Children

Children
"God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him."
(1 Jn 4:16)

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Prayers for My Father

Please pray for my dad. He will be having surgery at 1:00 a.m. Pacific time to remove a cancerous tumor and his ear where the tumor is growing. The surgery is more complicated than usual because my father is on blood thinner. Please pray that everything goes well. We had a wonderful conversation with my dad last night and the children enjoyed listening to him sing to them. I hope that he will be singing to them again soon.

May Our Blessed Mother wrap her mantle around my father!

Update: Thank you to those of you who prayed for my dad. His surgery went well and he is recovering.

Monday, March 19, 2012

Happy Feast of St. Joseph

Growing up, my parents instilled a deep love in us for St. Joseph. Each night, after praying the family Rosary, we would end with the traditional prayers and a few others, including the prayer below to the foster father of Jesus. St. Joseph is the Patron of the Church, a protector, a comforter, a model for husbands, and so much more. Let us always remember to pray to St. Joseph for our husbands.

 


O St. Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the Throne of God, I place in you all my interests and desires. O St. Joseph, do assist me by your powerful intercession and obtain for me from your Divine Son all spiritual blessings through Jesus Christ, Our Lord; so that having engaged here below your Heavenly power I may offer my Thanksgiving and Homage to the most Loving of Fathers. O St. Joseph, I never weary contemplating you and Jesus asleep in your arms. I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Press Him in my name and kiss His fine Head for me, and ask Him to return the Kiss when I draw my dying breath. St. Joseph, Patron of departing souls, pray for us.
Amen

Thursday, March 15, 2012

These are a Few of My Favorite Catholic Books

Recently, I was speaking with another mother about good (maybe, I should say great) Catholic books. There are some real gems available that can help us to grow in our Faith. Some of these excellent Catholic books include:

Great Wives and Mothers by Fr. Hugh Francis Blunt
This is my favorite book about various female saints. Sometimes, I wonder whether this is because I am a wife and mother. However, I think that it has more to do with the engaging manner in which Fr. Blunt writes about these saints and holy people. I like Our Lady of Victory's hardcover publication better than the paperback that is sold on Amazon. For this reason, I have linked to OLVS.

I have appreciated reading this book during Lent a few times. It makes for a wonderful little retreat. Each time that I read this book, it provides me with more to ponder. Fr. d'Elbee inspires his readers to have confidence, to desire holiness, to believe in God's mercy, and so much more. I truly benefit from reading this book every couple of years.


An Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales
Each time that I read this book, I get more from it. It is so rich.


Life of Christ by Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
Shortly before my paternal grandmother's death, she had cataract surgery. Archbishop Sheen's Life of Christ was the last book that she read before she died. It is an excellent book and one that I have returned to on several occasions.


My Daily Bread is available from the Confraternity of Precious Blood and Catholic bookstores for $8.50. I have enjoyed reading this after my morning prayers, as it provides me with something to focus on or think about during the day.

The holiest priest whom I know recommended this book to me, writing, "It's a little gem my spiritual director tipped me on to. Read it carefully." I have read it twice since he recommended it in February, and I will be rereading it in the future. This book is a true gem. (New recommendation June 2020)

This Tremendous Lover by Fr. Eugene Boylan
Murielle Yeoman, a dear friend (more like adopted grandmother) of my family when I was growing up, gave this book to my mother for Mother's Day in 1980. After my mother died, my father gave it to me with several other books from my parents' library. Recently, thanks to the fact that my pastor occasionally quotes from it in our parish bulletin, I plucked the book from our bookcase shelf. I highly recommend it.


True Devotion To Mary by St. Louis Marie Grignon de Montfort
I have a couple of older publications of this book, not this specific edition. True Devotion to Mary is a wonderful gift from a great saint.

Trustful Surrender to Divine Providence: The Secret of Peace and Happiness by Fr. Jean-Baptiste Saint Jure and Bl. Claude de la Colombiere
My father recommended this book to me several years ago and I am so thankful that he did.

Uniformity with God's Will by St. Alphonsus de Ligouri
Every Catholic should read and reread this short, inexpensive, easy to read booklet.

The World's First Love: Mary, Mother of God by Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
This is another book that I feel every Catholic should read. Non-Catholics who would like to understand why Catholics have a devotion to Our Blessed Mother would also most likely benefit from this book.

This book focuses on one virtue each month, quoting saints and sharing a little bit about them and other holy people who exemplified the given virtue. Tan Books' website says that a new edition will be published soon. Local Catholic bookstores might still have the previous edition in stock.

I will update this list as I think of and/or read more excellent Catholic books.

Thursday, March 01, 2012

Under the Weather Tip

When you have been sick for over a week and the sky turns blue and the sun is shining, don't go outside to do some light gardening. If you do, you might be in bed for at least another week. Don't ask me how I know this. I just do.
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