Tag Archives: Feast Days

Apostle, Faith, Feast Days, Spirituality

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: The Transfiguration, Feast Day August 6

August 6, 2016 Vicki Scheenstra Leave a comment

The Transfigurateion by Rubens

Has your faith in Jesus Christ transformed you? The Feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord is celebrated on August 6.

On this feast day we remember the event which took place shortly after St Peter proclaimed his faith in the Lord, saying… “You are the Messiah!”

Three Apostles accompanied Jesus into the mountains believed to be Mount Tabor. They were the Apostles John, James and Peter

And he was transfigured before them and His face shone like the sun and his clothes became dazzling white. Appearing with Jesus were Moses and Elijah, talking with him. (Matthew 17.2-4).

The Apostles heard a voice saying:

This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased listen to him!”” (Matthew 17:5)

The Apostles fell to the ground overcome by fear. But Jesus came and said,

“Get up and do not be afraid”

How does your faith in Jesus change your life? Does it take away your fear? What is different in your life because of your faith?

Hopefully, our faith is alive and growing stronger. It is only through a strong prayer life that we can develop a relationship with Jesus which is visible to other people. When we let Jesus lead us through the dark times of our life, our trust in Him gives us strength. Our joy becomes evident when our faith is real and we have let Jesus touch our hearts. It is a joy we have a need to share with others!

The types of prayer styles are many. Basically, prayer is turning to God. It is a conversation we have with Him. Learning which prayer style fits us can be difficult. Meditation can help us come to know God better. Another word for meditation is reflection. Reflecting on scripture, art or music is a wonderful way to spend time with God.

Don’t forget to listen! After you tell God your troubles and count your blessings, sit quietly and let him speak to you in the silence. Light a candle to help center yourself. The light of a candle represents the Light of Christ. Remember, Jesus himself said:

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of Life.” John 8:12

In order to let the light of Jesus shine in our life we must let him into our hearts. With an open heart reflect on the following quote.

Faith in action is love, and love in action is service.

By transforming that faith into living acts of love,

we put ourselves in contact with God Himself, with Jesus our Lord.

Quote of Bl. Teresa of Calcutta; Feast Day September 5

Transfiguration by David Gerard

The Transfiguration by Raphael

The Transfiguration by Giovanni Salvaldo

The Transfiguration by Rubens

The Transfiguration by Perugino

The Transfiguration by James Tissot

August is the Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Apostle, Faith, Martyr, Spirituality

Are You a Doubting Thomas?

July 1, 2016 Vicki Scheenstra Leave a comment

Doubting Thomas Painting by Caravaggio Public Domain Image — Doubting Thomas Painting by Caravaggio

Most of us have times in our lives when we can relate well to doubting Thomas. He is known for stating his disbelief. After Jesus appeared to the other Apostles, Thomas said he needed to see for himself the wounds of Christ before he would believe that Jesus had risen from the dead. After Jesus showed him his wounds Jesus stated,

“Blessed are those who have not seen, but believe.

Thomas is not afraid to question. When Jesus tells the Apostles that they will follow him, Thomas questions Him;

“How can we follow you, when we know not where you are going?”

Jesus answered him by telling him,

“I am the way the truth and the life, whoever follows me will live forever.

Today (July 3) is the feast of St. Thomas. In the Catholic Church we celebrate in mass worldwide the life and faith of St. Thomas. We reflect on how he led his life and followed Jesus. When we have questions, we should not be afraid to ask Jesus to answer them. When we are not sure about our faith, it is a good thing to ask Jesus to lead us to Him.

Many people do not have faith today and do not know how to find God. Perhaps they are looking for God as a scientist would… under a microscope. Spirituality is not found under a microscope. Being unafraid to ask God questions can lead us closer to Him.

Remember when we were little children? The questions were many. What? Why? Where? How? When?

Asking God directly to enlighten us to the truth may actually have results.
One of my favorite prayers is a simple one.

“Lead me, Lord!”

May we all be led closer to God as we pray through our doubts.

St. Thomas pray for us.

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Faith, Our Lady, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Feast Day June 27

June 25, 2016 Vicki Scheenstra Leave a comment

The feast day of Our Lady of Perpetual Help is celebrated on June 27.

Many people believe the icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help was originally painted by St. Luke. It is presently in the Church of St. Alphonsus under the care of the Order of Redemptorists. Numerous miracles have followed the icon.

The icon is an authentic expression of Byzantine art from ancient times. The gold background reflects God’s glory. In the portrait are Mary, the Mother of God, the Christ Child and the Archangels Michael and Gabriel. Mary is gazing at the person who is looking at the icon moving everyone to love Jesus her son and Our Savior. The Christ Child is comforted in his mother’s arms. One of his sandals is almost lost indicating that we sometimes need to seek assistance in our troubles. It is Mary who protected Our Lord in his childhood. She will protect us also.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Icon
Chapel Bydgoszcz

The Icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help was first venerated in Crete. Tradition tells us however, that in 1480 the icon was smuggled from Crete to Rome by a thief! The smugglers asked Mary for protection during a storm at sea and God answered their prayers. After arriving in Rome, the merchant who had stolen the icon became very ill. He asked his caretaker to return the icon to the Church. The wife of the caretaker however insisted they keep the picture for themselves after the man had died. The Blessed Virgin Mary appeared several times to the man and his wife requesting that the icon be returned to a church. When she was ignored, she began appearing to their six year old daughter, requesting that the icon be placed between the Churches of St. Mary Major and St. John Lateran. Eventually, the icon was returned and enshrined at St. Matthews in 1499. St. Matthews was destroyed when Napoleon’s army invaded Rome in 1798. The icon was believed to be lost.

In 1855, The Order of Redemtorists came to Rome. They were granted possession of the land on which St. Matthew’s previously existed to build a new church. A Redemptorist priest remembered that he had learned as a young boy that the holy icon was in an Augustinian monastery near Rome. The Redemptorists petitioned the pope to allow the image to be returned to the spot the Blessed Virgin had requested that it be placed.

On April 26, 1866 the icon was transferred in a solemn procession to the Church of St. Alphonsus. They were given permission to spread the devotion to Our Lady of Perpetual Help.

Prayer to Our Lady:

Mother of Perpetual Help, Woman of Eternal Hope, your wordless gaze tells us so much about you. Knowing eyes look upon us with tender love. The slight bend of your head reveals such maternal concern. While your left hand supports the Child, your right hand is ready to receive us, too. Just as He feels the beating of your heart, so you encourage us to lead a life of hope and holiness. Just as His sandal will fall on your lap, through your intercession may God pick us up as we stumble and fall. Never let us be parted from you and your son, Jesus.

Lady of love, you invite us to place our hand where His fingers touch yours — near a heart of endless hope — so that we may be united often in prayer here on earth and joined forever with you in heaven. Amen.

Never be afraid of loving the Blessed Virgin too much. You can never love her more than Jesus did.

Quote of St. Maximilian Kolbe; Feast Day August 14

June is the Month of the Sacred Heart.

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Faith, Feast Days, Our Lady, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: The Feast of the Visitation, Feast Day May 31

May 30, 2016 Vicki Scheenstra Leave a comment

The Visitation Public Domain Image — The Visitation

The Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin is celebrated on May 31.

We celebrate Mary visiting her cousin Elizabeth while she was pregnant with Jesus. Elizabeth was six months pregnant with St. John the Baptist. When they met, the baby lept for joy in Elizabeth’s womb.

Not only the baby, but Mary and Elizabeth were filled with joy. Elizabeth tells Mary:

“Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.”

Mary responds with the Magnificat which has become a beautiful hymn of praise and thanksgiving.

Magnificat

My soul does magnify the Lord:
And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior
Because He has regarded the lowliness of His handmaid: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
For He that is mighty has done great things to me: and holy is His Name.
And His mercy is from generation until generations, to them that fear Him.
He has showed might with His arm: He hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.
He has put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away.
He has received Israel His servant, being mindful of His mercy:
As He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed for ever.

As we celebrate the Feast of the Visitation let us reflect on how important our families are to us. Imagine the joy Elizabeth and Mary shared together as they anticipated the birth of their babies! It is important that we too, give thanks to God for the many blessings he has bestowed on us and our families.

God hugs you.

Quote of St. Hildegarde of Bingen; Feast day Sept. 17

May is the Month of Our Lady

Apostle, Faith, Feast Days

The Catholic Church Celebrates its Birthday on Pentecost Sunday

May 15, 2016 Vicki Scheenstra Leave a comment

Pentecost Public Domain Image — Pentecost

Many people falsely believe the church began when Christ rose from the dead. However, the official beginning of the church is celebrated on Pentecost Sunday.

Fifty days after the crucifixion, the Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles. They were transfigured from frightened, confused disciples of Jesus to men of courage and conviction. Their confusion was removed by the Holy Spirit, or as Jesus called him…The Advocate.

The Holy Spirit is one of the three persons of the Trinity. As Catholics, we believe in One God, manifest by the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Belief in the trinity was passed on through church traditions. Before every prayer, we begin with the sign of the cross, praying in the name of the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit. The mystery of the cross (suffering) is important to our faith. Without suffering, we cannot come close to Jesus on the cross. Jesus told the Apostles He would not leave them orphaned. He would send them the Advocate, to lead and guide them. Today, we call the Advocate the Holy Spirit.

Just as each of us has more than one type of relationship (mother, daughter, sister) God also shows Himself to us in different ways; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Father is the creator of everything, Jesus is the Son, sent to redeem the world from the slavery of sin, and the Holy Spirit is the Advocate sent to guide and show us the way to the Father and Son.

The most important part of prayer is actually listening in quiet for guidance from God. Sharing with him our pain, joy and needs is important, but we must also ask him to lead us by His Holy Spirit, so that we may know His will in our life.

The symbols of the Holy Spirit are the Dove, the wind, and the fire. God speaks to us in many ways. Listen for him in the silence.

As Mother Teresa of Calcutta once said,

“In the silence of the heart God speaks.”

When you hear God in the silence of your heart, you are experiencing Pentecost…..the birth of your faith.

Faith, Feast Days, Our Lady

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: The Annunciation, Feast Day March 25

March 25, 2016 Vicki Scheenstra Leave a comment

The Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord is celebrated on March 25.

The Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord celebrates the actual event of the Angel Gabriel visiting the Virgin Mary. He told her she would bear a son and name him Jesus. On this feast day we reflect on the humility of Mary who said yes to being the Mother of God. Just as Mary pondered what the angel told her, we too should ponder the mysteries of our faith.

The Incarnation (God becoming man) is a mystery of great importance. How wonderful that God loves us so much that he sent us his son, Jesus! Through Mary he became completely human giving us the gift of salvation. Unlike Eve who disobeyed God, Mary said yes to God’s plan for her. She trusted God, and as the mother of Jesus loved Him in a way no one else can. The love Jesus had for his mother is also something to be pondered. It is a love like no other.

Gospel Lk 1:26-38

The angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,
of the house of David,
and the virgin’s name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said,

“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”

But she was greatly troubled at what was said
and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her,

“Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.
Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his Kingdom there will be no end.”

But Mary said to the angel,

“How can this be,
since I have no relations with a man?”

And the angel said to her in reply,

“The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore the child to be born
will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,
has also conceived a son in her old age,
and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
for nothing will be impossible for God.”

Mary said,

“Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word.”

Then the angel departed from her.

annunciation 2 — The Annunciation in Art

Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to Your word.

Quote of Mary, Mother of God

March is the Month of St. Joseph

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The Mystery of Faith

Tag Archives: Feast Days

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: The Transfiguration, Feast Day August 6

Are You a Doubting Thomas?

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Feast Day June 27

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: The Feast of the Visitation, Feast Day May 31

God hugs you.

May is the Month of Our Lady

The Catholic Church Celebrates its Birthday on Pentecost Sunday

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: The Annunciation, Feast Day March 25

Discovering the Spirituality of Catholicism