Feast of The Holy Family

Jesus, Son of God and Son of Mary, bless our family. Graciously inspire in us the unity, peace and mutual love that You found in Your own family in the little town of Nazareth.

Mary, Mother of Jesus and our Mother, nourish our family with Your faith and Your love.
Keep us close to Your Son, Jesus, in all our sorrows and joy.

Joseph, Foster - father to Jesus, guardian and spouse of Mary, keep our family safe from harm. Help us in all times of discouragement and anxiety.

Holy Family of Nazareth, make our family one with you. Help us to be instruments of peace. Grant that love strengthened by grace, may prove mightier than all the weaknesses and trials through which our families sometimes pass. May we always have God at the center of our hearts and homes until we are all one family, happy and at peace in our true home with You. Amen.

The Holy Family has always been one of my favorite devotions. When my children were young I hung a picture of the Holy Family by our kitchen table and it still hangs there today. I also pray to the Holy Family most days.

Holy Family, Pray for us.

Merry Christmas

Jesus gave the world the gift of Himself,

the gift that gives forever.

May everyone's Christmas be wrapped in

the blessings of His love.

Where Does the Time Go

I had promised myself that once school was out I would blog on a regular basis. When school was out I only had a week before I started a graduate class. That class was for 2 weeks, every day, Monday through Friday. I knew when class started that time would be limited.
I mulled over what to write. Now, being a left brain, math type, I've always found writing difficult. I can do bullet point, outline type writing but essay, creative writing has never been my strong point. Always wished that I was creative but alas!!! So time passed and no blogging.
Then I had dinner with a good friend several weeks ago and I explained my predicament to her. What do I write about? Something profound, informative, some tidbit that happens that maybe only interests me? Should it be long or short? How often? She said, you know it's your blog do what you want. Good advice!!
Tomorrow I am having knee replacement surgery but as soon as I'm able I'll write about whatever strikes my fancy. Maybe a little or maybe a lot!!
I can have a computer in the hospital but my brain may still be a bit fuzzy. Might be a good idea to just read my favorite blogs for a bit!!

Prayers for Priests

I've added a prayer for priests on my sidebar, to go along with the Year for Priests. The prayer is one that I have been and am still saying every day. If you click on the picture of St. John Vianney a website will come up that has many more prayers for priests.
I'm really happy to see a year dedicated to priests. I shudder to think what we would do without priests and all they do for us. They need more than just a year dedicated to them!

Immaculate Heart of Mary , Pray for Us

Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

I, (name), a faithless sinner,renew and ratify today in thy hands,O Immaculate Mother, the vows of my baptism;I renounce Satan, his pomps and works;and I give myself entirely to Jesus Christ,the Incarnate Wisdom,to carry my cross after Him all the days of my life,and to be more faithful to Him than I have ever been before.
In the presence of all the Heavenly courtI choose thee this day for my Mother and Mistress.I deliver and consecrate to thee, as thy slave,my body and soul, my goods,both interior and exterior,and even the value of all my good actions,past, present and future;leaving to thee the entire andfull right of disposing of me,and all that belongs to me, without exception,according to thy good pleasure,for the greater glory of God,in time and in eternity.
Amen.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, Pray for us.

Today begins the Year for Priests.

Prayer to the Sacred Heart for Priests

Remember, 0 most loving Heart of Jesus, that they for whom I pray are those for whom You prayed so earnestly the night before Your death. These are they to whom You look to continue with You in Your sorrows when others forsake You, who share Your griefs and have inherited your persecutions, according to Your word: That the servant is not greater than his Lord. Remember, O Heart of Jesus, that they are the objects of the world's hatred and Satan's deadliest snares. Keep them then, 0 Jesus, in the safe citadel of Your Sacred Heart and there let them be sanctified in truth. May they be one with you and one among themselves, and grant that multitudes may be brought through their word to believe in You and love You.

And another prayer that I like:

Memorare to the Sacred Heart of Jesus


Remember, O most kind Jesus, that none who have had recourse to Your Sacred Heart, implored its assistance, or called for mercy, have ever been abandoned. Filled, and animated by this same confidence, O divine Heart, Ruler of all hearts, I fly to You, and oppressed beneath the weight of my sins, I prostrate myself before You. Despise not Your unworthy child, but grant me, I pray, an entrance into Your Sacred Heart. Sustain me in all my combats and be with me now, and at all times, but especially in the hour of my death. 0 gracious Jesus! 0 amiable Jesus! 0 loving Jesus!

Spring Break

School's Out



Although my first day of spring break was last Thursday, today feels like the first day of actual vacation. Being in the choir and a sacristan at my parish, the Triduum and Easter Sunday kept me quite busy.

Break will be a combination of having lunch with friends that I don't see much of during the school year and working around the house. The housework suffers during the school year too.
Lesson planning will wait until the end of the week. I worked hard at getting grading and recording grades done before break started, only a little to do at the end of the week. The slower pace and not getting up at 5:oo am are the best perks of having this week off.
Well better get back to work.

Happy Easter

Our Redeemer has risen from the tomb; let us sing a hymn of praise to the Lord our God, alleluia.
~ antiphon from morning prayer

Enjoy this season of new life and hope.

Hope is what sits by the window and waits for one more dawn, despite the fact that there isn't an ounce of proof in tonight's black, black sky that it can possibly come.
~ Joan Chittister, OSB

Good Friday

Jesus Christ loved us, and poured out His own blood for us to wash away our sins.
~antiphon from morning prayer

Today is a day that I have mixed feelings. I feel sadness that Jesus, who loved us so much had to be nailed to the cross to wash away our sins. Yet we still on a daily basis turn away from Him by continuing to sin. Then I feel joy that He did love us enough despite our sinful nature to die so that we would be saved. He even gave us His Body and Blood in the Eucharist so that we would be nourished.

Christ our salvation, you gave yourself up to death out of love for us,
- help us to show your love to one another.
~intercession from morning prayer

Holy Thursday

I have longed to eat this meal with you before I suffer.

~ Canticle of Zechariah

Lent is my favorite time of the liturgical year. It gives us time to reflect, pray, repent and, hopefully, grow spiritually with the outward support of the entire Church. Most parishes have added more programs and services to help us in our spiritual journey. There is not all of the commercialism of the Christmas season to distract us from what should be our main focus, Jesus.

Today we enter into the Triduum, the holiest part of the year. Tonight is the Mass of the Lord's Last Supper and then Jesus is processed to the altar of repose. Now we watch and wait!

"I give you a new commandment: Love one another as I have loved you." (John 13:34)

I was reminded of the group Critical Mass over at Fr. V's blog Adams Ale . Here is one of their songs that I like and think is appropriate for today:

Dog Visitor

I normally don't post emails but my oldest son sent this to me and I thought it was too cute.
First it reminds me of our golden (my baby) that we had to put to sleep a year ago this past Christmas because of bone cancer. I can, also, relate to it because my youngest rarely slept his entire first year.

An older, tired-looking dog wandered into my yard.I could tell from his collar and well-fed belly that he had a home and was well taken care of. He calmly came over to me, I gave him a few pats on his head; he then followed me into my house, slowly walked down the hall, curled up in the corner and fell asleep.

An hour later, he went to the door, and I let him out.

The next day he was back, greeted me in my yard, walked inside and resumed his spot in the hall and again slept for about an hour.
This continued off and on for several weeks.

Curious I pinned a note to his collar: 'I would like to find out who the owner of this wonderful sweet dog is
and ask if you are aware that almost every afternoon your dog comes to my house for a nap.'

The next day he arrived for his nap, with a different note pinned to his collar:
'He lives in a home with 6 children, 2 under the age of 3 - he's trying to catch up on his sleep.
Can I come with him tomorrow?'

Happy Saint Cyril and Methodius Day

Father,
You brought the light of the gospel to the Slavic nations
through Saint Cyril and his brother Saint Methodius.
Open our hearts to understand your teaching and help
us to become one in faith and praise.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

~ Morning prayer, Christian Prayer book