.” (John 20: 19-23) Their confusion and anxiety was removed and they went forth to baptize disciples.

Again, what is this peace Christ offers us? When we put our trust completely in God, we cease to worry. It is the knowledge that God not only loves me, but has a plan for me. It is true that there is much suffering in the world; however, when we have Jesus at our side, we are not alone.

Why is there suffering in the world? Why does a loving God permit it? The simplest answer to this is God gives us free will. He does not force himself on anyone. If we want a relationship with God we need to be open to his love. Sin is not the will of God because God is truth and love. Suffering is many times the consequence of sin. Health issues are not usually a result of sin, however they give us the opportunity to turn to God for strength and guidance. Remember, death is a doorway to heaven. How will we ever enter heaven unless death comes first?

When you are suffering, meditate on a crucifix. Jesus suffered for us, to redeem us. If Jesus suffered such a horrible death, why do we believe our life should be free of suffering?

Faith in Jesus is a gift. If we put our trust in God (Jesus), we let him lead us and walk with us every day. We accept suffering as Jesus accepted suffering, knowing that heaven is our reward.

Jesus with Children

None of this is easy. Many people scoff at the idea that we should accept suffering in Jesus’ name. But when you offer your suffering to Jesus you are discovering the mystery of the cross.

It is by letting Jesus guide us in our darkest moments that we come close to Jesus. How can we trust and love Jesus unless we come to know him? The only way to know Jesus is to talk, and walk with Jesus. Jesus said;

“I am the way, the truth, and the light.” (John 14:6)

When we walk with Jesus and pray on a regular basis our fear turns to trust.

Trust in Jesus is the Peace of Christ.

Save

Faith, patron saints, Spirituality

Twenty Five Popular Patron Saints For Men To Consider As Their Confirmation Name

Quote January 30, 2016 Vicki Scheenstra

Twenty Five Poular Patron Saints for Men to Consider as Their Confirmation Name

Easter is just around the corner! Students of Catholicism are preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation. At the Easter vigil adults coming into the Catholic faith will be baptized, receive their first communion and be confirmed.

The list below is twenty five male patron saints which men might be interested in as they choose their patron saint for confirmation.

Young Catholics will receive the sacrament during the Easter season, when the Bishop of their diocese visits their parish.

The sacrament of confirmation is one of the three sacraments of initiation. First is baptism which is often received shortly after birth. Second is Communion or Eucharist, which received at age of reason, usually seven or eight years of age. The third is confirmation. The age for confirmation is decided upon by the Bishop of the Diocese and can range from age of reason to high school.

When confirmed, the person is “sealed with the Holy Spirit”. The sacrament makes the person a full member of the Catholic Church. It’s history goes back to Pentecost, the birthday of the Church. On Pentecost the Apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit and their confusion was lifted. The Apostles received gifts from the Holy Spirit. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are the following: 1.Wisdom, 2.Understanding, 3. Counsel, 4. Courage 5.Knowledge 6. Reverence, 7. Wonder and awe. Not everyone receives the same gifts.

The fruits of the Holy Spirit come when we make use of the gifts given to us by the Holy Spirit. The fruits of the Holy Spirit are the following: 1. Charity 2. Joy 3. Peace 4. Patience 5. Kindness 6. Goodness 7. Generosity 8. Gentleness 9. Faithfulness 10. Modesty 11. Self-control 12 Chastity

The person being confirmed chooses a patron saint. The name of the saint is the name the bishop will use when he anoints him/her and lays hands in prayer on them. The saint is to be a role model and guide for the person throughout their life. In good times and bad, we ask our patron saint to pray with us and for us.

Are you searching for a patron saint?

The following twenty five saints should be considered as you choose your patron saint.

St. Andrew the Apostle

Feast day: Nov. 30

Patron of fishermen

Apostle and martyr

St. Andrew was the brother to Simon Peter. They were both fishermen. Andrew was a disciple of John the Baptist and the first apostle to be called by Jesus. When Andrew asked Jesus where he lived Jesus responded “Come and See.” Andrew then told Simon Peter about Jesus saying “We have found the Messiah!”

After the resurrection, St. Andrew preached in Greece.

St. Andrew was martyred by crucifixion.

St. Anthony of Padua

Feast day: June 13

Patron of lost items and missing persons

Doctor of the Church

St. Anthony was born in Portugal in 1195. He joined the Augustinian Order. Later he joined the Franciscan Order at age 26. He is called “The hammer of the Heretics.” His preaching was simple and easy to understand. The Infant child Jesus miraculously appeared to him.

St. Anthony was canonized less than one year after his death in 1231.

St. Augustine of Hippo

Feast day: Aug. 28

Patron of Brewers

Father of the Church

St. Augustine was the patron of brewers because of his lifestyle which included loose living and parties. His mother was St. Monica, who prayed for him for many years. He finally converted after reading a passage of scripture which said, “put away all impurity and live in imitation of Jesus.” This passage helped him to decide to return to the faith.

He was baptized by St. Ambrose. Eventually, he became the Bishop of Hippo. He is know for the poem “Too late have I loved You.”

In the year 430, he fell ill. He spent his last days in prayer, dying on Aug. 28.

St. Bernard Clairvaux Public Domain Image — St. Bernard Clairvaux

St. Bernard of Clairvaux

Feast day: Aug. 20

Doctor of the Church

Patron saint of mountaineers, The Alps

St. Bernard was born in Burgundy, France. After his mother’s death he entered the Cistercian Order. He founded a monastery known as the Abbey of Clairvaux. He was the Abbot. He refused offers to become a bishop. In 1128, he participated in the Council of Troyes. He was known for fighting against heresies.

In 1139, he assisted in the Second Council of the Lateran. He encouraged Lectio Divina and contemplation on scripture.

St. Dominic

Feast day: Aug 8

Patron of Astronomers

Founder of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans)

St. Dominic was born in 1170 into a wealthy family at Calaruega, Spain. As a priest he preached against the Albigensianism heresy. He also helped to reform the Cistercians.

He organized the Order of Preachers, known as the Dominican Order. They were traveling preachers who practiced a life of prayer and penance.

St. Dominic spread the Marian devotion of praying the Rosary.

St. Dominic died on Aug. 6

St. Francis of Assisi

Feast day: Oct. 4

Patron of environment and animals

Founder of The Franciscan Order

St. Francis was born in Assisi, Italy in 1181 into a wealthy family. He lived a wild life when young, becoming a soldier. However, God appeared to him in a dream telling him to go home.

Later, in prayer, God said “Francis, repair my church.” Francis took this literally, and began to repair the church buildings which were falling down. Eventually, it led Francis to leave his family, founding the Franciscan Order. Franciscans took a vow of poverty and served the sick and poor.

St. Francis loved animals and nature. Birds and wild animals had no fear of him. He also composed music.

St. Francis died in 1226.

St. Gregory the Great

Feast day: Sept. 3

Patron saint of students, teachers, musicians

Doctor of the Church

St. Gregory became a prefect of Rome before the age of 30. The pope chose him to be one of his seven deacons. At age 50 he was elected pope. He is know for reforming the liturgy. The Gregorian chant is attributed to St. Gregory.

Pope Gregory became a Benedictine monk living in his own home. He founded six monasteries after five years in office. He also re-energized the missionary work of the church.

Pope Gregory died in 604. He was declared a saint by popular acclamation.

St. Jerome

Feast day: Sept. 30

Patron of librarians, students, and orphans

Doctor of the Church

St. Jerome was born in 342 in Aquileio. He is the most educated of the Church Fathers. He was baptized by Pope Liberius in 360.

Wanting a religious library, he copied St. Hilary’s books. He is most famous for his translation of the Bible from Hebrew into Latin (the vulgate). He also wrote many commentaries on scripture. He was a priest, confessor, theologian and historian.

St. Jerome died near Bethlehem on Sept. 30, 420.

In art he is shown as one of the four church fathers (Augustine of Hippo, Ambrose, Pope Gregory the Great and Jerome).

St. John the Baptist

Feast day: June 24

Patron of prosperity, baptism and conversion

Cousin to Jesus

John the Baptist was the cousin to Jesus. He was the son of Elizabeth, who miraculously conceived in her old age. Zechariah was his father.

At age 30 John began to preach in Jordan against evil behavior. He called everyone to penance and baptism, saying the Kingdom of Heaven is close at hand. He baptized large crowds of people. Eventually, he baptized Jesus, saying. “It is I who need baptism from You.”

It is John who identified Jesus as “The Lamb of God”.

John the Baptist is considered the last of the Old Testament prophets.

John was beheaded at the request of the daughter of the king on June 24th.

St. John the Evangelist

Feast day: Dec. 27

Patron of Book sellers, printers, art dealers

Apostle

St. John was a Galilean, born to Zebedee. His mother was Salome. He was the Brother to St. James the Greater. John and James were known as “the sons of thunder.” St. John is also known as “The beloved disciple” and “The Apostle of Charity”.

John was with Jesus at the marriage feast of Cana. He was given the honor of sitting next to Jesus at the Last Supper. He was also with Jesus during all of his suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane and at the crucifixion. He was the only Apostle who stood with the holy women at the foot of the cross.

Jesus spoke about him from the cross, saying “Woman, behold thy son”. John took Mary the mother of Jesus into his home after Jesus’ death and cared for her.

St. John was the first Apostle to recognize Jesus when he appeared to them on the shore.

St. John worked in Jerusalem and at Ephesus after the death of Jesus, living in Asia Minor. He wrote the fourth Gospel, three Epistles, and possibly the Book of Revelation.

St. John of the Cross

Feast day: Dec. 14

Patron saint of poets, mystics, and contemplatives

Doctor of the Church

John of the Cross was born in Spain in 1542. After the death of his father he attended a school for orphans. His mother kept the family together inspite of being homeless. At the age of 14 he took a job caring for hospital patients who suffered mental and terminal illnesses. From poverty and suffering John found beauty and happiness not in the world but in God.

St. John joined the Carmelite Order. He met and became a friend to St. Teresa of Avila. She asked him to help him reform the order. Threatened by the change John envisioned, he was captured and imprisoned by members of his own order, being locked in a small room and beaten regularly. After nine months he escaped, taking only his mystical poetry with him. This poetry includes The Dark Night of the Soul.

St. John of the Cross died in 1591.

St. Joseph

Feast day March 19, May 1

Patron of fathers, a happy death, workers, foster children

Foster father of Jesus

Husband to the Blessed Virgin

Joseph was engaged to be married to Mary, when she was found with child. He was going to divorce her quietly to avoid scandal, however an angel appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do no be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. Mat: 1: 20-21

Joseph immediately took Mary as his wife.

The angel appeared to Joseph a second time. This time he was told his family was in danger. They fled to Egypt where they stayed until the angel told him it was safe to return.

Joseph worked as a carpenter. He was the foster father of Jesus, loving him and providing for him and Mary. Jesus, Mary and Joseph are referred to as “The Holy Family”.

We celebrate two feast days for St. Joseph. The first is on March 19; Feast day of St. Joseph, husband of Mary. The second feast day is May 1; Feast day of St. Joseph the worker.

St. Joseph is the patron for a happy death because tradition tells us that he died with Jesus and Mary at his side.

St. Jude Thaddius Public Domain Image — St. Jude Thaddius

St. Jude Thaddaeus

Feast day: Oct. 28

Patron of desperate causes

Apostle and martyr

St. Jude was an apostle of Jesus. He was brother to St. James the Less. He is not the same person as Judas who betrayed our Lord.

St. Jude is the author of an epistle in the Bible. Because he stressed the need to persevere during difficult times, he is considered the patron of desperate causes.

Tradition tells us that he suffered martyrdom along with the apostle Simon the Zealot in Beirut, a province of Syria. In art he is shown with an ax which was used in his execution.

St. Justin Martyr

Feast day: June 1

Patron of philosophers

Martyr

Father of the Church

St. Justin Martyr lived from 100-165. He was born a Gentile at Flavia, Neapolis. He converted to Christianity and defended the faith in Asia Minor and Rome. He wrote two “Apologies”. These were attempts to explain the faith. His first Apology is one of the earliest records teaching the meaning of the Eucharist.

St. Justin was a student of philosophy. After his conversion, he continued to debate philosophy publicly with his fellow students. A rival philosopher turned Justin in to authorities because of his faith. He was put on trial and then executed. He was beheaded in the year 165.

St. Justin Martyr is considered a Father of the Church.

St. Luke

Feast day: Oct. 18

Patron of physicians and surgeons

Author of the Gospel of Luke and The Acts of the Apostles

St. Luke was a gentile who spoke Greek. He followed Paul after the Resurrection of Jesus. He accompanied Paul to Macedonia. When Paul was imprisoned, St. Luke stayed near him.

St. Luke was born at Antioch in Spain. He is referred to as a physician by St. Paul, St. Jerome and St. Irenaeus. He is referred to as “the beloved physician” by Paul in Col. 4:14.

The Gospel of Luke focuses on God’s mercy and forgiveness of sinners. Only in the Gospel of Luke does the story of the Prodigal Son appear.

St. Mark the Evangelist

Feast day: April 25

Patron of attorneys, prisoners, notaries

Martyr

St. Mark was a disciple of Jesus who traveled with St. Paul. He accompanied Paul and Barnabus on their missionary journey.

St. Mark wrote the second gospel when Romans requested that he write down the teachings of St. Peter. Tradition says that he was present at the Miracle of Cana when Jesus turned the water into wine.

Tradition also tells us he was martyred in the year 68 by being dragged through the street with a rope around his neck.

He is portrayed as a lion because his Gospel begins with John the Baptist crying “Make ready the way of the Lord”.

The relics of St. Mark are in Venice.

St. Matthew

Feast day: Sept. 21

Apostle

Patron saint of bankers and accountants

Martyr

St. Matthew was one of the twelve called to be an Apostle. He was a tax collector before Jesus called him to follow him. He is also known as ‘Levi”.

The Gospel of Mathew was written in Aramaic which the Hebrew tongue. The Gospel of Mathew has the most parables of the Gospels. It also has the Beatitudes which are in the Sermon on the Mount. Tradition tells us that he worked in Ethiopia.

Tradition tells us that St. Matthew died a martyrs death, being killed with an ax.

St. Michael the Archangel

Feast day: Sept. 29

Archangel

Patron of police, paratroopers, mariners, sickness

The name Michael means “Who is like God.” St. Michael is the leader of the good angels. He is considered a warrior angel. In the Book of Revelations it is St. Michael who is the leader during the final battle between good and evil at the end of time.

St. Michael the Archangel is the patron of police because of his battle against evil. St. Michael defend me in battle is a popular Catholic prayer.

St. Michael has appeared in three places: the cave of St. Michael in Italy, Mont St. Michel in France and The Grotto of St. Michael in Mexico.

St. Patrick

Feast day: March 17

Patron of Ireland, slaves

St. Patrick was born in Kilpatrick, Scotland, in 387. At age 14 he was captured by a raiding party and taken to Ireland as a slave. As a slave, he tended to the sheep. He turned to God in prayer. His prayer “The Breastplate of St. Patrick” is well known.

Patrick was a slave until the age of 20. He received guidance in a dream. He was led to sailors who took him to Britain. In another dream, the people of Ireland asked him to return.

He became a priest, then a Bishop. As Bishop he was sent back to Ireland. Many people converted under his guidance. He is known for using the shamrock to explain the Trinity.

He died in Saul, where he built his first church, on March 17, 461.

St. Paul

Feast day: June 29

Apostle

Martyr

Author of 14 Epistles

Patron of converts, authors, writers, publishers

St. Paul is known as the Apostle of the Gentiles. He is also known as Saul of Tarsus. Before his conversion, he was persecuting Christians. In the Book of Acts his conversion story is told. Paul hears a voice saying “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” Paul replies, “Who are you, Lord?” “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But get up enter the city and you will be told what to do.” Acts 9: 4-6

After this experience Paul was baptized, and he began preaching that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. He fled Damascus returning to see Peter. Paul traveled on several missionary journeys, accompanied by Barnabus.

He was imprisoned in Caesarea and then in Rome, being kept in chains. After his release he went to Spain. He was imprisoned again and beheaded in the year 67.

St. Paul wrote 14 Epistles which have greatly influenced the Christian faith.

St. Peregrine Laziosi

Feast day: May 1

Patron of cancer victims

St. Peregrine was born to wealthy parents in Forli, Italy in 1260. He was active in politics when he was young, being a member of the anti-papal party. After striking St. Philip Benizi in the face at an uprising he repented and converted to Catholicism.

St. Peregrine received a vision of the Virgin Mary, after which he followed her instructions to join the Servites, observing silence and solitude.

He was afflicted with a tumor on his leg which the doctors wanted to amputate. He spent the night before the operation in prayer. The following morning he was completely cured and the tumor was gone. The miracle became well known.

St. Peregrine died at the age of 85.

St. Peter

Feast day: June 29

Patron of fishermen

Apostle and martyr

Peter’s name at birth was Simon. He was from Bethsaida and the brother to St. Andrew. Both Simon and Peter were fishermen. It was Andrew who told Simon that he had found the Messiah. Jesus then called Simon to follow him.

Jesus gave Simon the name of Peter which means “rock”. When Peter acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah, the son of the living God, Jesus said to him, “You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my church. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

St. Peter is always listed as the first of the Apostles in all of the New Testament accounts. Peter, along with James and John were present at the transfiguration, the raising of Jairus’ daughter and the Agony in the Garden.

At the crucifixion Peter denied Jesus three times.

When Jesus appeared to Peter after the Resurrection, he told Peter three times “feed my sheep”.

After the Resurrection, Peter appointed the replacement of Judas. He preached to the Gentiles.

Peter died in Rome during the reign of Nero. He was crucified upside down because he declared himself unworthy to die in the same manner as the Lord.

St. Sebastian

Feast day: Jan. 20

Martyr

Patron of archers, athletes and soldiers

St. Sebastian was born in Gaul. He became a soldier in the Roman army. Sebastian converted many people to the christian faith. He is also known for curing a deaf mute.

St. Sebastian was named captain of the guards. When they learned he was Christian, he was ordered executed. He was shot with arrows and left to die. The widow of St. Castulas found him still alive and nursed him back to health. Soon after, he was beaten to death on the Emperors orders.

St. Sebastian is considered the patron saint of athletes because of his physical endurance and energetic way of defending the faith.

St. Thomas the Apostle

Feast day: July 3

Patron of architects

Apostle and Martyr

St. Thomas was born into a Jewish family. Jesus called him to be one of the twelve disciples.

He is most remembered for not believing that Jesus had risen from the dead, saying “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger in his side I will not believe. John 20: 25

Jesus appeared to Thomas a week later saying “Peace be with you. Put your finger here and see my side. Do not doubt but believe.” Thomas answered “My Lord and my God!”

St. Thomas is remembered as Doubting Thomas.

After Pentecost, Thomas was sent to evangelize the Parthians, Medes, Persians, and India.

St. Thomas was speared to death at Calamine.

St. Vincent de Paul

Feast day: Sept. 27

Patron of Charitable Societies

St. Vincent was born in 1581 to poor parents in Gascony, France. His first school was led by Franciscans. He was ordained a priest in 1600 after studying at the University of Toulousse.

St. Vincent was captured by pirates while he was at sea. They held him prisoner for two years. He escaped, going to Rome and then returning to France.

St. Vincent founded the Sister of Charity who served the poor through corporal and spiritual works of mercy. He then founded the Vincentians. Their mission was to serve the poor in smaller towns and villages. He also conducted retreats for clergy and established seminaries.

St. Vincent died at the age of 80.

Save

Carmelite Saints, Faith, Spirituality

The Spirituality and Prayers of St. Thérèse of Lisieux

Gallery January 30, 2016 Vicki Scheenstra Leave a comment

Thérèse was born in Alencon, France in 1873. She suffered from the death of her mother, due to breast cancer, at the age of four. Her family then moved to Lisieux. At a young age she wished to follow her sisters, Pauline and Marie, into the convent but was denied due to her age. However, in 1888 she entered the Carmel of Lisieux. On Sept. 8, 1890 she made her religious profession as a Carmelite.

Because of her love and prayers for the missions St.Thérèse is the patron saint of missions. She is also the patron saint of gardeners and florists. Thérèse of Lisieux was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church. She is the youngest Doctor of the Church.

St. Thérèse is also known as the Little Flower. She saw herself as a flower in the garden of God. Calling herself “the little flower of Jesus” she wanted to give glory to God by just being herself among all the other flowers in Gods garden.

The health of St. Thérèse was poor. She suffered grief when her father died and also contracted tuberculosis. She suffered much pain but offered her suffering for ‘the poor sinners’. Her great desire was to save souls. “My mission…to make God loved….will begin after my death”, she said. “I will spend my heaven doing good on earth. I will let fall a shower of roses.” She also said, “I want to suffer and even rejoice for love, for this is my way of scattering flowers. Never a flower shall find but its petals shall be scattered for you, and all the while I will sing, yes sing, even when gathering my roses in the midst of thorns, and the longer and sharper the thorns may be, the sweeter shall be my song!”

The following quote shows her spirituality:

“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 trusted in Jesus to make her holy and focused on doing small deeds daily rather than great deeds.

Her autobiography “The Story of a Soul” has led many pilgrims to her ‘little way’.

St. Thérèse was only 24 when she died of tuberculosis. After her death she was canonized a saint on May 17, 1925 by Pope Pius XI. Pope John Paul II declared her a doctor of the Church in 1997. Her writings have led many souls closer to God.

The following prayers were written by St. Thérèse of Lisieux.

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

**PRAYER OF ST. THERESE OF LISIEUX**

Yes, all is well when we seek only the will of Jesus!

All my strength lies in prayer and sacrifice. They are my invincible weapons, and I know, by experience that they can soften the heart as much as words.

More than ever, I understand that the smallest events of our life are conducted by God; He is the One who makes us desire and who grants our desires.

A MORNING PRAYER

O my God! I offer Thee all my actions of this day for the intentions and for the glory of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I desire to sanctify every beat of my heart, my every thought, my simplest works, by uniting them to Its infinite merits; and I wish to make reparation for my sins by casting them into the furnace of Its Merciful Love.

O my God! I ask of Thee for myself and for those whom I hold dear, the grace to fulfill perfectly Thy Holy Will, to accept for love of Thee the joys and sorrows of this passing life, so that we may one day be united together in heaven for all Eternity.

Amen.

MY SONG OF TODAY

Oh, how I love thee, Jesus! My soul aspires to Thee. And yet for one day only my simple prayer I pray!

Come reign within my heart, smile tenderly on me.

Today, dear Lord, today.

St. Thérèse

MAY TODAY THERE BE PEACE

May today there be peace within. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.

May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content knowing you are a child of God.

Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise, and love.

It is there for each and every one of us.

St. Thérèse

PRAYER FOR SPIRITUAL CHILDHOOD

Lord, give me the open heart of a child. Let me come trustingly to you, not afraid to ask for your love.

.Deliver me from the belief that I am self-sufficient. Show me my need of you.

Give me the grace to reach out to you, Lord give me a child’s’ simplicity and a sense of wonder.

May my enthusiasm for you never die. Let me hasten to converse with you in the intimacy of prayer. Give me discernment to realize there is no detail of my life too tiny for your concern.

Help me to perceive your glory in the helplessness of the cross.

Son of God, who for my sake, took on the dependency of childhood, help me to accept the readiness of the Father’s grace.

Amen

Save

Saints From the United States of America

North American Martyrs

St. Francis Xavier Cabrini

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

St. John Neumann

St. Rose Philippine Duchesne

St. Theodore Guerin

St. Katherine Drexel

St. Kateri Tekakwitha

St. Damien de Veuster

St. Marianne Cope

Sacrament of Baptism

Sacrament of Confirmation

Sacrament of Holy Matrimony

Sacrament of Holy Orders

Reconciliation

Eucharist

Anointing the sick

The Seven Sacraments of the Catholic Church

I am the Good Shepherd

I am the Sheepgate

I am the Way, the Truth and the Life

I am the vine, you are the branches.

I am the Bread of Life

I am the Light of the World

I am the Resurrection and the Life

Canticle of the Creatures

Beauty so ancient and so new

O Sacred Head Surrounded

Consumed by Grace

Laughter came from every brick

St. Teresa of Avila

St. Catherine of Siena

St. Francis of Assisi

St. Edith Stein

St. Thomas Aquinas

Twenty Five Poular Patron Saints for Men to Consider as Their Confirmation Name

St. Andrew the Apostle

St. Anthony of Padua

St. Augustine of Hippo

St. Bernard of Clairvaux

St. Dominic

St. Francis of Assisi

St. Gregory the Great

St. Jerome

St. John the Baptist

St. John the Evangelist

St. John of the Cross

St. Joseph

St. Jude Thaddaeus

St. Justin Martyr

St. Luke

St. Mark the Evangelist

St. Matthew

St. Michael the Archangel

St. Patrick

St. Paul

St. Peregrine Laziosi

St. Peter

St. Sebastian

St. Thomas the Apostle

St. Vincent de Paul

Discovering the Spirituality of Catholicism